While all contractors are bound to make mistakes once in a while, there are some common problems faced by many freelancers which are really quite simple to avoid.

Lexi Rodrigo writes on Freelance Folder that problems begin when contractors begin to let their standards slip.

Firstly, she says, never work without a contract. Although this may sound obvious, it is a fairly common habit among some contractors and can lead to serious problems.

Next, contractors should not work with just any client. Ms Rodrigo advises that contractors trust their gut instinct and stay away from clients they are not sure about.

Missing deadlines and appointments and not following up on proposals is unprofessional and will be bad for business, taking on too much work will lower the quality and not having clear deliverables set out on the contract can cause problems later on, she adds.

Meanwhile, Martin Lyne, director of SME marketing at T-Mobile, has said that smartphones are important for small businesses as it helps them keep up to date with emails and phone calls on the go.