Becoming a self-employed carer / helper.

If you are thinking about working as a live-in carer, nanny or housekeeper, one of the first things to consider is that many helpers in this field work on a self-employed basis.

This can sound formal or daunting, but in practice it simply means you run your own small business. You agree terms with the family you support, invoice for your work, and manage your own tax and records. The family is your client, not your employer.

It gives you independence and flexibility but does come with some responsibilities you’ll need to be aware of.

You Are Your Own Business

Most helpers working in private homes are a sole trader. That is the simplest way to be self-employed in the UK: one person, one business, reporting your income through HMRC’s online self-assessment system.

The essentials are straightforward:

• Register with HMRC when you start earning. Do not wait until tax return season catches you off guard.
• Keep track of income and expenses including payments received, travel, training, supplies, and anything else genuinely connected to your work.
• File a tax return with HMRC, this could be annually but “Making tax digital” (MTD) is gradually extending reporting to quarterly, depending on income level.
• Pay Income Tax and National Insurance. How much depends on how much you earn. Basic-rate and higher-rate bands apply like any other self-employed income.
• Set money aside as you go. A rough guide of 20–25% of each payment into a separate account to pay any tax bill.

You do not need to be an expert. You just need to take ownership of the basics. Many helpers use a simple spreadsheet, a bookkeeping app, or a local accountant who understands self-employed carers.

When you complete your online self assessment the calculations are done for you if you have all the key information.

Most helpers are not VAT-registered, and pension arrangements are managed privately, but those are conversations worth exploring once you are established.

Insurance and Liability

When you work in someone else’s home, accidents and mistakes can happen so it is important you seek out insurance to cover any risk or liability you might be exposed to.

Public liability insurance is the most common starting point. It covers claims if someone is injured or property is damaged in connection with your work. It is not always legally required, but most professional helpers consider it essential, and some families will ask for proof of cover.

Other types to consider may include professional indemnity and income protection depending on your role and circumstances.

Travel and expenses

For live-in roles, relocation is often part of the arrangement. Clients typically cover reasonable travel costs to and from the placement, and may cover travel connected to duties, shopping trips, appointments, and similar. These details should be agreed upfront rather than assumed, as well as any other incidental costs.

Working patterns vary: some placements are year-round, others follow a rotation such as two or three weeks on, one week off. Travel, time off and rest periods are all part of the conversation before you start.

We help with agreeing these details and provide support.

IR35

IR35 (off-payroll working rules) is unlikely to apply in typical private home arrangements for carers, nannies, or housekeepers. Most carers, nannies and housekeepers in private homes work directly for the family or individual who needs support. You agree the work, the rate, the hours and the terms together. InfinityCare+ introduces you and helps establish that relationship, but the contract of service is between you and your client.

If you are ever unsure whether a particular arrangement is appropriate, speak to HMRC or a qualified adviser. Getting the status right protects both you and the family you support.

What Live-In Usually Means

Live-in work has its own conventions, and clarity here prevents most misunderstandings.

In a typical live-in arrangement, the client provides bed and board, a private room and access to shared facilities, with meals or kitchen access agreed in advance. On top of that, you receive a day rate or agreed fee for the work itself.

Reasonable expenses such as travel to the placement, costs directly related to duties, and similar out-of-pocket items, are usually covered by the client when agreed in advance. What counts as “reasonable” should be written down, not left to memory after a long week.

Working hours, rest periods, privacy, and time off also need to be discussed openly. Living where you work makes boundaries especially important. Our guide to balancing work and rest as a live-in carer goes into that in more detail.

Clear Terms Matter

A clear written agreement with your client is one of the most important things you can have. It does not need to be a lengthy legal document, but it should set out the basics so everyone understands what has been agreed.

That usually includes:

• duties and working pattern
• pay rate, payment frequency and method
• bed, board and accommodation arrangements for live-in roles
• expenses and travel
• holidays, sickness and cover arrangements
• notice periods if either side needs to end the arrangement

You agree these working terms directly with your client. That independence is part of self-employment, but you do not have to figure it all out alone.

As part of the matching process, we help both sides reach a fair, realistic agreement before work begins. We also have our own terms with both carers and clients. These are separate from your working agreement with the client, and are there to support the introduction and ongoing relationship. They help clarify our role, each party’s responsibilities, how communication should work, and how information may be shared where needed to support a safe and well-managed placement.

The goal is simple: clear expectations, fewer misunderstandings, and a working relationship built on trust from the start.

Holidays and Sickness

One thing self-employed helpers sometimes overlook is that there is no employer to provide paid holiday or sick leave. When you are unwell or due a break, income may stop unless you have planned for it.

That does not mean you should never take time off, rest is essential, especially in live-in care. It means building it into how you work from the start:

• Agree holiday and rest periods upfront with your client, including how much notice you will give and when cover might be needed.
• Factor time off into your finances. Setting aside a small amount from each payment can soften the impact of a week without earnings.
• Communicate early. The sooner a client knows you need time off, the easier it is to arrange cover and maintain trust.

Most live-in helpers work on a rotation pattern, for example, two or three weeks on, one week off, but every arrangement is different. What matters is that both sides understand the pattern and stick to it unless something changes by mutual agreement.

When you do need cover, for a planned holiday, unexpected illness, or a family emergency, you are not expected to manage that entirely alone. We can help arrange temporary support so the client is not left without care and you can recover or rest properly. Let us know as early as you can, and we will work with you and the client to find a sensible solution.

Keeping us appraised of any changes to your working arrangements helps us support you when it counts.

Right to Work, Visas and Travel

Self-employment does not change immigration rules. You must have the legal right to work in the UK before taking on a placement. With being self employed you cannot be sponsored as an employee.

Helpers who join our community need an existing right to work through citizenship, settled status, a relevant visa, or another valid route. If your circumstances change, it is your responsibility to ensure you remain eligible and keep everyone informed.

We’re Here to Help

Self-employment gives you independence. Working with InfinityCare+ means you are not alone. We :

• Introduce you to suitable clients and support the relationship from day one

• Vet and match carers, nannies and housekeepers with families based on skills, experience and personality, not just availability

• Help agree terms and arrangements, including pay, duties, live-in arrangements, expenses, holidays, etc.

• Arrange cover for holidays, sickness and unexpected time off when needed

• Offer ongoing advice and mediation if questions or difficulties arise

• Keep things transparent we charge clients a management fee; nothing is deducted from what you earn