Calculator
Sole trader vs limited company
Drag the slider. See which structure keeps more of your money in 2025/26. Assumes optimal £12,570 salary + dividends for Ltd, no student loan.
£45,000
£10k£100k£200k
Sole trader take-home
£36,568
81% of gross profit
Winner
Limited company take-home
£36,584
81% of gross profit
Result
Going Ltd would keep an extra £16 in your pocket on £45,000 of profit. That's before accounting for setup costs (~£50 for Ltd) and admin time.
Estimate only. Doesn't cover IR35, pension contributions, salary sacrifice, or VAT. Always sense-check with an accountant before incorporating.