Own Boss – Free UK Business Tools, Invoice Generator & Tax Calculators

Yes. Every tool on OwnBoss.co.uk — including the invoice generator and all tax calculators — is completely free to use, with no sign-up, no account, and no hidden charges.

No. Everything you type stays on your own device. Optional features like saved invoice details and deadline reminders use your browser's local storage only — nothing is ever sent to or stored on our servers.

The tax calculators currently use the UK 2026/27 tax year rates and thresholds, and are updated each year when new rates come into effect.

Yes. The free invoice generator lets you add your VAT number and apply 20% VAT to your invoice with one click, then download it as a clean, ad-free PDF with your own logo.

Yes. Our free quote & estimate generator creates a professional PDF headed QUOTATION, with your logo, optional VAT, notes or terms, and a valid-until date (30 days by default) so your prices don't stay open-ended. It clearly states it isn't a VAT invoice or a demand for payment, and it shares your saved business details with the invoice generator.

Don't just divide a salary by 260 working days — employees are paid for holidays and sick days, and don't cover business costs. Instead, add your target income, expenses and pension together, then divide by your realistic billable days (working weeks × billable days per week — often around 184 rather than 260). Our free Freelance Day Rate Calculator does this for you and shows the equivalent hourly rate.

More than their salary. For 2026/27, employers pay 15% National Insurance on earnings above £5,000 a year, plus a minimum 3% auto-enrolment pension contribution — typically adding 15% or more on top of the gross salary, before recruitment, equipment and holiday cover. Our free Employer Cost Calculator shows the total annual cost and percentage uplift for any salary, including the effect of the Employment Allowance.

Many UK director-shareholders take a small salary (often around the £12,570 Personal Allowance) topped up with dividends, because dividends don't attract National Insurance. Our free Salary vs Dividend Optimiser compares your chosen mix against taking everything as salary using 2026/27 rates. Always confirm your own position with an accountant.

It depends mostly on your level of profit. Sole traders pay Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on all profits, while a limited company pays Corporation Tax and the director typically takes a small salary plus dividends. Our free Sole Trader vs Limited Company comparison shows the take-home for both structures at your profit level using 2026/27 rates. Remember a limited company also brings accountancy costs and extra admin, which can outweigh a small tax saving — always confirm with an accountant.

It depends on your combined gross income from self-employment and property — turnover and rents before expenses, not profit. Over £50,000, MTD for Income Tax became mandatory in April 2026, so you should already be following it. Over £30,000 you join from April 2027, and over £20,000 from April 2028. At £20,000 or under you're not currently caught and standard Self Assessment continues. Our free MTD for Income Tax Checker tells you your position and start date instantly.

Not if your gross trading income is £1,000 or under for the tax year — the trading allowance covers it and there's normally nothing to report. Over £1,000, you currently need to register for Self Assessment, and you can reduce your taxable profit by either the £1,000 allowance or your actual expenses, whichever is lower — never both. The government has announced the reporting threshold will rise to £3,000 with a simpler online service for smaller amounts, but this isn't in force yet. Our free Side-Hustle Trading Allowance Checker shows which option saves you more.

When your VAT-taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000 — checked at the end of every month on a rolling basis, not your tax year. You then have 30 days from the end of that month to register with HMRC. You must also register if you expect to exceed £90,000 in the next 30 days alone. The deregistration threshold is £88,000. Our free Rolling 12-Month VAT Threshold Tracker keeps the running total for you in your browser and projects when you'd cross at your current run-rate.

For a private limited company, your first annual accounts are due 21 months after incorporation, and subsequent accounts 9 months after each accounting year-end. A confirmation statement is due 14 days after the end of each 12-month review period. Corporation Tax is paid 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period, with the CT600 return due 12 months after. Our free Companies House Deadline Calculator works out your next dates and can add them to the reminders strip at the top of the page.

No. The calculators are for estimation and guidance only and don't constitute financial or tax advice. For your specific circumstances, always check the latest HMRC guidance or speak to a qualified accountant.