As well as being a contractor, you are also a director of a limited company, a company that you work for and represent. How do you promote that company and your services? You should start developing your business profile from the off-set and generate awareness using the internet, networking and social media for example. By doing this you will not only put yourself and the company out there, you can look for future opportunities once your current contract ends and have a positive effect on your IR35 status.
There are a number of tasks and activities that you may find useful to move your business forward. One of which is using the internet. For most potential clients, a website would be the first point of call when trying to access information. It doesn’t necessarily need to be anything fancy or technical, just a simple information page which reiterates and verifies your services and reinforces information.
Building a good online presence can be helped by using Social Media. Sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can all provide links to networking – and, it’s free!! LinkedIn is a great way to look for employment opportunities, and can allow potential clients to look at your offering as well.
Networking offline comes with time, it can be difficult to start off with but it does get easier with practice to talk to potential clients or suppliers. Something as simple as a business card can help, it will also drive clients to your website or LinkedIn profile.
Promoting your business also has a positive effect on the nightmare which is IR35, it demonstrates that you are an independent client, working for yourself. One of the questions in the BET (Business Entity Test) is ‘Has your business spent over £1200 on advertising in the past 12 month?’ – being able to answer ‘yes’ to this question will help rectify your status as a contractor and not as a disguised employee.
If you would like any further information please contact us today.
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