Sole trader and small business support

Getting started

At the Registry we support thousands of business owners every year.

We understand that starting a new business or taking it to the next stage can feel overwhelming. We’ve created this dedicated page tailored specifically for small business owners and sole traders, offering guidance and resources to help you navigate the process with ease.

The Registry is part of the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and is responsible for maintaining several registers, including those for business names and companies.  If you’re planning to run a business in Jersey, it’s likely you’ll need to engage with us at some point.

What is a sole trader?

A sole trader is a type of business structure where a self-employed person runs their own business. As a sole trader, you’re both the owner and operator of your business, as one entity.

This means you have complete control over your operations and are responsible for all aspects of the business, including managing the finances and making decisions, as well as any liabilities.

You can trade in your own name or register a business name with the Registry.
What is a partnership?

Two or more self-employed people can run a business as a partnership. The partners should agree together how to run the business and should have a written agreement. Please seek independent professional guidance if required.

The partners can trade in their own names or register a business name with the Registry.

Note: this is different to legal persons and arrangements, which are legally recognised structures.
What is a limited company?

A limited company is a separate legal entity from you as its owner (or shareholder). This distinction is important because it gives the owner ‘limited liability’, which means your personal assets are protected if the company experiences financial difficulties. This structure helps reduce some of the risks involved in starting and running a business.

It is not necessary to have a limited company to run a business in Jersey, but we recommend you seek professional advice if you are unsure of the best approach for your business.
Additional support

Choosing the right structure is an important step for a new or growing business.

If you are unsure of the legal entity type you require, we recommend you seek independent professional guidance.

Additional information can be found on these external websites:

Types of trading entity (Jersey Business)

Business advice hub (Government of Jersey)

The Registry customer support team are available Monday - Friday at 9am - 5pm (Wednesday 10am – 5pm).

Contact us

Email: registry@jerseyfsc.org

Telephone: 01534 822030

Online contact form

You can also book an appointment with a member of our team. We are here to help with any questions you may have.

Next steps

Once you have decided which type of business structure you require, please navigate to our dedicated guidance pages for more information.

Note: if you decide to act as a sole trader in your own name then there is no requirement to register with the Registry.

Register a business name

There are two ways to register a business name depending on whether you have a business licence already:

YES, I have a business licence:

NO, I do not have a business licence:

Change an existing business name or its particulars  

You will need myRegistry access if you wish to make a change to an existing business name or its particulars.

You can submit any of the following changes by completing a form in myRegistry.

  • change your registered business name
  • change your registered business name address
  • add, remove, or update details of the business name owners
  • change the nature of business of your business name

You can find more information on the Register or make a change to a business name page.

Incorporate a company

If this is the option you choose, visit our How to incorporate a company page and the About companies page for more information.

Licences

Depending on the type of business you want to run you may require a licence. The Registry does not issue any licences as part of the business name or company incorporation process.

Non-financial services

Most businesses will need to apply for a business licence to run their business and employ staff. Please note that business licences are not issued by the JFSC.

For full details, contact the Government of Jersey. You can also read their guidance on starting a business for support.

Financial services

We regulate Jersey's financial services industry and supervise several other local businesses for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. If you are planning on offering financial services, you may require a specific licence or registration. These are not issued by the Registry as part of the registration process.

Find out more information here on regulated entities via our website.

Alternative structures

More information on available entity types in Jersey and related Registry services can be found on our Register or make a change page.

Other government agencies

We work closely with other agencies wherever possible, but we are not a government body.

If you apply for a business licence via the Government of Jersey’s business licencing team, you will be able to make the application to register a business name at the same time.

We recommend that you research all the obligations on a Jersey business and seek professional advice if required in relation to tax, staff and social security etc. Visit the Government of Jersey’s business hub for further information.

There may also be data protection requirements for you to consider. For more details, visit Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner (JOIC).

FAQs

Do I need to pay any fees?
  • the initial registration of a business name or legal entity will incur a registration fee
  • changes to the information held on the registration may also incur a fee
  • refer to the relevant fee schedule for more information
Do I need to submit an annual confirmation statement?
  • only registered entities are required to complete an annual confirmation statement. For more information on annual confirmation statement filing requirements visit Annual confirmation
  • a “registered entity” refers to any legal entity formally registered with the us according to the relevant product law. This includes companies, foundations, partnerships. More details on the products law can be found on our Registry legislation page
  • if you have registered a business name only, you are not required to file an annual confirmation statement
Do I need myRegistry access?
  • all Registry services are available online via myRegistry
  • you will need access to make an application or make changes to an existing business name or any other registered entity or its particulars
  • if you are applying for a business name as part of the Government of Jersey Business Licence application, you do not need myRegistry access to submit that application
Can I reserve a name?
  • you can only Reserve a name for a registered entity
  • this option is not available for a business arrangement being run by a sole trader or partners
How can I check if the name I want is already in use?
How can I check if the name I want is acceptable?

Where can I find out more information on different types of Partnership?

Additional support

Whilst we can’t offer legal advice we can support all other queries in relation to your registration.

The Registry support team are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (Wednesday 10am-5pm).

You can contact us via email at Registry@jerseyfsc.org or phone 01534 822030.

Alternatively, use our contact form to leave a message or request an appointment and we’ll get back to you.