Healthcare Locum - step by step process to becoming a locum

RKO1

I want to start locuming. I've always been hesitant as I want to declare tax but I don't know the process.

I would very much appreciate if someone can give me a step to step guide and advise on how to become self employed and locum full time

How to declare tax. Is it best to be a ltd? Recommend business cards from banks/ building society. What business expenses I can put through

Thank you 🙏🏼

Marcon

RKO1 said:

I want to start locuming. I've always been hesitant as I want to declare tax but I don't know the process.

I would very much appreciate if someone can give me a step to step guide and advise on how to become self employed and locum full time

How to declare tax. Is it best to be a ltd? Recommend business cards from banks/ building society. What business expenses I can put through

Thank you 🙏🏼

See https://www.gov.uk/browse/business which should cover a great deal of the groundwork. It would make sense to get some professional advice from an accountant if you aren't sure whether or not to operate through a limited company, and to ensure everything gets off on the right foot in terms of the financial records you need to keep.

Finding out how to declare tax etc is easy enough, but the more pressing concern for most people when they branch out on their own is getting work/clients. How easy is that going to be?

If you google on 'how to become a healthcare locum' you'll get masses of links which should help.

Flugelhorn

things I would add:

1) continuing professional development / registration - need to keep all this up to date, have a plan to do so as it is much harder when self employed than employed

2) remember the pension! In the NHS it is all handled for you - if you are a locum GP then you can continue in the NHS scheme but not sure any other professions can.  Need to look at options

3) consider an agency to start with - get some business / get known - they have systems for managing the tax etc etc   to keep you legal

PS - just thinking - is this on top of normal work? often can do more for usual employer and that sorts the tax