I live and work in Canada, and for a long time I only worked for clients who were also living and working in Canada. I kind of thought that’s the way things had to be. But thanks to technology, I’ve learned there aren’t borders in a freelance business. As long as you follow the rules when expanding overseas.
What are the rules? Well, it changes from country to country. But for tax purposes? In Canada at least, it’s pretty simple.
“As you are a self-employed worker in the eyes of the CRA, you still must report all income in your tax return no matter where your clients are located.”
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Once I realized I could offer my services pretty much anywhere, my mind opened. I especially liked the idea of working for US or European companies where their currencies were valued so much higher than the Canadian dollar. It made every contract come with a 30% bonus even though my rates stayed the same. Pretty perfect if you ask me.
If you’re thinking about expanding your freelance business beyond your local area, here are three tips for getting started.
Conduct thorough market research
Before taking the leap, do your due diligence to find out if there’s a market for your product or service in the area you’d like to expand to. This is the main reason why market research is so important and, great news!, you can do this remotely using technology, saving you time and giving you the information you need to make an informed decision
Adapt your payment solutions
When you’re expanding your business, it’s vital to offer a payment options that clients in other countries can access and want to use. This changes from place to place, so do research and check if and how to accept multi currency payments.
Prioritize excellent support
You’ve probably already got a system for onboarding and offboarding clients, so take a look at your customer support systems and ask whether or not they will translate into other cultures. Does the way you send deliverables make sense? Do you have a common language or do you require some sort of translation software? Does your communication method make sense for clients in different time zones? Think about how you can offer a great client experience no matter where in the world they’re based.
