Setting up a business can be relatively straightforward, but it’s something you’ll need to put plenty of thought into. What products or services will you offer, and how much will you charge?

Do you need premises or equipment? Are there any legal or regulatory requirements to consider, and what will your business plan look like? Then of course there’s tax to pay and customers to find – and that’s just to start with!

With more than 4 million people in the UK currently self-employed, it’s certainly a very popular option. If you’re thinking of starting your own business, take a look at our beginners guide to kick you off.

What are the benefits of being self-employed?

People chose to become self-employed for a huge variety of reasons. From having more control over the work which you take on, to being more flexible with when and where you do it, and beyond to all manner of financial reasons. What you might consider to be a benefit largely depends on what you need to get out of being self-employed.

What are the disadvantages of being self-employed?

One big challenge with being self-employed is that you don’t get any of the benefits that employed people get. These include things like sick pay, paid time off, and employer-sponsored pension contributions.

When you’re self-employed you’re also responsible for managing your own taxes, which can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring a good understanding of tax regulations.

Lots of people also find that their earnings aren’t always consistent – especially when your business is still new. This can make it harder to access some types of financial services, such as mortgages and personal loans, because lenders may consider your income to be less stable compared to someone in employment.
 

How do I become self-employed?

There are lots of different ways to be self-employed, from starting an online side-hustle in your spare time to setting up a limited company that you work on full-time, or buying into a franchise. One of the first business decisions you’ll make is to choose a structure for your business.

Choosing a business structure

Being ‘self-employed’ simply means that you work for yourself, but this doesn’t actually explain how you operate the business. It’s your business structure that refers to the legal status of your business, and this affects how you set it up, what tax you pay, and even how you take money out of the business for yourself.

There are lots of options available depending on your needs, so think about things like:

• How financially risky the business is
• The income you expect to make
• Whether you want to information about your business to be publicly available
• Who else is involved in the business
• How you plan to fund it

What can I call my business?

This is entirely up to you, as long as the name is available to use and doesn’t give the impression that your business is part of another organisation or affiliated in some way. Some businesses use a ‘trading name’, where you register the business under one title but then use a different name to actually carry out work.

For example, you might register the business using your actual name, but use the trading name ‘Electricians on Demand’ for marketing reasons.

What do I do next?

Your next steps partly depend on what business structure you choose, along with other factors such as the industry you work in (for example, if you need a specific type of insurance to be allowed to do this sort of work).

You’ll also need to have a think about market research. Writing a business plan can also be a useful way to organise your thoughts and make those early decisions (we have a free business plan template to help you get started!).

What tax do I pay if I’m self-employed?

Being self-employed means that you’re responsible for reporting and paying tax on the money you earn from your business.

The type of tax returns you need to submit and the tax you must pay partly depends on what sort of business structure you operate, but it’s also affected by other factors such as your turnover, who you work with, and whether you employ anyone.

The table shown below briefly explains what types of tax might affect your business, as well as other deductions you could see as part of your tax calculation.
 

How much should I charge when I go self-employed?

One of the most common questions that new startups ask is around charging for goods and services. There are lots of online formulas and guides to this, but one of the biggest obstacles that most self-employed people face is self-confidence! Deciding what to charge your clients and customers means treading the fine line between making a profit, and the sheer terror that nobody will pay you what you’re asking for.

 
Setting up a new business can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Learn more about our online accounting services for businesses or call 020 3355 4047 to chat to the team. You can also get an instant online quote.