Bookkeeping and Making Tax Digital (MTD) for sole traders
Pulse was built for Slimming World consultants, and more than 800 of them use it to run their books. Now it’s open to every sole trader, from cleaners and hairdressers to gardeners, tutors and tradespeople.
- Income, expenses and mileage in one place, on your phone or computer
- Send quotes and invoices, and get paid online
- Send your Making Tax Digital updates and tax return straight to HMRC
Find your trade
Pulse works for most self-employed people. Search for your line of work to see what you can claim, when Making Tax Digital starts for you, and how Pulse helps.
18 guides
- Slimming World consultants Weekly Franchise Accounts, groups and everything else consultants need, built in. Read the guide
- Landlords Rental income and costs for UK property, alongside any self-employed work. Read the guide
- Beauty therapists and nail technicians Products, kit and a home studio, plus travel for mobile appointments. Read the guide
- Carers Mileage between visits, and getting ready for Making Tax Digital. Read the guide
- CIS subcontractors CIS deductions on your invoices and payments, and getting them back. Read the guide
- Cleaners Mileage between clients, regular invoices and getting paid by card. Read the guide
- Craft fair and market stall sellers Cash and card takings at each fair, pitch fees and the busy Christmas season. Read the guide
- Dog walkers and pet sitters Walk packages, regular clients and the miles in between. Read the guide
- Driving instructors Car costs or mileage, franchise fees and block bookings paid up front. Read the guide
- eBay sellers and online resellers Stock, fees and payouts, and when selling online becomes a business. Read the guide
- Electricians Test kit, scheme fees, materials on your invoices and keeping up with the regs. Read the guide
- Etsy sellers Sales versus payouts, Etsy fees, materials and posting orders. Read the guide
- Fitness and class instructors Weekly hall hire, takings at the door and travel between venues. Read the guide
- Gardeners Quotes, regular maintenance clients and quieter winter months. Read the guide
- Hairdressers and barbers Chair rent or mobile, tips, cash takings and products. Read the guide
- Handymen Lots of small jobs, materials on the bill and starting out on the side. Read the guide
- Plumbers Call-outs, boiler work, parts on your invoices and the van. Read the guide
- Tutors and music teachers Termly invoices, teaching from home and travel to pupils. Read the guide
We don't have a guide for that yet. Pulse works for most sole traders, so have a look at our small business packages or ask us whether it suits your work.
When Making Tax Digital starts for you
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax means keeping your records digitally and sending HMRC a short update every three months, then a final declaration after the tax year ends. Whether you're in depends on your turnover, the total you charge your customers before any expenses, not your profit.
- From 6 April 2026Over £50,000Already started
- From 6 April 2027Over £30,000Based on your 2025/26 tax return
- From 6 April 2028Over £20,000Based on your 2026/27 tax return
The quarterly updates are due by 7 August, 7 November, 7 February and 7 May. If you have other self-employed work or rent out a property, that income counts towards the total too. When do I need to start?
Access your accounts on your mobile
Designed for iPhone and Android phones, so you can add a payment, log a journey or scan a receipt between jobs, and check your reports and tax as you go.
See the mobile appEverything in one package
Small Business Complete includes everything on this page. There are no invoice limits, and you can start partway through the year and add the months you've missed.
MalgraBooks is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital. HMRC reference D5P1NR.
Small Business Complete
- Bookkeeping, invoicing and mileage in Pulse
- Unlimited receipt scanning
- Making Tax Digital quarterly updates
- Your tax return sent to HMRC
Questions sole traders ask us
My trade isn’t listed. Can I still use Pulse?
Almost certainly. Pulse works for most sole traders: you record your income, expenses and mileage, send invoices, and send your updates and tax return to HMRC. We’re adding guides for more trades all the time. If you’re not sure, ask us and we’ll tell you honestly.
Is Pulse recognised by HMRC?
Yes. Pulse is recognised by HMRC for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, so your quarterly updates go straight from Pulse to HMRC. Our HMRC reference is D5P1NR. More about our HMRC recognition
Can I start partway through the year?
Yes. You can add the earlier months of the tax year when you join, so the whole year sits in Pulse ready for your updates and tax return.
Am I tied into a contract?
No. Small business packages are paid monthly and you can cancel at any time.
Got a question that isn't here? Send us a message and the team will get back to you.