Going self-employed as a tradesperson: the complete UK checklist
The trade skills are the easy part — you already have those. Going self-employed is really the launch of a small company with a workforce of one, and the trades that struggle in year one usually skipped the boring setup, not the technical work. Here’s the checklist, in the order that avoids nasty surprises.
Legal and tax setup
- Choose a structure: most start as a sole trader (simplest) — see our sole trader vs limited company guide for when a company makes sense
- Register with HMRC for Self Assessment and get your UTR — do this early; CIS and many contractors need it
- Working in construction for contractors? Register for CIS too, or suffer 30% deductions instead of 20%
- Note Making Tax Digital: from April 2026, self-employed income over £50,000 means quarterly digital submissions — software from day one beats a shoebox retrofit
- Open a separate business bank account — legally optional for sole traders, practically essential
Insurance and registrations
- Public liability insurance — realistically the minimum to be on most sites and in most homes (£1m–£5m cover is typical)
- Tools and van cover, and business use on your vehicle insurance — domestic policies don’t cover work use
- Trade registrations: Gas Safe registration is a legal requirement for gas work; electricians want a competent person scheme (NICEIC/NAPIT) to self-certify notifiable work; check the equivalent for your trade
- Employing anyone, even casually? Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement
The commercial setup
- Set your rates from your costs, not the going rate — build up labour, overheads and margin properly
- Payment terms and a deposit policy decided before the first job, not during the first dispute
- A Google Business Profile from day one — free, and the engine of local search work
- A simple system for quotes, invoices and job records — the admin habit set in month one is the one you keep
Finding the first customers
Start with the network you have: former employers who overflow work, other trades who need your trade on their jobs, and everyone you know hearing that you’ve launched. Lead sites (Checkatrade, MyBuilder) can bridge the gap while reviews build, if every lead is answered fast.
Then let the flywheel work: do good jobs, ask for a Google review the day you finish, photograph before-and-after, and follow up every quote. Referral work compounds; bought leads don’t.
Run it like a business from day one
The difference between a job and a business is the system around the tools. TradeHub OS gives a one-person trade business the same machinery as a big firm — leads captured and chased, quotes signed online, invoices with card payment links, certificates, and Xero sync for the accountant — built as a bespoke system scoped to how your business works. Access is by enquiry.
This guide is general information for UK trades and landlords, not legal advice. Always refer to the current regulations and official guidance from the HSE, Gas Safe Register or your competent-person scheme.
