Getting started in self-employment
Master your self-employment journey
There's a lot to consider when you're starting a new business. Cut through all the noise with our dedicated roadmap.
Start your journey to smarter self-employment
To help make working for yourself, work for you, we've put together a collection of IPSE resources to help you get started with your self-employed business.
To make your journey easier to navigate, we've broken it down into the various stages of self-employment:
01. Get Real
What is it like to work for yourself?
At this stage of launching a business, you will be considering what it means to be an independent professional and how you can start to build your own career ladder. Through trusted advice and guides, events, and our welcoming community, IPSE can help you do just that.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Premium guides and templates
Access to exclusive events, networking & training
Webinars
Key resources
The definitive guide to starting, growing, and maximising the potential of your self-employed business.
Free download
The guide to being your own boss
For a limited time, get free access to the first two chapters to IPSE's guide Be Your Own Boss, usually only available to members.
What's included in the first chapter:
What it is like to work for yourself?
What is an independent professional?
How to building your own career ladder.
02. Get Going
Take all the right steps to start working for yourself
You're probably keen to get out there and start earning money, but there are some crucial steps you need to take first. Through access to guides, templates, webinars, helplines, key insurances, the community, and our 12-month Incubator programme, IPSE membership sets you up for success and helps you avoid any costly mistakes.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
1000's of everyday offers
24/7 tax and legal helplines
Discounted business insurance portal
Key resources
This business plan template will help you get into the nitty-gritty of what you need to make your business a success.
When you start working for yourself, one of the first big decisions will be choosing between becoming a sole trader or limited company. Picking the right option f...
Make sure that you are protected with the key insurances needed by the self-employed community. Plus, IPSE members can receive a discount through our partner Mark...
"Having IPSE membership helped me to ensure I had implemented all of the best business practices, and it's great to be part of such a friendly support network of other freelancers too."
"IPSE is a valuable source of information and essential for anyone involved in freelancing or thinking about going it alone."
“There’s quite a lot of resources, in terms of thinking about how you pitch your work, don’t get paid late or whatever it might be.”
03. Get Work
Now you need to earn some money
You've done all the groundwork and it's time to start sourcing your income. From crafting your elevator pitch to setting your rates, find everything you need to start earning money in IPSE's expert guides, tools, and advice. Plus, protect those earnings by being insured against breached contracts, client bankrupty, HMRC investigations and more, all included in IPSE membership.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Insured against breached contracts
Covered if ill or injured
Insured if your client goes bankrupt
Key resources
Many clients expect freelancers to have a fixed daily or hourly rate, but this isn’t the only option. There are lots of ways to design a list of tariffs for your ...
You only get one chance to make a great first impression for your business. So, understanding how to create your best freelance elevator pitch will help you make ...
Clients need to be aware you exist to spend money on your products or services, but even large companies struggle to cover every promotion channel.
Free download
The guide to being your own boss
For a limited time, get free access to the first two chapters to IPSE's guide Be Your Own Boss, usually only available to members.
What's included in the second chapter:
Understanding you employment status.
Get a business bank account.
Set up a record keeping system.
04. Get Paid
Manage your relationships and get paid
From contracts to invoicing, setting up the right processes from the get-go can ensure you protect your business, have happy clients, and get paid. IPSE members have access to guides, templates, advice, events, helplines, and so much more. Not to mention all the vital insurances to help you protect those precious earnings.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Cover against HMRC investigation
Contract failure cover
Insured if umbrella or agency go bankrupt
Key resources
Make the most of your self-employed income and find out how to pay yourself as a limited company director, using the right combination of salary and dividends. An...
It’s easier to understand how to pay yourself as a sole trader, than if you’re working as the director of a limited company. But while it may be more simple, you’...
As a freelancer, late payment can seriously affect your cashflow and wellbeing, but it can often feel difficult to approach late-paying clients due to concerns ar...
05. Get Ahead
Time to tweak and streamline your operation
This is the time to take a step back to work out where you can tweak things to design a truly slick operation. IPSE membership allows you to get ahead in your independent career and enjoy the fruits of your labour by giving you access to the benefits you need to master self-employment.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Access to exclusive events
1000's of everyday offers
Managed Service Company investigation support
Key resources
Use our handy checklist to ensure that you don’t miss any expenses when submitting your tax return.
Whether you’re running your own business on a full or part-time basis, any changes to the UK tax system can have a major impact on your livelihood, so stay up-to-...
In this guide, we outline the scope of the MSC legislation, how to tell if your company is affected and the actions that can be taken.
06. Get Out
What's your exit strategy?
You probably don't have to worry about this stage yet if you're just starting out, but it's always important to look ahead to the future. With IPSE by your side throughout your self-employed career, you'll have the wisdom and support of all our experts and your fellow members, no matter where your journey takes you.
How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Access to exclusive events
24/7 tax and legal helplines
1000's of everyday offers
Key resources
What happens if something unexpected impacts your ability to work, or you decide you want to move onto something else? This is why you need a succession plan for ...
It’s important to manage your finances effectively when you’re self-employed, and that includes making the most of any assets you own - particulary when you’re op...
Entrepreneurs’ Relief allows you to pay less Capital Gains Tax (CGT) when you sell all or part of your business, close it down, or sell qualifying assets and secu...
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