New Biz, drama workshops, advice needed

cupcakes96

Hi all,
Im in the process of setting up a new buisiness teaching drama workshops to children (6-16)

I have drama teacher (CRB checked), a room, a website, and even some students ready to sign up.
Im wondering though if I have missed anything? Also, public liability insurance, the venue already has its own do I need my own too? If so, how much should I expect to pay?
Any more advice would be greatly appreciated.

heretolearn_2

Yes, you need your own public liability. The venue's may or may not cover you in some ways - for example if a lump of wood fell out of the ceiling and landed on a child - but won't cover any of your actual activities. So if your drama teacher gets the children to lean on each other, one falls over and breaks their leg, that's nothing to do with the venue.

paddyrg

In fact it may be worth looking at professional indemnity of some sort too - if you tell a kid to jump and they land badly, and a parent has been watching the ads on daytime telly... Or make sure your contracted teachers take out their own.

This will be a lot more expensive than Public Liability of course, but PL is quite cheap at least, a couple of hundred quid or so. You may also want an employers liability policy for the employee.

cupcakes96

Thanks thats great, Is there anything else you can think of that I should be aware of?

Savvy_Sue

have you registered as self-employed with HMRC?

Is your drama teacher employed or self-employed? I'd guess employed by you, and if so, you need to register as an employer with HMRC. Payroll for one isn't complicated.

Also you need to have good contracts for the teacher, and arrangements for if they are unwell etc.

cupcakes96

Thanks Sue,
My partner is registered self employed, our drama teacher will be employed by us, but there will be 2 teachers.

paulwf

My recollection is a little vague but I'm sure there has been at least one "moral dilemma" thread on here about what to do when little Johnny keeps turning up the session without the money and the mum keeps making excuses.

Anyway...you need to have a payment system in place making it as easy to pay as possible and preferably a way of getting block bookings paid up in advance. Parents and the kids will need to know the policy if fees are late and teachers need to know this and stick to the policy. It all depends on how informal you run it, but anything more complex than "pay on your way in otherwise you don't get in" and you probably want terms and conditions in place, preferably signed for by the parent.

Keeping the payment side of things straight will guarantee you a lot less stress.

texranger

paddyrg wrote: »

You may also want an employers liability policy for the employee.

its not a fact of you may. it is a legal requirement employer liability

cupcakes96

texranger wrote: »

its not a fact of you may. it is a legal requirement employer liability

Even if he/she is self-employed?

Savvy_Sue

But you talked about two teachers, one of which you are employing - it's a legal requirement!

jexygirl

cupcakes96 wrote: »

Hi all,
Im in the process of setting up a new buisiness teaching drama workshops to children (6-16)

I have drama teacher (CRB checked), a room, a website, and even some students ready to sign up.
Im wondering though if I have missed anything?

Advertising ++++++++++++++, also decide now, what is expected when you put on a show (good way of not only making cash but upping your profile, every relative wants to see their little darling perform) as to who pays for what regarding costumes /props and have that in the signed contract and do not deviate.
As always, Paul is perfectly correct, have payment contracts for classes, early bird deals in advance or whatever, and stick to it - do not let heart rule head - they may be the star or the most talented or the most in need - but you are a business with overheads to cover, not a free child minder. Sounds harsh, but the second you say to one mum "look dont worry about it, just dont say anything and we can sort it out later" thats the moment that everyone stops paying for whatever reason and you feel obliged to carry on.