Simplest way to register as a consultant?

ntg · 3 Mar 2011 at 16:57

So what's the simplest/fastest/easiest way to legally do some consultancy work?

I may have to do a one-off piece of work for a few months at a nominal insignificant amount and the company has asked me that I do it as a consultant.

Is it as simple as getting signed-up as self-employed?

EDIT: rephrased question as it sounded odd

Burnsy2023 · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:00

You don't need to register to be a consultant. You do need to register if you are self employed for tax reasons.

ntg · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:03

Burnsy2023 said:
You don't need to register to be a consultant. You do need to register if you are self employed for tax reasons.

Yes, sorry I didn't phrase it right. In order to legally provide some consulting work for them I suppose I need to be self-employed. Right?

Abraham · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:03

by consultant I presume they/you mean contractor? :confused:

ntg · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:04

Abraham said:
by consultant I presume they/you mean contracter?

No, not contractor, just do some research work for them as a consultant would.

Skidder · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:06

yes, you need to register as self employed, you will need to sort out NI as well. You will have to do self assessment too.

ntg · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:09

Skidder said:
yes, you need to register as self employed, you will need to sort out NI as well. You will have to do self assessment too.

Ah ok, that's what I was after. Self-employment is sufficient for that then. I'll read up on sorting out NI and doing self-assessment although I suppose it'snot going to be complex as it will be a one-off one-amount at the end.

Morba · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:19

kgi said:
No, not contractor, just do some research work for them as a consultant would.

but you would be contracted to perform that research..

Skidder · 3 Mar 2011 at 17:19

kgi said:
Ah ok, that's what I was after. Self-employment is sufficient for that then. I'll read up on sorting out NI and doing self-assessment although I suppose it'snot going to be complex as it will be a one-off one-amount at the end.

it creates a lot of hassle for you if you don't plan to remain self employed while minimising hassle for them - are you sure they can't do it paye?

britboy4321 · 3 Mar 2011 at 18:13

The easiest way is to find someone else doing it and ask if you can go through their company for a few months ..

Pudney · 3 Mar 2011 at 19:01

If you go into self assessment it's not easy to get out just to warn you, hmrc can be a pain with it

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:46

You dont afaik need to be self employed, I was going to do this years ago but was looking at a company that will basically do the billing for you and charged a small amount, i think it was like £7.50 plus 1% to cover this.

They then added you as an employee and paid you with tax deducted etc. So to tax office looked just like a 2nd job.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:49

umbrella company thats what it was just remembered.
Just google and see if it suits you

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:52

eg this one, so good points on myths etc

http://www.contractorumbrella.com/umbrella_companies.html

Vonhelmet · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:52

Form CWF1.

meghatronic · 3 Mar 2011 at 21:56

If you have a full-time job, but do consultancy work on the side (for a different company), do you just fill out a self-assesment?

fornowagain · 3 Mar 2011 at 22:00

If you're designing or giving advice etc you might want to consider some soft of liability insurance in case of error or omission et al.

Vonhelmet · 4 Mar 2011 at 00:27

meghatronic said:
If you have a full-time job, but do consultancy work on the side (for a different company), do you just fill out a self-assesment?

Yes, you "just" fill out a self assessment.

ntg · 4 Mar 2011 at 10:23

Skidder said:
it creates a lot of hassle for you if you don't plan to remain self employed while minimising hassle for them - are you sure they can't do it paye?

No they can't, it's more of a work experience for my benefit with a token payment at the end. Anything involving PAYE would mean minimum wage and work for their accountant.

robskinner said:
umbrella company thats what it was just remembered.
Just google and see if it suits you

I don't think the payment I'll get justifies it, it will be very minimal if anything anyway.

fornowagain said:
If you're designing or giving advice etc you might want to consider some soft of liability insurance in case of error or omission et al.

That's something I've been wondering although my role will be largely to learn and provide them with some analysis I guess I need to be mindful of that. Any way of going about that?

meghatronic · 4 Mar 2011 at 10:42

vonhelmet said:
Yes, you "just" fill out a self assessment.

I just pooped myself as that's what I do and wondered if it was wrong.