PCG Guide to Contracting
Section
1. Starting Out
- SETTING UP A LIMITED COMPANY
- Why do I need a Limited Company?
- How do I set up a Limited Company?
- What are the legal requirements for Limited Companies?
- What does a Director do?
- What can a limited company do?
- CHOOSING AN ACCOUNTANT
- Why do I need an accountant?
- How do I find an accountant?
- Can't I do it myself?
- How much do accountants cost?
- CHOOSING A BANK
- Why do I need a separate business bank account?
- Should I just use my local bank's business account?
- What sort of account do I need?
- ALL ABOUT AGENTS
- Why do I need an agent?
- How do I choose an agent?
Section 2. Running a Contracting Company
- How do I find a contract?
- How do I make sure I get the right contract at the right
rate?
- Does it matter how much commission the agent gets if
I'm happy with my rate?
- How do I avoid using agents?
- Can I rely on agents to represent my business?
- UMBRELLA COMPANIES
- My accountant/agent suggests I should work through an
umbrella company.
- What's the catch?
- Will an umbrella company protect me from IR35?
- Will an offshore company protect me from IR35?
- GETTING PAID
- Do I need to pay myself the minimum wage?
- How should I pay myself?
- How should I pay myself if I am caught by IR35?
- What are the payroll requirements of running a limited
company?
- Do I need any kind of insurance?
TAX
- What kind of tax will I have to pay as a Limited Company?
- Can I pay less tax as a contractor?
- As a contractor, will I still have to complete a Self
Assessment tax form?
- What happens if I forget to send in a tax form?
- How do dividends work?
- How do I declare a dividend?
- Why can't I pay myself monthly?
PLANNING YOUR WORK
- What about holidays?
- What's a "buffer"?
- I can't afford to save
- Can I get private medical insurance?
PENSIONS
- How should I plan for my retirement?
- Should I have a company car?
Section 3. Life as a contractor
- RATES
- How much should I be getting?
- Where can I find out the going rate for my skills?
- What is a "typical" contractor rate?
- As a permanent employee, I receive a salary of £35,000.
How much should I charge as a contractor?
TRAINING
- Who pays for my training?
- Why should I bother paying for training?
- Can I get any help with the cost of training?
- Where can I find training?
CONTRACTS
- What should I look out for in a contract?
- How do I invoice the agent/client?
MARKETING YOURSELF
- How can I sell my company's services direct to clients?
- How do I get in contact with direct clients?
MANAGING PROBLEMS
- My agent/client still hasn't paid me.
- My client/agent is disputing the contract and refusing
to pay.
- I have no work lined up when my current contract ends.
Section 4. Moving On
- GOING DIRECT
- I'd like to go direct to clients; is there anything
I need to bear in mind?
- How much should I charge?
- What about getting paid?
EMPLOYEES AND OTHER SUPPLIERS
- I need to take on extra staff to help me with the work.
Section 5. IR35
- WHAT IS IR35?
- Background
- The legislation
- The problems
- The PCG campaign
IR35 AND CONTRACTING
- What will IR35 mean for me?
- What does IR35 mean for my clients?
- What does IR35 mean for my agent?
- Does IR35 apply to me?
- How can I find out if I am caught by IR35?
- What will the Inland Revenue do?
- How will the Inland Revenue catch me?
- What can I do to avoid this uncertainty?
- Should I pay more into my pension?
LIVING WITH IR35
- Can I work outside of IR35?
- Going abroad
- How can I help campaign against IR35?
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