Lawyer warns anyone with side-hustle 'you're running a business'

A legal expert has warned that people earning money through a side hustle could already be treated as running a business under UK law, even without an office, employees, or a registered company. Business lawyer Alistair Ponder, from Rogers and Norton, said that selling goods or services with the intention to profit can automatically make someone a sole trader. If there is a business partner, it may be considered a partnership. The distinction matters because sole trader status lacks legal separation between personal and business assets, while partnerships can create “joint and several” liability. Ponder also urged online sellers to follow marketplace terms and ensure listings don’t infringe intellectual property, including using original photos and accurate product descriptions.