Should I Venture To Start My Own Business?

Truegho

Being fed up with signing on and getting nowhere with countless job applications, I am now contemplating starting my own business. Being good at HTML, that business will probably take the form of a self-built website. However, I was just wondering if going it alone would be a good step? My main fear is would I mess all my money up by leaving JSA?

As a single guy, who would be spending about 30hrs a week on my site, I know I would get WTC. However, if the business takes a few years to grow, what then financial wise? How long does the New Enterprise Allowance scheme run for, and how much would I get? And would I still have to attend the jobcentre to see this Business Menotor they are supposed to refer you to?

(Sigh) Questions, questions. Hope somebody can really help me here, as I really do want to work for myself, but obviously am a little uncertain about taking the step of signing off JSA until I can be absolutely sure I won't end up worse off.

BitterAndTwisted

For the self-employed the difficulty isn't signing off, it's being able to sign back on again if this venture didn't work out to be profitable.

Would it make any sense for you to spend 16 hours a week or less (so you still qualify for JSA and Housing/C Tax benefit) and see if you could build it up from that?

Truegho

Well, it is an option, I suppose, but then again, I want to get off the dole and hate hanging around in the jobcentre waiting to be called up to sign. It is a very depressing experience, and would give the world for any way possible I could sign off. I am not asking for a self-employed opportunity that would earn me thousands within months (thought it would be nice!); I am simply looking for a way I could conceivably earn just that little bit more to enable me to sign off the dole.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

For the self-employed the difficulty isn't signing off, it's being able to sign back on again if this venture didn't work out to be profitable.

Would it make any sense for you to spend 16 hours a week or less (so you still qualify for JSA and Housing/C Tax benefit) and see if you could build it up from that?

Sambucus_Nigra

When I was made redundant I started my own business the very next day and when I got 'big' jobs to do I signed off and then did a rapid reclaim once it was over. Because I had my own business it was much easier to get another job and I still run it in the background.

JFDI I think the phrase is.

DCFC79

OP you asked the same question or 1 very similar months ago did you not ? did you not get any further with it.

If its something you can do why not go for it.

BitterAndTwisted

Oh, I know quite well how depressing signing-on is. I am unemployed myself.

You need to be absolutely certain that this venture is going to earn you enough in order to be able to sign off. As I said, if you work less than 16 hours a week you will still be entitled to Housing and C Tax benefit even if your earnings mean you don't still get the full JSA. Meanwhile your NI contributions will still be paid. Please be mindful that signing off to become self-employed means that it could be difficult/impossible to sign back on again. It's a huge risk which the JobCentre advisors are reluctant to disclose to you. They just want you off the register and off the unemployed figures.

Emmzi

You have indeed asked this before.

What stopped you last time?

Me, I'd start as a "hobby" and if it made money I'd declare the odd quid or to I made as earnings, and if it made more than dole, I'd then call it a business. Grey area, but self preservation.

steve1980

Truegho wrote: »

Being fed up with signing on and getting nowhere with countless job applications, I am now contemplating starting my own business. Being good at HTML, that business will probably take the form of a self-built website. However, I was just wondering if going it alone would be a good step? My main fear is would I mess all my money up by leaving JSA?

As a single guy, who would be spending about 30hrs a week on my site, I know I would get WTC. However, if the business takes a few years to grow, what then financial wise? How long does the New Enterprise Allowance scheme run for, and how much would I get? And would I still have to attend the jobcentre to see this Business Menotor they are supposed to refer you to?

(Sigh) Questions, questions. Hope somebody can really help me here, as I really do want to work for myself, but obviously am a little uncertain about taking the step of signing off JSA until I can be absolutely sure I won't end up worse off.

Honestly, don't bother! The website design market is being squeezed in every direction. The overseas designers charge 20% what a UK designer would charge and it's getting harder.

How many programming languages do you know? There's more to websites than HTML. Can you use/code with:

PHP?
asp.net?
Javascript?
Flash?
HTML5?
CSS?
MySQL?

BitterAndTwisted

Ten years ago HTML coders earned a flipping fortune. That's history now. Numpties who know how to do a bit of research can pretty much build a website on their own given the time and inclination.

How much proper research of your own have you done about the true potential of this kind of business?

Truegho

I didn't mean I intended to start a business as a Web Designer; I meant creating a website based around my own interests and putting affiliate links on to relevant products.

steve1980 wrote: »

Honestly, don't bother! The website design market is being squeezed in every direction. The overseas designers charge 20% what a UK designer would charge and it's getting harder.

How many programming languages do you know? There's more to websites than HTML. Can you use/code with:

PHP?
asp.net?
Javascript?
Flash?
HTML5?
CSS?
MySQL?

Emmzi

There isn't much to lose n trying, is there?