Registering as Freelance Designer, Web/Graphics

RikkFlair

Hey all, any info or advice would be great.

Basically I'm on the dole, with a recently acheived degree in IT, and with the job situation looking bleak, am I wondering what I have to do to set up as a freelance web designer?? I dont even know where to start, but I've got a nice bit of work lined up in the coming months and with being on the dole etc I wanna start doing things legally and paying tax etc, register a company name or whatever.

Thing is, I havent done a business plan or anything, or havent even advertised my services, any work I've gotten has been thru word of mouth. And I'm not sure the workload would be sustainable enough in the coming years to justify setting up a full scale self employment business.....is registering as freelance different?
Is it like registering as a sole trader?
If I register as freelance do I lose all my weekly dole?

Like I said I just wanna do things above board with the workload I have coming up, and if I'm legal then I can advertise properly.

Any info from similar people would be great, I'm really clueless about the whole self employment thing!

Zonua

Hey Rikkflair. Fair play for wanting to do things legally.

If you're freelance then it just means you're self employed. You will need to register with the Revenue with a TR1 form.

You don't need to register a business name, unless you want to use a business name, but most freelance web designers will trade as their own name, in which case you don't need to register your own name as a business name.

I would suggest that if you already have work to sustain you, don't waste your time on a serious business plan. You can do something simple to give yourself objectives, to ensure you can keep on track and reach targets.

Depending on how long you're on the dole, you can apply for up to 100% in year one, and up to 80% in year two. I believe there is also a technical grant.

So the first thing you should do is go to the dole office, see you if you are eligible to receive some sort of assistance while you are self-employed, and they will refer you to your local enterprise centre.

I'm much in the same line of work myself, so if you have any more specific questions then I'm happy to help. Good luck! I think there is a good market for website makers as even now, in 2010, I'm still amazed at businesses and sole traders who don't have websites, and also at the amount of websites that need a serious makeover!

RikkFlair

Jeez thanks Zonua, some great info there

I think you're right about the dole, Back to Enterprise Allowance I think its called, but as far as I know it goes down to 50% max in year 2. At least it might be an option to get things going for a year or 2 anyway.

Agreed on your last point, just doing a site for a friend at the moment and she gonna forward my details to a lot more people in her line of work that dont have websites and really should have! And yes there are some serious upgrades needed on a few sites out there, so much so that I would nearly send them an email and offer my services!

I may have a few more questions as I go on, thanks again!

Acoshla

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is 75% in year 2, that's what I was told a few weeks ago. Once you go to Social Welfare and are referred to Enterprise Board and are in the process of applying then you're doing it all legit, I had to do that too, I was going to be doing a big obvious bit of marketing and advertising locally through an event and I wanted to be sure I wouldn't get the SW on my back about claiming Jobseekers if they saw it, so I just went and told them. The opportunity I had came about very quickly and SW and Rural Development were so helpful, both fast tracked my application and got me very quick appointments so my claim would be in in time.

Shzm

Yes it's 100% in year one, 75% in year 2.. then nothing.

There are a few criteria you need to satisfy which can be found here: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/JobseekerSupports/BackToWork/EnterpriseAllowance/Pages/ea.aspx

It really is a good scheme though if you can get on it.

EIREHotspur

Shzm....there are payments for year 3 and 4 according to your link..

100% of your weekly social welfare payment for the 1st year
75% for the 2nd year
50% for the 3rd year
25% for the 4th year.

Shzm

EIREHotspur wrote: »

Shzm....there are payments for year 3 and 4 according to your link..

100% of your weekly social welfare payment for the 1st year
75% for the 2nd year
50% for the 3rd year
25% for the 4th year.

No - read the link I posted.

From 1 May 2009, new participants will keep the following portions of their social welfare payment, including increases for a qualified adult and qualified children, for a maximum of 2 years:

* 100% for the 1st year
* 75% for the 2nd year.

RikkFlair

75% for yr 2, thats better than I had thought....thanks all for info