Going self-employed
Thinking about working for yourself?
A practical look at the early stages, with the questions that come up most at our catch-ups.
The stages
How it tends to unfold
Thinking about it
You've got an idea and a spreadsheet you keep reopening. Nothing's real yet and that's fine. Talk to someone who's a year ahead of you.
Getting set up
Register as a sole trader, open a separate bank account, write down what you'll charge. It's a shorter list than it feels like.
First clients
The bit where you learn what you actually enjoy doing. Say yes to a few things, then start saying no.
Finding your feet
Your prices go up and the quiet weeks feel less worrying. It's a good time to find people to talk things through with.
Free checklist
Going self-employed: your first 30 days
A free checklist of the admin nobody warns you about, in the order it actually needs doing.
Questions
Common questions
Once your self-employed income goes over the £1,000 trading allowance in a tax year, you need to register for Self Assessment. The deadline is 5 October in the year after you started trading, so a little forward planning saves a panic. Register sooner and you'll thank yourself. The current rules live on GOV.UK, and an accountant earns their fee the first time you use them.
None of this is tax or legal advice. Rules move, so check the current version on GOV.UK before you act on it.
Next step
Chat to women who've been there
A morning over coffee with women who work for themselves can help you work out what to do next.
Find a catch-up