Self-employed, and what that means in practice

What being self-employed means here

You decide your own hours and how you work. There are no minimum hours, no activity targets, no compulsory meetings and no requirement to report your movements.

You are not exclusive to us. You can represent other products as long as they do not compete with Estimark, and you can hold another job.

You use your own equipment and your own vehicle. You may send a substitute to do the work if you arrange it with us.

You are responsible for your own tax and National Insurance. You need a UTR, you file your own return, and you charge VAT if you are registered.

What you do not get

No holiday pay, no sick pay, no pension contributions, no notice period and no redundancy rights. Employment protections do not apply, because this is not employment.

That is the trade-off for the freedom above. We would rather you weighed it now than found out later.

How you are paid, legally

Under a self-billing agreement. We raise the commission statement on your behalf, which saves you invoicing us every month, and you sign that arrangement before you start.

Nothing about the payment mechanism changes your status. You are contracting with us, not employed by us.

Where you can get independent advice

Employment status is a question of fact, not of what a contract calls it. If you want to check your position independently, HMRC publish a Check Employment Status for Tax tool, and Citizens Advice cover self-employment rights for free.

We are not going to tell you what your status is for tax purposes. We will tell you exactly how the arrangement works so you can get that answer from someone impartial.

Questions people ask

Am I an employee, a worker, or self-employed?

Self-employed. There are no minimum hours, no exclusivity, no set place of work, a right of substitution, and you use your own equipment. If you want that verified independently, HMRC’s Check Employment Status for Tax tool is the right place.

Do I need a UTR before I apply?

No — you need it before you start selling, not before you apply. If you have never been self-employed, registering with HMRC is straightforward and we will point you at it after approval.

Do I need my own insurance?

Public liability cover is sensible if you are visiting sites, and some sites will ask for it. We will tell you what a typical main contractor asks for.

Can I do this alongside another job?

Yes. Several partners started that way, building a book at evenings and weekends before going at it properly.