Business expense question (ebay seller)

ibz75

Hi,

I have just started an ebay business. I currently use my laptop to run the business but I am considering buying a new PC for this purpose.

I was thinking of using a corner of the living room, and buying a PC, Printer, Desk and Chair. My options are to buy cheap/secondhand out of my own pocket, or good quality new. Would the new one's be classed as a viable business expense?

Don't want to spend up to £1000 and then find I can't put them down as an expense.

Any comments would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

gazfocus

ibz75 wrote: »

Hi,

I have just started an ebay business. I currently use my laptop to run the business but I am considering buying a new PC for this purpose.

I was thinking of using a corner of the living room, and buying a PC, Printer, Desk and Chair. My options are to buy cheap/secondhand out of my own pocket, or good quality new. Would the new one's be classed as a viable business expense?

Don't want to spend up to £1000 and then find I can't put them down as an expense.

Any comments would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

Is your ebay business as a sole trader? You can put a computer purchase, etc down as a business expense, but not 100% sure whether you'd need to buy them under the company name or not.

ibz75

gazfocus wrote: »

Is your ebay business as a sole trader? You can put a computer purchase, etc down as a business expense, but not 100% sure whether you'd need to buy them under the company name or not.

Thanks. I'm a registered Sole Trader. Don't want to fork out on expensive kit if I can't claim anything back.

paulwf

After looking around Viking Direct seem the cheapest for office chairs, sometimes as low as £30. The regularly have offers and you can use Quidco and Nectar to save a bit more.

For desk try and find a local second hand office supplies company, you'll get a pro level desk for a fraction of the price of a cheapie new one.

I'm impressed how good the cheap Dell base units are for general office duties, a package with a monitor will probably be £350. With a £100 printer and a few cables and bits I think you could keep the cost down to £600 in total without compromising.

spadoosh

yeh course you can put it through your books, its one of your main assets. just if the tax man comes knocking you need to prove its only for business use if its not you could do a 50:50 split or buy it outright as you then lease it to your business