Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

Horace

Hi Mudbath

I was relaxed until I got home and theneighbours from hell are playing extremely loud music and they refuse to answer the door. I have rung my landlord about them and they are going to be evicted because of the loud music (its like being on the dance floor at the Ministry of Sound:mad:) and they are smoking dope and letting their cat stink the place out:mad:

The treatment this morning what a whole lot cheaper - I paid in total £52 and I had an hour long facial with neck & shoulder massage, underarm and eye brow waxing. The waxing was cheap as I would normally pay £15 for underarms and the same for eyebrow waxing at the spa:eek: I am now toying with the idea of a fake tan too - god I am experimental these days:eek:

Also, the beauty parlour is within 5 mins walk from my flat, and she does vouchers and has recommended that I spend £20 for a mini facial voucher to give as a prize for the wedding fair (I shall have to wait and see about this).

nappentass

Hi all
I'm new to DFW & found this thread and read a couple of pages and wanted to join in as I'm self employed, have too much debt, a fledgling business (and no real income) and this month is crunch month
Soo I have just got off the phone from CCCS to get help and am feeling somewhat better than earlier.
I now need to look for a basic bank account to separate any income I get from the debts so if anyone has any advice for getting one as self-employed I'd appreciate it. I know not to try with anywhere I already deal (have debt) with & would prefer online cos I'm in a village with only a post office - any suggestions?
My business accounts are OK and the business side is largely paying for itself, though not making me much at all so far, just finishing my first tax return I made a small loss in my first tax year, though thing have been improving until August, which has gone quiet - probably why I'm so rattled and doubting myself.
Finally feel like eating so off to raid the fridge.

TTFN

Horace

Nappentass - welcome to DFW and our self employed thread. Have you tried Lloyds TSB, I have a business account with them (I can use online banking if I want) and I have a cheque book and paying in book - its fairly basic. My account is me trading as..x I just asked about opening a business bank account and I got free banking for a while too.

I think that you can pay money into a Lloyds TSB through a post office although I am not sure about that. Also if you are a member of the Federation of Small Businesses you could get a business bank account with the Co-op being an ethical bank they will ask if you support various things such as fox hunting (I said no to everything but havent sent my form off yet) - I know that with the co-op you have to pay your money in through the post office and you can delegate which post office you want to use.

HTH

Mudbath

Hiya Napentass
Welcome to the thread. I've found it a great help over the last few months - it's just nice to have someone there to say well done, kick you up the bum etc!

I use Abbey for my business account because it's totally free as long as you pay in less than 75 (I think) cheques a month...I wish I was paying in more! Lol.
Not sure of other basic accounts if that's what you're looking for though i've seen a few mentioned on different threads. Sorry I can't be more help!

Horace - sounds like you had a lovely morning. Can't you get the therapist to do a deal where you pay half price for a voucher for your prize draw. She's potentially going to get a new client so she might consider it. Hope you're feeling lovely and relaxed still.

xx

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Horace wrote: »

Nappentass - welcome to DFW and our self employed thread. Have you tried Lloyds TSB, I have a business account with them (I can use online banking if I want) and I have a cheque book and paying in book - its fairly basic. My account is me trading as..x I just asked about opening a business bank account and I got free banking for a while too.

I think that you can pay money into a Lloyds TSB through a post office although I am not sure about that. Also if you are a member of the Federation of Small Businesses you could get a business bank account with the Co-op being an ethical bank they will ask if you support various things such as fox hunting (I said no to everything but havent sent my form off yet) - I know that with the co-op you have to pay your money in through the post office and you can delegate which post office you want to use.

HTH

With the FSB/Co-op account you can nominate up to four post offices. That's helpful to me as although home is my business base, I do travel to various places within a 15 or so mile radius.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Mudbath wrote: »

Hiya Napentass
Welcome to the thread. I've found it a great help over the last few months - it's just nice to have someone there to say well done, kick you up the bum etc!

I use Abbey for my business account because it's totally free as long as you pay in less than 75 (I think) cheques a month...I wish I was paying in more! Lol.
Not sure of other basic accounts if that's what you're looking for though i've seen a few mentioned on different threads. Sorry I can't be more help!

Horace - sounds like you had a lovely morning. Can't you get the therapist to do a deal where you pay half price for a voucher for your prize draw. She's potentially going to get a new client so she might consider it. Hope you're feeling lovely and relaxed still.

xx

The Abbey account has a limit of 100 cheques per month. Be aware that this does not refer to a calendar month consisting of first to last day of the month. It refers from the date in one month to the same date in the next month - the date in the month on which the account was originally opened. The 75 cheques refers to the maximum that may be deposited in one transaction. I assume this may be a physical limitation of the cashpoint machines as you must use them to make deposits.
Although the Abbey service is OK in many ways, I do have issues with them. Can't be bothered to re-list it all but, just in case anyone stops or bounces a cheque on you, make sure you have photocopies of all those cheques (especially the name of the cheque writer) because you will have one hell of a job getting Abbey to send you the cheque.
Actually, they are complete and utter a_holes who have no empathy whatsoever with small businesses.

nappentass

Hi Horace, Mudbath, Paulgonnabedebtfree
Thanks for the welcome.
I already have an abbey business account which is working out OK at the moment because I am mostly paid in cash and only deposit what I need to pay out from the account.
It's a personal basic account I want to filter my personal income (irregular that it is) through, because I think my current bank may not be helpful because I'm not getting a regular wage and I don't know what's going to happen with CCCS etc.
Thanks for the heads up about copying customer cheques I'll make sure I do that from now on, but my regular clients seem to be very OK so far.
Is FSB - federation for small businesses? I'm leaning towards trying for a coop account.

Horace be cheeky and ask for a free voucher for the prize draw, and possibly some kind of discount vouchers, in exchange for adding some specific promotion of her business in your draw/event/website (and vice versa)
That's the kind of thing I do whenever possible, because personal recommendation seems to the the best way in the complementary therapy business (I'm a Bowen Therapist btw)

TTFN

Horace

Thanks for the tips Muddy and Nappentass. The silly shop doesnt have a website but when I get my car sorted out (hurry up HMCA with sending me the stuff about roadside recovery etc) then I shall nip to the day spa and blag:D

FSB is the Federtion of Small Businesses and you can get a lot from them, they even provide some standard insurance (free) that covers you for all sorts of things including paying you £100 a day if you are called up for Jury Service - it costs £150 a year.

May I ask what a Bowen therapist is? I have no idea:rolleyes:

Thanks for the tips about the FSB and co-op bank - I am waiting until I have 90 days' worth of bank statements before I open my account, its either that or faff around with a business plan:rolleyes: (it needs redoing).

Rockingsurfer

I plan to give up my job in the New Year and work from home and at client’s premises as a Bookkeeper and Payroller. I’m hoping that I can tolerate my current employment until the economy picks up in the New Year (hopefully) . Prior to working in accounts I was in sales and I’m fairly sure that if I can locate prospective clients I can ‘sell’ myself and my service. My weakness is marketing, that is to say reaching the potential customers in the first place so I can sell myself to them.

I need to hit the ground running with my new venture as I am the main wage earner in the household. I have an insomniac toddler in the house so building the business up by working in the evenings is not really a possibility as by the time she is knackered enough to sleep, I’m too knackered to stay awake!

Can I ask all you entrepreneurs out there where you suggest I start? I have considered a leaflet drop via the local paper, leafleting parked cars, Yell.com, print advertising, advertising board outside the house and getting some of those removable magnetic signs for the family cars. Also given that a large part of my prospective customer base would be tradesmen leaving cards / leaflets at the local builders merchants and trade counters.

I’m sure you have better ideas than me, please give me some pointers

RS

moneymabel

TCM wrote: »

I have done it again - how rude - welcome Nicki - I like the sound of your jewelry. I could give you and mabel some interesting shaped parts of the OH to make into earings at the rate I'm going! Theres a thought!
T

Lol-I think I'll pass on your generous offer!! Well done Star on your work and Purple on your jetsetting-I wanna see a photo of those shoes!!
Thanks for sending the leaflets Horace I expect they will arrive today.