New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

andyscott

Pinky I use a business forum called ukbusinessforums add the co uk bit

There are lots of experienced people on there who will give you advice when it comes to things like business plan, marketing, advertising etc

There are folk on there that would be willing to look at your business plan if you were to email them it and they can let you know what adjustments or additions you need to make.

If you can go to BG with a completed busines plan then they should be able to start the ball rolling straight away instead of sending you away for 6 - 8 weeks to work on your business plan

You have probably already looked at this but here is a link to Business Gateways Business Plan info http://www.business.scotland.gov.uk/search?q=&sbc=t8#

Lady_strange

Sorry for coming back to this late, having asked the question yesterday. I was told that I am not entitled to working tax credits, as for the first 8 weeks I was constructing the rooms in which my business runs, and I wasn't bringing in nmw. I have business premises, and I get rent from a band who use my space. I have opened up a recording studio, for those of you interested in what people are setting up.

At the moment the wtc would be usefull whilst I build up my client base, and it would mean I could plough more of my earnings back into the business, rather than putting it on rent and bills. My aim is to be off all benefits with in 12 months, and taking on staff after that point. Along with expanding my business.

I am currently appealing the wtc decision, but I was interested to hear other peoples experiences with wtc. I also have some pretty big contracts on the horizon, which will bring more business my way. But the way I see it, I paid into the system for years, as have my parents. I applied for 300+ jobs in the 13 weeks I was on JSA, and I didn't get a single response, so I decided to make my own business, and create a job for myself, (and hopefully others) My plan is to retire when I am 50... so I have 22 years from the end of May, lol. That will be 5 years earlier than my dad retired, got to have something to aim for.

WantToBeSE

Lady_strange, did you have a long gap between when you were paid your last JSA payment, and your 1st NEA payment?
I have about £100 saved up, and thats it, and i am worried about any gap that there may be.

Lady_strange

It was paid the following week. And has been paid weekly since.

pinkypoopydoo

I have to admit, the WTC issue would be enough unfortunately, at least for now, to scupper my start up, unless I could get either a larger loan or persuade the bank to give me a payment holiday for a few months on my mortgage. As I don't sell a physical product, but am asking people to pay for my skills, I can't even say, "well, I'll work through the night, everynight, to produce extra of x, y and z, so I have a huge amount of stock in the market by launch date".

Hopefully Mondays meeting will clear some points up, or I guess I'll just sit and fester in this unemployment hole for the rest of my life.

Lady_strange

Apparently I have been really unlucky with the WTC, my NEA advisor has said everybody else she has worked with has managed to get it no problemo. My NI number just seems to flag up problems, dont know why, took ages for my JSA claim to be processed as well.

TeeKay10

Neelienew wrote: »

I thought you were claiming benefits and wanted to reform you band.

Priceless! 1-0 to you for that one, IMO! :beer:

I'm a newbie who has just enquired with my lone parent advisor about NEA so am reading this thread with much interest. Thanks for the useful input from the helpful ones so far!

andyscott

Welcome TeeKay how did you get on with the meeting with you lone parent advisor?

To be honest I think the ones of us who have been using this topic recently know more about NEA than most of the advisors in the job centres. If you have any questions regarding NEA feel free to ask.

What type of business is it that you have in mind?

BigAl127

Lady_strange wrote: »

It was paid the following week. And has been paid weekly since.

I wish that had been the case here. I started my self employment on the 25th March 2013, and due to the fact I rung the JSA fast track closure on the 21st March, my claim still hasn't been closed, and I can't get my NEA paid until JSA is closed.

Despite several phone calls it's still not been sorted. I'm going to the jobcentre first thing tomorrow to try and sort it out.

bigboybrother

Lady_strange wrote: »

Apparently I have been really unlucky with the WTC, my NEA advisor has said everybody else she has worked with has managed to get it no problemo. My NI number just seems to flag up problems, dont know why, took ages for my JSA claim to be processed as well.

HMRC are looking at 'new start ups' with a vengance. They don't look at all of them, they wouldn't have the time, but they pull them out at random + all of those that 'appear' to be a hobby yet be claiming that it is a full time business.

Obviously a lot will get through the net whilst one or two are given the eye!

It is only right that HMRC do look at these 'new businesses' very carefully, in fact they should look at all new businesses requiring the business owner to prove that it is a viable entity, that the hours claimed match the business and that a full and proper accounting system is in place.

UC will go someway to ensuring that the business is viable.

WTC's quite correctly should not be paid during the setting up stage of the business as the business is actually not trading.

It's a rather dangerous thing to have to rely on WTC's to keep a business afloat - it makes it clear to HMRC as well as others, creditors etc. that their just isn't enough working capital involved in it.

I would keep in close contact with HMRC telling them where you are at and when you actually start trading.