Freelance GIS and mapping specialist

Councils, planning and environmental consultancies, housing groups, estate agents, charities and small businesses that lack in-house mapping skills.

Fixed price per project or a day rate, often with repeat work from the same clients. Small jobs might be a single plan; larger ones are multi-week analysis.

• GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS
• Data handling and spreadsheets
• Clear map design
• Writing proposals and keeping to deadlines

• Data licences: check the terms of any Ordnance Survey or third-party data before using it commercially or passing it to clients
• Professional indemnity insurance is often asked for by consultancy and council clients, so check what contracts require
• Handling personal or sensitive location data may bring UK GDPR duties, and you may need to register with the ICO
• Council work often goes through procurement frameworks, which can take months to get onto
• Work can be lumpy, so plan for gaps between projects

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £300 to £3,000, depending on the software, equipment and insurance you need. Check the licence terms of any Ordnance Survey or third-party data before using it commercially or passing it to clients.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £4,500, depending on how many projects you win. Work can be lumpy, so plan for gaps between projects, and council work may involve procurement frameworks that take months to join.

You need GIS software skills such as QGIS or ArcGIS, plus data handling and spreadsheets, clear map design, and the ability to write proposals and keep to deadlines. Typically at least around 8 hours a week is estimated to get started.