Setting up as a Sole Trader or Limited Company: 1-to-1 Information Clinic

Setting up as a Sole Trader or Limited Company

These one-to-one sessions with a BIPC Information Specialist are designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to set up as a sole trader or limited company.

We do not complete the registration process during the session, but we’ll provide you with all the guidance, resources, and practical steps you need to take afterwards.

What to Expect in the Session:

• An overview of sole trading and limited companies
• Step-by-step guidance on how to register with HMRC or Companies House
• How to create a Government Gateway ID
• An explanation of your legal and financial obligations
• Introduction to tax filing and record-keeping
• Signposting to further support and resources

No documents needed — this is an advisory session only. You’ll leave with clear next steps and access to information to help you complete the setup confidently after the meeting.

Can’t find a suitable time or location?
If the available slots don’t work for you, please book a free Business & IP Information Clinic and e-mail bipc@bristol.gov.uk to request this session instead. This also provides the option to attend at Junction 3, Knowle, or Southmead libraries.

Sessions are free for Bristol residents and businesses based in Bristol.

Attendees must complete a BIPC Registration Form before a booking can be confirmed (see our Privacy Policy Statement below for more information).

Frequently asked questions

What is your refund policy?

BIPC Bristol events are free, but places are limited and events can be oversubscribed. If you no longer wish to attend the session, when possible please give two working days’ notice by email or cancel on Eventbrite.

Can I attend if I am not a member of the library?

Any Bristol-based business or person with a business idea is welcome, but we always recommend joining the library as it is free and makes our business databases, books, and e-books easy for you to access.

What are the parking and accessibility provisions at Bristol Central Library?

Please see the Bristol Central Library website for information about visiting the library.

How can I find out about BIPC Bristol news and upcoming events?

Follow us on Eventbrite and also on LinkedIn and Instagram. For more information on BIPC Bristol see our web page: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/BIPC

Privacy Policy Statement

In advance of meetings we send a BIPC Bristol registration form. This provides us with the information required to maintain funding for our service and helps our experts be prepared for the session.

For information about how Business & IP Centre Bristol will use your personal data, you can view our privacy policy at: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/about-our-website/privacy

After you have attended one of our events we request that you complete a short feedback form for the BIPC national network. This information is collected and transferred to us by our third-party processor, Impact Reporting using their Impact Assessment Tool. Impact Reporting will retain your data to save time when completing any future feedback forms we may send you.

For more information about how they use personal information, please see their privacy policy online at https://impactreporting.co.uk/legal/privacy-policy/

For information about how the British Library will use your personal data, you can view our Privacy Policy at https://www.bl.uk/about-us/privacy-policy