Give your contracting business a professional image

Published on Apr 7, 2009 |

Many contractors would benefit from creating a professional image for themselves / their limited companies.

This is not only essential if you are contemplating promoting your services directly to clients, but will also enable you to expand your business in other directions, and help show that your are truly 'self employed' as per the employment status rules which lie at the heart of the IR35 legislation.

Using our experience at our partner site, Bytestart, the UK's leading small business portal, we're compiled a list of ten things you can do to create the right image for your company:

Create the right image for your company

1. Create a professional-looking website, and pay a web designer to create a company logo.

2. Secure a sensible and future-proof domain name and set up a dedicated business email address. Always secure the .com and .co.uk variants of any domain name you are interested in. We've happily used easily.co.uk for over a decade.

3. Use a company letterhead and print some smart business cards. This is a rapid and inexpensive process if you set it up via an online supplier.

4. Use a 'signature' on business emails, containing your website address, and other contract details.

5. Join business social networking sites to promote yourself. The most popular example currently is linkedin. If you're feeling brave, set up a Twitter account!

6. Consider joining networking groups and organisations such as the FSB, and contractor-specific ones such as the PCG.

7. Try writing articles on subjects your are an expert in for online and offline publications, and answer questions on web bulletin boards.

8. Brush up on your web marketing skills to promote your website in Google, and the key web directories. See our dedicated web marketing section in Bytestart for tips.

9. Take time to keep your own CV up-to-date and relevant. You might even consider uploading a version of your CV to your new website.

10. You are selling yourself and your services to clients, so a professional image and good preparation can make all the difference between winning and losing that next contract!

Contractor Services

Income Protection (PHI) and Contractor Mortgages - Specialist quotes
Free Umbrella Company - Save over £1400 p.a. on fees with Springboard
Contract Experts - ClearSky Accounting on 08000 325 326
Qdos - IR35 experts - Providers of low cost insurances
Parasol - the UK's favourite umbrella company
Free IR35 & Tax Review - Call ICS on 0800 195 3750
K & B Accountancy Group- Fixed fee accounting for contractors only £75pm
Cloud 9 Group - Umbrella Solutions only £19.95 per week
Umbrella4Contractors - Low fees, same day setup
Professional Indemnity Insurance - Contractor PI cover


Back to top
Search Contract Eye

 Our Partners
Parasol PAYE umbrella
Award winning service
Contractor Accountants
Full Service, Fixed Fee!
Free Umbrella Company
Save over £1400 p.a.
ClearSky Accounting
From £95 per month
Fixed Fee Accounting
Contractor Specialists
Umbrella4Contractors
Low fees, same day setup
Free IR35 / Tax Review
Call ICS - 0800 195 3750
Umbrella Co. Solutions
Only £19.95 per week
PRINCE2, MSP & M_o_R
Maven Training

 Contractor Insurance
Hiscox Office Insurance
Instant Online Quote
IR35 Insurance
Essential Protection
Income Protection
If you're unable to work



 Contractor Services
Compare Insurance Deals
PI & Business Liability
Contractor Ltd Company
Instant online formation
IT Contractor Pensions
The last great tax break
Private Medical Insurance
Tailored contractor cover
IT Contractor Mortgages
Based on hourly rates!
Protect Your Income
Get a PHI quote
IT Contractor Life Cover
Protect your dependants
Critical Illness Cover
Comprehensive cover



 IT Contractor Guides
Contractor Umbrella
Umbrella Co. Guides
Limited Companies
IT Contractor Guide
Contractor Accountants
Accountancy Directory
Corporation Tax
IT Contractor Guide
IT Contractor Mortgages
How to get the best rates
Contractor Insurance
Are you covered?
PAYE Umbrella Company
How umbrellas' operate
Limited or Umbrella?
Which company structure?
Security Clearance
How do you get it?
IR35 Insurance
Tax investigation cover
IR35 Contract
Contract review guide
Professional Indemnity
IT contractor cover
Umbrella Companies
Links to key providers
Parasol Umbrella Company
'My Parasol' portal

Stay up to date with our RSS feed | Terms of Use | About Us | Directory | Site Map | MSC Legislation | Income Shifting

Copyright © 2006-9, Contract Eye Limited, All Rights Reserved.

UK Contractor Guides, Contractor Accountants, Umbrella Companies, IR35, Insurance, Contractor Mortgages
Design by Blue Egg Web Agency