Self-Employment Startup Checklist

Printable checklist for going self-employed in beauty. HMRC registration, insurance, banking, equipment, pricing and legal.

BeautyKiln Document Hub - Self-Employment Startup Checklist - Free to use, no attribution required

Self-Employment Startup Checklist for Beauty Workers

Use this checklist when you are going self-employed in beauty for the first time. Work through each section and tick off items as you complete them. Not everything will apply to your situation - skip anything that is not relevant to your specialism.

HMRC and Tax

• Register as self-employed with HMRC (do this within 3 months of starting - online at gov.uk)
• Note your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) when it arrives by post: ________________
• Set up a Government Gateway account (if you do not already have one)
• Set a reminder for your first Self Assessment tax return deadline (31 January following the end of the tax year)
• Start putting aside 25-30% of your income for tax and National Insurance from day one
• Understand whether you need to make payments on account (you will if your tax bill is over £1,000)
• Check if you need to register for VAT (only if your turnover will exceed £90,000 in 12 months - unlikely at first but worth knowing)

Bank Account

• Open a separate business bank account (some banks offer free accounts for sole traders)
• Set up a standing order to transfer your tax savings into a separate savings account each month

Insurance

• Get public liability insurance (minimum £1 million, £2 million is better)
• Get treatment risk / professional indemnity insurance for every treatment you offer
• Get product liability insurance if you sell products to clients
• Check whether your policy covers mobile/home working if applicable
• Check whether your policy covers chair or booth rental if applicable
• Save your policy documents somewhere accessible
• Set a reminder for your renewal date: //________

ICO Registration

• Check whether you need to register with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
• Most beauty workers who keep client records digitally need to register - the fee is £40 per year for micro businesses
• Register online at ico.org.uk if required
• Registration reference: ________________

Professional Body Membership

• Consider joining a professional body relevant to your specialism (e.g. BABTAC, ABT, NHBF, the Guild, British Beauty Council)
• Check if membership includes insurance (some do)
• Check if membership is required by your local council for licensing

Qualifications and Licensing

• Confirm your qualifications are current and accepted by insurers
• Check with your local council whether you need a licence or registration for any of your treatments (varies by area - common for: semi-permanent makeup, microblading, tattooing, piercing, electrolysis, laser/IPL, acupuncture)
• Apply for any required local authority licences
• Keep copies of all qualification certificates in one place

Equipment and Products

• Make a list of all equipment you need to buy
• Check whether equipment needs PAT testing (if you work from premises or mobile)
• Research wholesale suppliers and set up trade accounts
• Complete COSHH assessments for any hazardous products you will use (e.g. hair colour, acrylics, lash adhesive, wax)
• Check product expiry dates and storage requirements
• Set up a system for tracking product use and reordering

Workspace

• If working from home - check your home insurance covers business use
• If working from home - check your mortgage or tenancy agreement allows business use
• If working from home - check planning permission is not required (it usually is not for small-scale beauty, but check)
• If renting a chair or booth - read and sign a rental agreement (see BeautyKiln chair/booth rental templates)
• If going mobile - check your car insurance covers business use
• Complete a risk assessment for your workspace
• Make sure your workspace meets hygiene and safety standards

Booking System

• Choose a booking system (options include Fresha, Timely, Square Appointments, Booksy, pen and paper)
• Set up online booking if you want clients to book themselves
• Set up appointment reminders (text or email)
• Create your cancellation policy and add it to your booking system

Pricing

• Research local pricing for the treatments you offer
• Calculate your costs (products, travel, rent, insurance, phone, marketing)
• Set your prices - make sure they cover your costs and leave you with a reasonable income after tax
• Create a price list (see BeautyKiln price list template)
• Decide on your payment methods (cash, card, bank transfer)
• If taking card payments - set up a card reader (SumUp, Zettle, Square)

Marketing

• Choose a business name (check it is not already trademarked at gov.uk/search-for-trademark)
• Set up a business Instagram account
• Set up a business Facebook page
• Set up a Google Business Profile (free - helps you appear in local searches)
• Order business cards if you want them
• Get a professional headshot or logo if budget allows
• Plan your launch - tell friends, family and existing contacts

Legal Documents

• Write your terms and conditions / booking terms (see BeautyKiln deposit and booking terms template)
• Write your privacy notice (see BeautyKiln privacy notice template)
• Create client consultation cards (see BeautyKiln consultation card template)
• Create client consent forms (see BeautyKiln consent form template)
• Create your cancellation policy (see BeautyKiln cancellation policy template)
• Set up a patch test process and record card (see BeautyKiln patch test template)

Record Keeping

• Set up a system for tracking income and expenses (spreadsheet, app, or accounting software like FreeAgent, QuickBooks, Xero)
• Keep every receipt from day one
• Set up a mileage log if you travel to clients (see BeautyKiln mileage log template)
• Understand what you can claim as allowable expenses (products, equipment, travel, insurance, phone, training, professional memberships)

First Week Essentials

• Practise your treatments until you are confident
• Do a test run of your full client journey - booking, consultation, treatment, aftercare, payment
• Make sure you know your aftercare advice for every treatment
• Have your insurance, qualifications and any licences ready to show if asked
• Take a deep breath - you are ready

How to use this template

Print this checklist or save it to your phone. Work through it section by section before you take your first paying client. Not every item will apply to you - cross out anything that is not relevant to your specialism or way of working.

The items marked as most urgent are HMRC registration, insurance, and any local authority licences. Everything else can be done in the first few weeks, but do not put off the legal basics.

If you are unsure about any item, check the relevant BeautyKiln guide for a full explanation, or speak to your professional body.

This is a practical checklist, not legal or tax advice. If your situation is complicated (e.g. you are also employed part-time, or you are on Universal Credit), speak to an accountant or HMRC directly.