PT tools have moved
Rate calculator, tax, finance, clients, workouts & funding now live in MEM4PT.
This page is your guide to being self-employed — Sole Trader, Ltd, CIC, charity.
Section 01 · Choose your structure
Pick your pathway.
We'll tailor your checklist, funding signposts, and ROI tools to the structure you choose.
Use ↑ ↓ arrows or type the first letter to navigate. Content below updates instantly.
Your pathway
Sole Trader
Fastest start — freelance PT
- Lowest setup cost
- Self-Assessment with HMRC
- Best for 1:1 PT with rented chair
No company filing needed — go straight to the Startup Checklist below to register with HMRC and sort insurance.
Interactive curriculum · CIC + funding
From PT to funded social enterprise
Derrick Twum raised £800,000 as an ex-offender PT. This is the curriculum he wished he'd had — structure picker, mock CIC36, the UK funding landscape, an income modeller, a mock UnLtd application and a completion certificate.
Start the guideCompanion curriculum · 4 weeks · 12 lessons
Resilient Leadership — trauma awareness as a leadership skill
For community-project leaders and partner organisations. Pause & Ground tool, Hand Model of the Brain, scenario player and resilience asset map — not therapy, not clinical.
Open the curriculumCurriculum · Financial & digital literacy
Running Your Business
Tax, bookkeeping, banking with a record, and credit repair — five progressive sections with mock Self Assessment, live ledger, cash flow simulator and pay calculator.
Start Section 1Section 02 · Funding tools
Section 04 · Toolkit
Sole Trader Toolkit
Free and low-cost tools to run the admin side of your PT business — invoicing, insurance, tax and bookkeeping.
Automated Invoicing
Send branded invoices & chase payments automatically.
PT Insurance
Public liability + professional indemnity cover for coaching.
Tax & Self-Assessment
Register with HMRC and file your annual return.
Bookkeeping & Banking
Separate business banking + simple expense tracking.
Contract Templates
PT client agreements, PAR-Q forms & cancellation policies.
DBS & Safeguarding
Enhanced DBS for working with young people or in prisons.
First Aid Certification
Most gyms and employers require a valid first aid certificate before you can coach independently.
Client scheduling
Book and manage client sessions professionally from day one.
External links are signposts only — MEM Academy is not affiliated with these providers. Compare before buying.
Unlock applications
Startup Checklist
Tick off HMRC, insurance, and (for CIC/charity) safeguarding & DBS to unlock applications.
HMRC · From April 2026
MTD ITSA Readiness
Pick your income band, sign up for Making Tax Digital, and track quarterly updates in one place.
Mobile · Works offline
Quick Capture
Log a session in 10 seconds, snap a receipt with one tap. Saves on-device, syncs when you're back online.