Daughter wants to start own business on finishing college

Charityworker

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.

podperson

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.

pleasedelete

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?

ILW

Has she done a fully costed business plan?

Acc72

Charityworker wrote: »

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

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

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

pleasedelete

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!

pleasedelete

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.

pleasedelete

I do know that the lovely urbanites who have chickens often struggle to get them cared for.

Buffett

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.