Sole Trader Guide is an independent resource for UK sole traders and self-employed people. We research and compare accounting software, AI tools, and HMRC guidance — and we’re transparent about how we make money.

The problem we’re solving

Every other resource in this space is either written by an accountancy firm trying to sell you their services, or a US website that doesn’t understand UK tax law. The HMRC website is accurate but difficult to navigate. Reddit threads are helpful but unverified.

There’s no independent, plain-English, UK-specific guide that a sole trader can actually trust. That’s what we’re building.

What we cover

We focus on three areas:

• Tax and HMRC: Self Assessment, Making Tax Digital, allowable expenses, payment on account, VAT, and the questions HMRC’s website answers badly
• Accounting software: Independent reviews of FreeAgent, Xero, QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and business bank accounts — evaluated specifically for one-person UK businesses
• AI tools: Tools that genuinely save time for UK sole traders, evaluated honestly for practical self-employed use cases

How we make money — and why that doesn’t affect our content

We earn affiliate commissions when readers sign up for products through our links. We’re completely transparent about this: every page with affiliate links carries a clear disclosure.

Our editorial assessments are independent of commission rates. If a product charges a higher commission but isn’t good for UK sole traders, we say so — and we direct readers toward the better option. You can verify this yourself: our FreeAgent recommendation is partly because it’s free with NatWest/RBS banking, which generates us no commission at all.

We also do not accept payment for editorial coverage, sponsored placements disguised as reviews, or “best of” rankings influenced by who pays the most.

Accuracy and updates

Tax law changes. HMRC guidance changes. Software pricing changes. We review all articles at least twice a year and update them when material changes occur. Every article carries its last-reviewed date.

We are not accountants or financial advisers. Nothing on this site is professional tax or financial advice. For complex situations, always consult a qualified accountant.

Contact

Found an error? Have a suggestion? Want to flag something that’s changed? We genuinely want to hear from you. Use the contact form.