Guide
Becoming a private carer
Working as a private carer means running your own small business alongside the caring itself. Here's what to have in place before you take on your first client.
Self-employment and tax
As a private carer working directly for families, you're self-employed, not an agency employee. That means registering as self-employed with HMRC, keeping records of what you earn and spend, and filing your own Self Assessment tax return each year — the same as any other sole trader. Many carers find it worth setting aside money for tax as they earn, rather than facing one large bill at year end.
DBS check
An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is the standard, expected credential for anyone working alone with vulnerable adults in their home — families will expect to see one, and it's worth having before you start looking for clients rather than after. It can be applied for directly, or through an umbrella body that carries out DBS checks for self-employed individuals.
Insurance
Public liability insurance (covering accidental injury or damage while you're working) and professional indemnity insurance (covering claims arising from your professional advice or actions) are both worth having in place before your first visit. Several insurers offer policies designed specifically for self-employed care workers, rather than generic small-business cover — worth comparing before you commit to one.
Professional standards
Beyond the legal minimum, joining a recognised professional care register or membership body — and keeping up basic training such as moving and handling, safeguarding, and first aid — signals to families that you take the work seriously, and keeps your own practice current.
Setting your rates and contracts
As a self-employed carer, you set your own rates per client — Care Companion is a coordination tool, not an agency taking a cut of what you charge. A written agreement with each client, covering rates, hours, and notice periods, protects both sides and is worth having from the very first booking, not added in later.
Once you're set up, Care Companion helps you get found by families and keeps your contracts, timesheets, and invoicing organised — free to get started.
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