Managing the lows of Freelance Grooming

There are highs and lows of all types of work with horses, but working as a Freelance Groom can present different challenges to an employed role in the equine industry. Here we can help you deal with and/or prepare for the lows of Freelance Grooming to some extent. That being said, life is apt to throw curveballs that sometimes no one can foresee. Planning ahead for such times will help you to survive and thrive whilst seeing you through the lows of Freelance Grooming as best you can. Here are some common lows that you could find yourself in, along with suggestions about how you might actively minimise these associated risks:

I’m struggling to: get enough clients/ hours to maintain a livable income…

This is a common low of freelance grooming (and all kinds of freelance work, for that matter). There will inevitably be times that work is thin on the ground, possibly seasonally, through weather conditions, even the general financial climate at a given time (or, as in recent years, a global pandemic!). Therefore, it’s extremely important to build and ringfence your own “rainy day” fund, so as time passes you have some financial fall-back to see you through those quieter times.

Not enough new customers are getting to hear about me…

How are you advertising your availability? How do local/target yards know about you and your availability? Word of mouth is a great way to get work, but that alone is rarely enough to build up and maintain enough work to provide you with a liveable income. Having your own website is an extremely useful tool for a Freelance Groom but rarely comes without significant charges. A Facebook Page is a great free addition or even an alternative to a website.

THE GROOMS LIST is the key place to advertise your services and availability. What’s more, these services to Freelance Grooms are completely FREE OF CHARGE. Your would-be clients more often than not, will look on THE GROOMS LIST for local or speciality Freelance Grooms, and will then contact them directly. If you and your services are not listed, you could be missing opportunities!  You can ensure you are on that list by adding and updating your free listing. Additionally, when you are struggling to get bookings, or you have availability to fill, you can contact us and we will help you promote and target your services either with one-off opportunities or via regular gigs, again completely free of charge. You have a lot to gain and absolutely nothing to lose by advertising on THE GROOMS LIST! You can find out more about our services to Freelance Grooms here. Add your business listing to THE GROOMS LIST here.

Are your prices competitive? Can you expand your skill set and maximise your appeal and earning capacity? 

If you are struggling to get bookings, or finding that clients are not rebooking you, the first thing to check is your pricing. Are you pricing yourself out of work? Understandably, horse/yard owners are not going to book an expensive Freelance Groom if they can secure cheaper options that they believe are just as good.

You must have a competitive pricing structure, you must look at what value you can bring to your work. For example, do you have insurance? A DBS check? First aid experience etc. Do you have any formal qualifications? Can you offer clipping, or show turnout? You can read more ideas on how to maximise your earning potential here.

I’m working all hours but still not making enough money…..Are you making the most of your allowable expenses?

Ensure you include your allowable expenses in your bookkeeping, so you receive tax relief on work-related expenses.

I’ve been injured/am ill and can’t work/am limited right now

Sadly, this is not an uncommon dilemma for Freelance Grooms. We all get ill at times, and we all run risks of injury in many things we do daily, and this is increased significantly when you bring horses into the equation! Accidents with and around horses happen all too easily, regardless of how experienced, careful, or savvy we might be. It is imperative to have preparations in place in case anything should happen.

Are you building a ‘Rainy Day’ fund?

There are very few of us who could easily manage a few weeks or months out of work, unpaid. A ‘rainy day’ fund is something you need to be able to dip into to sustain you financially until you are fully back at work. Think easily accessed ISA’s etc! and do speak to a financial expert about the best places to put money aside with minimal tax damage… of course making sure it’s 100% legal and declared to the taxman!

Do you have Personal Accident Insurance?

Unfortunately, sometimes accidents are more serious and can lead to weeks, months, or even years off work, with temporary or permanent disability. As a Freelance Groom you will not be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP); how you survive financially is entirely on you! Personal accident insurance is an absolute must. It will pay out a lump sum that will help you survive financially and, depending on the cover you have, provide funds for medical and rehabilitation expenses you incur, for example, physiotherapy. Self-employed workers, including Freelance Grooms, are obliged to provide replacements for when they are unable to fulfil their contract for any reason. Do you work with anyone who could help to cover your contracts? If you have someone who can help you maintain your contracts while you are out of action, you minimise the risk of losing your contracts to other Freelance Grooms throughout your period of recovery.

 

I am being blamed for an accident or damage caused to a horse/on the yard

Whether an accident is your fault or not, it’s important to remain professional throughout. Third Party Liability Insurance will give you some peace of mind that you are covered in the event of liability. Regardless of liability, keep detailed records of any mishaps or accidents within your own client records and contact the key contact for the yard as soon as you realise what has happened. Don’t try to cover your tracks or mislead anyone over anything – honesty is always the best policy and, if you have the correct procedures and insurance cover in place, you will be able to navigate these difficulties with greater confidence and to a more agreeable outcome.

 

I have a dispute with a client

Set expectations.

The best way to handle disputes is firstly to avoid them occurring, to begin with. Set expectations at the start of your relationship with a new client and always back everything up in writing, so you can both refer back to it at a later date. Whether via email or printed on paper, share with your client what you understand to be their requirements and what you are offering them as the solution. When disputes arise, you will both appreciate this point of reference.

Negotiate terms with your new client;

What they require, what you can offer. Never overstate your availability, or skills and ability – always be crystal clear on what you are offering your new client and your understanding of their needs. Never take on a task that you have never done before without disclosing this to your client first, and your client agreeing to you undertaking in this knowledge. Put this in writing, as above. Never feel that going over details in writing makes you look or feel incompetent. Even asking for an animal’s care needs to be written out on paper for you does not make you look incompetent – it indicates responsibility and reliability. The key issue here is not impressing your client with your knowledge and ease of understanding, it is avoiding misunderstandings which lead to mistakes and/or disputes.

Always back everything up in writing and include it in your contract with your client.

Get yourself a printer, type out everything you have discussed and agreed, date and sign the document, then keep a copy for yourself with your client records, and give a copy to your new client as part of their contract. Include any animal care requirements, so you can both always refer back to what your instructions were at the point of agreement.

Ensure you have third-party liability insurance for peace of mind. If you find yourself unable to resolve a dispute, you at least have cover. Many insurance companies have an advice line for you to use. Freelance Grooms who are members of the British Grooms Association can get professional advice tailored to the equestrian industry.

One or more of my clients are not paying on time/at all

Firstly, refer back to the advice above about negotiations and setting expectations and rainy day funds! 

The same applies to clients refusing to pay, or simply being late with payments. The latter is all too frequent and can cause real financial hardship day to day.

Consider applying a late payment interest rate. You need your ‘rainy day’ fund to help you through periods of late and non-payment!

Late payment interest rate encourages prompt payment. Set this in your terms of contract and ensure this is clear when setting expectations. Your late payment interest could be any sum you like, however, if you were to reach a deadlock with a non-paying client, adjudication is unlikely to uphold your late payment fee as reasonable. Therefore, it is best to work out your interest rate in line with ‘statutory interest’; this is 8% of the outstanding invoice plus the Bank of England base rate (at the time of writing this it is 5.25%). You add the Bank of England base rate percentage to 8% (so today that is 5.25% + 8% = 13.25%). To find the daily interest rate you would work out the total percentage of the outstanding bill (13.25% of the outstanding invoice) and divide that sum by 365 days (on a £500 unpaid invoice this would be 18p a day by today’s base rate). You can find out more about working out your late payment interest rate here. You can check the current Bank of England base rate at any given time here.