Help with moving from benefits to work

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Starting or running your own business

You can get help to:

  • start your own business
  • develop your business, if you’re already self-employed

You can get help from:

If you get Universal Credit

You might be able to get a 12 month ‘start up period’ if you’re self-employed.

During a start up period, no matter how much you earn:

  • your Universal Credit payments are based on your monthly earnings
  • you do not need to look for other work
  • you’ll get support from a work coach who’s trained to work with the self-employed

Your current work coach can tell you if you’re eligible.

Read more about claiming Universal Credit when you’re self-employed.

If you already have a business that’s less than 2 years old

You might be able to get a Start Up Loan.

If you’re disabled or you have a health condition

You may be able to get extra support through an Access to Work grant.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Set up as self-employed (a 'sole trader'): step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if being self-employed is right for you

    1. Check what being self-employed means

    There are other ways to work for yourself. Check if you should set up as one of the following instead:

    1. Get help deciding how to set up your business
    2. You are currently viewing: Get help starting your own business if you're on benefits

  2. Step 2 Choose the name you want to trade under

    1. Check the rules for sole trader business names

  3. Step 3 Check what records you'll need to keep

    1. Find out what business records you need to keep

  4. Step 4 Register for tax

    To pay tax, you'll need to register for Self Assessment.

    1. Apply for a National Insurance number if you do not have one
    2. Register for Self Assessment

    You might need to register in a different way if:

    You may also need to register for VAT.

    1. Check if you need to register for VAT