Tag Archives: HMRC

Running your blog as a business

July 15, 2018 By in Blogging Tips Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 63 Comments

Many people are gobsmacked when I tell them I earn a full-time living wage from Fashion and Style Police. It makes no sense to them how I can earn money writing on this blog. They wonder how it can be possible to earn anything tangible as a blogger working from home. Well, if you are one of these people struggling to understand how bloggers make money, then you are on the right blog. It is very possible to make good money from your blog. I know this because I am one of those bloggers fortunate enough to make money from blogging.

In other to make money as a blogger, you have to run your blog as a business. Running your blog as a business means you have to publish quality articles on the regular. It also means you have to charge the right prices when approached by brands and PRs. So how do you go about these? Let’s start with charging the right fees first.

 

Mind on the money

 

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Now this media kit above is an old kit but it still works. Every blogger should have a media kit that clearly outlines what services you offer and why brands should work with you. I have had a few brands ask for a media kit so it is quite handy to have. You could also include your rates on your media kit if you wish but I rather not as my fees vary from campaign to campaign.

So what should you be charging? That is a question only you can answer. No one else can tell you what to charge because our circumstances all vary. I always have a figure I want to earn every month in my head and that figure guides what I charge every brand. Also, I have a minimum fee in my head that I can’t go below. This helps me get rid of time wasters that want to pay me $20 for a job worth $200. Knowing what to charge happens once you know your worth. It takes time but if you have a business mindset, you would get there quicker than others.

 

Ignore your competition

I know this goes against everything we have been taught by the business gurus but trust me on this one. When it comes to blogging, variety is truly the spice of life. You don’t want to be like any other blogger but yourself if you intend to turn your blog into a business. You have to stand out from the rest of the crowd and you can only do so if you ignore your competition and focus on your focus.

Ignoring your competition means focusing on publishing quality content on your blog and social media platforms. It means following like minds and making friends with the bloggers you get on so you are not isolated. But it also means you don’t spend the whole day stalking your blogger role models on Instagram or Twitter, and trying to be them. It means not copying their fashion sense or writing style. It means being true to yourself. You can get inspiration from those in your niche you admire and stay in your lane at the same time!

 

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Focus on the content

Content is king, let no one deceive you. Everything else works on the back of good content. If your content is not up to scratch, your dreams of making money from your blog may never become a reality. What makes a content good? Good content to me informs, educates or entertains. It is written in good clear English, with a captivating writing tone. Good content has great photography and usually gets people talking.

 

Remember to register as self-employed with HMRC once you start making money from your blog. It is the law in the UK.

Thanks for reading and please drop any tips, suggestions or questions you may have in the comments section below.

Have a great week ahead.

Self Assessment Tax Returns With HMRC

May 17, 2018 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

I have been self-employed for 3 years now. I have filled out 2 self assessment tax returns with the HMRC, and I have another due to be filled in the next few weeks. My experience with the self assessment tax returns with HMRC has been good. I found my first experience a lot more scary than the second. Which is perfectly understandable as that was my very first time submitting my tax returns. But since then, it has been great.

HMRC website is user-friendly and pretty self-explanatory. I found the filling out of the tax returns quite straight forward for me. But that may be because I have a degree in Accounting, and I am married to a qualified accountant. So whenever I get stuck, he comes to the rescue. It could also be because of great online resources like Talk Tax. For those who have never heard of Talk Tax before, it is a great website set up in 2014, that provides hard to reach HMRC contact numbers and articles to inform readers about policy change/benefits/ self-assessment and more.

 

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When it comes to getting important things sorted, like my tax returns, I don’t play. I take it very seriously. I believe in being proactive and not reactive when it comes to tax business. And that has helped me stay on top of my business.

These 2 tips for filling out your self assessment tax returns have come in handy for me, and they may work for you too.

 

Start Early

This is the first and most important tip when it comes to filling out your tax returns. You need to be an early bird, and start early. So when the window opens in April, you get it submitted before the summer months. That way you have the time to spread your tax and national insurance payments (if any). Starting early also means you will have the time to take your time filling out your tax returns properly.

When you leave it all until the last-minute, you start to panic so you rush, and you are more likely to make mistakes. You may also have to go into debt to pay your tax bill if you are not prepared. January 31st is the cut of date for self-employed self assessment tax returns, and many people struggle to pay up their bill before the end of January since most of the money has been spent on the Christmas shopping. Plus January is usually a quite month for most businesses. Which is why I like to get mine done long before then. Don’t leave your tax returns until the last-minute.

 

Keep Records

Starting early would work great if you keep records. Ensure you have a spreadsheet for every invoice you send and for any money I spend or receive. Having records will ensure you fill out your tax returns with the right figures quickly. It makes the process a lot easier.

The last thing you want is to fill out wrong information on your tax returns. That would land you in trouble quickly with the HMRC. Having up to date records means you won’t have to guess any figures.

 

Many people are usually frightened when it comes to anything tax related and I understand why It is because they are not well equipped and usually not informed. There are loads of information around to help you submit your tax returns yourself and if you are unable to do so, you can always hire someone else to sort it out for you.

Remember, if  you don’t complete a Self Assessment return for each tax year before the deadline, you will get a penalty fine. This penalty starts at £100 for delays of up to 3 months but will increase the later you leave it. HMRC may also charge you interest on late payments. So ensure you get your tax returns in before the deadline.

 

How do you find the process of submitting your tax returns? Easy or complicated?

 

*Collaborative post.

Amending Mistakes on your Tax Returns

September 22, 2016 By in Blogging Tips, Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 44 Comments

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I wrote a post about filing your tax returns as a freelancer some months ago, and it was well received. So this post is really just a follow-up post, to answer some questions that were asked in the comments and via email.

I set up this blog – Fashion and Style Police in October 2012. And then I knew little or nothing about how bloggers make money. I just wanted an outlet to write. So filing a tax return or registering as self-employed was the last thing As the blog grew, I started getting sponsored posts requests (I wrote all about these in my book, check link directly above) and then I started to think about best ways to send out invoices, registering myself as self-employed and filing the ‘Almighty’ tax returns.

The number question that was asked by many bloggers and freelancers is – “What to do when you have made a mistake filing out your tax return“, followed closely by “How best to keep track of your finances” and “To employ an accountant or not to employ an accountant”.

Here are 3 tips you should answer these questions:

 

Submit your Tax Returns Early

Submitting your tax returns is the first step in getting the process right because you are more likely to complete your tax return without errors when you submit it early. Panic, rush and anxiety usually leads to mistakes. I like to submit my tax returns by May/June (tax year ends April) after the tax year-end even if I have till January. I like to sort out important stuff quickly. And plus if I do make a mistake on my tax returns, I have 12 months to amend it on the HMRC website. So it is better to submit early just incase there are any errors.

 

Check and Check Again

I check my tax returns multiple times before submitting, just incase I missed an error or not included a vital information. I usually get a fresh pair of eyes to check with me as well. It is better to be safe than sorry.

 

Speak with an Accountant

If you are not on top of your finances, to busy to deal with your tax returns or you rather just employ a professional, then speak to an accountant. Sometimes it is best to let the professionals do the work they are trained to do. If you don’t have a budget for an accountant or you are not earning much from your self-employed career, then you may attempt to file your tax returns yourself. I did, and trust me, it is not as difficult as it appears to be. It is quite straight forward, and there are loads of information on the HMRC to guide you. You can aslo call the HMRC office if you need clarification on any tax related issue. The best times to call are Tuesday to Thursday, between 8.30am – 10am, 11.30am – 1pm and 2pm-4pm, but lines are usually open at at 8am Monday – Friday.

 

Do you struggle with filing your tax returns?

 

*This is a collaborative post.

 

 

 

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