Is it possible to set up a charity shop as an individual ?

shelovestobuystuff

Just wondering if it is possible to set up a thrift/charity shop as an individual not being a registered charity and giving the profits to a few charities or benevolent groups.I am interested in helping dog rescue groups locally by running a little shop based on selling donated items along with a bought in range of gifts featuring labradors in particular but have no idea if I would even be allowed to do this as I am not affiliated with any particular charity.
The main one I want to help out by fundraising is a benevolent group for labrador rescue,they will remain a benevolent group as the organisers found registering as a charity and all the red tape involved too daunting a task.
Is it possible,and would my shop be able to claim the rate and vat discounts as a charity?I would hire a part time bookkeeper/accountant(probably one day a week) and I wouldn,t pay myself.

fengirl_2

You can set up a shop to do anything you like as long as its lawful. You couldnt call it a charity shop unless all the profits were going to charity though. You would need to identify the charities which would receive the money. A good idea to get literature from the organisations you want to benefit so that you are getting their message across.

You could not set yourself up as a charity as fundraising is not a charitable activity in law, so you would not be entilted to rate relief and charities are not exempt form VAT in any case.

I think you need to look into the finances of this very carefully. What is your competition (people who donate to or buy from charity shops are not necessarily looking to support the cause, but to get rid of or buy stuff)? Could you generate enough income to pay the rent, rates, other overheads and the book keeper? If you saw Mary Queen of charity shops earlier this week, you will have seen that people tend to dump their rubbish on to charity shops and it ends up costing the shop a fortune to have it taken away.

Think about the range of new items you want to sell. Labradors are a minority interest - you would need to have wider appeal I think.

MoaningMyrtle

There is a charity shop near here who donate the proceeds to a different local charity each month.

The shop is run in the same way with the same stock and staff, they announce the charity each month in the local paper.

shelovestobuystuff

MoaningMyrtle wrote: »

There is a charity shop near here who donate the proceeds to a different local charity each month.

The shop is run in the same way with the same stock and staff, they announce the charity each month in the local paper.

Thanks,could you tell me what the name of that shop is please.I may be able to get some valuable advice or ideas from them.

GiveItBack

you might also want to see if there's anything like this
http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Voluntary/sl_vol/vol_CharityShop.asp
in your area. it may be something that would work as a starting point to gauge income etc potential.

Savvy_Sue

You might also want to read this thread. Not to put you off, just to alert you to some of the pitfalls.

You would need more than just you to work in the shop, however. The charity shops which I use most are well presented, open the same kind of hours as 'normal' shops, and well laid out.

Had you thought of ebaying and passing the proceeds on?

MoaningMyrtle

shelovestobuystuff wrote: »

Thanks,could you tell me what the name of that shop is please.I may be able to get some valuable advice or ideas from them.

I will get some more details and PM you asap.