SB: Small Business Start Up Discussion

Interest-Ed

Thanks so much for that. I'll try and encourage him to follow this route for starters.

Did you need to supply a business plan?

robertbruce

Hi
You could suggest looking at the rules of the benefits in question and see if they allow for part-time work to be performed on condition that any income is deducted from the benfit payment (eg I think this is what happens in Job Seeker allowance) By doing this, there is a gradual buid-up of "work done" to "benefits received" ratio, and eventually the work income will be greater than the benefits and the transfer to work is complete. It doesn't stop there either since each situation is assessed and some other smaller benefits may be payable, such as working families tax credit or some similar top-up of income or rent rebate etc.

If all else fails, then volunteering for charity work could be an option, helping a good cause and filling the day with meaningful work which also looks good on a CV for future positions. Be careful here as Jobseeker and some other allowances can be affected by not being AVAILABLE for work, even if not actually in paid employment.
Hope this helps in some small way. Regards. Bob.

Jenners

Yes you do have to supply a business plan but they help you every step of the way, I went in with my basic idea, they set up a meeting for me with an advisor and we worked through a business plan. In all it took 3 months from me first wandering in to me getting a cheque.

You could also go to your local business link they will have tons of advice too.

bargainaddict

We would welcome any advice anyone can help us with. My husband is starting up in business as a self employed independant driving instructor. We have heard there may be grants available for setting up your own business but can't find where. Can I do his books like receipts etc and then give them to an accountant or do we have to use a bookeeper?

Are there any ADIs on here who could point us in any good directions for companys that do good deals on cars/insurance? Many thanks in anticipation. This is his dream, he's done the job many years ago, but i need as much help as I can get to help him.

Savvy_Sue

Grants might be available through Business Link, but if you do a search of this board for both 'new business' and 'accountant' you'll get some help there, I think. I know there have been various discussions about the merits of a bookkeeper vs an accountant, including quite a recent one, and mention of how helpful the local tax office can be for newly self-employed people.

Good luck!

dunc_2-2

hi
I'm thinking of starting my own business so i can gain some independence & do something i enjoy & reap the rewards of my own hard work instead of being "a small cog in a big wheel"
I have some embryonic ideas but need to formulate a business plan.
does anyone out there know of any resources that are available to help me get a business plan written.
thanks, dunc

Mark7799

Type 'business plan' into Google and get about 17,000,000 results. If you have no knowledge and would prefer to deal on a face to face basis, you'd be better off trying https://www.businesslink.gov.uk (if you're in England - different arrangements in the other Home Countries).

There are start-up guides and free CD-roms available from all the major Banks - you don't have to bank with them or you can buy dedicated software.

HTH

bridiej

I've merged some of the more recent threads about business start up into this one, please keep all business start up type discussions in this one thread rather than start a new one.

Thanks

lday77

dunc wrote:

hi
I'm thinking of starting my own business so i can gain some independence & do something i enjoy & reap the rewards of my own hard work instead of being "a small cog in a big wheel"
I have some embryonic ideas but need to formulate a business plan.
does anyone out there know of any resources that are available to help me get a business plan written.
thanks, dunc

When I started up I used one from Barclays. I don't bank with them but I got advice from my local Business Link Centre and they advised that I do one with any bank just to get some figures anyway even if I don't intend to open a business account straight away.

If you follow this link:
barclays bus plan and click on starting a business (on the left) and then start up guides you fill in a short form and they will either send you a pack or you can download them as pdf's, hope this helps.

freyaluck

Interest-Ed wrote:

How would someone who has been on "the dole" for a number of years (having been made redundant) get himself out of the cycle of benefits - which he finds a 'comfortable' prison. He is 45 with no major qualifications.

He has no assets (though, I believe, no debts, either). He lives in a small market town with little decent public transport.

If he became self-employed (ie jobbing gardening) he would need transport and basic tools.

Is it likely that he could get financial assistance or business loans without any track record.

I know he's getting depressed about his situation, sitting in a position of fear of taking the plunge, losing a current level of financial security but also not knowing how to get himself out of his current situation. He has one dependant daughter who is now at college.

If he were to talk to the job centre about setting up his business he can get loads of help from free courses to book keeping and grants and loans for all the stuff he needs, I looked into this myself a few years back. I had meetings with a business advisor and mentor that they set up and it was really helpful, also contact business link as they can also really help.
frey