Sole Trader

Articles and guides for UK sole traders, featuring expert advice on the specific tax and legal obligations for persons operating under this type of business structure.

Sole trader

What is the definition of a sole trader and being self-employed

What does it mean to be a 'sole trader'? Is there any difference between a sole trader and being ‘self employed’?

Business Ideas & Planning

A small business guide to self employment

Being self-employed means, you are captain of your own ship. But there are key decisions to make before you quit full-time employment, unless you want your ship to run aground

Sole trader

Tax advantages of a limited company versus sole trader

Haydn Rogan explains the tax advantages and disadvantages of status as a limited company and as a sole trader

Small Business Insurance

Do sole traders need professional indemnity insurance?

Expensive mistakes happen, and one way to equip your business to deal with the possibility of legal action is through professional indemnity insurance

Advice

Should you register as a sole trader or a limited company?

Mart Abramov, CEO of TaxScouts, shares the positives and negatives of being a sole trader or a limited company, so you can make the best choice for your growing business.

Sole trader

6 examples of sole traders

What jobs are best if you want to go self-employed? We look at what it takes to become a personal trainer, a gardener, a hairdresser, a private chef, a photographer or a dog walker

Small Business Banking

Best business bank accounts for sole traders

We’ve rounded up some of the best business bank accounts created with sole traders in mind

Accounting

Sole traders and VAT

Whether you pass the VAT threshold or register for VAT voluntarily, we explain everything you need to know about Value Added Tax

Accounting

Sole traders pay most tax since records began

Self-employed paid £22bn in income tax in January – the biggest-ever figure since records began in 1999 and one-third higher since last year

Accounting

Sole traders increasingly avoid charging VAT

Tens of thousands of small businesses deliberately stay small to avoid charging VAT, which means you have to hike prices if you wander over the £85,000 threshold

News

Sole traders face being named if they took out Covid-19 loan

Tribunal could decide this week if the names of 1.7bn small businesses that took out Bounce Back Loans should be made public – leaving sole traders potentially vulnerable to fraudsters

Accounting