Most trade businesses reach a point where one pair of hands isn’t enough. You’ve got more work than you can handle alone, so you bring in another tradesperson to help. It seems straightforward – until HMRC gets involved. Using subcontractors…
The first time you run payroll as a tradesperson is one of those moments where you realise just how much admin comes with taking on staff. You’re not just paying someone a wage, you’re calculating tax, deducting National Insurance, submitting…
Taking on your first employee is one of the biggest steps you’ll make as a tradesperson – it means more jobs, more revenue, and potentially a lot more stress if you get the process wrong. HMRC, employment law, and payroll…
When you’re starting out as a tradesperson, the last thing you want is to spend hours on admin. The right software fixes that. In 2026, there are tools built specifically for tradespeople that handle quoting, job management, invoicing, accounting, and…
Going self-employed as a tradesperson is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make – but before you take on your first job, you need to make sure you’re properly registered with HMRC. It’s simpler than most people think,…
Starting a trade business in the UK is one of the most achievable paths to self-employment available. If you have a skill – plumbing, electrical work, joinery, decorating, tiling, heating – you already have the foundation. What you need is…
Tradespeople spend more time on the road than almost any other profession. Whether you’re driving between jobs, collecting materials, or covering long distances to reach customers – your van is on the road constantly. That means more exposure to other…
Fuel is one of the biggest running costs for any tradesperson. Cover 20,000 miles a year in a diesel van – entirely normal for a busy sole trader – and a fuel card discount can save you hundreds of pounds…
Tool theft costs UK tradespeople tens of millions of pounds every year. For a sole trader, losing a van full of tools overnight isn’t just an inconvenience – it can put you out of work for days while you sort…
Disorganised tools cost you money. Time spent hunting for the right bit, the right fitting, or the right tool on a job site is time you’re not billing for. And tools rattling around in the back of a van take…