New Business started by accident, now what?

Jay-Jay_4

A friend of mine was recently asked to walk her friend's dog. She was given some petrol money and off she went. Her friend recommended her to another friend, two dogs, petrol money and a couple of quid for her time.

Now my friend has people ringing her and asking her to walk/train their dogs, offering to pay her by the hour, clamouring for her time. She's now, in the space of about 4 weeks, walking a dog a day or sometimes two.

What does she need to do? :eek:


I'm thinking she needs to register something with the tax man

Get some public liability insurance???

Open a bank account and start writing down these little 'jobs', her time, petrol etc.

buglawton

To be a sole trader you only need to ensure you file your tax return accurately. need to register with the Inland Revenue. As she has few costs, should be easy.

Try http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/19/19_1/what-is-a-sole-trader.shtml

imoneyop

She needs to look into Public Liability insurance.

Probably will never need to claim on it, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Jay-Jay_4

I googled public liability insurance and have searched MSE, anyone have any recommendations for a company to approach?

imoneyop

You could try looking on MoneySupermarket, from memory they have business insurance on there. I think most of the big name Insurance companies offer it.

nooksky

We run a Pet Services business and are members of NARP (National Association of Registered Petsitters) and our membership includes insurance, I would definately recommend them http://www.dogsit.com Hope this helps!!

Raksha

Yes, along with public liability insurance, if she's training she really should look at professional indemnity insurance, incase somebody follows her advice and it all goes pear shaped. She also needs to register as self employed with the National Insurance people, and will probably be exempt, but need to register anyway - you then have the option of paying class 2 (?) contributions which is about £25 every 3 months.

chinup_3

nobodies reminded you as you touched on to save petrol reciepts,along with mobile and landline phone bills !

Jay-Jay_4

Thank you for your advice. I haven't seen her again until tonight and after a chat she's asked me if I would like to help her out by walking dogs while she trains them.

Is a partnership an option or is she better setting up on her own and employing me. FWIW we have a very strong bond and there is no chance that there is any risk involved by me being in partnership with her. She is not financially savvy and so I would be doing all the paperwork, just telling her where to sign really.

evismaniac

I personaly wouldnt bother if shes walking 1 dog a day for a few quid.

Maybe if she wants to progress into a full blown business then thing about setting up properly and plan it out, do some marketing etc!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

all i can say really is make sure you get the right insurance... read the small print etc....

as the dog could slip its lead.......get run over.. die... or cause a fatal car accident by cars trying to swerve the dog etc.....

or get off the lead... bit a child...etc...

sorry for being negative..... but you have to look at what potentially could happen....
i used to

i used to groom dogs for a living... before i started having probs with my wrists.....and its suprising....there are a lot of insurance companies that do pet trade insurance etc... but when you go into the finer points... they dont cover what potentially could happen... as mentioned above.....

just write the worst case sinarios down and when you are talking to the insurance comapny.. ask if they cover these cases..

better to be safe than sorry..... as dogs are like members of the family ...
good luck.......