How to start your own practice in London
A simple checklist for beauticians, therapists and clinicians going self-employed.
Going self-employed doesn't have to mean signing a lease on day one. Here's what you need, in the order you need it.
1. Qualifications and insurance
Make sure your qualifications cover every treatment you offer, and get insurance that covers them.
Hosts on Roomki may ask to see both.
2. Register with HMRC
Register as self-employed for Self Assessment.
You must register by 5 October after the end of the tax year you started trading.
3. Check your licence
In many London boroughs, treatments like massage, nails, tattooing, piercing, acupuncture and some beauty treatments need a special treatment licence for the premises.
Some medical and dental services need CQC registration.
Check with your borough or regulator.
4. Find a room without a long lease
Start by renting by the hour or day, and move to a monthly room once you're busy.
Split booking lets you share a monthly room and split the rent.
5. Set up bookings and payments
A booking app lets clients book and pay online and sends reminders.
6. Get your first clients
Set up a free Google Business Profile and post your work on Instagram.
Ask happy clients for reviews, and consider a marketplace app for new clients.
7. Price your treatments
Include your room cost, products, insurance, booking app fees and tax.
Then check what others nearby charge.
Find a room for your trade
- Beauty rooms
- Aesthetics clinic rooms
- Massage rooms
- Therapy rooms
- Physiotherapy rooms
- Tattoo rooms
- Dental rooms
- Medical and consulting rooms
- Osteopath and chiropractor rooms
- Acupuncture rooms
- Lash and brow rooms
- Nail rooms
- Hairdressing rooms
- Hairdressing chairs
- Podiatry rooms
- Facial and skincare rooms
- Holistic therapy rooms
Questions
Do I need my own premises to go self-employed?
No. Many practitioners rent a room by the hour or day until they have enough clients for a monthly room.
When do I need to register with HMRC?
You must register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of the tax year you started working for yourself.
Do I need a licence?
It depends on your treatments and your borough. Many London boroughs require a special treatment licence for the premises for treatments like massage, nails and tattooing.
What's the cheapest way to start?
Rent a room only for the hours you work, and use a booking app with a free or low cost plan.