Need advice on self employment and JSA

interlcore

I am currently not claiming JSA but I am thinking about doing so. I have been doing handmade items to sell on ebay but it's not doing so well. In fact, I haven't sold a thing. I have been on JSA before (almost 3 years ago) and do not want to go back there. But things are so financially scary at the moment, I fear I have to.
I really want my business to work. So I was wondering if I could claim JSA, hoping to find a job (of course) whilst trying to sell my handmade items. JSA/job (prefably job) would hopefully act as a support until the business picks up.
Could I claim JSA while "running" a business/being self employed?

Horace

Job Seekers Allowance is for those who are actively looking for work, sorry it is not there to support those of us who are self employed. If you are registered with the HMRC as self employed then you may be able to apply for working tax credits which tend to be less than what you would get on the dole.

Maybe you need to sell your handmade things at craft fairs rather than on ebay? How long have you been making things to sell on ebay?

It takes time to build up a business - it has taken me 2 years with no customers at all to get where I am now (I am having to turn down work) and selling a service is much harder than selling a physical product.

interlcore

Thank you for replying. I am looking for a job, whilst trying to sell my items. I would only sign onto JSA as an absolute last resort. I don't want to leave my business as I really want it to take off. I don't know if I can financially survive until business takes off and/or I find a job.
Can you tell me more about working tax credits?
I am trying to find craft fairs I can go to. I live in village in the middle of nowhere, can't drive, so there's not many places I can get to. Do you think I could try the local school when they have fairs?

siaoeh

have you looked into selling at http://www.etsy.com/ instead of ebay? ebay is generally full of pple looking for bargains, not quite the market for handmade stuff. it depends on what you make too, I used to do craftfairs but its hard to sustain as a full income generator even when I was doing it regularly. good luck!

Horace

OP, you apply to the HMRC for working tax credits and you register your self employment with them so that you can pay tax and NI (you can get a class 2 NI exemption if you are on low earnings).

If you live in a village have you thought about contacting the Dept for Rural Affairs (I think that's what they are called) because I feel sure they help cottage industries in the countryside.

Why not get together with a few villagers and organise a fete then you can sell your products, or ask your local school.

GoodNewmover

interlcore wrote: »

I am currently not claiming JSA but I am thinking about doing so. I have been doing handmade items to sell on ebay but it's not doing so well. In fact, I haven't sold a thing. I have been on JSA before (almost 3 years ago) and do not want to go back there. But things are so financially scary at the moment, I fear I have to.
I really want my business to work. So I was wondering if I could claim JSA, hoping to find a job (of course) whilst trying to sell my handmade items. JSA/job (prefably job) would hopefully act as a support until the business picks up.
Could I claim JSA while "running" a business/being self employed?

Self-employed / thinking about self-employment
Before you sell anything or market and advertise your products or services make sure:

1.You've chosen a legal structure to pay your tax. Do you want to be a Sole trader? Partnership? Limited partnership? Limited liability partnership? Limited company public or private? Once you've decided download and completed and sent off an appropriate form to register with HMRC or Companies House - depends on your chosen legal structure. I'm assuming you're a sole trader, simplest route. [BusinessLink website and HMRC website has these info for employed and self-employed].

2.Have a bank account. Sole traders can have either a business or current account - just make sure it's separated from personal accounts you may already have.

Running / starting the business
Nope, no JSA for business starters or business runners. There is Working Tax Credit. It's base on hours you work and get paid for, or expect to be paid for, either as an employee or a self-employed person. Unpaid work doesn't count as work when claiming tax credits.

Marketing and advertising. As Siaoeh mentioned, try Etsy also NOTHS, Folksy, CreativeBoom UK and the like to start with. Compare fees, Do not join too many as you're just starting out but go with the most reasonable. Get the word out through word of mouth, attend craft fairs where possible. Does not require 'experience' as some think. It is possible when there's passion, research and persistence.