Freelance talent agency The Indie List has introduced a new service to help independent contractors receive tailored advice about their accounts, expenses, tax, financial planning, and the process of dealing with the Revenue Commissioners.
According to Indie List co-founder Peter McPartlin: “One of the major barriers for professionals taking the self-employed route has been the lack of a safety net around financial security and impartial advice. As PAYE employees, many did not have to give much consideration to these previously as they were provided by their employers as a matter of course.”
He pointed out that the latest estimates suggest there are now almost 3,000 people offering freelance marketing and creative services in the Irish market, with a sharp rise in numbers since the pandemic and ‘the great resignation’ that followed as more professionals began to choose the flexibility of independent working.
McPartlin added: “There are three key levers of wellbeing for workers now, whether freelance or otherwise: financial wellbeing, which is all about being rewarded and taxed fairly; career wellbeing, which relates to ongoing training and development opportunities; and social wellbeing, which is about work-life balance as well as building new connections through work.
“These are largely taken as a given by permanent employees, but it’s not the same for freelancers. And we felt that if we’re going to provide a more supportive and sustainable opportunity for our community then we needed to take the initiative here.”
In Association with
The Indie List has joined up with Contracting Plus, an accounting and tax firm for independent workers, to create a tailored package of services for freelancers.
This includes accounting and tax advice, said Indie List co-founder Una Herlihy, but also allows List members “to avail of an online learning hub with hundreds of useful upskilling courses, exclusive access to discounts on fuel, holidays, retailers and more, and a fitness platform with exercise routines to keep the more sedentary freelancer at the top of their game.”
The Indie List represents c.900 freelance professionals providing services encompassing strategic communications, creativity and e-commerce and members work for a broad range of communications agencies, SMEs and large corporates. The duo founded it in 2020.
Herlihy is a marketing consultant who has run her own company, while McPartlin is a media consultant and former chief executive of Today FM.
Contracting Plus provides compliant accountancy solutions to professional freelancers. Formed in 2002, it focuses on the specific needs of professional contractors and has developed accountancy solutions to meet these, according to the company.
Managing director Jimmy Sheehan commented: “We’ve been supporting freelancers in other industry sectors such as engineering, management consultancy and pharma over many years.
“Partnering with The Indie List enables us to show how we can help more independent marketing and creative practitioners take the stress out of their financial and accounting affairs and focus on the work that they’re really good at.”
