Trade under
your own name, properly.
The lightest way to start earning — no Companies House, no share capital, no Corporation Tax. Bizvee registers you with HMRC for Self-Assessment and keeps every deadline on your radar for a year.
£95
Flat fee
Same day
Registration
~10 days
UTR by post
UK Sole Trader Registration
Register as self-employed with HMRC, get your UTR and start trading with the paperwork done properly.
What's included
- HMRC self-employment registration
- UTR guidance
- Class 2 & 4 NIC explained
- Trading-name check
- 12 months of tax reminders
- Records-keeping starter kit
Free with this package
- Free UK ID verification
- Free UTR delivery tracking
- Free self-assessment deadline calendar
- Free banking introduction
No hidden add-ons. Everything above is covered by the one-off fee shown.
Sole trader, plainly
Four honest answers — before you register.
What it is
You, trading in your own name (or a trading name). No separate legal entity — profits are your income, losses are your loss.
Who it fits
Freelancers, consultants, tradespeople, side-hustlers, single-person service businesses and anyone testing an idea before incorporating.
What it isn't
It isn't a company. There's no share capital, no Companies House and no personal liability shield — your assets are on the line if things go wrong.
How you're taxed
Income Tax and National Insurance on your profits, filed through Self-Assessment once a year. No Corporation Tax, no PAYE (until you hire).
What's inside
Everything you need to start earning legally.
HMRC self-employment registration
We submit your Self-Assessment registration to HMRC using the correct route for your situation — new taxpayer, returning taxpayer or existing Government Gateway user.
UTR guidance
HMRC issues your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference by post. We tell you exactly what to expect, when and what to do the moment it lands.
Class 2 & 4 NIC explained
A plain-English breakdown of how your National Insurance is calculated as a sole trader, and when it's due through Self-Assessment.
Trading-name check
Sole traders can trade under a business name — we check it isn't a protected term (bank, royal, chartered, etc.) or too close to an existing Ltd.
12 months of tax reminders
Countdown alerts for your Self-Assessment deadline (31 January), payments on account (31 July) and — if you cross the VAT threshold — VAT registration.
Records-keeping starter kit
A short template pack: income log, expenses log, mileage tracker and mileage-vs-actual guidance so your first tax return isn't a scramble.
How it works
From intake to UTR — end-to-end.
The registration is same-day. HMRC then posts the UTR letter — that part sits on Royal Mail's timeline, not ours.
- 01
Intake in under 2 minutes
Tell us your legal name, National Insurance number, trading name and the date you started (or plan to start) trading.
- 02
Registration submitted
We file the HMRC self-employment registration and confirm submission the same working day.
- 03
UTR by post
HMRC posts your UTR within 10 working days. We send you a plain-English walkthrough of what to do with it.
- 04
Reminders live
Your Self-Assessment and NIC calendar is armed for the next 12 months — no more January panic.
Business banking
Sole trader accounts at every major UK bank.
Keep your business income separate from personal spending — most UK banks now offer a dedicated sole-trader account.
FAQ
Answers before you file with HMRC.
Do I need to form a company to be a sole trader?+
No. A sole trader is an individual trading in their own name — there's no separate legal entity, no Companies House filing and no Corporation Tax. You just need to be registered with HMRC for Self-Assessment.
Sole trader or Ltd?+
Sole trader is simpler and cheaper to run but exposes you personally — your business debts are your debts. A Ltd company gives you personal liability protection but comes with Companies House filings and Corporation Tax. Most founders start sole trader and switch to Ltd once profits or risk grow.
When must I register?+
By 5 October in your business's second tax year. In practice, register as soon as you start trading so your UTR is ready in time for your first Self-Assessment.
How much tax will I pay?+
Income Tax is based on your profits (income minus allowable expenses) using the standard personal allowance and bands. You'll also pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance through Self-Assessment. Rates change year-to-year — we send the current figures with your welcome pack.
Do I need to register for VAT?+
Only if your taxable turnover exceeds the current UK VAT threshold (or you expect it to within 30 days). Below that, VAT is voluntary. We include a VAT-threshold alert in your reminder calendar.
Can I use a business name?+
Yes — sole traders can trade under a business name. You can't use protected terms (like 'bank', 'chartered' or 'royal') without permission, and you must show your legal name on invoices alongside the business name.
Start trading
on the right side of HMRC.
Two minutes to order. A Bizvee specialist registers you for Self-Assessment and hands back a 12-month reminder plan you can actually stick to.
- RegistrationSame day
- UTR by post~10 days
- Filing reminders12 months
- Fee£95