Guides by Business Type

A freelance designer billing five clients a month doesn't need the same finance setup as a six-person agency with retainers, project budgets and an employee card programme. A tradesperson taking cash and card on site has different priorities to an online seller dealing with Amazon payouts and stock VAT. This hub groups our guides by how you actually trade, so you can skip the parts that don't apply to you.

The common spine

Whatever your business type, the first six decisions are the same: structure (sole trader or limited company), banking (a dedicated account from day one), bookkeeping (a system you'll actually use), invoicing (compliant and easy to pay), expenses (tracked as you go), and tax dates (in your calendar before you forget). Read the structure and banking guides in the main hubs first, then come back here for what's different about your type of business.

What's different by type

Freelancers and consultants mostly need clean invoicing and a tax savings habit. Contractors need to be confident on their IR35 status — inside or outside — because the answer changes how they get paid. Limited company directors need to understand the salary/dividend mix and director loan rules. Side hustlers need to know about the £1,000 trading allowance and the Self Assessment threshold. Tradespeople need cash-handling, materials accounting and van-related allowances. Online sellers need stock and platform-fee accounting, and the marketplace VAT rules. Creators need to handle lumpy income, payment in goods, and equipment as capital. Agencies need to think about WIP, retainers and team spending controls.

Where to go next

Pick the guide that fits, then pair it with the relevant chapters in the banking, invoicing and expenses hubs. Most readers don't need to read everything — just the parts that apply to how they trade.