IPSE Advice

Ways of working
There are many ways to work as a self-employed person, from operating as a sole trader, limited company director or as part of an umbrella organisation.

This section covers:

• Choosing your company structure
• Sole trader
• Limited companies
• Choosing the best self-employed workplace

Winning Work
Tips and advice to help you grow your business no matter what industry or sector you work in.

Here you'll find information on:

• How to find freelance clients 
• How to craft your best elevator pitch
• Finding the best online job boards for freelancers
• Referrals
• Introduction to branding

Parenting and Self-employment
Find advice on many aspects of freelance life as a parent.

This section covers:

• A guide to freelance maternity leave

• Shared parental leave for the self-employed

• A guide to self-employed paternity

• Freelancing with a newborn baby

• Freelancing with small children

Physical wellbeing
Running a business, or freelancing and contracting for clients, can be busy, stressful and all-consuming, but Ignoring your health and wellbeing can have serious implications for you, and your business.

This section covers:

• Freelancing and self-employment with a chronic illness
• Freelancing and self-employment with a disability
• Self-employed health issues
• Nutrition
• Working from home
• Desk exercises

Social wellbeing
Choosing your level of sociability is a big advantage of self-employment, but if you prefer solitude, or have a more introverted character, working and socialising with other people can be exhausting. It's important to find the right balance.

This section covers:

• Coping with social anxiety when you’re self-employed
• How social media can benefit your wellbeing
• Finding coaches or mentors if you're self-employed

Mental Wellbeing
We've put together a set of resources and guides to support positive mental wellbeing for the self-employed, combing our business knowledge with tips and advice from mental health and wellbeing experts.

This section covers:

• How to stop self-employed procrastination hurting your career
• How to tackle freelance burnout for the self-employed
• Taking time off
• UK Freelance Mental Health Statistics

Financial wellbeing
Managing your revenue and profits is crucial to a sustainable freelance career or self-employed business. Find out how to manage your accounts, increase your income, and make the most of your outgoings and expenses. And how to tackle missed or late payments to minimise disruption to your finances.

This section covers:

• Contracts and Statements of Work
• Tackling missed or late payments
• Saving on tools and support 
• Further resources

How-to
Find practical and detailed advice on starting a self-employed business, focused on specific industries and career paths. Learn about what different freelance jobs actually involve on a daily basis, the skills or qualifications you might need, and other useful tips and resources for each role.

How to become a freelance:

• Structural engineer
• Event planner or organiser
• Photographer
• SEO consultant
• Web designer
• Writer

Self-Employed Tax

It's important to create good financial habits throughout the year to make any tax deadlines go that much smoother. Find out how to be tax efficient, read expert tips about Self Assessments and tax year end, and learn about the importance of digital record keeping.

This section covers:

• How to be one step ahead of your finances
• Do I need to file a Self Assessment tax return
• What expenses can I claim working from home?
• Expert tips for a successful tax year end
• Further resources