How do I manage retirement as a freelancer with no employees?

As a firefighter I'm lucky to have a guaranteed pension, but I know tons of freelancer friends who manage fine by opening a VAT number and paying contributions to INPS as self-employed - basically you pay your contributions every quarter and then when you retire you collect! The important thing is not to put it off, because if you start late you end up with a measly pension, trust me! A lot of people also rely on an accountant to avoid messing up the numbers, which honestly is money well spent for peace of mind. In 2026 the situation is still the same, so start right now if you haven't already!