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Become a sole trader with HM Revenue and Customs - your legal responsibilities if you run a business as a self-employed sole trader.

• What a sole trader is

  A sole trader is a type of business. It’s the simplest business structure…

• Choose your business name

  You can trade under your own name, or you can choose another name for your…

• Register as a sole trader

  You register as a sole trader by registering for Self Assessment. You must…

What you need to do if you set up as a sole trader - check your employment status, understand your obligations, and register for tax.

Find out which taxes you might need to register for as a sole trader and the rules you'll need to follow.

• Updated: 31 July 2024

Get help to classify footwear and parts of footwear for import and export.

• Updated: 7 October 2024

Driven by the government’s work on streaming, UK record companies agree new Principles to help deliver real benefits for creators

• Updated: 23 October 2025

This form is for clients and/or their partners who are self-employed sole traders.

Choosing a legal structure when you're starting a business: the differences between being a sole trader and a limited company, including legal risk, registration and taxes.

Ownership of copyright works may depend on the circumstances under which the work was created.

• Updated: 19 August 2014

What intellectual property is, how you can protect it, and which of copyright, patents, design right and trade marks applies to your work.

Apply to bring your family or settle in the UK if you already have a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.