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Self-employed accounting software for sole traders

Simple accounting software for self-employed sole traders. Snap and scan receipts to save hours of admin so you can focus on building your business with confidence.

Making Tax Digital Compatible
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Focus on your business—Sage is here to help with the rest

Being self-employed is challenging. You’re responsible for everything—serving customers, finding new ones, invoicing, tracking payments, managing admin, and handling taxes. Sage software makes these tasks easier, freeing you up to run your business.

1. Manage transactions

Keep on top of your cash flow with simple bank feeds, receipt capture, and sales invoicing. Everything stored safely and securely.

2. Track activity

Sage puts everything in once place so you can track sales, payments, and business performance anywhere, anytime.

3. Sort tax

Tax becomes less stressful with easy access to everything. Simply generate a completed SA103 Self Assessment form or VAT return and submit to HMRC.

Getting ready for Making Tax Digital (MTD)

From April 2026 if you have an income of over £50,000 annually, from self-employment, you'll need to use MTD-compatible software to:

  • Keep digital records.
  • Submit summary income and expense data quarterly.
  • Finalise your business income at the end of the tax year.

With Sage software for the self-employed you can activate MTD Income Tax Self Assessment return functionality when you need it, ensuring you're ready for the future.

What are the benefits of using our self-employed accounting software?

Stay organised with digital record-keeping

Digital record-keeping allows you to track, store, and secure all your financial transactions in one place:

  • Create professional sales invoices from wherever you are.*
  • Create records from sales invoices, bank feeds, receipt scans, or manual uploads.
  • Use the Sage app on your phone or tablet and work on the go.

*Not available with Accounting Individual Free.

Track your finances

Monitor your self-employed income, track your expenses, and calculate tax with ease: 

  • View your income and expenses. 
  • Access a simple view of who owes you money.* 
  • Understand how your business is performing.

*Not available with Accounting Individual Free.

Make Self Assessment stress-free

Save time by creating a completed SA103 Self Assessment form. The software uses the information you share to: 

  • Calculate your self-employed income.
  • Calculate your expenses.
  • Create copy-and-paste totals to complete your Income Tax Self Assessment return.

Features of self-employed accounting software

Easy to get started, easy to use

Digital record-keeping software that simplifies the finances of sole traders and self-employed professionals.

Save time with automation

Save time and reduce errors with automated processes that simplify preparing for Self Assessment:

  • Connect your bank feeds to automatically import transactions.
  • Automatically apply the right category to your transactions.*
  • Easily match your transactions with invoices using automated technology.

*Not available with Accounting Individual Free.

Feel confident with expert support

Access award-winning support with Sage at any time, anywhere: 

  • Chat support available from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 6pm, Saturdays and Sundays.*
  • Become part of the community and access peer-to-peer support through our online Community Hub, Sage City. 
  • Get expert advice from Member Masterclass.

*Not available with Accounting Individual Free.

Collaborate with your accountant

Share access with your accountant so you can:

  • Get answers to queries you might have about your Income Tax Self Assessment return.
  • Work collaboratively to submit your return successfully.
  • Improve conversations around tax year planning.

Self-employed software plans to support you and your business

-Get 3 months free

Get full access to your product, and upgrade or cancel at any time. No long-term contracts, commitments, or hidden fees.

Accounting Individual Free

Ideal for non-VAT registered sole traders wanting to simplify manual record keeping and taxes.
Free
No hidden charges
Completely free, no billing.

Take control of your finances

VAT registered sole trader? Our accounting software has extra features like VAT management and advanced reporting with cash flow forecasting. Managing employees? It's easy to add Payroll with HR features to your Accounting plan. 
*Get 3 months free on Accounting Individual, then £7 per month (excluding VAT).Terms and conditions apply.

Sage Accounting Individual and self-employed software FAQs

You don't have to be a finance expert to use Sage's bookkeeping and accounting software for self-employed professionals in the UK. Our easy-to-use cloud solution makes managing your finances simple. Get visibility of money going in and out of your business, review cash flow and reduce admin. Use Sage Accounting Individual to:

  1. Quickly and easily record your transactions by connecting your bank feed, or snapping a photo of your receipts.
  2. Categorise your transactions so they are in the right place, giving you peace of mind at tax time as well as valuable information on how your business is doing.
  3. Feel rest assured that all of your information is stored safely and securely in the cloud.

Sage Accounting Individual helps you prepare everything to make a Self Assessment submission really simple.

Record all of your transactions by connecting your bank account and snapping photos of your receipts, and Sage will help you put them into the right categories.

Sage will then provide you with all of your information in the right format so you feel supported to complete your Self Assessment with ease, or work with your accountant to complete your return.

Learn more about Self Assessment

Yes, Sage Accounting Individual makes it really easy to work with your accountant. You can collaborate securely with your accountant online from anywhere on a return. Sage's software and accounting app for self employed individuals is trusted by thousands of accountants around the UK. We work directly with accountants to ensure our software is always up to date.

You can manually import bank statements or transactions when you start using Sage Accounting Individual. Simply download direct from your bank and upload to Sage Accounting Individual.

Once you're set up with your new self employed business accounting software, you can automate pulling your data into Sage Accounting Individual with automated bank feeds.

You can upgrade and downgrade between the Accounting Individual Free and Accounting Individual plans.

You can also upgrade from Accounting Start to Accounting Standard and Accounting Standard to Accounting Plus. However, you cannot upgrade from Accounting Individual to Accounting Start, so you would have to buy a new licence for Accounting Start and cancel your subscription for Accounting Individual .

No, the software is built for non-VAT-registered sole traders and self-employed professionals filling out the SA103 supplementary page to record self-employment income on your SA100 tax return. If you are a VAT-registered sole traders or director-only limited company, consider Sage Accounting plans instead. 

Your free eBook: 10 tips for simplifying accounting as a sole trader

Actionable tips to make your accounting faster and easier, so you can feel confident that you’ve got it all under control.

Get more than just great software

We're proud to deliver world-class online accounting software for self-employed business owners. But that's not all we offer. As a member of the Sage community, you'll learn from business experts and industry peers.

Award-winning support

Experts on hand helping you get the most out of your software so you can be more productive.*

Member Masterclass

Gain insights from the world's leading experts to help with business challenges, like unlocking productivity and building resilience.

Community forums

Hear from industry experts and connect with businesses like yours to gain useful advice and insights.

Business advice

Access a wealth of practical advice on a range of business topics.

Learning

Master the full power of your software with comprehensive learning resources.

Software certification

Take courses, earn certifications and stand out from the crowd.
*Sage Individual Free includes self serve support only, Sage Individual includes expert support via webchat.

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