Anyone know about opening a shop.....

Norma_Desmond

.....from home?
It's early days yet and I'm just starting to mull over the idea of turning one of our downstairs rooms into a small antiques shop/gallery.
We've got a big old house in a lovely village and there's no real competition for miles AND our house was once used as a commercial premises many moons ago, so I can't foresee any problems with getting permission to perhaps change it again.
The council here is very helpful towards small businesses, and this certainly would be small - I'm not aiming to make millions and DH has a pretty good job anyway so we'd not be 'risking it all' to set up.
I suppose what I'm really asking is are there any strange regulations/pitfalls/taxes/rates involved in doing this? The only structural changes needed would be adding one internal door from the inner hall to said room so as to cut it off from the rest of the house.
We're in the National Park and a conservation area but the house isn't listed BTW. I know it's a long shot, but any advice folks?

Gingernutmeg

I would imagine that it would be fairly easy to get permission to open something like an art-gallery from home. I'd steer well clear of anything involving catering though, like a tea-room or coffee shop because then you're stepping into a real minefield of legislation. My mum runs a small village bakery and deli and she spends twice as long doing paperwork than she does baking! Also, although councils look like they're fairly helpful they're generally not, so I'd go for something where you can get away with as few employees as possible so that you're not too bothered with paperwork/health and safety.

Also, make sure that you get everything legally 'separated' into your 'home' and your 'business' so that you don't get stung for capital gains when and if you come to sell. My mum's having that problem at the moment and it's a real pain. Get a good solicitor and a good accountant You also need to be aware that if you do open a shop and you want to sell your house, there can be issues with commercial premises selling sometimes and there are all kinds of regulations should you want to turn it back into a residence, particularly if you're in a rural area with few businesses.

meher

That's a brilliant and major step - you've got thinking unlike someone like me lives by just dreaming

To give an guidance of tax implications and regulations you'd need to first establish the ownership structure as to how you intend to set up this business - would it be as sole trader or would you be in partnership or as a company. Since it's an art gallery/antique would you be applying for charity status in which case the legal status changes yet again and in that case your first point of contact would be the Council. There's a part of the forum here advising and supporting on setting up small business - have you had a look yet?

Also since you're setting it up at home I suspect you might need planning permission, inspection of premises and the rest of it which I'm sure has already been looked into?

Norma_Desmond

Thankyou so much for the input Ginger!
The whole thing would be as simple an operation as possible - and definately no catering, tho' I might stretch to putting the kettle on for the hordes of rich tourists/buyers
There would be no employees either; just me, and as I said, we're officially in a 'mixed' residential/commercial area as there are two little village shops in the same road.
Think I'm going to talk this through more with DH (he supports my idea totally) and then, next stop is to contact local council for their thoughts.
The last thing I want to do is get mired down with paperwork and/or strange regulations - simple is beautiful (I hope!)

Norma_Desmond

Thankyou too Meher - it's an idea we've been talking about for a couple of years now (usually late at night after a bottle or two of wine), but realise that we'd better do something before anyone else does.
Don't know about being sole trader/company or the relevant planning permissions yet - will start the ball rolling with the council tomorrow.
Like Cornwall, this is actually a very remote/quite poor area, so the council offers a range of incentives for people 'starting up'.
Hope you and Ginger would come and have a browse if you're ever in this neck of the woods - kettle's on!

Glad

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WHA

From experience of my clients, I suspect your main problems will lie with the local councils. The council's tourism department will probably be very positive and helpful, but further down the line, you won't see them for dust when the other departments get involved (planning in particular). I was involved in a very similar proposal last year and the local authority planners scuppered the proposal completely by insisting on widening entrance doors and creating a ramp for disabled access and insisting on a disabled (large) toilet within the shop area and a fully compliant kitchen area (splash downs and special flooring) "just in case" the business decided decided to employ someone later on (to comply with disability discrimination law etc). Don't waste too much time and money before you've discussed the proposals in detail with the local planning officer - they're the ones to watch.

greyteam1959

After 24 years in the retail food trade I agree with WHA... the legislation will be the killer of this lovely idea.
20 years ago I spent 80% of my time dealing with customers now I spend 80% of my time dealing with legislation etc !!!!!!!
Try your local Business Link for some free advice.

planning_officer

I wouldn't just regard the idea of gaining planning permission as a simple one, especially as you are in a National Park and Conservation Area - these areas have stricter controls then most, especially if any proposed change of use is going to generate an increase in traffic, visitors etc. Also, generally new shops are preferred in the existing shopping centres in order to reduce car dependency - definitely worth having a chat with the National Park Authority (as LPA) before getting too involved!