Plain-English data protection guides for UK tradespeople and small businesses

• Do I need to pay the ICO data protection fee as a sole trader or small UK business?
  Usually yes, unless exempt. Most sole traders pay the tier 1 ICO fee: £52 a year, or £47 by direct debit. CCTV or a work dashcam means you must pay.
• Do I need a privacy notice for my small business website, and what must it say?
  Yes. The ICO says any business holding personal data needs a privacy notice. What it must say, where to put it, and the free ICO generator.
• What records of personal data does a small UK business need to keep?
  Most small firms must keep a written record of personal data they use regularly, plus a log of every breach. What to include, with a free ICO template.
• Lost a work phone or emailed the wrong customer? Is it a data breach, and when must I tell the ICO?
  A lost work phone or misdirected email is a personal data breach. Report it to the ICO within 72 hours unless it is unlikely to risk people. Log it either way.

Want this kept in one place?

DataSorted is a planned phone-friendly helper for UK tradespeople and small businesses. It is not built yet. If you'd like to hear if it launches, join the free waitlist. It is free, nothing is charged, and you can ask to be removed at any time. Everything on this page can also be done for free using the ICO's own tools.