Quarter two is here and whether you love spreadsheets or avoid them like the plague, this is a really useful time to get your business in order. From Making Tax Digital essentials to simple ways to organise your receipts, plus a gentle check-in on your goals, this post will help you start April with a bit more clarity and a plan that actually feels achievable.
Listen to the podcast episode below, watch it on [Youtube], or scroll down for the summary!
Prefer to read it? Here are the main points!
I’ve just pulled myself away from a very addictive game to record this, which probably tells you everything you need to know about how easy it is to get distracted this time of year.
But it’s also the point in the year where things quietly shift.
We’re moving into quarter two, April to June, and while it doesn’t always feel like a natural “reset” in the same way January does, it’s actually a really important time for freelancers. It sits between seasons, it marks the start of the new tax year, and it gives you a chance to pause, reset and make a few small changes before the year gathers pace.
So I wanted to share a few things that are worth adding to your quarter two to-do list.
1. Get Ready for the New Tax Year (and Making Tax Digital)
This is the big one.
If your gross income is over £50,000, Making Tax Digital is no longer something to think about, it’s something to start doing.
In simple terms, it means keeping your finances organised digitally. You’ll need to use HMRC-approved software, record your bookkeeping online, and start preparing for quarterly reporting rather than annual.
There’s quite a lot in this, but those are the key points. If you want a clearer breakdown, my accountant Harriet has put together a really helpful guide to Making Tax Digital for freelancers.
Even if you’re not at that threshold yet, it’s coming. So getting your systems in place now will make things much easier later.
If you’re not already using accounting software, this is a good time to start. Tools like FreeAgent, Xero or QuickBooks make it much easier to:
- Track income and expenses
- Stay organised
- Avoid that last-minute January panic
2. Set Up Simple Systems That Future You Will Thank You For
The start of a new tax year is the perfect time to reset your systems.
A few small things that make a big difference:
- Create a new folder for receipts (both in your inbox and storage)
- Update any automations you use
- Make sure everything is being saved and tracked consistently
Even something as simple as a weekly or monthly reminder to check your finances can take a lot of pressure off later.
And if bookkeeping is something you avoid, this might be the moment to look at getting support. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and it can free up a lot of mental space.
3. Reflect on Quarter One (Without Overthinking It)
If you set goals at the start of the year, now is a good time to revisit them.
And if you didn’t, that’s absolutely fine too.
Quarter one can be a difficult time to plan or push forward, it’s winter, energy is lower, and not everything feels aligned yet. So don’t put pressure on yourself if things didn’t go exactly as planned.
Instead, keep it simple:
- What went well?
- What didn’t?
- What did you learn?
And most importantly:
- What do you want to take forward?
- What are you happy to leave behind?
4. Set Quarter Two Goals (In a Way That Actually Feels Good)
If you do want to set goals for quarter two, try to make them feel a bit more human.
Instead of:
“I want five new clients”
Try:
- What do you want to have created?
- How do you want your work to feel?
- What kind of projects do you want to be doing?
For example:
- I want to have worked on projects I’m genuinely proud of
- I want to feel more confident putting myself out there
- I want to have grown my network or tried something new
You can still include financial goals, but layering in how you want things to feel makes them much easier to connect with.
5. Consider Doing Your Self-Assessment Early
This is one of those things that can make a huge difference but often gets left.
You don’t have to wait until January to do your self-assessment.
In fact, doing it earlier in the year means:
- You know exactly what you owe
- You have time to plan for it
- You avoid that last-minute stress
Even doing it in the next couple of months gives you a much longer runway to prepare.
A Simple Quarter Two Reset
If you take anything from this, let it be this:
Quarter two doesn’t need to be a full reset. It can just be a small realignment.
- Get your systems in place
- Check in with where you are
- Set a few gentle goals
- Give yourself a bit more breathing room
That’s often enough.
What Will You Focus on This Quarter?
I’d love to know what you’re taking into quarter two.
And if all you do this week is set up one small system or reflect on the last few months, that’s a really good place to start.
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