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

Eltee12

Wordsmith wrote: »

GET STARTED ON THAT COURSE.

I've done it! Made a start last Friday, approx. 5 weeks later than I said I would, but I done it!!!!

xoxnitaxox

Anyone know what the best bank is for business accounts? I opened one with Lloyds three months ago and was having access issues. I called to find out what the heck was happening only to be told, "We meant to call you, we forgot to get you to sign a form."

I signed about eight whilst there previously. Anyway, went all the way back down there one morning to fix their error, and they were closed but could see them all inside. I'm not an angry person, but they messed up. So I banged on door until manager came. Explained the mess up and was told to wait. Five minutes later a very angry looking manager came back to the door and let me in (bank was still closed at this point). Signed the form and left thinking it was all sorted.

It's been weeks now and the account still isn't active. Not happy. Have a bad credit rating (working on it) so am somewhat limited as to who I can approach for an account. I don't need borrowing or an overdraft as my business is already up and running.

All of this messing around has meant using my personal account for business transactions, which is going to make doing my accounts at the end of the year a !!!!!!

Horace

If you are a member of the Federation of Small Businesses you can apply for free business banking with the Co-operative Bank - yes, you will have to answer lots of questions because they are an ethical bank and will ask you about whether or not you handle nuclear waste etc.

Banking with the Co-op is mainly done via the Post Office or you can use their online business banking facility which takes time to set up as they send you a keypad thing and you get a secure log in from there each time you have to log into your account.

Santander offer free business banking - but I have never used them and have heard bad reports about them.

Wordsmith

Alternatively, do you need an actual business account? If there's no reason for having one, you could open a second personal account and use it for just your business transactions.

Wordsmith

As I'm here, Eltee - how's that course going???

xoxnitaxox

Wordsmith wrote: »

Alternatively, do you need an actual business account? If there's no reason for having one, you could open a second personal account and use it for just your business transactions.

Actually this is a good point. I'll take a look at some personal accounts when I get chance. Thanks :-)

Amatheya81

Hello all,

I haven't been around for ages but it looks like not much has happened here over the summer so I don't feel too bad

I haven't sold anything recently. Mostly because I've been fiddling about with new mediums. I'm hoping to sell some prints soon but I have to work out the most professional looking way to print them at home or find a website that will sell them for me and give me a decent commission... Oh and I suppose I should draw something to sell too lol

How's everyone else getting on? :beer:

Amatheya81

Awfully quiet here. Anybody home?

Horace

Sorry, I have spent the whole morning writing a letter to go with my application for a full time job.

Things are not going so well, one client pulled the rug from under me and I have been scratching around for the last 2 months trying to find work to no avail. My business networking events are slow to get off the ground and they are just not making enough to cover my expenses and what is even worse is that my rainy day pot is empty because I have used it to try and keep myself afloat.

I am not the only events organiser who is in the same boat - I know someone else who is struggling and has discovered that the diplomas he has are not worth the paper they are written on. I still have my wedding diploma and I am part way through the event management course although I haven't submitted an assignment for over a year.

It is tough and now I need to get a job that will pay me money - I am waiting to hear about a freelance job that I was interviewed for during the riots and was advised that I would hear last week so I rang to find out and was told that they were still interviewing and that I would have a decision soon. Fingers crossed I will hear from them this week...it is frustrating not knowing.

Due to lack of money, I have made myself ill with worry and am now being treated for depression, thankfully I recognised the signs and went to my GP who recommended that I see a counsellor, I see her on 1st September which is 2 weeks to the day when I went to see my GP.

Hope all is well with everyone?

Amatheya81

Oh Horace, that's awfull

It sounds like you're having a really tough time but hang on in there. Hopefully you'll get one of the jobs you've applied for and that will take the pressure off a bit untill things pick up in the events business. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you