Make Money Your Way

Think being self-employed means you can’t get a mortgage? Think again! 

In this eye-opening episode, Crunch founder Darren Fell is joined by mortgage expert Rob Starr from Seico—Crunch’s preferred mortgage partner—to bust the biggest myths around mortgages for the self-employed in 2025.

Rob brings over 30 years of experience helping freelancers, contractors, and small business owners successfully secure home loans—even after being turned down by traditional banks. This episode is packed with real-world insights and practical advice tailored to self-employed professionals.

🔍 What you’ll learn:

 ✔️ Why banks often say “no”—and why that’s not the end of the road
 ✔️ How self-employed people can often borrow more than they think
✔️ The #1 mistake to avoid when applying
✔️ What lenders really care about—income, dividends, retained profits
✔️ How to improve your credit score before applying
✔️ Tips for getting approved even with bad credit
✔️ A simple, step-by-step approach to getting your mortgage stress-free

Whether you're planning to buy your first home or thinking about refinancing, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence you need to move forward.

👉 Need help? Call our Crunch Advisors at 0330 404 8746 or visit www.crunch.co.uk. We're here to make your side-hustle journey as smooth as possible.

Crunch delivers accounting and financial services to empower the self-employed and small business owners: https://www.crunch.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countoncrunch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/countoncrunch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countoncrunch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/countoncrunch

🎙️ Can You Turn Media Experience into a Thriving PR Business? 

In this episode, Darren sits down with Claire Armitt—a former journalist who made the leap from newsroom to boardroom. Claire shares how she transformed her media background into a successful PR agency, using her storytelling instincts to carve out a niche in a competitive industry.

From the challenges of learning business on the fly to the wins that made it all worthwhile, Claire opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your media skills into a business—or dream of launching your own agency—this episode is packed with honest insights and actionable advice. 🚀

Tune in to hear:
✔️ The mindset shift from journalist to business owner
✔️ Key lessons learned while building a PR agency
✔️ Claire’s top tips for starting small but thinking big

👉 Need help? Call our Crunch Advisors at 0330 404 8746 or visit www.crunch.co.uk. We're here to make your side-hustle journey as smooth as possible.

Crunch delivers accounting and financial services to empower the self-employed and small business owners: https://www.crunch.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countoncrunch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/countoncrunch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countoncrunch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/countoncrunch

🎙️ The PACRA Blueprint: Build & Scale Your E-Commerce Brand Like a Pro

Are you ready to launch or grow a successful e-commerce business but not sure where to start? In this episode, Darren sits down with Jason Russell—an e-commerce veteran with over 23 years of experience and a track record of success with major brands like Lookfantastic and Revitalash.

Jason breaks down his PACRA Blueprint, a step-by-step framework designed to take your online store from zero to thriving. Whether you're new to e-commerce or ready to scale, this episode is packed with practical strategies, real-world insights, and must-have tools to help you build a brand that lasts.

What you’ll learn:
✔️ Proposition – How to craft a product and message that resonates
✔️ Acquisition – Budget-friendly strategies to drive high-quality traffic
✔️ Conversion – Design and UX tips to turn browsers into buyers
✔️ Retention – How to keep customers coming back
✔️ Analysis – Using data and benchmarks to fine-tune your success

🎧 Plus, Jason shares all the go-to tools he recommends—from analytics platforms to loyalty programs and influencer tracking software.

Don’t miss this masterclass in modern e-commerce. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, Jason’s PACRA method is the roadmap you need.

👉 Listen now and get one step closer to e-commerce success.
Connect with Jason Russell on LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/4aGFbmf

👉 Need help? Call our Crunch Advisors at 0330 404 8746 or visit www.crunch.co.uk. We're here to make your side-hustle journey as smooth as possible.

Crunch delivers accounting and financial services to empower the self-employed and small business owners: https://www.crunch.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countoncrunch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/countoncrunch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countoncrunch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/countoncrunch