Foundations

There’s a short list of things that need to be in place before you take on a paying client, and none of them are hard. The problem is that training rarely spells them out, so people either miss one or lose weeks working out what’s actually required. This stage is that list, explained plainly, with the current costs where there are any.

Think of it as the boring but load-bearing part. Get these sorted once, mostly for a modest annual outlay, and you can turn your attention to the work itself and to finding the people who need it.

In this stage

ICO registration The data protection fee nearly every counsellor legally has to pay. What it is, whether it applies to you, the cost, and how to register in an afternoon.

Insurance Professional indemnity cover, why you need it, and what to look for.

Supervision What your professional body expects once you’re qualified and in practice.

DBS checks When you need one, and how self-employed practitioners can now get one.

Professional registration Choosing and joining a recognised register, and what membership commits you to.

Where to start

If you’re doing this in order, ICO registration is a good first tick because it’s quick, cheap and unambiguous. Work through the rest as each applies to you.

Try the tool: Total up your own first-year costs with the free startup cost calculator.