🚀 Self-employment basics

❓ What is self-employment?

Being self-employed means you work for yourself instead of an employer. Examples include dog walking, gardening, making and selling crafts, hair and beauty, and DJing.

📝 The basics

• You are responsible for finding customers and setting prices
• You keep records of the money you earn and spend
• If you earn more than £1,000 a year from self-employment, you usually need to register with HMRC and fill in a tax return
• You may need insurance and, for some jobs, a licence or qualification

🤝 Help and support

• Talk to your careers adviser
• The Prince's Trust (now called The King's Trust) supports young people starting businesses
• Ask Jobcentre Plus about self-employment support

⚖️ Think it through

Self-employment can be flexible, but your income may not be regular, and there's no holiday or sick pay. Many people start it alongside a part-time job.

➡️ Where next?