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8 self-employed trades you didn’t know existed

  • 3 min read
  • 7 Feb 2023
8 self-employed trades you didn’t know existed - TaxScouts

If you want to join the self-employed committee but cutting hair or fixing water pipes isn’t exactly your thing, don’t worry! There are plenty of trades out there with self-employed people. Read below for eight of them!

1. Landscaper

The role of a landscaper is to build and maintain gardens, parks and other outdoor landscapes. Isn’t that a gardener we here you say? 

Not really, no.

Sure they can carry out general garden maintenance such as trimming dead weeds, but they’re also highly skilled in other areas.

For example, they can:

  • Install paths and water features such as swimming pools and ponds
  • Install rock gardens
  • Maintain the original landscaping design
  • Advise clients how to maintain the areas

Just think of landscapers as the interior designers of outdoor spaces. Pretty cool trade, right?

2. Boat builder

If you were ever wondering how that boat you went on in a few summer’s ago in Venice was built, here’s your answer. 

Boat builders (as you probably guessed) are responsible for building, repairing and refitting boats – this ranges from small sailing boats, all the way to big sea boats. 

It’s becoming increasingly popular for boat builders to go self-employed so they can work on a range of building projects at once.

3. Cleaning services

It’s not uncommon for professional cleaners to be self-employed.

In fact, it’s actually the opposite. Providing you have the tools, knowledge (and a bit of patience) to clean buildings, offices, houses and more – a cleaning business might just be for you.

4. Personal trainer

As a personal trainer, you’re responsible for creating one-on-one fitness programmes for your clients, and guiding them to achieve their overall fitness goals. 

Personal trainers can be both self-employed and employed by a gym. Self-employed personal trainers can take on as many clients as they can manage at once. 

There is usually a high demand for self-employed personal trainers (especially after the festive period! 😆) 

5. Embalmer

The role of an embalmers is simply to preserve and prepare bodies for burial or cremation. There are very specific techniques and procedures you’ll have to learn to undertake this role. 

Nonetheless, embalmers are often self-employed and work for more than one funeral director.

6. Chef 

Many chefs leave their full-time job in a restaurant to work for themself. Self-employed chefs usually have better opportunities and more freedom to showcase their skill in the kitchen.

A chef can also be employed and self-employed at the same time. 

Not anyone who cooks up a tasty salmon en croute can call themself a chef, though! This trade requires qualifications and knowledge of health and hygiene standards. 🧑‍🍳

7. Bookkeeper 

Good with numbers? Then you might want to consider getting into bookkeeping. You’ll be hired by clients to record and process all of the financial transactions. 

This involves data entry, filing invoices, making payments, chasing invoices, and even preparing your clients business books so they’re ready for accountants at the end of the financial year. 

8. Estimator

If bookkeeping isn’t for you but you don’t want to waste your talent with numbers then why not give estimating a go?

An estimator (sometimes even known as a cost engineer) is hired by companies to calculate how much it will cost a company to complete a project, or provide products and/or services to their clients. 

This role requires:

  • Researching the costs of the materials, transport, labour and equipment
  • Getting quotes and negotiating from suppliers and contractors
  • Keeping an eye on the costs at the different stages of a project so it stays within the estimated costs

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