Well, here you find me writing on my blog at 3am, this is what happens when you’re laid up in bed and unable to move due to muscle contractions, add a beautiful cocktail of drugs to help manage the horrible pain and to help you sleep and it is a recipe for disaster for insomniacs like myself. At least I can make the most of this time that I’m now wide-awake to do something productive (please don’t expect me to be available tomorrow at 9am!)

In Spain, registering as self-employed can be a minefield, a procedure full of set-up and on-going costs that many do not appreciate during the initial stages of development so it is only natural to find ways to reduce costs, at least at the beginning. One way many choose to do so is by working from home and while this may be a logical step, it also has its own pros and cons to consider.


All business owners know that the last working day of the month is Social Security’s big payday and like clockwork, a chunk of their earnings disappear from their bank accounts. Every single one of my clients has heard me say the words, “if there is ever any bill you cannot pay, make sure your Social Security contribution is not one of them”. Why do I make a point of highlighting the importance of paying Social Security contributions on time? Well, simply put, because the consequences are quite harsh if you incur a debt with the Administration.


One thing that has stood out to me over the years when meeting with potential clients to discuss opening a new business is that very few and when I say few, I mean less than 40% of them have actually sat down and drafted a business plan in any shape or form before they attempt to set it up. Even though they may have a clear idea in their minds about what their business is, putting pen to paper can be a challenge but when they do, they may discover that even though their initial idea is good, adjustments may be required to make it a reality.

So what is the point of the business plan and why do you need one?


Following on from my last article about the five main concerns of a self-employed person, we touched very briefly on what happens when an autónomo gets ill and is unable to work. This is obviously a major concern because autónomos do not have paid sick leave in the same way employees do, so what alternatives are there in these situations?

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