Setting myself up as a freelance temp secretary

[PenguinOpera]

Hi there - this is pretty much what I am thinking about doing. I have a wealth of secretarial knowledge from previous jobs so am well suited to this I think.

The question is - how to set myself up?

I am thinking:

Letterhead/stationery
Website
Flyers/Letters touting business and rates - addressed direct to the personnel manager of local companies
?? Assuming I would need PI insurance?
Will deal with my own tax and NI
Would seek to undercut - slightly - temping rates of local agencies
?? Wondering if I should set myself up as a Company via companies House??
May well branch out and recruit / place reliable friends if jobs come flooding in and would therefore take a cut of their rate - but how much??

I'm just wondering if anyone else on here has done this already and would appreciate their advice and opinions as to possible pitfalls etc.

I thank you in advance.

Hi, I had this idea too, but with book-keeping too. Business cards are best - a good logo design and company name (that will last you until you sell your business to pertemps for millions ;-) ), if you've got a good home printer then save your money with letterhead for now. A website would be good - reserve the address and then get it designed.
Check what the PI insurance covers you for and its benefits. And save registering with Companies House, for now, as it costs.

HMRC run free half/one day courses which will help you identify the costs you can claim against your profit/pay e.g. your mileage/car allowance and also how to do PAYE etc. (Take your business cards - there could be an opportunity!)
I started off with a low hourly rate (but not that low that they think you're a numpty), and then as my client base grew and my time got more "precious" my rate would increase.
Also find out any networking groups in your area, breakfast meetings etc.
I worked for one company who used a digital dictation system and would email the file to a lass working from home, and she'd send it back typed. There are alot of small businesses who may need someone on a regular basis for just a few hours a day/week, this will give you far more stability - so rather than printing flyers that will restrict what service you can offer, find out what they need first and tell them you can do it (which you either (a) do know how to do it or (b) learn it very quickly!!)
Good luck!!! And well done you for showing your initiative!

Fabulous advice. Thankyou. I'm in planning mode.

Let me know how it goes!! X