What does a sole trader mobile plan need to do?
For most sole traders, the phone is the office, the diary and the receptionist rolled into one. So a sole trader mobile plan needs to do three things: keep you reachable, keep the bill predictable, and keep your records tidy for tax. The contract is where most of that is won or lost.
This guide covers what Ofcom says protects a sole trader mobile customer, what HMRC says about claiming phone costs, and what to ask before you sign. It is information, not tax or legal advice, so check anything that affects your tax with HMRC or an accountant.
What rights does a sole trader mobile contract come with?
Ofcom has extra rules for businesses with ten employees or fewer. Its summary of the General Conditions does not mention sole traders by name, so ask your provider whether your contract is treated as a small business contract. If you signed a personal contract instead, consumer protections apply.
For a business with 10 employees or fewer, Ofcom’s summary says providers must make sure that:
- you get key contract information, such as the charges and how to cancel, in writing before you can be bound by the contract
- you get a one page contract summary before you can give consent to enter the contract, or three pages for bundled services
- termination conditions and procedures do not act as a disincentive to switching provider
- you have given consent before a contract is renewed at the end of any commitment period
- no phone or broadband contract is offered with a commitment period longer than 24 months
- your contract is not extended when you buy additional services or equipment without your consent
- you are told when a service included in your tariff plan is fully used up, and what you will be charged beyond it
- complaint handling procedures meet minimum standards, and the provider belongs to an Ofcom approved alternative dispute resolution scheme
Separately, Ofcom says that when mobile services are sold or marketed, the information given to customers must be accurate and not misleading. That rule sits under a different condition and is not limited to small businesses.
Ofcom also says you should refer to the full text of the General Conditions for the detail of scope and application. Your own contract terms still matter, so check them alongside these rules.
Can you keep your number when you switch a sole trader mobile?
Yes, and your customers will thank you for not changing it. The rules sit in Ofcom’s General Condition C7 on switching, which applies to any mobile switch involving fewer than 25 mobile numbers. That threshold covers almost every sole trader.
For a business tariff, C7.29 says the provider must always give you a PAC free of charge when you ask for it. If you ask for a single number over the phone, the code comes during the call, or by text within two hours of the end of the call if that is not possible. If you ask by text or through your online account, it must arrive within no more than two working days.
Two more points worth knowing. A PAC is valid for 30 calendar days from the day it is given, so there is no rush to use it the same afternoon, but it does expire. And the porting process itself must be completed within one working day, unless you agree to put it off.
C7 also limits what you can be charged after a switch. The charges you owe do not include any part of a notice period that would run past the date the switch completes. That is a detail worth knowing, but your contract may still have an early exit fee while you are in a commitment period, so read the terms.
If you want the step by step version, our guide to getting a business mobile line and keeping your number goes through it.
Can a sole trader claim mobile phone costs?
Often, for the business share. HMRC’s guidance for self-employed people says you can claim expenses for “phone, mobile, fax and internet bills”, but it also says you cannot claim for any non-business use of premises, phones or other office resources.
HMRC’s wider guidance adds that allowable expenses do not include money taken from your business for personal use, and that you cannot claim expenses if you use the £1,000 tax free trading allowance. If you are not sure whether a cost is allowable, HMRC says to contact it.
The practical lesson is simple. A sole trader mobile that you use for both work and family calls needs a sensible record of which is which, and a separate business line makes that easier. Whether a split is acceptable in your case is a question for HMRC or your accountant.
Key takeaways
- Ofcom gives extra protections to business customers with 10 employees or fewer.
- A PAC is free, arrives within two hours by phone or two working days online, and lasts 30 days.
- HMRC allows phone and mobile bills as expenses but not for non-business use.
- Check your contract length, usage alerts and what happens at renewal before you sign.
What should you check before you sign a sole trader mobile deal?
Before you commit to any sole trader mobile plan, run through the questions below. None of them is exciting, but each one avoids a nasty surprise later.
- The contract length. Ofcom’s 24 month limit is the ceiling, and a shorter or rolling term may suit a business that is still finding its feet. Our guide to fixed, flexible and rolling business mobile contracts compares them.
- The data you actually use. If you rarely use much data, an unlimited plan may be more than you need. See our look at unlimited data for business.
- Coverage where you work. Check signal at your usual sites and on the road before you sign.
- Roaming. If you travel for work, ask what the provider charges abroad and what alerts or spending limits it offers. Ofcom’s summary of small business rights does not cover roaming, so this one comes down to your contract.
- SIM only or handset. A SIM only plan can keep the monthly cost and the commitment simpler, while a handset plan ties you to the phone for the contract term.
- Who the contract is with. It is worth asking your accountant whether a separate business line suits your records.
Is a sole trader mobile plan different from a personal plan?
Not always, and that is the point. Many providers sell personal and business plans side by side. The protections above are Ofcom’s rules for business customers, so check which type of contract you are signing before you rely on them.
If you are comparing options, our guide to the best business mobile plans is a good next stop, and the comparison tool above lets you look at business plans side by side.
Frequently asked questions about sole trader mobile plans
- Do Ofcom’s small business rules apply to sole traders?
- Ofcom’s extra protections apply to businesses with ten employees or fewer. Ofcom does not mention sole traders by name, so ask your provider whether your contract counts as a small business contract, and check the full General Conditions for scope.
- How long can a sole trader mobile contract be?
- Ofcom says no phone or broadband contract for a business with 10 employees or fewer can have a commitment period longer than 24 months.
- Can I keep my number if I switch?
- Yes. Ofcom’s General Condition C7 says your provider must give you a PAC free of charge. By phone it comes during the call or by text within two hours, and by text or online within two working days. The code lasts 30 calendar days.
- Can I claim my phone bill as a sole trader?
- HMRC says self-employed people can claim for phone and mobile bills but not for any non-business use. Ask HMRC or an accountant about your own situation.
- What is the best sole trader mobile plan?
- There is no single best one. The right sole trader mobile plan depends on how much data you use, where you work and whether you want a handset, so compare a few before you sign.
Sources
- Ofcom: General Conditions that protect customers, published 6 March 2024. The page shows no last updated date, so check it for anything newer. Source of the protections for businesses with ten employees or fewer, and of the marketing accuracy rule.
- Ofcom: General Condition C7, Switching (unofficial consolidated extract). Source of the free PAC on a business tariff, the two hour and two working day timescales, the fewer than 25 numbers threshold, the 30 day code validity, the one working day porting process and the notice period limit. Ofcom notes that its own notifications take precedence over this extract.
- GOV.UK: Expenses if you’re self-employed, office, property and equipment. Source of the phone bills and non-business use points.
- GOV.UK: Expenses if you’re self-employed, overview. Source of the personal use and trading allowance points.
Checked 6 November 2026. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
