Tom West joined Crunch in 2015 following a successful political communications campaign at the Brighton and Hove Green Party. He excels at converting complex jargon into simple, easily-digestible explanations. As Community and Social Manager, he oversees the Crunch Chorus Community - the largest self-employed network in the UK.
A keen creative - Tom has performed in over 20 countries with his punk rock band, and also moonlights as a writer and backstage producer at live entertainment company, RIPTIDE Wrestling. He lives in Sussex with his partner (a self-employed florist) and their Romanian rescue dog.
Whatever your business situation, there are significant tax reliefs for pension contributions available. So you can pay less tax and save for your future!
A round up of the tax changes that may affect small businesses and business owners for the new tax year that starts on 6th April 2021.
We explain the tax rates that apply for the 2022/23 tax year, affecting income taxpayers resident in Scotland and how to see if you're affected.
Arbitration is a similar process to litigation, just less formal. Lawbite explains how much it costs, how long it takes and much more.
Andrew Farrugia from Lawbite explains what you need to consider when signing a new contract.
Clair Parmenter, a Commercial & Performance specialist and owner of DiaryDo Ltd, approached Crunch Mortgages when her self-employment was causing issues with buying a home.
On Weds 26th January Social For Good's Kerry will be answering your Instagram questions on our Community Forum.
Struggling for last-minute Christmas gift ideas? Support small businesses with unique gifts.
We are obsessed with doing what we can to ensure everyone is able to love what they do. Crunch want to ensure that people with an entrepreneurial spark do not have to jump through lots of legislative hoops to become their own boss.
Our friends at Leapers run an annual study into the relationship between mental health and self-employment. Crunch would love you to be a part of this.
A survey has revealed that tax changes have had almost as much effect on driver availability as Brexit, and more than COVID-19.
Make your transition to a freelance role as seamless as possible with Crunch Chorus’ Guide to Freelancing!
Wrestling champion. Box Office sensation. President? How your business can harness the magnetism of Dwayne Johnson.
Crunch nominated for gongs including Accounting Tech of the Year and Best Customer Service at the UK FinTech Awards / Brighton & Hove Business Awards.
Starting or running a business, and need tips? Want to network with fellow self-employed workers? Find out what events are coming up.
To make naming your business or company just a little easier, here are some simple, quick methods for coming up with a company name.
We’ve all done it, yet most freelancers will have regretted it at some stage. Here's a few who have had enough of being asked to work for free.
Here are six important lessons from Alan Partridge for small businesses - some funny, some tragic. Oooh, it's a good list...
"If there's always biscuits in the tin, where’s the fun in biscuits?" Find out if the decision to turn your hobby into a career is the right one for you.
Failure to file a Confirmation Statement is a criminal offence, which can result in directors being fined personally in criminal courts. Here's what to do.
Matt Dowling founded the Freelancer Club in 2014 after his own experiences as a freelance photographer highlighted a need for a change.
To claim tax relief on your mobile phone or landline expenses, a contract needs to be set up between your limited company and the service provider.
What is the Tax-Free Childcare scheme? How does it work, and how do you apply for it? Read on for everything you need to know about the new scheme.
How long does trademarking a company last? How much does it cost? What's the difference between trademarking a company & registering one? All this and more.
A quick explanation of each of the small business taxes you’re expected to pay as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner.
This handy checklist will help you understand what to look out for when arranging insurance cover as a contractor.
A handy, jargon-free checklist to prepare you for when times take a turn for the worse.
Bookkeeping is the art of recording your financial information so that you can keep track of your incomings and outgoings. It can be a delicate process, but once you've mastered it, you'll have full control of your finances.
Having a clear plan and building a funnel of potential clients are key to Hannah Searle's approach to making her Interior Designer business a success.
Even self-employed veterans can struggle to generate small business leads. Here's a checklist of how small business can get in front of the right people.
Want to break free...lance? Learn about escaping your boring job, breaking free and going freelance with lessons from five Queen bangers.
We show you how to set up a limited company so you get to define your brand, own everything you do, and run your business in the most tax-efficient way.
When you join Crunch Chorus you’ll get access to free business guides, self-employed meetups, an invoice generator, late payment letter templates and more.
Whether you've decided to retire, become an employee, or go back to sole trader, you need to know the tax-efficient ways to close your limited company.
The UK formally left the European Union on 31st of December 2020. Here's what that means for you as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner.
How do you find work to get the ball rolling as a consultant, and continue to get the kind of clients that will keep inviting you back?
As a freelance consultant, you’re now the master of your trade, as well as the master of your own destiny. Here's what you need to know to get started!
We take a closer look at the differences between unsecured and secured business loans, to help you decide which may be better suited to your business.
This bumper article gives practical tips and advice on how to develop from a freelance newbie into a freelance veteran.
Toby Osbourn went self-employed in order to take control of his own financial security. Backed by a strong support network, the gamble has paid off Toby and his business Tosbourn Ltd.
Going freelance has not only given copywriter Melissa Holloway priceless time with her a family, but also opened doors to a variety of work that she always craved.
Usually refers to a limited company, set up to provide the services of a contractor. Find out how you can set one up, and why you might want to.
Leaving a comfortable full-time job to go it alone was the "hardest thing" for Jonathan Cottrell, but four years down the line he has no regrets and is excited for what the future holds.
From being made redundant in 2002 to playing a part in the launch of “Boris Bikes”, Nick Lewis gives his insight into becoming a self-employed Web Consultant.
Product Design Consultant and Crunch client John Boyle tells of his self-employed journey so far.
From parting ways with Google to being the maker of his own destiny, Jonas V. Schürmann shares his experience of going it alone in the video games industry.
Ditching office politics, spending more time surfing and improved mental health have contributed to Software Development Consultant Tadas Tamosauskas' route to self-employment.
Sometimes it seems the to-do list is never ending. And a never-ending to-do list often leads to stress. Here's what you can do to help yourself cope with stress as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner.
Join the Crunch Chorus Facebook group today to share advice, experience, and make new connections. For friendly freelancers, contractors, & the self-employed.
A businesses would typically provide a customer with a credit note when the amount on an invoice is disputed or incorrect. This might be due to an admin error, or because the customer requires a full or partial refund. Here are a couple of scenarios of when you might want to issue a credit note to a client.
Half of the self-employed wanted to obtain a better work-life balance but research suggests many are working an additional 14 hours every week.
Freelance copywriter, Suzanne Lindfors, shares her thoughts on juggling freelance work with the demands of parenthood and more.
How do you know when you might be needing more assistance and advice? We take a look at the ways in which you can find out if you need more help.
When Matilde, owner of a social media consultancy business for SMEs, was faced with a client who wouldn’t pay up, she contacted Crunch Collections for help.
Case study: When a design agency was suffering with unpaid invoices it decided to enlist the help of Crunch Collections. Read the full story.
We take a look at how London-based IT Contractor Ronan Moriarty has used our services to keep on top of his bookkeeping and what the future holds for him.
We spoke to interior designer and Crunch client Clare Devlin about how freelancing has given her far greater opportunities than her previous employment.
Changing from a sole trader to a limited company? Here’s a simple explanation of when to make the transition and what you’ll need to keep in mind, without all the jargon.
If you’re planning to rent out a room in your home, you’ll need to know how the tax system works, and how it affects you. Here's a jargon-free lowdown.
It’s essential to make sure that you keep your personal and business banking separate, so you’ll usually need a dedicated business bank account.
Professional Indemnity insurance should be considered by any self-employed worker who is providing design, advice or specifications.
Whether you have an accountant or are taking on the books yourself, it's important to be organised, especially if you're planning on making expense claims.
Want to know what interest you can charge on late payments when working as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner? This article explains what the rules are, and a few ways to get your money from difficult clients. Get paid what you’re owed!
The Conservatives' 'National Living Wage' is not the same as the one proposed by the Living Wage Foundation. We look at the differences.
Don’t worry, it’s not as confusing as it seems. Here's what you need to know about share value and capital when setting up a limited company.
If you live outside of the UK but run a UK-based limited company, there are certain rules you’ll need to be aware of to effectively run your business.
The VAT Mini One Stop Shop (VAT MOSS) scheme is a way of paying VAT if your UK business provides certain digital services to customers in the EU.
Picking the best card reader can be a time-consuming task. Here’s a look at what all the major providers offer.
SWOT is a very common process used for planning - it's not perfect though. What other methods can you use?
Thinking about leaving your job and becoming self-employed? Ask yourself these questions first to help you decide if this is the right career move for you.
We take a look at Income Protection Insurance and how it can be beneficial for the self-employed in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Just because you’re a lone-worker, doesn’t mean you have to be a lonely worker. In this article, we take a look at some ways you can combat loneliness.
Receiving a gift from your employer is a great feeling, but in the workplace the employer needs to be aware of whether or not they need to pay tax on the present. Here are some helpful examples for small businesses.
Since June 2016, UK companies have been required to maintain a PSC register of decision-makers. We explain what you need to do to stay compliant.
The chances are slim, but accidents happen. Make sure you're prepared with our free business continuity plan template.
Hiring employees can increase your productivity and help you offer more services to your clients. Here's how to decide what to do.
Need help getting your business finances in shape? Webinar and Q&A with top tips and simple steps to get your business in good financial health.
Discover how a press release is set out, and what information the recipient is expecting to get out of it. Copy and edit our free press release template!
A compilation of productivity tips that we’ve gathered over the years - for everyone from beginner freelancers to seasoned small business professionals.
Having been involved in an identity theft scam on Elance , I've since learnt a few things about the risks of using these freelance marketplaces.
Chosen a business partner (or partners)? It’s time to decide which type of business partnership you’ll be entering into. Here's what you need to know.
Welcome to the tax rogues Hall of Shame! featuring Alan Partridge, Vince Cable, Kerry Katona, Bernard Black and Wesley Snipes.
Scared of asking for money? Just remember some guy gained £42k for a potato salad. And that's not the weirdest thing on this list of crowdfunding successes.
Strategic business partnerships give small businesses and startups the opportunity to grow their company. We explore multiple partners and the benefits.
Business jargon can often be complicated, especially if you're just getting started. Here's a simple glossary of business / accounting terms.
Landlord's permission is necessary when you're running a business from a rental property, but they can’t say no without a ‘reasonable’ justification.
Metallica and Napster have learned to co-exist. But did file-sharing create a race to the bottom for musicians, or liberate them from greedy middle-men?
As a freelancer, is it best to gear yourself towards being a generalist, or sell your services as a specialist? We put our tuppence in.
A comprehensive guide on how subscription-based streaming services like Spotify pay artists, and the other alternatives available.
With freelancing comes great freedom including the ability to work while you are travelling. We take a closer look at so-called digital nomads.
Talk positively about the great things you've done, and win clients over. Our jargon-free advice on creating a great freelancer portfolio or contractor CV.
One of the best online accountants. I ran two Limited Companies with Crunch. An amazing experience, I would definitely recommend.
MoreCrunch are fantastic. Always there to support you, which is especially useful when you are a new business owner. Super fast and reliable service.
MoreCrunch has always provided me with a great service. I have repeatedly recommended them to my friends.
MoreCrunch boasts over a decade of experience by assisting a plethora of businesses with professional advice and guidance from experts.
Our Knowledge articles, jargon-free business guides, tools and calculators as well as tutorial videos can help answer your questions.
Our free self-employed community, Crunch Chorus, boasts over 71,000 members like you.