face painting business

Quincy1

Hi,

I am a full time mum looking to earn a bit of extra cash by setting myself up as a face painter and doing events and parties. I have everything I need but someone told me I need public liability insurance. I'm not sure how much I should expect to pay for this and which is the best place to get it from as it is not on the usual price comparison sites. Can anyone advise?

wanttobeasaver

HI,

YOU COULD TRY THE MARKET TRADERS !!! FOR INS YOU BECOME A MEMBER FOR ABOUT £70 FOR A YEAR IT HAS PUBLIC LIABILITY (SP)PLUS IT LETS YOU TRADE AT ANY MARKET TAKE A LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE!

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR VENTURE:beer:

Quincy1

Thanks Wanttobeasaver!!

blue_monkey_2

Make sure you stay the right side of all the H&S regs, you need clean brushes and sponges for every child, cannot use the same one, etc.... I am guessing if working with kids and doing parties you'll need to be CRB checked as well as I need to be just to go into school and help out. You can find more information here: http://www.facepaint.co.uk/

Also, you need to register as Self Employed with HMRC within 3 months of commencing emplyment, if you doing any courses or buy materials then make sure you register else you'll not be able to claim expenses back on these.

Here is the link for National Market Traders Federation, I get 5m PL Insurance plus you can get other Insurance Products cheaper and when you set up Merchant or Business Bank accounts and the lie (if you never need to) you'll get certain fees waived if you are a member. http://www.nmtf.co.uk/

I would suggest that you do not paint someone's face without it as if they get a reaction they'll come back to you and you NEED to make sure you are covered - as you just never know. I know that not everyone will insist that you have it but these days, knowing what people are like, I'd suggest for the small amount of money it costs, to take it out.
Good luck in your new venture.

galpin

Try the Craftsman Issurance with Ian Wallce. It's done by Aviva. It's what I use for jewelry making parties.

krazykidskate

The Claire's 5 for £5 had quite a few face paints to choose from

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1804607

Jo_F

galpin wrote: »

Try the Craftsman Issurance with Ian Wallce. It's done by Aviva. It's what I use for jewelry making parties.

I recommend Ian too, he will chat to you and make sure that you have what you need, and they don't try to sell you stuff that you don't need. I have public and product liability, and it's just under £70 for the year.

AmberTorquay

Hi! make sure you pay a visit to facepaintingchat co uk (add the 'w w w' at the front!)
its a very friendly forum, full of loads of good advice, hints, tips and designs.you'll find me on there as 'sunnycyprus' and you'll recieve a warm welcome from all!


for insurance, a lot of the peeps on the facepaint forum use blackfriars for pli, (it shouldnt cost you more than £80) and a lot have crb too, although this isnt strictly necessary.


good luck with your business!

simplepete

I was going to reccommend facepaintingchat too!

I use Blackfriars for my insurance (insurance is essential!!!), they're good and have a lot of facepainters use them.
Professional paints, brushes, and glitters are also essential. Many of the boxed kits you find in toyshops and poundshops are shoddy and stain the skin.
Do NOT use craft glitter near the face! Its not cosmetic and contains metal and could cause SUCH a serious accident.!!

You'll also want to get some training in, people underestimate the skill and art in facepainting and think 'oh we'll just give xxxxxx's mum a sponge and some colours and it'll be fine' and the end product is often quite hideous, and not something I would be best pleased with had I paid and hired them for my childs birthday.
Being able to sponge and even base, blend colours, and understand and be able to control your brushes, sound so basic, but are so important in the beginner stages of learning to facepaint.

Most professionals can paint between 10-12 faces per hour, which gives about 5 minutes per face. If you don't know what youre doing, its going to take a lot longer and you'll end up with 1.very fidgetty kids 2.unhappy clients 3.a huge queue and 4.a very achy back!

Definately come and join the forum, you're sure to find someone in your area and everyone will have so much advice for you.

Don't think its some make-cash-quick scheme though, because its a passion, and its a business and its hard work.
If you are going to charge for your services, you must be professional, and be realistic about your standard of faces. Practice makes perfect.

Someone mentioned needing a CRB - its not needed in facepainting as we are never left alone with children, and you also cannot obtain one by yourself. If a company want you to have one for a job, they'll have to apply for it themselves!

Last of all, if youre charging for your services, you'll have to register self employed, as mentioned above!