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Getting started in self-employment

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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.

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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 ›

02. Get Going ›

03. Get Work ›

04. Get Paid ›

05. Get Ahead ›

06. Get Out ›

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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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership

Business Hub

Premium guides and templates

Events networking and training

Access to exclusive events, networking & training

Webinar 1

Webinars

Key resources

Listing Download generic
Members Only
The definitive guide to freelancing
+8 more

The definitive guide to starting, growing, and maximising the potential of your self-employed business.

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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership

IPSE offers

1000's of everyday offers

Legal helpline

24/7 tax and legal helplines

Company investigation cover

Discounted business insurance portal

Key resources

Listing Download generic
Members Only
Business plan template
+2 more

This business plan template will help you get into the nitty-gritty of what you need to make your business a success.

Listing image Advice sole trader or limited company
Free to All
Choosing between becoming a sole trader or limited company
+3 more

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...

10 minutes
Social media advice desk 5
Free to All
A guide to freelancer and contractor insurance
+3 more

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...

12 minutes

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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership
Contract failure cover

Insured against breached contracts

Illness and injury cover

Covered if ill or injured

End client or agency failure cover

Insured if your client goes bankrupt

Key resources

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Members Only
The guide to setting rates
+4 more

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 ...

Social media advice shake hands
Free to All
How to create your best freelance elevator pitch
+3 more

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 ...

10 minutes
Listing advice Marketing your self employed business
Free to All
Marketing your self-employed business

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.

20 minutes

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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership

Tax and VAT investigation cover

Cover against HMRC investigation

Contract failure cover

Contract failure cover

Umbrella default cover

Insured if umbrella or agency go bankrupt

Key resources

Listing image Advice How to pay yourself as a limited company director
Free to All
How to pay yourself as a limited company director
+4 more

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...

Listing image Advice How to pay yourself as a sole trader
Free to All
How to pay yourself as a sole trader
+3 more

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’...

8 minutes
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Members Only
Late Payment Letter Template: Gentle Reminder
+5 more

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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership

Events networking and training

Access to exclusive events

IPSE offers

1000's of everyday offers

Managed Service Company

Managed Service Company investigation support

Key resources

Listing Download generic
Members Only
Self-employed expenses checklist
+5 more

Use our handy checklist to ensure that you don’t miss any expenses when submitting your tax return.

Listing advice tax 2
Free to All
Making Tax Digital Guide
+2 more

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-...

9.5 minutes
Listing advice tax
Free to All
Managed service company legislation guide
+2 more

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.

9 minutes

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.

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How to master this stage with IPSE membership

Events networking and training

Access to exclusive events

Tax Contract and Legal helplines

24/7 tax and legal helplines

IPSE offers

1000's of everyday offers

Key resources

Listing advice contract
Free to All
Why you need a succession plan for your self-employed business
+1 more

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 ...

6 minutes
Listing image Advice Sell car or house
Free to All
Should you sell your car or house to your business?
+2 more

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...

4 minutes
Listing image Advice Entrepreneurs Relief
Free to All
What is Entrepreneurs' Relief and when you should claim it
+2 more

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...

4 minutes

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IPSE Member Directory

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Business Hub

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