Put Off Going Self Employed As A Writer

Truegho

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

That's all very well, start your business by all means, but why should the State top it up? Do it alongside existing work, or get a part-time job to subsidise it until it can stand alone. That's what people used to do in the days before Tax Credits.

Thank you for your advice. Your points were taken on board.

Just one little problem, though, about getting a part-time job: I live on Merseyside, where jobs are depressingly scarce - even part-time jobs - and when a vacancy does arise, there are hundreds of other applicants chasing it. I hate it here. I have often thought about relocating.

notanewuser

Truegho wrote: »

Thank you for your advice. Your points were taken on board.

Just one little problem, though, about getting a part-time job: I live on Merseyside, where jobs are depressingly scarce - even part-time jobs - and when a vacancy does arise, there are hundreds of other applicants chasing it. I hate it here. I have often thought about relocating.

Just not enough to actually do it!!

Truegho

Dovah_diva wrote: »

It very much looks like you're prepared to move the goalposts depending on which benefit you can claim. In one post you work 30 hours + and in the next it'll be under 16.





You need to be honest about the time spent on your writing (sorry, but I can't call it is a business). However, I see no reason why you can't write in between job hunting - and then write when you're not working. I do not think it is reasonable to ask to the tax payer to support you while you write short stories that earn very little. At this stage it's very much a hobby and not a business.

It is NOT a hobby. It is a BUSINESS. I am selling BOOKS.

Truegho

Truegho wrote: »

It is NOT a hobby. It is a BUSINESS. I am selling BOOKS.

I just CANNOT understand why there is so much cynicism when you say to people you want to go self-employed as a writer.

notanewuser

Truegho wrote: »

It is NOT a hobby. It is a BUSINESS. I am selling BOOKS.

But not viable enough to sustain you.

pinkypoopydoo

Truegho wrote: »

Thank you for your advice. Your points were taken on board.

Just one little problem, though, about getting a part-time job: I live on Merseyside, where jobs are depressingly scarce - even part-time jobs - and when a vacancy does arise, there are hundreds of other applicants chasing it. I hate it here. I have often thought about relocating.

If jobs are so scarce in your area, then I don;t see the problem in continuing with the job search, while writing at the same time and declaring any income from it. Yes, if you have a long list of requirements in your JS agreement, then you can end up spending a significant time on it everyday, but a lot of job seeking doesn;t need to be done 9-5, leaving you the rest of the day to concentrate on writing. I can only speak from personal experience - I am in the process of signing off to be self-employed, and for the last few months I've managed to juggle small children, adhering to a job seekers agreement and putting in the hard slog for the business start-up.

paulineb_2

Truegho wrote: »

I have been put off from going self employed as a writer, simply because when I phoned the Working Tax Credit Office and explained to them the nature of my business, they gave me the impression that it would not be a wise step, as when I told them my initial anticipated earnings would be just over £200 per month (from book sales) and that I would be working 30hrs pwk on my business, the lady who took me call couldn't seem to understand how I would only be making this amount, despite working all those hours on my business. She them said when I registered with HMRC, I would have to keep a note of EVERY single thing per hour (e.g. invoices, customer assignments etc.) whilst working on the business. Not surprisingly, this has put me off making a claim as a self employed person.

Are there any other writers who have experienced this? If so, did it put you off starting your own business and resigning yourself to claiming dole?

The whole thing has not only dissuaded me, but depressed me, as I really wanted to start my own business.

Youve started several threads all on the same subject, youve had really good advice.

It may change when universal credit comes in but at the moment I do not need to detail every single hour I work on the business for HMRC. I get my working tax credits, I fill in my tax returns and I declare my turnover at the end of the year. And Ive filled in 2 tax returns and no one from HMRC or the WTC people have ever asked me to declare my hours worked. And that doesnt mean Im not working 30 hours a week, but businesses take time to build and there are expenses as well as income to be taken into consideration.

You have options here. You could try and find part time work and go self employed.

You could do something else apart from write and have two self employed businesses. Im a self employed fitness instructor but Im just about to start in another business as well.

I live in an area of high unemployment as well, but I dont want to sit on the dole and no, I dont think I'll ever be a millionaire but if you dont think your writing is going to be enough to sustain you, get another income stream and I know its easier said than done, but anything is better than sitting on JSA.

And if you want to throw in the towel before you start then maybe you need to take the advice people are giving you, reject the bits you dont need and either bite the bullet and go for it or try and find other work or stay on JSA until you are reading to give self employment a go.

Truegho

pinkypoopydoo wrote: »

If jobs are so scarce in your area, then I don;t see the problem in continuing with the job search, while writing at the same time and declaring any income from it. Yes, if you have a long list of requirements in your JS agreement, then you can end up spending a significant time on it everyday, but a lot of job seeking doesn;t need to be done 9-5, leaving you the rest of the day to concentrate on writing. I can only speak from personal experience - I am in the process of signing off to be self-employed, and for the last few months I've managed to juggle small children, adhering to a job seekers agreement and putting in the hard slog for the business start-up.

Yes, I do continue with the job search, no matter how hopeless it seems to be here on jobs-starved Merseyside. At the same time, I am putting everything I have into a writing business that I am really passionate about. It just annoys me when some people are too quick to dismiss writing and selling books as "not a viable business". It IS a viable business, if it takes off. ANY business is viable, if you are selling something. Ask Lord Sugar.

notanewuser

I've just checked and the OP has been starting threads about starting his own (online) business since May 2010. 3 YEARS and he's done bu99er all but whinge and whine and grow older.

Well done OP. I'm guessing you'll still be "thinking about it" in 2016 too.

notanewuser

Truegho wrote: »

Yes, I do continue with the job search, no matter how hopeless it seems to be here on jobs-starved Merseyside. At the same time, I am putting everything I have into a writing business that I am really passionate about. It just annoys me when some people are too quick to dismiss writing and selling books as "not a viable business". It IS a viable business, if it takes off. ANY business is viable, if you are selling something. Ask Lord Sugar.

Did he claim benefits then?