If you only have one client or one client worth 75% of your income, you are considered TRADE
A TRADE is a Trabajador Autónomo Económicamente Dependiente, an economically dependent self-employed worker in Spain. This special status applies when you are self-employed but earn at least 75% of your income from a single Spanish client.
You are still registered as an autónomo and you handle your own invoices, taxes, and Social Security payments. However, because you’re financially dependent on one client, you gain certain legal protections under Spanish labour law that do not apply to standard freelancers.
FYI: While it is generally referred to officially and colloquially as TRADE, there are a few situations where it is referenced as TAED (why SEDE??!).
Requirements to register as a TRADE
To be recognised as a TRADE, you must meet the following conditions:
- You must be registered as an autónomo
- You must earn at least 75% of your income from one Spanish client
- You must not have employees
- You must not subcontract your work
- You must work with your own tools and resources
- You must sign a written contract with your main client
This is not automatic — the contract must be formally registered with SEPE (Spain’s employment service) within 10 days of signing. Your gestor will usually handle this for you.
Can I have only one client?
Yes. The TRADE status exists specifically for cases where you work for only one Spanish client. If that Spanish client represents more than 75% of your income, you can qualify for this special category. That said, you must still be genuinely self-employed, so managing your time, working independently, and using your own tools or systems.
What are the legal protections of a TRADE?
TRADE status gives you more protections than a standard autónomo, including:
- The right to 20 days of unpaid leave each year
- Access to “cese de actividad” (the unemployment benefit for autónomos)
- Contractual rights to compensation if the client ends the relationship without just cause
- Limits on exclusivity or availability clauses in the contract
Risks of not registering as a TRADE
If you are working full-time for just one client but do not have TRADE status, it could be considered false self-employment (falso autónomo). This is when a business tries to avoid hiring you as a salaried employee by making you register as self-employed, even though you are acting like staff.
Falso autónomo creates legal and financial risks for the client. If it discovered by the labour inspectorate, they could be forced to:
- Pay your unpaid Social Security contributions for up to four years
- Convert your work into a permanent employment contract
- Face fines and legal penalties
To avoid this, your client should formalise the relationship properly using a TRADE contract if they’re working with an economically dependent freelancer.
How to register a TRADE contract
You and your client must sign a written agreement that includes the terms of the relationship which states your responsibilities, payment conditions, and confirmation that over 75% of your income comes from that client. This contract must then be registered with SEPE, either online with a digital certificate or via your gestor.
When should you consider TRADE status?
If your freelance setup involves just one main client and you’re earning the majority of your income from them, TRADE status is worth considering. It protects your rights and gives your client legal clarity.
This arrangement is common in media, design, IT, logistics, consulting, and other sectors where long-term freelance work is standard practice.
Do I register as a TRADE if I only have one overseas client?
No, you generally do not register as a TRADE if your only client is based outside Spain — even if they account for 100% of your income.
TRADE is for Spanish-based clients only
The TRADE system is regulated by Spanish labour law, and the contract must be registered with SEPE, Spain’s employment service. For that to apply:
- The client must be based in Spain
- The relationship must fall under Spanish legal jurisdiction
If your only or main client is a foreign company, SEPE cannot enforce the terms of the TRADE contract. So even if you are economically dependent, you will not qualify as a TRADE in the legal sense.
You can still work as an autónomo if you have only one overseas client
You can legally operate as a freelancer in Spain with just one overseas client. You should:
- Register as an autónomo
- Pay your monthly cuota and quarterly taxes
- Keep good records of your invoices and income
However, you will not have access to TRADE protections like unemployment support (cese de actividad) linked to a contract ending.
Bottom line
TRADE status exists to protect freelancers who depend heavily on one client. It gives you access to unemployment benefits, paid leave rights, and contractual protections and it protects your client from accusations of false self-employment (falso autónomo).
If you’re only working with one Spanish client and want to stay self-employed, think seriously about formalising the relationship correctly. Speak to your client and your gestor to get the paperwork in order.
TRADE is only for Spanish clients. If your only client is based outside Spain, you cannot register as a TRADE. But you can still work fully legally as a self-employed professional. Just make sure your freelance setup remains independent and well-documented.
