Your van is more than just a way to get from job to job. It’s your mobile workshop, your storage unit, your first impression when you pull up on a customer’s driveway. Getting the right one makes a real difference to how efficiently you can work and how professional you look. The UK van market…
Most tradespeople will face this situation at some point. You’ve done the work, done it well, and the customer simply won’t pay. Whether it’s a dispute over quality, a customer who’s gone quiet, or someone who’s openly refusing — it’s one of the most stressful situations in running a trade business. The good news is…
Most tradespeople never use a written contract. They agree a price, shake hands, and get on with the job. And most of the time that works fine. But when it doesn’t — when a customer disputes the price, refuses to pay, or claims the work wasn’t what they agreed to — the absence of a…
As a self-employed tradesperson, you have no sick pay. No employer to cover your wages if you’re off work. No safety net if an injury or illness keeps you off the tools for weeks or months. For most tradespeople, their ability to work is their most valuable asset. Yet income protection insurance — which replaces…
If you ever take on help — a labourer for a big job, a mate who helps out occasionally, an apprentice — employers liability insurance is something you need to know about. In fact, if you employ anyone in the UK, employers liability insurance isn’t optional. It’s a legal requirement. And the penalties for not…
If you work in someone’s home or on a commercial site, public liability insurance is one of the most important things you can have as a tradesperson. Without it, a single accident could result in a compensation claim that wipes out everything you’ve worked to build. The good news is that public liability insurance for…
If you’re running your trade business through your personal bank account, you’re making your financial life harder than it needs to be. A dedicated business bank account separates your business and personal finances, makes tax time significantly easier, and gives you a clear picture of how your business is actually performing. Most importantly — it…
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any trade business. You can have a full diary, happy customers, and a profitable business on paper — and still struggle to pay your bills if the money isn’t coming in at the right time. The feast and famine cycle is one of the most common problems tradespeople face….
One of the most effective ways to reduce your tax bill as a self-employed tradesperson is to make sure you’re claiming every allowable expense you’re entitled to. Most tradespeople underclaim — leaving money on the table every single year. HMRC allows you to deduct legitimate business expenses from your income before calculating your tax bill….
If you’re self-employed as a tradesperson in the UK, you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return every year. It’s not optional — and getting it wrong or missing the deadline can result in fines from HMRC. The good news is that Self Assessment is much more straightforward than most people think. Once you…