Guides for UK tradespeople
Running your business, by topic. Getting paid, tax, CIS, VAT, and the stuff no one explains properly.
Getting paid
Late payments, cash flow, and getting what you are owed.
Why UK tradespeople get paid late, and how to stop it
The five reasons UK trades get paid late, the fix for each, and the legal escalation path for when prevention fails.
Read guide→Updated May 2026 · 12 min readHow to write payment terms that actually get you paid
The four clauses that get UK tradespeople paid on time: deposit, payment timeframe, late payment interest, and a stop-work clause. With sample wording and where the clauses need to live.
Read guide→Updated May 2026 · 8 min readWhat to do when an invoice goes unpaid
The chase sequence that gets UK tradespeople paid: the friendly nudge, the follow-up, the formal demand, and the legal escalation path with sample wording.
Read guide→Updated May 2026 · 10 min readHow to chase a friend or referral for payment
How to chase a friend, family member, or word-of-mouth referral for an unpaid invoice without losing the relationship. How to separate the work from the relationship, the first message to send, and when to treat them like any other customer.
Read guide→Updated May 2026 · 9 min readHow to send a letter before action for an unpaid invoice
What a letter before action must contain, when to send one, and the detail that changes everything: whether the customer is an individual or a limited company. With the statutory interest you can claim.
Read guide→Updated June 2026 · 9 min readPricing your work
What to charge, day rates, and pricing a job so it actually pays.
Self-employed tax
Income Tax, National Insurance, and what to set aside as a sole trader.
VAT for construction
The domestic reverse charge, and how VAT works on construction jobs.
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