As a sole trader you’re a specialist in your field, but you can’t know it all. As a Forum member, we can help you in all the areas where you lack knowledge or need ongoing support.

It is critical to have the right advice, support and protection in place, giving you the time and space to grow your business and that means more than just a simplistic one size fits all approach. Most business owners find that after a few months trading they start to come up against the things “they didn’t know, they didn’t know” and that is where the Forum can help.

 

When you join the Forum of Private Business, you will be joining a community of like-minded business owners, accessing the expertise of our partners and learning from our online guides, have access to our business helpline and receive regular business and regulatory updates. We can help you in all areas where you lack knowledge or need ongoing support.

IMPORTANT: Should you employ staff, part-time, full-time or temporary, you will need to tell us during your membership and we will amend your subscription accordingly so that your staff will be insured under the membership terms and conditions.

To become a member, take look at the Sole Trader information below to see what is included in the membership and then 'Join the Forum'. Or call our membership advisers on 01565 626001.

Sole Trader Membership - 0 employees £120 +VAT per Annum
  • Member helpline
  • Access to our legal services partner***
  • Tailored Legal Expenses Insurance**
  • Discounted Company Registration Service
  • FREE Sole Trader Guide
  • FREE mini business guides
  • Comprehensive Business guides****
  • 150+ customisable templates
  • Regular updates of business news and regulation changes
  • Discounted access to Yell.com Business & Marketing Services
  • Private member area within our website

The Forum Sole Trader Membership is available for registered sole traders that have zero employees.

You’re the MD, the accounts department, you manage your website and social media, you’re the sales director and front of house. You are your business.

Working alone can feel isolating, but with our membership you are joining a community of like-minded business owners. As a sole trader you’re a specialist in your field, but you can’t know it all. As a Forum member, we can help you in all the areas where you lack knowledge or need ongoing support. We have produced a comprehensive sole trader business guide, supported by our membership advisers who are there to answer your questions and signpost you to additional resources or information. 

Also included in your membership is a legal expenses insurance cover. This will protect and support your business against tax investigations, health and safety prosecutions, contract disputes and debt recovery. This cover alone saves you hundreds of pounds a year by not having to pay for separate policies. Read more about the insurance cover.

Will provide additional support when you need it through our legal services partner, rradar. This includes rradarstation – a legal advisory web portal, rradargrace – an on-the-go intelligent legal assistant accessed through web or an App on your device and rradarreport – a platform for prompt recording of incidents in the workplace.

Your membership will continue at the exclusive price of £120 per annum* subject to you not employing staff. At any point should you employ staff, part-time, full-time or temporary you will need to tell us and we will amend your subscription accordingly so that your business is correctly covered by the legal expenses insurance.

At such little cost, and with business-critical benefits for you, as a sole trader, joining the Forum will be one of the best business decisions you make.

* Membership pricing displayed is exclusive of VAT and will be added at checkout. Forum Sole Trader Membership of £120 per annum is for sole trader businesses only with zero employees. If your business then employs staff you will need to advise the Forum of Private Business immediately and your membership subscription will be amended. Staffing numbers are required for insurance purposes. Forum guides are available at an additional charge subject to Forum membership subscription criteria. In order to download templates, you will need to be a member of the Forum of Private Business.
** Annual membership covers all directors/principles; there are no hidden costs or fees.
*** Contact the member helpline on 01565 626001 before acting in any situation which might result in a tribunal to ensure your business is covered by our legal expenses insurance.
To join us, or if you have any further queries, please contact our membership advisors on 01565 626001 or email info@fpb.org. Full T&Cs apply which can be found here.

Thinking of becoming a member, but have a couple of questions? Ask our Membership Team: