Do I Need To Set Up As A Sole Trader?

[hereincornwall]

Hello,
Following on from my first post a few weeks ago, I'm dipping my toe into the self-employed world by applying for a few pieces of work through websites such as peopleperhour and timewisejobs etc. It's just a way of starting out and working out exactly what route I want to take for a longer-term business of my own. My question is, I might make the odd few pounds here and there by doing some pieces of work - would it be best to set up as a sole trader from the start? I might of course not make any money. But I hope to pick up some work and then start putting myself out there for more work, perhaps locally. I'm talking admin type stuff. Presumably I'd need to be a sole trader to be paid properly?

Thanks for any advice.

Being a sole trader means you are registered as self employed at the simplest level i.e. You aren't registering a Ltd company. You need to notify HMRC that you are starting a business as a sole trader. It won't affect how you're paid.

Have a look at the page I wrote for ebayers - much of the information in it is generally applicable ....
members.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=talkinpeace
feel free to print it out and cover it in highlighter pen