Phoenix traders - what is your most successful selling technique?

mrsdumplin

Does anyone know...
HUbby and I have full time jobs....which I pay higher level of tax...although I am currently on materniry leave.....If hubby and I do this as a joint venture do we need to register as self employed?, or as a company, or can we just split the profit 50/50 and enter it as extra income on the tax return?
Thanks

mindermum

mrsdumplin wrote: »

Does anyone know...
HUbby and I have full time jobs....which I pay higher level of tax...although I am currently on materniry leave.....If hubby and I do this as a joint venture do we need to register as self employed?, or as a company, or can we just split the profit 50/50 and enter it as extra income on the tax return?
Thanks

I think you might have to register yourselves as a partnership. Call the tax office for advice, they really aren't as scarey as people make out. Unfortunatley, if you don't let them know you are now self employed, they can get shirty and fine you.

mrsdumplin

Thanks I wasnt sure if you could be self employed and employed at the same time ...

I'll call them
Thanks

Rosemary_Jane

mrsdumplin wrote: »

Thanks I wasnt sure if you could be self employed and employed at the same time ...

I'll call them
Thanks

Oh yes, you can be both. You have to register within three months of starting as self-employed - it's literally just a phone call. You'll need your NI numbers(s) handy.

Also make sure that you have an estimate of how much you'll earn in the first year and tell them you'll want a low earnings exemption certificate, otherwise you'll pay a self-emloyed stamp which won't be necessary for you as you are already paying enough.

That means, although your Phoenix earnings will be liable for income tax, each separate job/business can earn upto about £6K before having to pay NI.

Don't be frightened by self-assessment, it's quite simple for those with low (below £15K) turnovers. HMRC runs half-day 'becoming self-employed' courses around the country; I found it very helpful, as I've two lots of self-employed income to keep separate and fostering income is under different rules too.

I found it helpful to choose my accounting year to run with the same dates as the financial year, so I only had a part-year at first. Any losses (while building up stock and sales aids) can be taken off your other tax liabilities.

You'll need to get your head around it gradually. The important thing is to register as SE within the three months, and to keep all receipts/invoices etc from the beginning.

The most important thing is - have fun doing this, and don't get bogged down in the admin.

If you are close enough, try and book on a trader roadshow (every January and July), I know it depends if it's warm enogh to take the baby, there have been small babies there at the ones I've been to, though I don't know how much their parents got out of the meetings (because there was no crying disturbance for the rest of us), but I find them very inspiring.

I'm going to the Hadlow one on the 21st. Anyone else going? I met up with another MSE'er in July, to our mutual surprise.

Rosemary

jellyhead

Hi, sorry to butt into a traders thread but I couldn't find any others ... I'm just after some information about a product, and wondered if any of you can help me. I don't want to give my name and address to the website in case they keep hounding me and trying to talk me into joining, like another company who sell books did.

I've found the weekly organiser I'm looking for but just need to double check - is it magnetic, like the one my mum gave me last year? secondly how much is it, and would they just give me the phone number of a local seller or can I pay postage to buy it from someone's website?

jellyhead

sorry, either of these http://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/corp/products/catalog.do?offset=-1&catalogId=phx_acc_fam_organiser

Sunshine12

hi, whats phoenix?

Rosemary_Jane

jellyhead wrote: »

I don't want to give my name and address to the website in case they keep hounding me and trying to talk me into joining, like another company who sell books did.

I've found the weekly organiser I'm looking for but just need to double check - is it magnetic, like the one my mum gave me last year? secondly how much is it,

Hi jellyhead.

Firstly, they won't keep hounding you, because they don't do that. I have several customers near me who rang the company to find their nearest trader and were given my phone number. The company didn't contact me, it left it up to the customer. It's best to do that, then you've got a trader nearby who can supply what you want. Some traders will charge postage, though I don't.

Secondly, the family organisers aren't magnetic. (A certain number last year were, because it was a shipment that had been meant for Australia). Many traders will supply you with strips of self-adhesive magnets, which they buy from Staples for customers who do want the product to be magnetic. When I use the organisers, I use a giant magnetic bulldog clip, cos I can add tickets etc in it to keep them safe.

The organisers cost £4.50 each. I sell loads of them to fellow foster carers, they're incredibly useful.

Hope this helps

Rosemary

the_little_one

Can I ask a quick question about brochure drops - I'm sure it will have been asked already but the thread is soo long thought it would be quicker to ask!

How long do you normally leave the brouchures with households - 1 week or more.....or less!?

Thanks in advance!

mindermum

Hi the little one,

When I do brochure drops I usually drop them on a Thursday or Friday, leave them to browse over the weekend, then pick them up on a Wednesday to get them ready for the next drop. I'm not sure if this is the best way or not. I often have to call back as people don't always leave them out, and I still lose some. I have about a one in twenty take up, and sometimes wonder if it is worth it, but I suppose you have to find new customers somehow.