How Much Do Other Freelancers Charge?
The Freelancer's Tea Break
How much should you actually be charging as a freelancer? Spoiler: there's no magic number, but there are some brilliant guides out there to help you stop plucking figures out of thin air. This episode is your cheat sheet to finding out what other freelancers are really charging, so you can stop guessing and start pricing with confidence. We're rounding up the best places to snoop on industry rates, from YunoJuno's annual guides to LondonFreelance.org's brilliantly nosy "what I was actually paid" submissions, plus IPSE, Reddit's Freelance UK threads, and a handy calculator to get you...
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Freelance Realities: Not Just the Glossy Highlights
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Ever feel like everyone else got the "how to freelance successfully" manual and you're just winging it? This week's episode is here to tell you: you're not alone, and that glossy six-figure freelance life you see on social media is mostly smoke and mirrors. In this episode, I get honest about what freelancing actually looks like right now: quiet quarters, wobbly income, and all. Inside, you'll get practical, no-fluff tips for riding the ups and downs: how to spot your own seasonal patterns, simple automations to make saving painless, and gentle reminders to keep marketing yourself even when...
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Freelancers: Watch Out for Scammy Discovery Calls (Quick Warning & What to Do)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this quick episode, I’m sharing a warning about scammy discovery call bookings that freelancers are increasingly running into now that we rely on booking links. I’ve heard of calls being booked where the other person turns up just to hard sell to the freelancer, and a recent example from my team involved repeated bookings, a document that wouldn’t open, and a prompt asking for an email address, lots of red flags! If something feels off, I recommend Googling the person’s email address or name, checking LinkedIn, and looking for reports on places like Reddit or spam-flagging sites...
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Tax-Free Childcare & Summer Holiday Survival Tips for Freelancers (UK)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this episode of The Freelancer’s Tea Break, I’m reflecting on my son nearing the end of primary school and sharing practical ways I’ve managed childcare while freelancing, especially over the long summer holidays. I explain how UK tax-free childcare works (pay £8 in, get £2 topped up) and remind you it can help beyond nursery, including some after-school and summer clubs (depending on who accepts it). I also talk about how things get easier as kids get older, and share other support options that have helped me, including help from family (while acknowledging it’s a...
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How to Respond When Someone Asks You to Work for Free (Without Feeling Awkward)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this episode, I’m talking through what to do when someone asks you to work for free, whether it’s an unpaid “test project”, spec work, or a talk with no budget. I share why you can (and should) feel confident declining, plus a few polite scripts you can use. If you do want to offer something, I cover alternatives like directing people to your portfolio/testimonials, creating a short free resource that builds your mailing list, offering a paid taster or paid spec work, or agreeing a clear skill swap. I also explain when free appearances can be more like PR/marketing (such as...
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Tiny Ways To Outsource (without feeling overwhelmed)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
If the idea of outsourcing in your business feels scary, you’re not alone. For a lot of freelancers and small business owners, “outsourcing” can sound like handing over everything (your inbox, your accounts, your social media, your systems) and trusting someone else with the things you’ve been doing solo for years. Grips laptop nervously to chest The good news is, you don’t have to start big. In fact, you’re much more likely to succeed (and actually enjoy the process) if you start with one small, contained task that removes stress and creates consistency. (And for me,...
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Freelance Service Funnels: DIY, DWY and DFY (Revisited)
The Freelancer's Tea Break
In this episode, I'm diving into something I talk about a lot with my coaching clients: the three levels of services you can offer: DIY (Do it Yourself), DWY (Done With You), and (DFY) Done For You. Whether you're thinking about adding passive income, building a membership, or just wondering how to price and structure what you do, this one's for you. I also share a quick update on why this episode looks a little different than planned, turns out we all need to pivot sometimes! Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction & Welcome 0:19 - Why This Episode Changed (Tool Shutdown) 0:45 - What the Episode...
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3 Ways I’m Finding New Clients in May 2026
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Ever wonder what an experienced freelancer actually does to find new clients each month? In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on my own client attraction strategy for May, including the thing that got me my first AI-referred client within weeks. What we cover: Why having a "pick and mix" of marketing activities alongside your regular content works so well AI SEO, what it is and why it's becoming a real discovery channel for freelancers How an outdated Google Business profile could be costing you visibility (guilty as charged!) Using LinkedIn without burning out, including a sneaky...
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Can You Claim Universal Credit While Freelancing?
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Thinking about going freelance but worried about losing your Universal Credit? Good news, you don't have to choose. In this episode, I'm breaking down how Universal Credit actually works for self-employed people, and why it might be more flexible than you think. What we cover: Why Universal Credit isn't just for employed people, freelancers can claim too The Minimum Income Floor explained (and why it probably won't affect you straight away) The 12-month startup period and how it gives you breathing room to build your client base How to report your income and expenses monthly through your UC...
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Following up After Discovery Calls
The Freelancer's Tea Break
Does following up after a discovery call make you cringe? You're not alone, but done right, a follow-up can actually feel like a gift to your potential client. In this episode, I'm sharing three simple strategies to check in without feeling pushy, salesy, or awkward. What we cover: Why follow-ups feel icky — and why they don't have to Setting expectations during the discovery call so follow-ups feel natural Keeping your check-in email short, simple, and stress-free (and saving it as a template!) The "magic email" from community member Sally Farrant that gets responses fast Action steps:...
info_outlineSometimes, I come away from recording a podcast episode with a long list of things to do. This was one of those episodes! Molly Scanlan joined me this week to chat about sustainability, our online carbon use and small tweaks we can do to improve our business online in a sustainable way.
Molly Scanlan
Molly builds low carbon, privacy-friendly websites for social enterprises and non-evil small businesses. If your current website no longer fits you, or is a shonky DIY job you're embarrassed to show people, she can sort it out. She used to be a teacher, so everything can be explained as if you're a 6 year old.
Website: https://www.mollygetsitdone.com/signup/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scanlanmolly/
Mentioned Websites
Fathom (Affliate Link): https://usefathom.com/ref/AQXGUO
Website Carbon: https://www.websitecarbon.com/
Digital Beacon: https://digitalbeacon.co/
Below Radar: https://belowradar.co.uk/
Surveillance Capitalism: https://shoshanazuboff.com/book/
Follow me on Instagram
Email: hello@emmacossey.com
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Want more support? Check out the Freelance Lifestyle School courses and membership.