How to set up in business as a partnership in 2025

A partnership offers a simple way to get started if two or more people wish to go into business together.

In this guide, we look at the main aspects of setting up and running a business partnership in 2025:

WHat’s in this guide>

• What is a business partnership?
• Your liability as a partner
• Types of partnership
• Before you start – legal considerations
• How to choose a name for the partnership
• How do you form a partnership and register with HMRC?
• How does tax work in a partnership?
• Leaving a partnership
• Useful services – accountants, software, banking, licences and insurance

What is a business partnership?

A partnership is formed when two or more people decide to go into business together.

A partnership isn’t a distinct legal entity in its own right. It is a vehicle which links two or more individuals in a simple business structure.

As a partnership, you don’t need to deal with Companies House or take on the responsibilities associated with being a company director.

If you do want your new business to be a distinct legal entity, you can form a limited company instead.

The partners in a business partnership are usually self-employed individuals. However, a limited company can also be a partner.

Your liability as a partner

Partners share the responsibility for running the business. They share the fruits of their work, as well as any losses.

It is essential to note that partners within a partnership are personally liable for any debts incurred in the operation of the business.

This means that if something goes wrong and the partnership cannot pay its debts, the individual partners are individually legally responsible for any losses.

Partnerships do not have the benefit of limited liability; this is only available to limited companies.

Types of partnership

There are several forms of partnership types in the UK. The most common are:

• Equity partners – contribute capital and share profits and losses.
• Salaried partners – receive a salary but may not contribute capital.
• Sleeping partners – do not take part in running the business but may invest capital.
• Limited partners – liability is limited to the amount of capital invested, but at least one partner must remain fully liable. These must be registered at Companies House.
• Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) – a separate legal entity where partners have limited liability. These are also registered at Companies House.

Before you start – legal considerations

If any of the partners leaves the business (e.g., dies, resigns, or becomes bankrupt), the partnership must be dissolved immediately, as it has no legal status.

Although most people enter partnerships with the best of intentions, problems can arise later on.

This can happen if one partner pursues a different course for the business or wants to leave the partnership.

For this reason, we recommend you hire a solicitor to draw up a partnership agreement, which typically includes details on:

• How the business is to be run.
• How much each partner invests in the business.
• What share do the partners have in the business?
• How the partners work together.
• Non-competition clauses.
• Intellectual property rights.
• How to deal with changes in the partnership.
• Dispute resolution processes.

If you don’t have a deed of partnership, the Partnership Act of 1890 could end up being used if there’s a problem.

However, this won’t necessarily protect you, so it’s vital to make sure you’re covered before you start your business.

When choosing your partners, think carefully about whether you share the same goals, work ethic and financial approach. Without alignment, problems can emerge quickly.

If you do not have a deed of partnership, the law treats your arrangement as a partnership at will. This means any partner can leave on short notice, potentially demanding repayment of their capital. This can create real financial pressure for the remaining partners.

Choose a name for your partnership

When choosing a name for your partnership, you should read up on several guidelines (and legal considerations).

• Don’t choose a name that is ‘offensive’, or contains any ‘sensitive words’. Examples include terms such as ‘Council’, ‘Chartered’, ‘Authority’, or other words that imply the business has a special status when it does not.
• Avoid using trademarked terms in your business name, such as ‘Microsoft computer services’.
• As sole traders and partnerships are not incorporated, you may not use the terms ‘ltd’, ‘limited’, ‘plc’, etc.
• You must include the partnership’s name and the names of its partners on any official paperwork, such as invoices.

There is no central database of partnerships and sole traderships in the UK, so choosing a unique business name isn’t always possible. There is no legal requirement to have a unique business name, as long as you follow the rules listed above.

Search the web for your proposed business name – particularly in your industry sector and local area.

Read this useful official advice on choosing a name for your partnership.

Register the partnership with HMRC

When you form a partnership, one of the partners is designated as the ‘nominated partner’. This partner is responsible for registering the partnership with HMRC and submitting its annual tax return.

You can register with HMRC online here or – if you can’t use the online service – submit the paper form SA400, which you can access here.

You need to apply for a Government Gateway ID to complete this process.

The partnership should receive a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) via post within a few weeks (depending on the postal service).

When you register the new business, have the following information to hand:

• The name of the partnership
• The name of the nominated partner
• Details of each member of the partnership
• The nature of the business
• The partnership’s business address

Next, we look at how partnerships are taxed in more detail.

Partnerships – Tax matters

Partnerships, like sole traders, submit annual tax returns. However, the partnership doesn’t pay any tax or National Insurance on the profits made by the business.

Instead, the individual partners pay tax and NICs on their share of the partnership’s profits. This is the amount of money left after you deduct any expenses from your turnover.

As a result, individual members of a partnership must also register and complete their own self-assessment tax returns.

Both the partnership and its members must register for self-assessment by 5 October in the second tax year after the business goes live.

Both the partnership tax return and the individual’s tax returns must be submitted to HMRC by 31st January each year. Any income tax and NICs owed by the individual members must also be paid by the same date.

Income tax and National Insurance

The partnership members pay income tax on their share of the partnership’s profits.

They also pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions on profits.

For the 2025/26 tax year, income tax rates are as follows:

Most individuals pay no tax on the first £12,570 of income – the personal allowance.

After this, you pay the following rates on your total income for the tax year. This includes any income from the partnership plus any other untaxed income.

• 20% on income between £12,571 and £50,270 (basic rate).
• 40% on income between £50,271 and £150,000 (higher rate).
• 45% on income over £125,140 (additional rate).

For the 2025/26 tax year, the NIC rates are as follows:

• Class 2 – £3.50 per week if your share of the profits is over £12,570. These are now voluntary contributions.
• Class 4 – 6% on your share of the profits between £12,570 and £50,270. 2% on profits above £50,270

Read more about how sole trader tax works here.

Leaving a partnership

Without a written agreement, a partner can usually leave simply by giving notice, sometimes with little or no warning. They may also demand repayment of any capital they invested, which could put the business at risk.

A partnership agreement sets out rules on how notice should be given, how the leaving partner’s share will be valued, and how any buy-out will be financed. It can also prevent outside parties from being introduced without consent.

It is sensible for partners to take out life insurance on each other so that if one partner dies, the surviving partners can use the payout to buy their share of the business without financial strain.

Accountants, accounting software, licenses, banking and insurance

Alongside the formal side of setting up a partnership, there are other things to attend to.

Hire an accountant (optional)

We recommend you talk to an accountant before you set up the business. They can advise you on how best to set up the partnership, as well as explain any tax implications for each partner.

If you hire an accountant a the start, they can guide you through the registration process with HMRC – and avoid any potential problems or errors.

Get accounting software (recommended)

These days, most business owners use online accounting software. One of the best products on the market is FreeAgent.

We use it every day at Bytestart. It makes dealing with your accounts, invoices, expenses and tax returns a breeze.

Other popular brands include Xero and Clearbooks.

Set up a bank account for the partnership (recommended)

Although there is no legal requirement to do so, it makes sense to set up a business bank account for the partnership.

This means that all business transactions go through a separate business account and are not mixed up with the partners’ transactions.

Read our guides to business bank accounts and, specifically for partnerships, joint business bank accounts.

Make sure your business is adequately insured (recommended)

Some types of insurance are mandatory – such as employers’ liability (in most cases). Others might be required if you carry on certain types of trade, or if they’re a requirement of any contracts you sign.

Read our overview of business insurance for the self-employed for more details.

Do you need any specific licences to run your business? (mandatory in some cases)

There are very few businesses that aren’t affected by some red tape—rules and regulations. Make sure you know which ones apply to you and your new business.

Use this search facility from the Department of Business and Trade to see if you need to apply for one of over 400 specific licences to carry on your trade.

Also see our guide on memberships and registrations you might need, depending on your trade.