Starting your own business and becoming self-employed
Whatever your career option, you may want to work for yourself. The decision to become self-employed is a big step, especially if you're close to retirement. Plenty of advice is available and you can get help with planning, training courses and funding.
Your options
There are different ways of being self-employed:
- as a sole trader, working alone
- in a partnership with two or more people
- as a limited company where the business has a separate identity
- own a franchise of a business that is already set up
Starting up
Starting a new business can be exciting and rewarding, but it is also full of challenges. With commitment, drive, perseverance and support from family and friends you can transform your business idea into reality. Think about what being self-employed will mean to you and consider some possible advantages and disadvantages:
The benefits
Advantages of being self-employed include:
- you are your own boss
- being able to make your own decisions
- flexibility around your working days and hours
- self-fulfilment, making full use of your experience, talents and abilities
- financial independence
The challenges
Disadvantages of running your own business include:
- no guaranteed, regular income
- needing funding for start-up costs
- working long hours to suit your business needs
- no holiday or sick pay and no pension
- sorting out payment of your own tax accounts
First steps to self-employment
You will have to research and develop your business idea. You will need to think about:
- what services or products you will sell
- whether people will want your product or service
- how you will fund your business
- laws and regulations you will have to follow
Then you must prepare a business plan that reflects what you need to do to set up and run the business.
Support available
There are a number of programmes and initiatives available that offer financial help and advice.
Go Succeed NI Business Support
Go Succeed is the new go-to source for expert business advice led by Northern Ireland's eleven local councils. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur just starting out; are looking to grow your business; or are planning to scale up; our team of industry experts will provide tailored support and guidance to help you achieve your business goals.
To learn about Go Succeed and how you can start, grow or scale your business, visit:
or
Telephone: 0800 027 0269
The Enterprise Programme
The Enterprise programme, run by the Prince’s Trust, helps young people interested in self employment to explore and test their ideas, write plans and start their own businesses, or achieve alternative outcomes in education, training, volunteering or work.
Advantage NI
Advantage NI works with clients in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to promote starting a business as a realistic and viable career option to young people aged 16-30. It offers individual, tailored information, advice and guidance on starting, running and growing a business.
Enterprise Northern Ireland
If you are thinking of starting a business, Enterprise Northern Ireland will provide training, business loans and premises for start up businesses.
Working after State Pension age
If you are still in paid work when you receive your State Pension, you will have to pay tax on it. For more information, contact your local pension office.