Climbing out of your comfort zone is always a big step, but the rewards of setting up as self-employed persuade thousands every year to go it alone. Success however needs a firm foundation, so here are some tips to get you off to a great start.

1. 8 steps towards self employment success

2. 1. Plan for perfection You must treat your self-employment as if you are setting up a business A good business plan is therefore essential Write down: what you will be doing who your target customers are who your competitors are how you will promote yourself your financial plan including expenses and budget your five-year goals If you need to raise money from a bank or investor you’ll need a good plan to show them

3. 2. Brand yourself Come up with a good business name Research what your competitors call themselves Think about what your services will stand for Think about where your services will sit in your market Include your business name in your website URL Include your business name on all your stationery Open a bank account in your business name

4. 3. Make sure you’re legal Check whether you need a license or permit to carry out the work you will be doing If you are doing something like child minding or street trading you will need a local authority license Alternatively you may need certain qualifications Make sure you have the right business insurance. Consider: Public liability & professional indemnity Ensure you conform to any health and safety regulations for your industry

5. 4. Creating a workspace If you need an office: where can you afford to rent? don’t forget about business rates is it close to your customer base? does it have all the facilities you need? If you choose to work from home: will you need planning permission will you still need to pay business rates? get dedicated business contents insurance inform your insurance company find a supplier for office furniture/equipment find an IT support company

6. 5. Tax obligations Contact HM Revenue and customs to register your business Failure to do so within three months of being self-employed could mean a fine of £100 Decide whether you will be a sole trader, partnership or limited company You will need to complete a tax return every year Ensure you set aside the right amount of money for tax from your revenue If your revenue exceeds £64,000 per year, you will need to register for VAT If you pay out VAT regularly you can register even if your revenue is under £64,000 to claim it back

7. 6. Insurance for your business You will need to take out business insurance . These are the main covers you should consider: Public liability – covers you for incidents when a third party is injured or their property damaged as a result of your business activity Professional indemnity – covers you for professional negligence. It will cover your costs if a client sues because you have given faulty advice or been negligent in your work Employers’ liability – if you have 1 or more employees in addition to yourself you are legally required to take this cover. It will cover costs if one of your staff becomes ill or is injured at work

10. About SimplyBusiness.co.uk SimplyBusiness.co.uk offers businesses of all sizes a way of comparing insurance quotes from a range of insurers, buying the policy and then managing it online. In support of small business owners, Simply Business also offers a library of business articles covering all aspects of running a company. Simplybusiness.co.uk also offers invoice finance quotes for businesses that need help balancing cashflow or with late invoice payments.