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
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
Webinars
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
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.
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
It’s amazing how much more confident it makes you feel in your business, knowing that you’ve got all that grown-up stuff sorted out.
Steve Folland
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
Joining IPSE is one of the single most important things a freelancer can do. Freelancing is a fun, exciting, adventure – but it can have its challenges too. And let’s be honest, at times, can be isolating. Joining IPSE is like having a team of cheer leaders who have your back every step of the way.
Faye Dicker
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
When you're self-employed it can sometimes feel like you're a small fish in a very big pond. Having IPSE fighting your corner is invaluable. From lobbying government on freelancer rights and policy, to providing access to the perks normally reserved for employees, being an IPSE member is the smart play.
Colin Stuart
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
Start your journey to smarter self-employment for only £9.99
Become an IPSE members and get access to all the benefits and resources to start working for yourself.
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