Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?

Business Name vs Your Own Name: Which is Better for Freelancers?

Author: Steve Folland May 24, 2026 Duration: 22:55
It's a question Steve Folland gets asked a lot: as a freelancer, is it better to have a company name or use your own? In this compilation episode, Steve digs deep into 11 years of the Being Freelance podcast archive - pulling together voices from guests including brand copywriter Mark Grainger, branding expert Bhavini Lakhani, copywriter Graeme Piper, illustrator Dan Bailey, social media consultant Alison Battisby, marketing agency founder Ross Simmonds, and more - to try and get to the bott...

Stepping away from the traditional career path to work for yourself is a journey filled with unique highs and lows. Being Freelance, hosted by Steve Folland, delves into that reality through candid conversations with those who are living it. Each episode is built around a freelancer's personal story, moving from their first tentative steps to the ongoing challenges and triumphs of running a solo business. You'll hear authentic discussions about finding clients, setting boundaries, managing finances, and coping with the isolation that can sometimes accompany the freedom. This isn't about theoretical business models; it's the practical, often messy, human experience of building a livelihood from your own skills. Steve guides these conversations with empathy, drawing out insights that are both reassuring and actionable. The podcast serves as a regular reminder that the questions and doubts you face are shared by others navigating the same waters. Tuning in provides a sense of connection and a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, whether you're just considering the leap or are a seasoned veteran looking to refine your craft. It’s a resource that acknowledges the tough days while celebrating the incredible rewards of designing your own working life.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Being Freelance
Podcast Episodes
Your Handy Dandy Brandy Gal: Hollie Arnett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:29
PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan ABOUT THIS EPISODE From a young age,…
Collaborating, Not Competing - Jerel Ramsey’s Freelancer Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:01
PODCAST SPONSORED BY RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan ABOUT THIS EPISODE From a young age,…
Communications Specialist Dee Primett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:32
PODCAST SPONSORED BY: RIVERSIDE: High quality audio/video recorded online www.beingfreelance.com/riverside It’s free to get started - use code BEINGFREELANCE to save 15% on a paid plan PODCAST SPONSORED BY: PORKBUN: Get…
Using Creative Skills For Good - Conservation Illustrator Styngvi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:50
Icelandic artist Stefán Yngvi Pétursson, also known as Styngvi, shares his journey from working in an ad agency to becoming a freelance conservation illustrator. Inspired by shocking pollution during a trip to Indonesia,…
Freelance Freedom: How Rebecca Rosenberg Balances Work and Wanderlust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:30
This time, we explore both a metaphorical freelance journey and physical one. In 2015 Rebecca decided she wanted to travel whilst freelancing. After building up savings and clients for a couple of years, she headed off t…
Animation Director Dave Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:08
EPISODE SPONSORED BY (AND RECORDED USING) RIVERSIDE Record high quality video & audio with Riverside. See how recording, live streaming and repurposing your content with Riverside can help your freelancer business. It’s…
Antisocial Socialite Yolanda Sissing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:07
How does a Welsh schoolboy recommended by a career advisor to become a tree surgeon end up illustrating and animating for some of the biggest media outlets across the globe? Becoming a location independent freelancer, wo…
Illustrator Helen Ridley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:52
In this episode , Steve Folland interviews Helen Ridley, a freelance illustrator who has carved a unique niche in live event illustration. Helen shares her inspiring journey from studying fashion design to working in ret…
Photographer Xavier Buendia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:54
In this episode, Xavier Buendia shares his journey from Mexico City to Brighton, and more importantly from the world of hospitality as a sommelier to a career as a successful freelance photographer. Xavi discusses the im…
Podcast Producer Kate Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
In this episode of the Being Freelance podcast, host Steve Folland interviews Kate Taylor, a seasoned podcast producer and founder of the Feast Collective. Kate discusses the highs and lows of her 20-year freelance caree…