Money

Money is the part of private practice that trained counsellors are often least comfortable with, which is a shame, because getting it right is what lets you keep doing the work. This stage covers the practical side without the awkwardness: what to charge, how to handle the cash properly, and how to stay on the right side of HMRC.

None of it is complicated once it’s laid out. Most of the discomfort comes from not having seen it explained plainly.

Start here: The real cost of starting a private counselling practice in 2026 sets out every figure, from the regulatory basics to supervision, in one place.

In this stage

Can you make a living as a counsellor? The honest maths on what private practice pays, with worked examples at 10, 15 and 20 clients a week.

What to charge How to set a fee that reflects your costs and your worth, with a sense of what’s normal in your area.

A business bank account Whether you need one as a sole trader, and why keeping practice money separate makes life easier.

Tax and self-assessment Registering as self-employed, what you can claim, and keeping enough back for the bill.

Making Tax Digital The quarterly digital reporting rules that start in April 2026, the thresholds, and who has to comply when.

Bookkeeping A simple system for tracking income and expenses that takes minutes, not evenings.

Where to start

If you’re setting your fee for the first time, start there, because it shapes everything else. If you’re already seeing clients but the admin is a mess, sort your banking and bookkeeping first so the tax return doesn’t become a scramble.

Try the tools: Work out a defensible fee with the session fee calculator, or total your setup with the startup cost calculator. Both free, nothing saved.