Umbrella companies are generally seen as the simplest way of ensuring that all your taxes and the administration side of the business is taken care of so you can focus on your work. This kind of company would also be able to provide you with the relevant insurance policies to provide you with protection should… Read More »

If you are contemplating moving to the United States to work as a contractor, the American government provides entry and residence in the country through what they call a “green card” which is a form of proof that they are living in the country legally. Anybody looking to stay in the country for good is… Read More »

After you have agreed with an agency on the terms of your contract, the recruitment agency will require you to have arranged a payroll solution to process your payment. There are three popular ways this – to use an umbrella company, a limited company or through PAYE (via the recruiters/client). Umbrella Companies – Pros and… Read More »

We are hearing more and more in the news about the low-income that our National Insurance contributions pay for when it comes to claiming our pension on retirement. For this reason, more and more focus is being placed on private pensions and the government are encouraging these with a series of tax advantages for those… Read More »

A common question that contractors have is what they are allowed to do in terms of claiming benefits when they are not in the middle of a job. Technically if you do not have a contract in place you could claim unemployment benefits but it is a dangerous area for contractors as they are never… Read More »

Late payments are arguably the worst part of being a contractor or owning your own limited company. In fact, late payments from clients has been sited as been one of the most common reasons for companies going under in the last few years. Luckily, most contractors who work through recruitment agencies don’t have as much… Read More »

In the course of each contract, the chances are that you will pick up some expenses in order to allow you to perform your job properly. These may come in the form of travel expenses (whether that be the cost of getting a train or bus or more frequently the cost of petrol) or even… Read More »

Contractors in the UK are required to have a valid UK work permit, so if you are coming over to the UK it is important you have obtained one. The exception to this is individuals who are coming from other European Union member countries as one of the key concepts of the EU is the… Read More »

Deciding to become a contractor can be a difficult decision, particularly if you do not have a contract already lined up. The first step in the process is to actually leave your job. Probably the easiest part to do in terms of procedure, but the hardest part in terms of the mental side. Most jobs… Read More »