Guide to Freelancing - PCG

Draft a written agreement to ensure clarity for all parties
A written agreement can be initiated by the client or the freelancer. Include a statement of work
detailing deliverables, costs and timescales. Don't use an employment contract - use a contract for
services to define a B2B relationship. Using a proper contract avoids IR35 and employment law
issues. Members can download contracts from the PCG website.
For smaller projects, a purchase order can be an appropriate alternative. Less defined projects can
be split into stages - agree the deliverables at each stage and to avoid misunderstandings further
down the line, it is important to put any changes or additional requirements in writing.
Ensure the client has everything in place for you to start work on the project
Have you covered everything off with the client? For example:
• Lines of communication
• The sign-off process and who is responsible for ultimate sign-off
• Access to other team members or external suppliers
• Access to systems
• Where you will work
• Who is providing the necessary equipment, you or the client?
Manage the project proactively
Remember you are not an employee – you should manage yourself and not expect to be managed.
Freelancers are judged on results and it‟s your responsibility to deliver against the brief, on time,
on budget. Good freelancers earn their client's trust and go to great lengths to maintain it - a winwin
relationship built on mutual respect helps resolve any potential conflict.
Communicate regularly
A daily or weekly dialogue with the client encourages a collaborative relationship. Schedule regular
review points to check everyone is still in agreement and to make any necessary adjustments as
new information comes to light. For larger projects, regular review meetings involving the whole
project team gets everyone working together and irons out any problems early.
Frequency of meetings can be ramped up as the project nears its critical phase/launch or be
reduced when things are on track and people are short of time.
Whilst face-to-face contact is important, particularly if you are working remotely, sometimes a
focused phone or Skype conversation will suffice. If you do decide that a face-to-face meeting is
the best course of action, make sure it is as productive as possible by checking that key decision
makers will be present and sending all parties a detailed agenda beforehand which includes the
desired outcomes and timings.
Evaluate the results once the project has been delivered
Once the project is completed find out what impact it had. This will help you plan any future
improvements. However, bear in mind it is the results that should be evaluated, not your personal
performance. Freelancers are businesses and therefore shouldn‟t receive employee-like
performance reviews. Instead you should aim to co-evaluate the impact of the project with the
client (see the advice of success coach John Niland on page 25 of The Freelance Career Ladder).
Copyright PCG September 2011 Guide to Freelancing Version 7.0 70