Graduate starting up a business

edmarshallphoto

Hello,

I'm looking at registering a photography business, but I am still living at my parents house. When I go through the registration process with the HMRC I get put off at the point where it asks for me to enter an address. I'm just a little concerned that if I register my parents home address then it will affect them in some way.

I know that if it was my house then I could claim something back as I do a lot of work from home, but again I'm unsure what will happen if I register address that isn't technically mine...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Ed

robrooo

Its a bit of a minefield! I'm not an expert but have run similar businesses, you could try your local business advice service (the name seems to change a lot!) for some proper advice.

Are you registering a Limited Co?

Some concerns might be:

If they have a mortgage, there may be a restriction on using the property to run a business.

The council may need to know, but I think this is just if they think there may be an increase in traffic, deliveries etc to a residential address.

Are you intending to carry out photography at the house, or just keep your business records etc there? Not sure about whether they may want to apply business rates if part of the home used for the business...

And your parents household insurance may not cover your business equipment.

As far as the HMRC is concerned, I don't think they care too much about where your business address is, but be aware that they can come and visit to inspect your accounts etc. Also, if it is a Ltd Co the address will show up on Companies House searches, and a lot of other sites that gather this info and display summary people/company info.

One answer might be to rent an "accommodation" address, best known supplier is Mail Boxes Etc which is a franchise and in most UK towns/cities. I understand that you have to pay a premium if you want to use it as your company registered address though. You could then use your parents house as a SAIL address.

If you have an accountant, they sometimes provide a registered address service too.

Both of these cost money though, and to be honest, most people I know who have set up similar businesses have not given any consideration to any of this.

BTW is that your wildlife images I found (via google)? very nice work

Percy1983

Using your parents address won't effect them so don't worry, business rates only apply if a room is used solely for the business, ie I am current sat at the same computer I use for my business doing something personal so this room isn' t solely used for business so no problem.

As said there may be restriction on your parents mortgage/insurance, but if you literally just using it as an office and not selling anything from the address there shouldn't be any problems here.

You will still be allowed to put a sensible figure in for heating etc assuming you pay rent/keep to your parents.

On a more general note the photography market is saturated with people who just buy expensive cameras and leave them in auto, it can be tough to break into it and get work.

InsideInsurance

Percy1983 wrote: »

On a more general note the photography market is saturated with people who just buy expensive cameras and leave them in auto, it can be tough to break into it and get work.

Its saturated more by people who don't buy expensive cameras (on the scale of prices for professional cameras) and leave them on auto. Last two weddings I've been to my camera & lenses were more professional grade than the togs (and it by no means is what I'd expect a pro to be using)

Assuming you are just using your parents address as a home office then other than the home insurance there is unlikely to be much impact. If the property is rented you may need permission from the landlord.

If you are setting up a studio in the garage and having clients visit etc then you have potentially larger issues to resolve

Percy1983

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Its saturated more by people who don't buy expensive cameras (on the scale of prices for professional cameras) and leave them on auto. Last two weddings I've been to my camera & lenses were more professional grade than the togs (and it by no means is what I'd expect a pro to be using)

Assuming you are just using your parents address as a home office then other than the home insurance there is unlikely to be much impact. If the property is rented you may need permission from the landlord.

If you are setting up a studio in the garage and having clients visit etc then you have potentially larger issues to resolve

Yeah thats the type, they buy a DSLR and think they are a photographer.

I will say I am in video but branching into photographer, currently I don't own a mega expensive body and lenses but I do know how to use them and use mostly manual (occasional shutter or aperture priority and never auto), like wise I shoot in raw and process correctly.

I say I am up front with clients that I don't have the absolute best of kit, but I will easily out perform a novice with a £2000 camera on auto.

Dare I say the problem is the average customer doesn't know the difference between a 100d and 1d.