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

sashanut

Hi again all.......it is interesting to read all the posts of folk who are self-employed (or 'early retired' as my MIL likes to call it!!). I know for me it is hard to be organised & I think that is my main problem; I am easily distracted by anything other than what I *should* be doing!! Also, as I am here only with DH (& he works in the office upstairs , whilst I am in another room) I get a bit bored & then surf the net - wasting time & also, worse perhaps, spending money that I shouldn't......if I was at a workplace, I couldn't easily spend.

Anyhow, I do have a weekly visit from a friend, so that helps with the isolation. Of course, I used to go to the supermarket regularly & I think the shopping fix was something I got used to as a social thing. Now, I haven't been to the s/market for 2 weeks (have to go today for a little shop) but if I go I know I will spend, therefore need to keep out as much as possible. Hey ho it's hard to break the addiction, but I will persevere.

BTW we are slightly different in that we are a Ltd Co - & have an accountant, currently we are paying Corporation tax, but not much personal tax. However, the tax bill is due end Sept & will be £6500....time to start saving for that as well...

*MF*

Hi all ...

Thought I would post this link - useful for anyone starting off - it comes from the Mystery Shopping Thread - so the details are part way down the post:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=19785575&postcount=1

But it covers important basics such as:

Registering for tax

National Insurance

Working out how much tax you’ll have to pay

Record keeping

Working out your profit/loss

What expenses can I claim against my income?

Me? Apart from two brief periods I have always been self employed - currently doing self funded research work - mainly in the area of innovation across a range of activities.

Sorry that is vague ... but really just wanted to say well done on the opening of this thread!

Mudbath

Wordsmith - i'll give you until the end of April to do last Aprils accounts then....you know it makes sense!!:rotfl:

Horace

Well I am not long back from my meeting - the photographer only lives across the road from me, I discovered that we used to work with each other so we spent some time catching up. He has given me a few business cards - and if its possible for a card to be sexy well his are:rotfl: It makes my vistaprint ones look bad - but as I explained they are the only ones I can afford at the moment (why am I explaining about buying from vistaprint ). His wife is lovely and I had a wonderful warm and gooey homemade biscuit whilst I was there too (I wish I could make biscuits). He is going to visit my humble abode as amongst the auction stuff he might find some props that he is willing to buy off me, plus he has said that he will take some photos of me so that they can go on my website - I hope he can airbrush to make me look fantastic:eek: I look forward to working with him on various projects:D He hasnt been in business long (about 3 years) but he has given me loads of tips today - I soak up information like a sponge.

Best think about lunch I suppose and I will settle down and watch neighbours (its my daily fix and it doesnt take much thought to watch it).

mymamma

Hi all.I've spent the last(too long) :eek:reading thru this thread. I've been self employed for the last 15 months-legal services -and its good to know there are others in the same boat. I'll dip in from time to time, sure to pick up some useful tips.

A cuppa and then back to work.

Horace

I need some advice folks.

I went to suss out some competition the other day - a wedding shop that has opened up in the next village (this is a place populated by millionaires:rolleyes: ), I wanted to see what they offered as they were advertising a free wedding planning service to I went in posing as a bride - I never let on that I was a wedding planner.

Well when I saw the photographer today, he told me that he had a partnership going with this shop and that the shop didnt actually plan anything just put people in contact with suppliers - now it was suggested that I offer them a wedding planning service hence my quandry.

Do I go and say that I am a wedding planner and that I lied in the hope they don't recognise me or do I leave well alone?

downshifter

Horace wrote: »

I need some advice folks.

I went to suss out some competition the other day - a wedding shop that has opened up in the next village (this is a place populated by millionaires:rolleyes: ), I wanted to see what they offered as they were advertising a free wedding planning service to I went in posing as a bride - I never let on that I was a wedding planner.

Well when I saw the photographer today, he told me that he had a partnership going with this shop and that the shop didnt actually plan anything just put people in contact with suppliers - now it was suggested that I offer them a wedding planning service hence my quandry.

Do I go and say that I am a wedding planner and that I lied in the hope they don't recognise me or do I leave well alone?

I'd confess, but then I always do! Realistically though, you're going to bump into this lot pretty soon anyway, even if it is only the queue in Sainsbury's, so I'd contact them and say what you were up to and ask to be on their list of suppliers. Suggest you could put some business their way too. Sussing out the opposition is a perfectly reasonable thing to do inbusiness, they'll probably just think it's funny! Say some positive stuff too like how you like their set up, that their staff are friendly/knowledgeable etc and you'd like to work with a good organisation such as theirs. Sounds to me like a fantastic business opportunity for both sides.

Please don't lie, you'll get caught out and you'll find yourself sneaking round trying to avoid them for ever.

Mudbath

Horace - i'd give them a ring and explain that you went to see them because you were hoping to have an excellent business such as themselves on your list of contacts for when you're planning weddings. Flatter them and they won't care why you went to see them.

Tomorrow i'm going to do the dreaded 'updating the website':eek: .

Horace

Thanks for your advice - I will take a drive over there tomorrow - I want to go to the deli anyway.

Wordsmith

Mudbath – did you do your letter to clients?

Sashanut – it was a brave move leaving your work – well done! What is your self-employment? Is it your dolls, or is that a side-line? Why do you think you are unmotivated to work on the web site? Sorry to be so nosy. If we can help at all, just shout.

Starxtrouble – you’ve had a lot of bad experiences, but I hope things start looking up for you now. Do you have to work through agencies, or can you go to prospective clients direct?

Hi, Newjustine – what sort of writing work are you looking for? And where are you looking? A writing job for three days a week sounds great. Good luck with the interview.

Lindylouandcrew – welcome – your life sounds very full! How do you manage? I am sure there are good and bad points of working and living with your OH, wouldn’t work for some couples but must have many benefits if it works for you.

Downshifter – it’s already been said, but I agree that if you are getting so much aggro from the charity it’s worth finding something to take its place. You’ve got to a point where you seem happy with your life, so I am sure you can do without this kind of grief. I don’t think I could go back to work for someone else because of all the office politics etc, and no matter how much you tell yourself you won’t get involved, it is difficult to stay out of it entirely. It’s their loss if you go, and someone else's gain as I'm sure you'll find something to replace it. On the equipment front, I agree with Tyllwyd, and if you can possibly go for cheaper new equipment, it is probably better than getting reconditioned, although if you can get something through Freecyle, that would be great.

Hello Copperycat. I am so envious of your lifestyle! I am aiming for something similar, but haven’t got there yet. Could you do your quilting alongside the bookkeeping – I’m all for people following their dreams.

Hi there Vote4thegoat (OK, how did you come up with that name???). Welcome to the self-employed procrastinators’ thread.

Welcome Beanachroiteir – now you’ve started posting, keep it up! You could perhaps teach the rest of us (well, OK, me) how you got to be organised. Have you always been organised, or did you have to teach yourself to be, or do you struggle but know it’s worth it?

Thanks for the link *MF* - I’ll add it to the first post.

Mudbath – gosh, someone to nag me. And I thank you heartily for it! OK, last year’s accounts by the end of April. Aaaargh. :eek: OK, keep calm, I’m sure I can do it. But make me offer a huge forfeit if I don’t do it, so that I have extra incentive. Now, give me a moment to think up your challenge (still don’t know how to spell out Dr Evil’s laugh, but assume it is here).

Hi, Mymaamma – don’t forget to come back to us, and let us know how things are going for you.

Horace – I echo what the others have said, get in there and offer your services to the wedding shop. No shame at all in posing as a bride to find out what they are like. How much posing did you do?