I recently celebrated my first 18 months as a self-employed H&S consultant. I have absolutely no regrets at all about making this choice, other than I wish that I'd done it earlier! I note a fair few posts recently from people wondering what it's all about so I thought I'd give (slightly tongue in cheek but all with a serious message behind them!) my top ten tips. So here they are in no particular order. Comments and addtions welcome! 1. Research thoroughly before you start. This is not something where you just wake up one day and think “I fancy going self-employed”. If that sounds like you, then you may not be as ready as you think! 2. If you can stay in employment full or part time while you build up the business then do it. It’s a tough world out there. 3. Do not even consider trying to do any work without the proper insurance. Really. Not unless you like the thought of having to sell your house to pay court costs. 4. Don’t sell yourself short. It’s very easy to under price. Be sure you know what you need to charge to actually make a living. If you haven’t sat down and worked out what this sum is then you aren’t ready to start working for yourself! 5. Network shamelessly. Get to know other consultants, especially those who have slightly different areas of expertise from you. You never know when you might be able to recommend each other. Even if you don't, then just talking to other consultants makes you feel you aren't the only mug out here! 6. Don’t ever go anywhere without business cards. I have even given them out to people I bumped into in the supermarket. 7. Even if you don’t need a website, register a domain name that sounds business like. Giving out your personal e-mail address as your business address simply tells everyone that you aren’t serious about your business. Seriously this is not expensive and anyway it’s tax-deductible! 8. Try to have a cushion of at least 6 months worth of living costs saved up so you don’t end up begging on the streets if the business doesn’t take off. Beggar with a dog on a string isn’t a good look for a safety consultant. 9. Keep decent accounts right from the start. Just a simple spreadsheet will do but you must record everything. Chucking all the receipts in a box until the end of the tax year comes round is simply asking for trouble when self-assessment time comes! If your accounts are simple you don’t need an accountant. 10. Be very clear on your employment position with HMRC and what you can and can't claim for. Their website is full of excellent advice and they do not normally send round the heavy mob just because you phone them up to ask a question.

nice one Heather.... three more spring to mind 1. If you use another consultant or associate to assist you, get him/her to complete/sign a contract/terms of business document 2. Beware the dreaded VAT man as well, so good records and reciepts there and its hell being an unpaid tax collector, and another point not directly business related but vital nonetheless; 3. Do your CPD on a monthly basis as you would other business isues, like accounts etc - just left mine for over two years and it took me 30 hours in over a month to sort :-(

Would you say that you needed to be CMIOSH to do this or could you do it as GradIOSH? I know that with the new register it say's you need to be CMIOSH to be registered.

^^ Great thread *thumbs up*

Dont forget your national insurance payments dont waste too much time on marketing clients that keep hesitating as U will usually find that they also hesitate to pay invoices

Forgot to say, great post Heather.

Heather this is a great thread, interesting and helpful with all good input up to now. One thing I would add is to try to get it right first time especially for those of us that depend on repeat business and recommendations. Re the website - and advertising I did advertise once and got lots of calls from people who just wanted to sell me more advertising. The website is good to have on the business card but I don't know how good or otherwise it is. Mine is a free google website so not cost there.

I agree with the website comments. You only need a simple one page presence on the web to begin with, add a few case studies later. Don't use name @ hotmail.com as your e mail address, that is as tacky as the free Vistaprint business cards! Just my view, all of us must know someone who can set up a simple website and e mail address, probably a teenager!

Love it! Why not use as designatory letters behind your name....."CMIOSH AYR....."

Just as a separate aside - for those involved in the application to the OHSCR I received an email this morning confirming the application was successful and have been accepted on the register, so just to give hope to others out there that things are moving along. Donna