Sole trader buying assets

[AndyC_123]

Hi

Have a friend who is a personal trainer. He is opening up a gym very shortly and had recently spent about £12k on equipment. I run a ltd business and so any assets I buy obviously go onto balance sheet.

I'm guessing this would be different for him as a sole trader? Declared income last year was probably £15ishk. Can he depreciate his new assets against profit over a set number of years or does the capital allowance all have to go in year 1?

Cheers

[AndyC_123]

Thanks.

Can he depreciate assets by up to 18% a year to offset income? I have told him to speak to an accountant but he's struggling for cash at the minute.