“The onboarding and invoicing of freelancers remain a big black spot”

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25 years ago, you were among the digital pioneers. Today, you are co-founding the first school for the self-employed. So for you, the next big break is that of work?

Catherine Barba: Indeed, for me, there is a real corollary between what happened with the digital revolution 25 years ago, and what is happening now in the workplace. In recent decades, it is the foundations of the company that have been questioned, and more precisely the place of the customer in them. Now, it's the worker's question that's at stake, and I find the parallel interesting. This is pushing businesses to review the fundamentals of their culture. The questions are profound because employees are the most important asset for a company. Without talent, there is no growth. The challenge is therefore to return to this growth but in a different way, with more responsibility. The subject is particularly complex and this revolution will not happen without questioning our relationship to work, and in particular our relationship with the employment contract.

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Why do you foresee an even greater explosion in freelancing?

Catherine Barba: I see three sources that are going to contribute to this explosion. First of all, the youngest who have a slight love for the workforce and who gladly turn to entrepreneurship. But when it comes to giving birth to a unicorn, there are many called and few chosen. So, creating a sole proprietorship can be a very suitable lever for thriving while aiming for something accessible. This is no less ambitious but more within reach. Then, by necessity or by choice, we will also find more and more people from the corporate circuit. Finally, there will be the employees who will play both ways (see our article onThe part-time CDI and the combined freelancers).

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Why did you decide to go up Envi : do you think that the self-employed are not “professional” enough?

Catherine Barba: With Envi, the objective is not to make freelancing a hobby, but a sustainable and profitable activity (on this subject, you can consult our article on 10 steps to double your TJM, editor's note). However, to date there is no place to learn it. I see many coaches, consultants, freelancers of all stripes who could perform better if they developed their sales skills, their use of digital technology or even their ability to manage a small business, even if they did not go to business school and have no knowledge of accounting. So we think that there are two or three things you need to know so that their foundations are stronger, and that freelancers live better. That is really what motivates me today in this project!

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So should freelancers first and foremost learn to become their own salespeople?

Catherine Barba: With Envi, the objective is to assess everyone's entrepreneurial predisposition and abilities, and to see where there is a hole in the racket in order to target the right training. For a year, we interviewed freelancers to better understand their weaknesses and needs. For some, it will be to identify, convince and retain a customer because of poor digital skills (no LinkedIn, no newsletter, etc.). For others, it will be a lack of accounting knowledge such as drawing up an income statement or a cash flow plan. Each time, the goal is not to become a global expert but simply to know the right basics for each project and to apply them to perform. And then there are also other subjects more related to soft skills such as self-confidence, or the personal relationship we have with money.

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In concrete terms, what do you think are the main obstacles freelancers face in terms of the explosion of their activity?

Catherine Barba: Already, when you are a freelancer, you are not necessarily destined to explode your business since, in essence, you are limited by your own person. Self-employment is not exponential, otherwise, you have to recruit. On the other hand, any activity must become profitable. So, freelancers would benefit from developing a more sustainably profitable offer by developing their online visibility, their ability to manage their business or to deal with the market in depth. And for that, the best way to do it is to surround yourself with people who have been there: that's why Envi's mentors are all entrepreneurs (Justine Hutteau, Eric Larcheveque, Augustin Paluel-Marmont, Augustin Paluel-Marmont, Frédéric Mazzella, Frédéric Mazzella, Céline Lazhortes, Marc Simoncini...)

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At Collective, we defend the idea that freelance groups are just a good way to increase your income (our first study shows that they earn 30% more than solo freelancers). What is your view on this phenomenon?

Catherine Barba: I think it's great because you don't do anything by yourself. Together, we can go much further, take advantage of each other's skills, and feel supported. This is good both from a psychological point of view but also from a professional point of view, because it is very interesting to leave your vertical line of business to open up to other specialties. It's really diversity that creates intelligence and value. This will allow freelancers to open their chakras but also to take advantage of new business opportunities. So I believe even more in multi-skilled groups.

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Finally, what is your view of companies: are they now more mature in the way they work with freelancers?

Catherine Barba: We are on our way! But there are still two black spots: onboarding and invoicing freelancers. This is why it seems essential to me to raise awareness among companies on these subjects, so that they learn to collaborate better with freelancers. It is essential for companies to understand that growth will in particular depend on these freelancers. We need to end the inside-out dichotomy, and simply manage a portfolio of skills. But companies are evolving rapidly on these topics, even in large companies.

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Namely: Anyone can integrate Envi as soon as he has an idea or even a dream. Short 2-week courses on specific topics are offered, and others over 3 months. They are eligible for the CPF.

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Interviewed by Paulina Jonquères d'Oriola