What is a sole trader? It simply means being self-employed, although sole traders can also have employees.
Being a sole trader involves some personal financial risk. Sole traders must pay their debts if their business fails. If you’re thinking of starting up a low-cost business (ie one that is unlikely to build up big debts), you probably needn’t worry too much.
How to register | Set up as a sole trader To set up as a sole trader, you need to tell HMRC that you pay tax through Self Assessment. You’ll need to file a tax return every year. Why become a sole trader?
Registering as a sole trader is quick, easy and involves no cost, while preparing sole trader accounts is usually quite straightforward. Sole traders can employ people and become a limited company (‘incorporate’) later on, if they want to.
