Legal home-Therapist?

[SublimeSelf]

Does anyone know what I need to do to legalise or register myself as a self employed therapist who sees clients from home? I have no idea about the legalities and want to do things right. Any help?!

[Buenchico]

What type of therapy? There are some professions where it is illegal to use a certain title (e.g. 'speech therapist') unless you have undergone suitable training and have registered with the Health Professions Council. Details are here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HumanResourcesAnd Training/ModernisingProfessionalRegulation/ExtendingRegu lation/ExtendingRegulationArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=40541 61&chk=unafcp

There are other types of therapies which are totally uncontrolled and anyone can call themself a 'therapist' within the relevant field. There might also be a few grey areas covered by trading laws. Look up 'Trading Standards' in the phone book to seek advice.

Your local tax office can provide lealets and advice on self-employed status.

If you're working FROM home (in the same way as a plumber does) then you shouldn't encounter any problems with planning laws. If, however, you're working AT home, then you may require planning permission. You may also have to pay business rates (as well as council tax) on part of your home but you can offset this against income tax by 'renting' part of your home to the business.

Hoping this helps,

Chris

[lady_p_gold]

Another thing to think of liability in case of someone injuring themselves by tripping over your cat or something, or if you accidentally did something wrong to one of them.  Or .. you might even have a client who decided to sue you for something completely made up. So public liability insurance needs to be investigated.  And as Buenchico says, if it involved setting up say a room at your home, you would need to apply to the Council as your neighbours could object to cars pulling up etc. and it would require 'change of use' discussions with the planning department.

[SublimeSelf]

Thanks to you both. I am a qualified Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner, Counsellor and Relaxation Therapist. I would like to work at home as well as from home and I know where to get Insurance. I would like to know about tax and registering so that I'm not doing anything wrong.

[K8eP]

Maybe Inland Revenue can help on tax?

You need to register yourself as a company, and you could ask the people who you register with who to contact re tax and legality etc.

Katie

[SublimeSelf]

Thanks, Katie. I'll look into the registration first...