Newsletter Freelance Forward Facts

June | 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