Freelancing in the Media and Creative Industries

What counts as the media and creative industries?

There are many different roles that fall under the media and creative industries, and you may find that some are interlinking meaning you could potentially work in more than one area.

A university degree will cover a range of topics, such as film, TV, music, photography, radio, crafts, animation and performing arts.

This is perfect for those who know they want to work in the industry but are perhaps not sure about the area they want to focus on. Or, they might want to work in as many different areas as possible for more variety!

What are the benefits of freelancing in the media and creative industries?

Joining the self-employed sector and becoming your own boss comes with a number of benefits:

Rates of pay
Self-employed professionals are often able to command higher rates of pay than their permanent counterparts; this is due to a few different reasons, including the fact that there are added risks that come with full-time contracting and not being entitled to holiday or sick pay.

Claiming back on expenses
Being self-employed typically means that you’ll need to pay out for various costs that are essential for your business – the good news about this is that you’ll be able to claim back on these expenses and therefore reduce your tax bill at the end of each year.

Read our What Expenses Can I Claim as a Sole trader page for more help and advice on contractor expenses.

More freedom and flexibility
When you’re self-employed, you’ll have so much more freedom and flexibility compared to an employee, as you’ll be in the position to choose your own clients and hours and decide what days you want to work.

Skills and experience
By contracting, you’ll naturally take on a wider variety of work compared to an employee, which means it’s likely that you’ll gain a great deal of experience, as well as skills along the way.

Do I need an accountant?

If you do join the freelance sector then you may want to consider hiring an accountant.

An accountant is an essential tool for any freelancer or business – not only will they help you to keep on top of your financial liabilities and deadlines, but they’ll also be able to provide you with invaluable financial advice.

Just be sure to choose an accountant who:

• Specialises in contractor tax
• Has qualifications
• Has a good reputation
• Offers a fixed monthly amount so you avoid any surprise bills!

For more help and information on this, read our Choosing a Contractor Accountant page.

If you’d like to sign up or need any further information, please give us a call on 01442 795 100 or you can email jaime.thorpe@dolanaccountancy.com. There’s also the option to contact us via live chat.