FreeAgent Review 2026: Worth It for Sole Traders?
FreeAgent is £19 a month for sole traders — or free if you bank with NatWest, RBS, Ulster or Mettle. What the free route requires, and where it falls short.
Founder and Editor
Syed Esrak Ahmmed
Syed Esrak Ahmmed started The Paid Hour in August 2026 and writes every guide on it. He works in web design, SEO and digital operations, and built the site after finding that most UK freelancing advice either stops at the obvious or quietly sells something. He is based in Cambridge, England.
Not an accountant and not a tax adviser. Every figure on this site is checked against HMRC's published guidance or a provider's own documentation, and carries the date it was last verified.
Elsewhere: LinkedIn/ Personal site/ YouTube
Guides written by Syed
SimplyBook.me Review 2026: Can It Actually Stop No-Shows?
SimplyBook.me’s cancellation policy does not charge a no-show. Deposits do, and they need the Basic plan. What it really costs a UK mobile beauty business.
Small Claims Court Costs: Your Solicitor Is Not Recoverable
You can hire a solicitor for a small claim and never recover the fee, whatever the outcome. Rule 27.14 is built for people representing themselves.
Booking Software for UK Sole Traders: Which Ones Let You Charge for a No-Show
Square, Setmore, SimplyBook.me, Calendly and Acuity compared for UK sole traders: what each free plan really gives you, and the cheapest way to charge for a no-show.
Money Claim Online: What It Costs to Sue for an Invoice
£70 to claim £1,000, £205 to claim £5,000, then 5% of the claim above £10,000. The fee is added to what you claim, not lost. But a judgment is not money.
Already File a Tax Return? You May Still Need to Register Again
Already have a UTR? A new self-employment still needs its own registration by 5 October 2026 — and skipping it quietly costs you National Insurance years, not tax.
Registering a Partnership by 5 October: The Penalty Every Partner Pays
A UK partnership needs two registrations, and the deadline falls in its second tax year. Miss the return and HMRC charges every partner, not just the one who files.
Letter Before Action: 30 Days or 14, Depending Who Owes
If your client is an individual or sole trader, the debt protocol gives them 30 days and three enclosures. If it is a limited company, 14 is usually enough.
SA1, CWF1 or SA400? Which Self Assessment Registration Route You Need
Registering for Self Assessment before 5 October 2026? Sole traders, landlords and partners each use a different HMRC route. Here is which one applies to you.
Small Business Commissioner: Free, 12 Months, Not Binding
The Small Business Commissioner is free and needs no lawyer, but cannot order anyone to pay. Five filters, a 12-month limit, and what the new Bill changes.
Proforma Invoice: Not an Invoice, and No 30-Day Clock
A proforma invoice is not an invoice — HMRC’s own manual says so. It starts no payment clock, is not a bookkeeping record, and no VAT can be reclaimed on it.
Business Credit Cards for Sole Traders: The £25,000 Line
Business credit cards for sole traders: the claim that they never carry Section 75 does not hold up. Who lends, what it costs, and the £25,000 line.