Featured guide
Prepare a clear UK invoice
Create an invoice a customer can understand, approve and pay without a avoidable round of questions.
More practical guidance
Guides marked Free are open to everyone. Unlock all guides from Β£3.99 β one payment, no automatic renewal.
Get your small business through a cash-flow crisisβ Golden EditionTake control when cash runs short: build a 13-week forecast, protect priority bills, agree payment plans with HMRC and suppliers, and know when to get insolvency advice.Negotiate a settlement agreement when leaving your jobβ Golden EditionRespond calmly to an exit offer, work out what you are already owed, use your legal leverage, negotiate money and terms, and sign a settlement agreement you fully understand.Get ready for Making Tax Digital for Income Taxβ Golden EditionFind out if and when Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to you, set up digital records, meet every quarterly and year-end deadline and stay clear of penalties.π In-depth: The complete guide to starting as a sole trader in the UKFreeHow to start working for yourself in the UK: registering with HMRC, records, invoices, insurance, pricing, finding clients and getting paid on time. Reading time: 15β20 minutes.Win more local customers on a small budgetπ MembersChoose low-cost marketing ideas for a local small business, from online listings and referrals to community events, and track which ones bring paying customers.Make working from home productive and less lonelyπ MembersUse practical ideas for workspace, daily structure, focus and staying connected to make home working more productive and easier on your wellbeing.Write a cover letter that gets readπ MembersWrite a short, tailored cover letter or application email that links your experience to the job advert and gives the employer a clear reason to read your CV.Plan your maternity, paternity or shared parental leaveπ MembersUnderstand your family leave options, give your employer the right notice, plan your money and agree keep-in-touch days and a smooth return to work.Recover unpaid wages from your employerπ MembersCheck what you are owed, raise it in writing, use ACAS early conciliation and know your options if an employer will not pay your wages or holiday pay.Negotiate the salary and package on a job offerπ MembersRespond to a job offer with researched figures, polite wording and a clear ask, so you improve pay or benefits without risking the offer.Build a LinkedIn profile that recruiters findπ MembersRewrite your headline, About section and experience so recruiters and clients can find you in search and quickly see why to contact you.Claim the right expenses as a sole traderπ MembersWork out which business costs you can deduct, choose between actual costs and simplified expenses, and keep evidence that stands up to HMRC.Choose the right insurance for a small businessπ MembersWork out which business insurance you legally need and which protects you best, then compare quotes and avoid gaps in your cover.Check and protect your business nameπ MembersChoose a business name you can legally use, check it is not taken, register it in the right places and consider a trade mark to protect it.Pay your Self Assessment bill and payments on accountπ MembersWork out what you owe HMRC by 31 January, understand payments on account, choose how to pay and set up a plan if you cannot pay in full on time.Prepare for your annual performance reviewπ MembersGather evidence of your results, handle feedback calmly, agree clear goals and use your appraisal to ask for development, support or a pay conversation.Prepare for a disciplinary meeting at workπ MembersUnderstand the allegations, gather your evidence, bring a companion, put your side clearly and know how to appeal if you disagree with the outcome.Check and plan your paid holiday entitlementπ MembersWork out how much paid holiday you are entitled to, check how bank holidays and part-time hours count, and book leave before the year runs out.Find your first freelance clientsπ MembersDefine a clear offer, tell the right people, use a simple portfolio and a follow-up routine to win your first paying clients without spending on ads.Set up a limited company step by stepFreeDecide whether a limited company suits you, then register with Companies House, verify your identity and set up the tax, banking and records a new company needs.Take on your first employee legallyFreeGo through the legal checks and setup for hiring your first employee, from right to work checks and a written contract to payroll, pensions and insurance.Start a new job with confidenceFreePrepare for your first day, sort out the paperwork and pay details, and use your first weeks to learn the role, build relationships and agree clear goals.Manage sick leave and sick pay at workFreeReport sickness correctly, understand when you need a fit note, check your Statutory Sick Pay or company sick pay and plan a smooth return to work.Resign from your job professionallyFreeCheck your notice period, write a clear resignation letter, handle the conversation with your manager and leave on good terms with your final pay sorted.Write a CV that gets you interviewsπ MembersBuild a clear two-page UK CV that shows your achievements, matches each job advert and gets past both automated screening and a busy recruiter.Ask your employer for a pay riseπ MembersGather evidence of your value, research what similar roles pay and have a calm, well-timed conversation that makes a clear case for a pay rise.Make a flexible working requestπ MembersWrite a clear statutory flexible working request, suggest how it could work for your employer and know what to do if the answer is no.Handle a redundancy consultationπ MembersUnderstand the redundancy process, prepare questions for consultation meetings and check your pay, notice and options so you can make informed decisions.Decide when to register your business for VATπ MembersTrack your taxable turnover against the VAT threshold, understand when registration becomes compulsory and weigh up whether voluntary registration suits you.Chase an overdue invoice professionallyFreeMove from a friendly reminder to a documented escalation while keeping the facts and commercial relationship clear.Hand over completed client work cleanlyFreePackage deliverables, access, decisions and open risks so the client can use the work without depending on your memory.Write a clear quote for a customerπ MembersProduce a professional written quote that sets out scope, price, timescales and terms clearly, so customers can say yes quickly and disputes are avoided.Onboard a new client step by stepπ MembersWelcome a new client with a clear agreement, contact details, expectations and a first-week plan so the work starts smoothly and payment is not delayed.Keep business records ready for HMRCπ MembersSet up a simple system for income, expenses and receipts so your tax return is quicker, your figures are accurate and you are ready if HMRC asks questions.Prepare for a job interviewπ MembersResearch the role, prepare strong examples using the STAR method, plan the practical details and follow up well so you walk into your interview confident.Raise a workplace grievanceπ MembersTry to resolve a problem at work informally, then raise a clear written grievance, prepare for the meeting and know when to get advice from Acas.Prepare for your first Self Assessment tax returnπ MembersGet your figures, records and logins ready so your first self-employed tax return is accurate, on time and has no nasty surprises in January.Work out a sustainable price for your servicesπ MembersCalculate an hourly or day rate that covers your real costs, unpaid time, tax and time off, then test it against the market before quoting.Write simple terms and conditions for your servicesπ MembersDraft plain-English terms covering scope, payment, changes, cancellations and complaints so clients know what to expect and disputes are rarer.Recover an unpaid invoice through small claimsπ MembersTake the formal steps to recover an unpaid invoice: final letters, the correct pre-action process, and a small claim if the client still does not pay.Handle a customer complaint about your workπ MembersRespond calmly to a complaint, check it against the agreed work and consumer law, and offer a fair fix that protects your reputation.Quick checklist
- Unique invoice number
- Supplier and customer details
- Supply date and invoice date
- Clear description and amounts
- VAT information if applicable
Common problems
The client needs a purchase order
Do not invent one. Ask the authorised contact for the correct PO and billing address.
The invoice is disputed
Separate scope, price and completion evidence; respond in writing and issue a credit note rather than silently editing an issued invoice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a quote and an estimate?
A quote is usually a fixed price for a clearly defined job, and once accepted the customer can generally expect to pay that amount unless the work changes. An estimate is a best guess that may change as the job progresses. Say clearly in writing which one you are giving to avoid disputes later.
How long should I keep business records?
HMRC requires businesses to keep records for a set minimum period, which differs for sole traders and limited companies. Check the current requirement on GOV.UK and keep records for at least that long. Keeping them in an organised digital form makes tax returns and any HMRC checks far easier.
Do I need to register as self-employed?
If you start working for yourself, you usually need to tell HMRC and register for Self Assessment, unless your income falls within current allowances. Check the current rules and deadlines on GOV.UK. Registering on time helps you avoid penalties.
Where can I get free advice about a problem at work?
Acas gives free, impartial advice on employment rights and workplace disputes for employees and employers. Citizens Advice can also help, and if you are a union member your union representative can support you. For complex legal issues, speak to an employment solicitor.
When do I need to charge VAT?
You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover passes the registration threshold, and you can choose to register voluntarily below it. The threshold changes from time to time, so check the current figure on GOV.UK. Once registered, you usually charge VAT at the standard rate of 20% unless reduced or zero rates apply.
What to do next
Save a locked PDF, send it to the agreed billing contact and schedule a reminder before and after the due date.