Self-employment with ADHD is its own beast. You are the strategist, the doer, the bookkeeper, the salesperson, the support team, and the boss. There is no scaffolding unless you build it.
I am Linda Fox, an ICF-ACC credentialled ADHD Life & Business Coach with 26+ years of experience and lived experience of ADHD. I work with self-employed ADHD and AuDHD professionals, freelancers, contractors, and consultants who want to keep doing the work they love without the rest of the business falling apart around them.
Why self-employment with ADHD is different
There is no manager pulling deadlines back into focus. No HR team handling your wellbeing. No team meeting forcing you to start the day at 9am.
Some of what makes ADHD hard is amplified by working alone:
- Switching between client work, admin, sales, and tax all in one day
- Long stretches of unstructured time between projects
- Invoicing and chasing payment when the dopamine has already moved on
- The isolation of working alone, and what that does to your energy
- Decision fatigue from being the one who decides everything
- Tax deadlines, contracts, and admin that pile up while you do the real work
In an organisation, the structure is built in. When you are self-employed, you build it yourself. ADHD coaching helps you build the scaffolding for that work, shaped around how your brain actually works.
How my coaching with self-employed clients works
Sessions are 45 minutes, by Zoom, scheduled around your working week. Most clients book weekly or fortnightly, sometimes for a few months around a specific challenge, sometimes ongoing.
Common areas we tackle:
- Procrastination, time and task management
- Working out what your work is worth, and charging accordingly
- Invoicing, chasing, and the paperwork around money
- Switching between deep work, admin, and sales without losing the day
- Marketing and visibility when self-promotion feels uncomfortable
- Boundaries with clients, scope creep, and saying no
- Designing a working week that fits your energy, not someone else’s expectations
- Understanding your executive function strengths, and building systems that match
- Stress, overwhelm and burnout, and acting before they take hold
Everything is confidential.
Funding your coaching
Most of my self-employed clients pay privately. It is the simplest, fastest route. No waiting for assessors, no employer paperwork.
ADHD business coaching as a business expense. Many self-employed clients account for coaching as a legitimate business expense, on the same basis as professional development or training related to their trade. HMRC’s rules can be nuanced, so check with your accountant about whether your specific circumstances qualify. I issue clear, itemised invoices that fit whatever accounting setup you use.
Access to Work funding. If your ADHD substantially affects how you work, you may also be eligible for funded coaching through the UK government’s Access to Work scheme. Awards for self-employed clients are typically issued for up to 3 years. The application process is currently slow, often a year or more for self-employed applicants between applying and receiving the award letter. Many clients start with private coaching and switch to Access to Work funding once their letter arrives. More on Access to Work coaching here.
You can choose whichever route suits you. Some clients use a mix of both over time.
Who I work with
Self-employed professionals across a wide range of fields:
- Entrepreneurs and business owners
- Consultants and contractors
- Freelancers and independent professionals
- Small business owners and sole traders
- Creative professionals (designers, writers, photographers, illustrators)
- Solicitors and barristers in private practice
- Medical professionals in private practice
- Coaches, therapists, and other practitioners
- Anyone running their own thing with ADHD on board
Why this kind of coaching is different
ADHD business coaching for the self-employed is not generic business mentoring. It is structured, focused, practical work, week by week, on the specific things getting in the way for you.
I have ADHD myself. I know what works and what does not. Your sessions are not spent teaching you things you already know.
My background
- ICF-ACC credentialled ADHD coach
- 26+ years of coaching experience
- Specialist training in coaching for executive function, neurodivergence, and group coaching
- Lived experience of ADHD
Frequently asked questions
Click any question to read the answer.
Can I claim ADHD business coaching as a business expense?
Many self-employed clients do, on the same basis as other professional development. HMRC rules are circumstance-specific, so check with your accountant. I issue invoices that itemise sessions clearly for your records.
How do payments work?
Sessions can be paid as you go, or in batches. I will issue an invoice that fits whatever your accounting setup needs.
Can I switch between Access to Work and private coaching?
Yes. Many clients start with private coaching and apply to Access to Work later, or use Access to Work funding for an initial year and continue privately afterwards.
How often do clients book sessions?
Most book weekly or fortnightly. Self-employed clients often vary intensity around the rhythm of their year.
Can I book ad hoc sessions, or do I have to commit to a programme?
You can do either. My Evolution programme is 6 sessions, my Momentum programme is 12 sessions. Some clients prefer ad hoc booking around specific projects.
Do you work with my industry?
Probably. Self-employment with ADHD has a lot in common across industries. The specifics of your trade matter less than the patterns of your day.
Book a free Discovery Session
Twenty minutes by Zoom. No pressure, no commitment, no upsell. We talk about what is going on, whether we are a good fit, and what coaching might look like for you.
Book Your Free Discovery Session
Not ready for 1:1 coaching yet?
If 1:1 coaching feels like a bigger step than you’re ready for right now, the ADHD Toolkit Membership is a self-led starting point. A growing library of assessments, the 6-week Know Your Brain course, and member-only resources.
Founder rate: £15 a month or £150 a year.