Offering my services as self-employed to keep an employers costs down?

naff

First post on here so to begin; Hi

Right,

I am in the process of setting up a company but I can't see it making money in the immediate future so I'm after a part time job to keep some money coming in.

As we are all aware the job situation out there isn't the best so I am trying to think of a way to increase my chances of a contractor using my services. (I avoid saying 'an employer employing me' because obviously if I'm self employed that's not the case!)

I am a cycling enthusiast, have been for a decade now and know bikes inside out and this is the industry I am aiming to offer myself to for the part time work.

So question is if I approach a private bike shop and say would you be willing to offer me some part time work as a self employed service rather than being employed to keep their costs down will it increase my chances of finding work? Or will they be put off and I am better just approaching them for a part time job? Or maybe offer both?

I am aware there is probably a simple, well used term for what I am suggesting but I am unaware of it! Hence me coming on here

I have previously been self-employed (albeit briefly) so I have a background in what is required and it entails.

Many thanks for any input.

phill99

If you re looking to work part time, the difference in costs for an employer between an employed person and a self employed person are relatively small.

If there is no position available, it's academic whether you offer yourself as self employed. For an employer, if someone is self employed, they have less control over that person than if they were employed, which may not be ideal for the employer.

naff

Didn't appreciate the costs to an employer are quite small for part time staff.

Thanks.

InsideInsurance

Just because your contact says you are self employed/ a sole trader doesnt mean that HMRC would see it that way and if they deemed you were a masked employee then they would charge your employer/ "client" with employers NI etc despite what your contract says.

For the relatively low cost of a part time sales assistant I doubt a company would see the savings being worth the risk. Things would be different if you were offering yourself up via your company rather than as a sole trader as this removes the risk for them and puts it on you instead but again, for relatively small amounts it may not be appealing to them, though if you were more creative in your proposition (eg commission only) then maybe