Put Off Going Self Employed As A Writer

dktreesea

Truegho wrote: »

Where's the jobs????

Just come down to Merseyside and see just how bad the unemployment situation is here.

You know, I'm getting a bit sick and tired of all these people who bemoan the unemployed who are trying to better themselves. What's the matter with trying to get yourself out of the unemployment rut? What's the matter with starting your own business? What's the matter with trying writing as viable business (it IS a viable business).

The trouble with some on these boards is that they don't like to see other people get on, esp when those people are trying to start their own business.

But is that really true?

http://www.indeed.co.uk/No-Experience-Necessary-jobs-in-Merseyside
has heaps of jobs with no experience necesary. In Merseyside. call centre agents, real estate agents, packers in a factory, stock taker, trainee lettings manage, market research interviewer, personal fitness instructor, male care asistant. Even a trainee accountant position.

What's so special about you, besides the fact that you would rather be self employed than work for someone else, that you can't get at least one of these jobs?

In any employment market, on any given day, there are jobs available. The main difference between the strike rate of those who get the jobs and those who don't , once we get into these kinds of jobs, where experience and qualifications aren't barriers to employment, is the number of jobs the applicant goes for.

paulineb_2

notanewuser wrote: »

It's not viable if you need tax credits on top!!

Lots of businesses claim tax credits. Its very unlikely that within 24 hours of starting a business you'll be in profit, it can take 12 plus months for someone to start making money. WTC was a massive help to me when I started trading, both in 2010 and again this year.

Also, the nature of every industry is different, Im a freelance fitness instructor, earnings can be seasonal, some people will do very very well and some people will tick by at times.

Im just off today to talk to a gym about teaching some classes for them, they are going to offer me £20-£25 an hour which is the going rate but its rare that a gym chain will offer you ten classes a week, some will, but its a case of getting your foot in the door and building up from there. I also teach in the community as well.

If I were on JSA right now Id be taking 71 pounds a week from the DWP, at the moment I get just over 50 pounds a week in WTC.

A lot less than a lot of people who live near me take for doing absolutely nothing.

Also, your working tax credit award is based on your previous years earnings. Last year I worked part time in a gym, 13 hours, I got 84 quid a week and I paid rent and my water charge on my council tax, plus travel. My boss wouldnt employ full timers as it was cheaper to employ people on low hours as she didnt need to pay peoples NI stamp.

Some jobs are less than viable as well, because the money you get leaves you worse off than you would be on the dole and for me, having been unemployed for a couple of spells I would rather be out there trying to make a go of my business than sitting on the dole waiting for a job to come along, Id have a long wait in this area.

If someone gets WTC to the point where they are turning over enough money not to need it, fine. Because in some areas even getting a minimum wage full time job or even two part time jobs is hard work, I tried long enough last year and couldnt get anything.

Also there are some self employed people whose hours vary massively between summer and winter, its not the case that every single person who is self employed will work 30 hours a week times whatever the minimum wage is.

paulineb_2

dktreesea wrote: »

But is that really true?

http://www.indeed.co.uk/No-Experience-Necessary-jobs-in-Merseyside
has heaps of jobs with no experience necesary. In Merseyside. call centre agents, real estate agents, packers in a factory, stock taker, trainee lettings manage, market research interviewer, personal fitness instructor, male care asistant. Even a trainee accountant position.

What's so special about you, besides the fact that you would rather be self employed than work for someone else, that you can't get at least one of these jobs?

In any employment market, on any given day, there are jobs available. The main difference between the strike rate of those who get the jobs and those who don't , once we get into these kinds of jobs, where experience and qualifications aren't barriers to employment, is the number of jobs the applicant goes for.

If you actually look closer at that fitness instructor job, its a package where you pay to become a personal trainer and that will cost around £1500-£2500 depending on whether you do the cert or diploma and if you successfully gain the qualification then you will be put forward for a graduate programme.

Its not a job.

Also, I spoke about this in other posts. I got a part time job last year, that was due to me sending my CV into a gym, not from a response to an advert.

I applied for and got interviews for 2 other minimum wage gym jobs but the person interviewing couldnt be bothered to phone me or email me and let me know I wasnt successful, I would assume that for every job like that, you'll easily get 50-100 plus applicants.

There are numerous jobs on direct gov for example. Last year I applied for jobs in offices, in card shops, in supermarkets. Ive got a lot of work experience and Ive got several qualifications.

But nothing. Its not always the case that the more you send in the more you will get.

Self employment for me was an opportunity I got and took, because the option would have been to be on the dole.

And, if my WTC stops at any point, I'll still keep going with it, because sometimes, the benefits to what you get from being out there and earning, even if it is the equivalent of minimum wage, is massive compared to what you would get if you were sitting on the dole.

And even businesses who do make 30 x the NMW will still be earning low enough wages to qualify for some WTC as the rules stand just now.

Truegho

shedboy94 wrote: »

Can you explain why 1st of all it is a business, and 2nd why it is viable if it isn't paying enough to enable a decent standard of living?

It IS a viable business, and all the business experts have echoed my point.

Or don't these business experts know their stuff then???

jacques_chirac

Truegho wrote: »

It IS a viable business, and all the business experts have echoed my point.

Or don't these business experts know their stuff then???

How long do you believe it will take for you to be self sufficient?

What 'business experts' are you referring to? If they do feel it is viable, are they not willing to invest?

Truegho

dktreesea wrote: »

But is that really true?

http://www.indeed.co.uk/No-Experience-Necessary-jobs-in-Merseyside
has heaps of jobs with no experience necesary. In Merseyside. call centre agents, real estate agents, packers in a factory, stock taker, trainee lettings manage, market research interviewer, personal fitness instructor, male care asistant. Even a trainee accountant position.

What's so special about you, besides the fact that you would rather be self employed than work for someone else, that you can't get at least one of these jobs?

In any employment market, on any given day, there are jobs available. The main difference between the strike rate of those who get the jobs and those who don't , once we get into these kinds of jobs, where experience and qualifications aren't barriers to employment, is the number of jobs the applicant goes for.

You're forgetting something, aren't you: a lot of these jobs requiring "no experience" are either commission only, low paid, or have some other failing. A proper, decent, well-paid job is hard to find now, esp on blackspot Merseyside.

Truegho

jacques_chirac wrote: »

How long do you believe it will take for you to be self sufficient?

What 'business experts' are you referring to? If they do feel it is viable, are they not willing to invest?

What's this, 20 questions?

pinkypoopydoo

Truegho wrote: »

It IS a viable business, and all the business experts have echoed my point.

Or don't these business experts know their stuff then???

If it has been classed as a viable business by experts, then why haven't you looked to get on the NEA?

jacques_chirac

Truegho wrote: »

What's this, 20 questions?

You are telling us your business is viable but providing nothing to qualify what you say. How do you expect people to see your viewpoint without evidence to support it?

jacques_chirac

Truegho wrote: »

You're forgetting something, aren't you: a lot of these jobs requiring "no experience" are either commission only, low paid, or have some other failing. A proper, decent, well-paid job is hard to find now, esp on blackspot Merseyside.

What is wrong with low paid work? Everyone has to start somewhere.