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Find out everything you need to know about running a business as a freelancer in the UK. From starting up and setting your rates, to saving for tax and completing your Self Assessment, we’ve got you covered.

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How Coconut Helped the barefoot accountant Run Smoother, Plan Smarter & Prepare for Making Tax Digital
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How Coconut Helped the barefoot accountant Run Smoother, Plan Smarter & Prepare for Making Tax Digital

The barefoot accountant provides accountancy services to creative sole traders who just want to be fabulously creative and not worry about the boring stuff. Operating from a shop front in Hertfordshire, the firm delivers personalised tax and accountancy services in a relaxed and judgement-free zone.

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Un-Muddling Personal and Business Expenses: A Uniquely Sole Trader Problem
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Un-Muddling Personal and Business Expenses: A Uniquely Sole Trader Problem

Imagine if clients and you could un-muddle business and personal without having to open a new bank account?

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Sole Trader Tax Rates for the 2021/22 Tax Year
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Sole Trader Tax Rates for the 2021/22 Tax Year

Sole traders: read on to find a list of the UK's Personal Allowance, income tax and National Insurance rates for the 2021/22 tax year.

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Covid-19 Scams to Watch Out For – And How to Protect Yourself
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Covid-19 Scams to Watch Out For – And How to Protect Yourself

We want to help you protect yourself against Covid-19 fraud. Here’s what you need to be aware of and what to watch out for.

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Setting Up Your Business So You Can Save Too
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Setting Up Your Business So You Can Save Too

Saving can often be an afterthought when you're freelancing and have a fluctuating income. But it doesn't have to be—discover some money saving habits in this article.

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A Change of Focus for a Photography Business Facing Challenging Times
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A Change of Focus for a Photography Business Facing Challenging Times

For Paul, Covid-19 has brought many collaborations that will help his business to boom once the pandemic is over. Find out how he's adapted in this interview.

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How Ben Got His Zest for His Career by Going Freelance When He Was 19
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How Ben Got His Zest for His Career by Going Freelance When He Was 19

Freelancing can be really liberating and often helps people to take control of their careers. But how does that work if you start freelancing at the very beginning of your career? Find out by taking a look at Ben's story.

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3 Challenges That Self-Employed People Face & How to Overcome Them
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3 Challenges That Self-Employed People Face & How to Overcome Them

Self employed people come across plenty of challenges when they're building a business from the ground up. Find out how to overcome them in our latest blog.

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UK Lockdown: Updates to Financial Support
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UK Lockdown: Updates to Financial Support

With November's lockdown already upon us, we've put together a list of the latest government updates to make sure you can navigate your way through it.

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Saving for Tax Survey: The Results Are In
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Saving for Tax Survey: The Results Are In

We asked 500 self-employed people how they feel about saving for tax - take a look at the results and see how Coconut can help you to save for tax soon.

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Digital Adoption: How Fitness Instructor Elle Linton Adapted During the Pandemic
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Digital Adoption: How Fitness Instructor Elle Linton Adapted During the Pandemic

Find out how fitness instructor Elle Linton adapted her business when covid-19 hit the UK this year and the role that digital played in making it happen.

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Coronavirus Business Loans - Find and Apply for Funding with Swoop
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Coronavirus Business Loans - Find and Apply for Funding with Swoop

Covid-19 support for self-employed people: Bounce Back Loans. And we've teamed up with Swoop to help you navigate the application process.

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Covid-19: SEISS Q&A for Self-Employed People
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Covid-19: SEISS Q&A for Self-Employed People

Our answers to the big questions we've had about the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme from our customers and the wider self-employed community.

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Coconut’s Guide to Effortless Expenses
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Coconut’s Guide to Effortless Expenses

Here's our quick guide to effortless expenses to make sure you're not missing out on key tax savings.

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What is the VAT Cash Accounting Scheme?
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What is the VAT Cash Accounting Scheme?

Understand the VAT Cash Accounting Scheme. Who it's for, how to qualify and what it could mean for you and your business.

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Should You Be a Sole Trader or a Limited Company?
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Should You Be a Sole Trader or a Limited Company?

It’s often the first question people have when starting their self-employment journey. Should I become a limited company or a sole trader? Read our guide to find out the pros and cons of each, and decide which is the best setup for you and your freelance career.

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3 Reasons to Separate Your Business Expenses from Your Personal Expenses
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3 Reasons to Separate Your Business Expenses from Your Personal Expenses

Read this short article on how to save your self-employed business time and money by separating your business expenses from your personal expenses.

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The Pain of Dealing With Late Payments
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The Pain of Dealing With Late Payments

The self-employed population contributes £271 billion to the UK economy - so why are so many still getting messed about when it comes to getting paid?

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The Top 5 Business Expenses You Didn't Know You Could Claim
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The Top 5 Business Expenses You Didn't Know You Could Claim

Time for your annual tax return for HMRC? We’ve created a list of the top five business expenses most commonly overlooked.

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Open Banking: The money revolution of the century
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Open Banking: The money revolution of the century

Coconut has won the final stage of Nesta’s Open Banking Challenge: Open Up. We’ve won £250k so far from the previous three stages. What does it mean for our customers? More here...

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Is a Rentable Workspace Right for You & Your Business?
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Is a Rentable Workspace Right for You & Your Business?

Rentable workspaces are making more appearances in some of the larger UK towns and cities. We speak to some industry players, as well as some people who have used this style of working.

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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome When You’re Self-Employed
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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome When You’re Self-Employed

Katy Carlisle from Freelance Folk looks at how 'imposter syndrome' can affect people who are self-employed, and discovers what other freelancers and small business owners do when they’re doubting themselves.

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What Is It Really Like to Be a Digital Nomad?
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What Is It Really Like to Be a Digital Nomad?

What is living life as a 'digital nomad' really like? And why is this work revolution on the rise? Coconut speaks to three freelancers who have lived and breathed the lifestyle, and give their advice to those considering the leap.

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Planning for Taxes as a Freelancer
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Planning for Taxes as a Freelancer

Worried about filing your taxes as a freelancer? In this article, we’ll show you how to plan ahead so you can nail your self-assessment like a pro.

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How to Beat Procrastination – and the Science Behind It
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How to Beat Procrastination – and the Science Behind It

Can you ever avoid procrastination? We find out how to beat procrastination and why our mind constantly tries to distract us.

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Can I Ever Own a Home as a Freelancer?
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Can I Ever Own a Home as a Freelancer?

Can I get a mortgage as a freelancer? Yes. Will it be easy? No. But that’s not an exclusive issue for the freelancer demographic.

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25 Mistakes That New Freelancers Always Make
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25 Mistakes That New Freelancers Always Make

Freelancing can seem daunting, especially if you are going it alone for the first time. Making mistakes is part of any job, and freelancing is no different.

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How to Deal With a Client Who Doesn’t Pay on Time
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How to Deal With a Client Who Doesn’t Pay on Time

Most freelancers experience a client who doesn’t pay on time, especially those just starting out. So how do you deal with these clients?

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Banishing My Freelance Loneliness
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Banishing My Freelance Loneliness

Flying solo is pretty great. But how do freelancers look after their own mental health when it’d be all too easy to let the loneliness rule our lives?

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