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Go Self Employed

Not sure if self-employment is right for you?

This section explains what it really means to work for yourself, including the advantages, potential risks, and the key decisions to think about before starting a business.

You’ll find practical guides on choosing a business structure, registering with HMRC, and understanding what happens in the first few months of trading.

If you’re ready to get started, begin with our 15 steps to becoming self-employed.

You can also compare the two most common structures in the UK: sole trader vs limited company.

Getting started

  • 15 steps to becoming self-employed
  • Sole trader vs limited company
  • 10 businesses you can start for £100
  • Starting a business in the evenings
  • How to start an eBay business

Registering and legal basics

  • How to register as self-employed
  • What counts as your business start date?
  • Choosing a business name as a sole trader
  • Do sole traders need to register with Companies House?

Running your business

  • Can you be employed and self-employed at the same time?
  • Running multiple businesses as a sole trader
  • Can sole traders pay family members?
  • Using a PO box as a business address
  • Self-employed while claiming benefits

Ending or changing your business

  • How to close a sole trader business properly
  • Selling a sole trader business
  • What happens if a sole trader dies?
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10 self-employed business ideas you can start for under £100

June 25, 2025
Want to start your own business without spending a fortune? Here are 10 low-cost ideas you can launch for under £100, with tips on how to get started.
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companies house sole trader

Do you have to register with Companies House if you’re a sole trader?

March 21, 2025
Companies House is the UK's registrar of companies and the government agency responsible for incorporating and dissolving limited companies. If you're setting up as a sole trader (i.e. self employed), do you have to register your business too?
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Top driver for becoming self employed is the desire to “be my own boss.”

September 24, 2024
The biggest motivator for people to go it alone is the desire to be their own boss. We look at why now - in 2024 - is a great time to start a new business.
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set up an ebay business

How to start an eBay business: what you need to know

May 11, 2024
Are you thinking of joining in and trying your hand at becoming an eBay seller? Here's what you need to know about getting your new business off the ground.
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Brand new ByteStart guides
  • Can sole traders claim insurance premiums as a business expense?
  • Can sole traders claim car or van repair costs as a business expense?
  • Are accounting fees tax deductible for sole traders?



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