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Daughter wants to start own business on finishing college

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I'm asking this on behalf of my 18 year old daughter who hasn't got an account on here.

She finishes college on 19th June 2013 and then she will be a fully qualified animal carer. She wants to start her own business as a pet sitter for small animals rather than dogs and cats. She will need premises to do this from.

So my question is I will still be getting child benefit for her until 4th September 2013. But the child tax credit stops on 19th June. Can she register as self employed as soon as her college ends or does she have to wait until after 4th September and no longer classed as a child?

The business will need to build up slowly just as any business does so can she sign on at first and claim JSA and declare what she earns from the business or can she claim working tax credit in her own right and not sign on?

I've looked for the answers to these questions online and on this board but I cant find them anywhere. Thanks.
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Comments

  • podperson
    podperson Posts: 3,125 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts
    If she is working less then 16hours a week she can still claim JSA and they will deduct any money she earns during the week from her 'allowance'. She can't claim working tax credit until she's 25.
    As far as I am aware you need to inform child benefit if she starts working, I would assume they would then cancel the payments but am not 100% so would double check on that one.
  • Why does she need premises? Pet sitting would usually be at a home. If she is looking at boarding animals then that a different and more regulated affair. She will need to drive and have transport. Is there any money in small animal sitting?
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  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    Has she done a fully costed business plan?
  • Acc72
    Acc72 Posts: 1,528 Forumite
    She wants to start her own business as a pet sitter for small animals rather than dogs and cats.

    It might sound like a nice idea, but does she believe that there will be business available ?

    Why is she ignoring cats and dogs?

    I imagine this would be the biggest market - unless there is a major need from the owners of hamsters that am unaware of.
  • miduck
    miduck Posts: 1,800 Forumite
    podperson wrote: »
    If she is working less then 16hours a week she can still claim JSA and they will deduct any money she earns during the week from her 'allowance'. She can't claim working tax credit until she's 25.

    Given the nature of the work, it is going to be more than sixteen hours - "Sorry, I can only look after your pet for sixteen hours" will not get much business. ;)
  • CKhalvashi
    CKhalvashi Posts: 12,134 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    miduck wrote: »
    Given the nature of the work, it is going to be more than sixteen hours - "Sorry, I can only look after your pet for sixteen hours" will not get much business. ;)

    It would be about 2 hours a day for us, to feed and walk our dogs.

    Has she really thought this market through? My rabbits would need feeding when we went away, but I normally leave that for a neighbours kids to do, in exchange for a tenner for a few weeks.

    CK
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  • CKhalvashi wrote: »
    It would be about 2 hours a day for us, to feed and walk our dogs.

    Has she really thought this market through? My rabbits would need feeding when we went away, but I normally leave that for a neighbours kids to do, in exchange for a tenner for a few weeks.

    CK

    She isn't doing dogs or cats!
    June challenge £100 a day £3161.63 plus £350 vouchers plus £108.37 food/shopping saving

    July challenge £50 a day. £ 1682.50/1550

    October challenge £100 a day. £385/£3100
  • My local pet shop used to boards hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs but they say it is now unviable due to regulation and insurance etc etc. it's quite an upmarket pet shop and the owner is a neighbour and they charged a fair amount per animal per day (£5 I think) which wold suggest it is not a money making thing.
    June challenge £100 a day £3161.63 plus £350 vouchers plus £108.37 food/shopping saving

    July challenge £50 a day. £ 1682.50/1550

    October challenge £100 a day. £385/£3100
  • I do know that the lovely urbanites who have chickens often struggle to get them cared for.
    June challenge £100 a day £3161.63 plus £350 vouchers plus £108.37 food/shopping saving

    July challenge £50 a day. £ 1682.50/1550

    October challenge £100 a day. £385/£3100
  • I applaud anyone that looks at starting their own business, but it needs to be done with full effort & focus ... not 'part time' so you can keep benefits.

    She'll need to be out there meeting pet shop owners, connecting with pet clubs, etc. etc. working every waking hour to make the business viable as quickly as possible.

    You'd be surprised at how entrepreneurial someone becomes when they NEED it to work ... when its more like a hobby it is unlikely to take off.
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