What help can I get?

ncmcdonald

Hi,

I'm 24 and have just started my own business. I have begun trading on a market once a week and have a website to sell through. So far business has been slow and I currently have no income although my partner does get a grant for her studies.

I have been looking to see if I can get any support so we have enough money to live off (pay rent, bills etc.) whilst getting my business of the ground, but can't seem to find anything. I either have to look for a job to get job seekers allowance and therefore can't trade or have children, which I don't.

If I had to get a part time job I could probably do this but I thought there would of been something to help young people get a business running? There seems to be no middle ground either look for work and get benefits or get no support?

relic

Loans, credit cards, business grants, business angels, savings?

How every other SME had to start, presume this was covered in your business plan?

ncmcdonald

relic wrote: »

Loans, credit cards, business grants, business angels, savings?

How every other SME had to start, presume this was covered in your business plan?

Cool, I'll just get myself a credit card and a business angel.

relic

ncmcdonald wrote: »

Cool, I'll just get myself a credit card and a business angel.

You're a bit late for that.

As I said, I presume you have a business plan (as you have a business) so surely all of this will have been covered in there?

Or you could just post a really sarcastic reply again and look really mature for a business owner.

pinetree

Hi I can see your prob, it seems the only way to get any help is if your claiming jsa, there is enterprise allowance but again you need to be claiming jsa. The markets are struggling as I know as my son is trying to turn his hobby into a business at craft markets. I dont know what you are selling but business plan or not basically you just want people to buy, did you see the apprentice when they were selling markets etc it was quite interesting. Hope things improve for you best of luck

Oldernotwiser

If your partner's a full time degree student, her income might well be too high for you to claim any means tested benefits anyway.

Surely you must be selling something on the market or why would you be doing it?

pinetree

If you have put time and money into a website, stock for the stall, public liability insurance the list goes on you cant just chuck it all in. you have to try and hope things pick its difficult times at the moment.

emmell

I can't help you with regard to your business or benefits but one day a week working on a market doesn't seem enough. Most people I know who have market stalls go to different towns everyday and sometimes car boots on a Sunday.
One person I know does markets in the day and delivers Asda groceries in the evening. I don't think working one day will make you a millionaire.
Sorry if I haven't been much help, it's just my observations.
ML.

ncmcdonald

Thanks for your replies.

Although I make a few sales here an there it takes time to get established in a market so people know to come out and buy off you. I live in Cornwall so am hoping to pick up more over the summer holidays when the tourists arrive, currently though I am recuperating my start up costs.

I can see it working out in the future so I'll just have to see where else we can save money.

pinetree

Yep your right people need to see you and remember and come back that in itself takes time, now the schools have finished bring on the tourists