Newsletter Freelance Forward Facts

April | Market rate guide launched and more

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• Freelance IT and business consultant Daniela Radu shares how she met her first customer.
• Gertjan‘s Let’s talk about tax baby with tax deduction tips for renting agreements, interests on current accounts and expense allowance.
• Which events are you attending? Read our selection curated by Kayla. This month you can go to Expatival, calculate your net worth or learn how to kickstart as a freelancer.
• In this month’s New & Noteworthy section by Olivia you get an update about the results of Freelancing in Belgium survey, tackling loneliness and AI.

• Paola features the top discussions in the community during the previous month:
  • how much an accountant costs, fiscal responsibilities, applying for unemployment benefits, affordable PEPPOL options.
  • And recommendations for corporate photography, accountancy tools and how to stay productive.
• Discover our featured jobs.
• Paola shares her best tips on getting clients; this time she shares about red flags
• A freelancer meme about how to calm the freelance brain (at night).

April | Market rate guide launched and more

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• Marketing & Communications Consultant Sabine Wagener shares how she met her first customer.
• Gertjan‘s Let’s talk about tax baby with what you need to do if you change bank accounts.
• Which events are you attending? Read our selection curated by Kayla. This month you can cowork in Gent, learn about AI or enjoy a day at the Expatival in Leuven.

• In this month’s New & Noteworthy section by Olivia you can read about market rates, how you can contribute to the freelancing survey, Securex academy, tips for getting to your coworking place and more.
• Paola features the top discussions in the community during the previous month:
  • meal vouchers, what perks can be negotiated in a contract, recommendations for videographers, webdesigners and more.
• Discover our featured jobs.
• Paola shares her best tips on getting clients; this time she shares about cold outreach.
• A freelancer meme about the dilemma of saying no to well-paid assignments to stay sane.
• A freelancer meme about serving your client perhaps too well.

March | New VAT rules, pension, click funnels & more

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• Marketing Agency Founder & Freelance Product Marketer Ming Wai Leung shares how he met his first customer.
• Gertjan‘s Let’s talk about tax baby with news about extended VAT periods
• Which events are you attending? Read our selection curated by Kayla. This month you can learn about pension, content marketing and e-invoicing.

• This month’s New & Noteworthy section by Olivia is full of updates: where to earn money online, AI and levelling up your freelance career.
• Paola features the top discussions in the community during the previous month:
  • How to transition from VAT exempt to being subject to VAT, when not to freelance, is it worth freelancing for 80K a year and more.
• Discover our featured jobs.
• Paola shares her best tips on getting clients; this time she shares about click funnels.
• A freelancer meme about serving your client perhaps too well.

February| Find out what the new government means for your taxes

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• From now on the Spotlight will focus on how freelancers got their first assignment! In this edition Event Moderator Katrina Sichel shares how she met her first customers.
  Gertjan‘s Let’s talk about tax baby with how the new government might impact the lives and wallets of freelancers in Belgium
• Learn about what’s new for freelancers in the New & Noteworthy section by Olivia. This month: social benefits, copyright distribution key, liability insurance and more!

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection curated by Kayla. This month you can learn about starting to freelance and fuck-ups.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations:
• Paola features the top discussions in the community during the previous month:
  • How to divide finances
  • Getting freelance projects through interims
  • Recommendations for website, project management and more.
• Getting Clients: Paola shares her best tips on getting clients; this time she shares about content marketing
• Discover our featured jobs
• New! A fun freelancer meme.

January | Freelance Tax & Legal updates for this year

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• Spotlight: In this edition Messaging Strategist Piet Saegeman shares with Loes how he met his first customer.
• Tax: In the Let’s talk about Tax baby section you can learn about bike deductibility tips by Gertjan
• News: Learn about what’s new for freelancers in the New & Noteworthy section by Olivia. Stay up to date with key tax and legal updates for 2025, learn 3 skills to double your income and find out about Accountable’s updates the previous year.

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection curated by Kayla. This month you can connect with fellow freelancers during a co-working day and learn about Belgian AI.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations:
• Paola features the top discussions in the community during the previous month:
  • 2024 in one word
  • Is freelancing on the rise or something to avoid?
  • How freelancers use AI
  • How freelancers save money.
• Getting Clients: Paola shares her best tips on getting clients; this time she shares trend and how they might impact freelancers’ sales and marketing abilities.
• New! Loes shares a fun freelancer meme.

December | Freelancers’ year-end roundup: advice, events, and what’s nextFrom tax hacks to new tools

• Spotlight: Loes spoke with Veronica Santocildes about her freelance journey, being burnt out with teaching and moving to educational consulting.
• Tax: In the Let’s talk about tax, baby, Gertjan asks the question if you are ready for e-invoicing and explains why you should start now. The video talks about the same subject.
• News: A solution for paper mobility tickets, discover Tentoo’s end-of-year promotion and earn more this holiday season, learn about False independence: legal principles in Belgium and tips for protecting your self-employed status and discover 5 ways to make money as a freelance writer in 2025 and more in the the New & Noteworthy section by Olivia.

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection by Kayla. You can learn about marketing, retainers and business school.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: Paola curated questions like invoicing team building attendance, real invoices to fake ones, electronic invoicing requirements, salary package suggestions for an IT professional and more.
• Getting Clients: A recap of all the tips from 2024

November| From tax hacks to new tools

• Spotlight: Loes spoke with Ansar Ahmed, a seasoned professional in recruitment consulting and web development.
• Tax: In the “Let’s talk about tax, baby” section, Gertjan explains about deducting a privately owned car
• News: Extra legal benefits, Setting your price as a freelancer, Freelancer Focus Report, Olympus Mobility app launch with 60 day free trial, Mental wellbeing and more New & Noteworthy section by Olivia

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection by Kayla. You can learn about starting as a freelancer, copyrights, AI and cyber security
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: Paola curated questions like Can freelancers legally live in Belgium but be registered as self-employed somewhere else? What are the requirements for PEPPOL invoicing, where to find freelance work and more.
• Getting Clients: Dos and don’ts about how to use GenAI for getting clients

October| From tax deductions to top tips and events: must-read for freelancers

• Spotlight: Loes spoke with Bart Sablon, a culinary master and freelance chef.
• Tax: Considering working abroad? In the “Let’s talk about tax, baby” section, Gertjan explains about submitting you personal income tax.
• News: New accounting offer, flexi-jobs, choosing freelance platform, a new community about investing for self-employed in the New & Noteworthy section by Olivia

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection by Kayla. You can learn about finance, design, UX and you can network.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: Great insights on getting a mortgage, electronic invoicing and invoicing in general.
• Getting Clients: the importance of networking.

September | From tax deductions to top tips and events: must-read for freelancers

• Spotlight: Loes spoke with Andrew Bennet about his musical freelance journey.
• Tax: Considering working abroad? In the “Let’s talk about tax, baby” section, Gertjan details which costs you can deduct.
• News: New liability law and e-invoicing information. Learn about what’s new for freelancers in the New & Noteworthy section by Olivia

• Which events are you attending? Read our selection by Kayla. You can learn about storytelling and increasing your revenue.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: Great insights on salary package options, feedback on the fiscal benefits between a sole proprietorship and a company, tips on minimising fees and conversion rate loss when getting paid in another currency, hiring an accountant: yes or no? PLUS Monthly recommendations: photographers, must-attend conferences, fuel cards, and even advice on what to do when your laptop suddenly dies.
• Getting Clients:the importance of follow-up

June | Value, versatility, and vital tax tips

• Spotlight: Advice by freelance copywriter Christine Vardaros who used to be a professional cyclist.
• Tax: reducing social security and financial aid
• News: liability insurance offer, mobility expenses on one monthly invoice, a step-by-step plan for starting a new business and how big is the problem of unpaid invoices for freelancers in Belgium

• Events: Freelance Sales & Marketing Day and outdoor co-working event
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: how much an accountant should charge, buying a 2nd hand car from a private person, when the tax authorities refuse your professional costs and recommendations for WordPress experts, Dutch language teachers and interior architects.
• Getting Clients: Closing the gap from idea to action

May | Stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the world of freelancing

• Spotlight: Advice by Public Procurement Expert Anja Palmaerts on adapting marketing efforts, introducing new services and more.
• Tax: the do’s and don’ts about renting as a freelancer
• News: policy initiatives for social protection of the self-employed, exhibits, interesting podcasts, late payments survey; and learn about temporary employment options, invoice reminders in Accountable and the impact of solopreneurship on venture capital.

• Events: Kickstart as a freelancer in Belgium free virtual seminar + save the date for the upcoming Freelance Sales & Marketing Day
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Freelance Conversations: sending invoices electronically in a specific format, unpaid invoices, a ‘confession’ by a freelancer hitting a rough patch and getting support and advice.
  Recommendations for photographers, car leases, portable hard drive cables and iPhone setup help.
• Getting Clients: Social selling

April| Should you rent or own? Also: e-invoicing, social contributions and the Freelance Sales & Marketing Day

• Tax: Buying or renting your home
• News: Learn about e-invoicing, and social contributions and get the results from the Freelancers in Europe report.
• Freelance Conversations:  What are the important elements that I need to consider before accepting an offer by a web designer, besides from budget? Are social orientation and local language courses considered business expenses? Is it a good idea to put your photo on a CV?

• Events: Yoga and save the date for the upcoming Freelance Sales & Marketing Day
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients: Social media presence tips

March| Internet subscriptions, client listings and are freelancers more expensive than employees?

• Spotlight – Loes spoke with Shumaila Sattar, Director of Technology and Transformation at Steeright.
• Tax: About the difference between professional and personal internet subscriptions
• News:Learn what a client listing is and if freelancers are more expensive than employees
• Freelance Conversations: Recommendations for professional pictures, websites, female entrepreneurship organisations, and locations for chocolate workshops and more!
  And promotional letters disguised as invoices.

• Events: Discover how to freelance with the benefits of an employee, and save the date for the upcoming Freelance Sales & Marketing Day
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients: Tips for your website

February| Investments, pension news, customers that don’t pay and more

• Spotlight – Loes spoke with Martijn Kruining, an IT Support Manager.
• Tax: About the difference between investments and professional costs
• News: News about pension in 2025 and making it easier to start a business in Brussels
• Freelance Conversations: Low rates, tips for when customers don’t pay and recommendations for time-tracking apps and Internet providers.

• Events:Freelance Expert Sessions, elevating your skills in data and web development and a panel discussion about transitioning from dreaming to doing.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients:About the importance of who, what, how and why.

January| All about leasing, company cars and upcoming expert sessions for freelancers in Belgium

• Spotlight – spoke with freelance communication specialist Rosa Abruzzese about freelancing and her dog.
• Tax: With tax tips about cars.
• News:discover this year’s freelance trends, check out our latest podcast episode and read about the changes to the self-employed guaranteed income protection.
• Freelance Conversations: Love for last month’s Start a a Freelancer event, design enthusiasts answered artist and furniture restorer’s call to connect, Christmas wishes in 20+ languages from our international community and more.

• Events: Freelance Expert sessions about tax optimisation, mortgages, negotiation and more.
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients: What is the difference between sales and marketing?

December| New laws and regulations, tax tips worth their weight in gold and more for freelancers in Belgium

• Spotlight – Denys Robyn, creator of Rocket Pricing Plans shares how and why he took the plunge into freelancing
• Tax: Wondering whether to set up shop as a sole proprietor or are you better off setting up a company?
• News: Higher fees if you pay social security costs too late, 100 ways for freelancers in Belgium to find, get and keep clients, From freelancer to agency owner – e-book waiting list…
• Freelance Conversations: End-of-year gift ideas, why our events are in English and how we share job posts in the community…

• Events: Start as a Freelancer in Belgium Day 2023, How to Freelance Without Self-employed status
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients: Showing gratitude to those clients who made your year

November| Time management, business gifts & record amount of freelancers in Belgium

• Spotlight – – Freelance podcast producer Ilse Himschoot on surrounding yourself with the right people.
• Tax: Business gifts
• News: how to freelance without registering as self-employed, record amount of freelancers, diversify your income with YouTube, correct VAT submission mistakes and more.
• Freelance Conversations:
• How ChatGPT and other AI could affect pricing, Looking for opportunities to network with other freelancers?
  How to track mobility expenses as a freelancer, Recommendations for digital marketing skills programs, landing pages and life coaching and how to ensure your accountant is doing a good job.

• Events: Start as a Freelancer in Belgium Day 2023, Pitch XXL 2023
• Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• Getting Clients: Content

October | Get ready for Q4 with our updates and tips from the freelancing world

• Spotlight – Visual Storyteller Kayla Spelling shares tips to combat pressure and responsibilities that come with being a freelancer.
• NEW SECTION: Tax: zooming in on copyright
• News: pension saving and sustainable investing, getting an (e)bike, and top 10 sectors with the highest average salaries
• Freelance Conversations: Where to store money, getting clients, buying or leasing a car

• Events: Freelance Summit, Start as a Freelancer in Belgium Day…
• NEW SECTION – Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• NEW SECTION – Getting Clients: It starts with YOU!

September 2023 | Take advantage of the “free” part of freelancing

• Spotlight – B2B Marketing consultant Patricia de Bruycker on personal growth.
• NEW SECTION: Tax: zooming in on deductibles
• News:  New regulations for recovering consumer debt, new blog post about navigating a financial crisis as a freelancer, self-employed have higher wellbeing than blue and white-collar workers.
• Freelance Conversations: Business banks accounts, finding clients, recommendations for website and logo designers

• Events: Freelance Finance Day, V-Entrepreneurs Talks, Freelance Friday…
• NEW SECTION – Featured jobs: Freelance jobs by our community partner GIGHOUSE and in the Facebook group.
• NEW SECTION – Getting Clients: Don’t forget about existing and old clients

June 2023 | Take advantage of the “free” part of freelancing

• Spotlight – Freelance translator and copywriter Teresa Sousa on the opportunity to choose what she does with her time
• News:  Where can you network as a freelancer in Belgium? Tax and administrative deadlines. All about working with Upwork
• Events: Create. Freelancers in Hasselt & Namur. Level Up

• Learn from top discussions in the community:

– Recommendations for the best freelance platforms to get assignments, professional liability insurance and good-quality business cards

– Do freelancers need a website?

– Looking for a new car

• Sales tip of the month: Niching down vertically or horizontally?

May 2023 | About not waiting for the “perfect” time

• Spotlight – No regrets nor perfection with photographer Alex Harris
• News:  Price setting simulator, getting paid quicker, flexible train tickets…
• Events: Freelancers in the city

• Learn from top discussions in the community:
  – Dos and don’ts of working with a cleaning person
  – My business is doing terribly, I’m considering applying for unemployment
  – Referral rates
  – Value bombs for aspiring agency owners
• Sales tip of the month: Who is your focus client?

April 2023 | Are you ready for Q2? – and more from the freelancing world

• Spotlight – how confidence and a good business understanding help video creator Benjamin Cutore grow.
• News:  Social security indexation, a call for speakers for a freelancer event, tax pre-payments, and more
• Events: Pre-register for our Freelancers in the City events

• Learn from top discussions in the community:
  – Dos and don’ts of working with a cleaning person
  – My business is doing terrible, I’m considering applying for unemployment
  – Referral rates
  – Value bombs for aspiring agency owners
• Sales tip of the month: Do not try to be everywhere!

March 2023 | An opportunity to exchange services – and more news, updates and tips from the freelancing world

• Spotlight – Find out why Julie Dhaene doesn’t want to grow her business.
• News:  A guide for professional cards, a list of benefits for parents to be
• Events: Freelancers can exchange services during the upcoming Service Swap event on 30/3

• Learn from top discussions in the community:
  – How can one make it work to start as a freelancer in Belgium with all the taxes and social security charges?
  – Freelance bonuses
  – If you fuck up working for a client, do you charge for that time?
• Sales tip of the month: Do not try to be everywhere! Pick one platform and get the most out of it first. Find out how to discover which platform to use.

February 2023 | We’ve reached 10 000 members – and more news, updates and tips from the freelancing world

• Spotlight – Meet Dubravko Kastrapeli, illustrator and comic book artist.
• News:  A unique tax declaration, 10 000 members, payrolling and artists to benefit from lower social security contributions.
• Events: Co-working days and FREE Entrepreneur Week

• Learn from top discussions in the community:
  – Business bank cards
  – Nice tips for decorating your home-office
  – Can my accountant raise prices just like that?
  – Taking the plunge into freelancing, starting as an independent or with a company?
• Sales tip of the month:  The 4 most important questions you have to ask yourself when starting a business

January 2023 | May all your business wishes come true | Freelance Trends for 2023, The Entrepreneur Week and so much more.

• Spotlight – Discover Ako Hoo, Expert in international e-commerce
• News:  The Trends Shaping The Freelance Revolution In 2023
  The Entrepreneur Week with a dedicated day for freelancers
  Freelancing while being a student
• Events: a full list of events for freelancers – check out the extensive list; there are many opportunities to network with potential clients!

• Learn from top discussions in the community:
  – Freelancing with AD(H)D and other super powers!
  – What are the 10 hardest parts of being a freelancer?
  – Working with agencies.
  – The 25.000€ threshold for VAT.
• Sales tip of the month: LinkedIn
• The tooltip of the month: Bizzy