Gardening / Window Cleaning - What licences rules apply?

Newdirection

Good Evening,

I tried to call up today to the correct people in power to find out what I need to become a Gardener/window cleaner for my new small business.

I have spoke on the site before in regards to all this but someone people inform me I do not need much to start it, just tell HMRC and away I go.

After talkign to other people on here and looking online it seems a hazy subject and I am nto clear on what I actually need. I have listed below what I feel I need and wondered if anyone could inform me if this is correct or if I need anything else? I just want ot obtain all I need to be legit and run my small business.

I will be Sole Trader
Register with HMRC as sole trader
Public Liability insurance needed
Waste licence as I will carry garden trimmings etc from clients gardens
(will a licence cover me for all of england or just my local area as I want to work in two counties as I want to push my range out in gaining business.
Do I need a water waste licence for window cleaning? I wont wate hardley anything tbh, seems odd if i do? Or will it come under my waste licence?

I have been told I do not need to register at companies house????

Is there anything else I need in order to make it legit and run smooth? ?
I can not think of anything else at present????

Thank you for your help.

browneyedbazzi

Newdirection wrote: »

Good Evening,

I tried to call up today to the correct people in power to find out what I need to become a Gardener/window cleaner for my new small business.

I have spoke on the site before in regards to all this but someone people inform me I do not need much to start it, just tell HMRC and away I go.

After talkign to other people on here and looking online it seems a hazy subject and I am nto clear on what I actually need. I have listed below what I feel I need and wondered if anyone could inform me if this is correct or if I need anything else? I just want ot obtain all I need to be legit and run my small business.

I will be Sole Trader
Register with HMRC as sole trader
Public Liability insurance needed
Waste licence as I will carry garden trimmings etc from clients gardens
(will a licence cover me for all of england or just my local area as I want to work in two counties as I want to push my range out in gaining business.
Do I need a water waste licence for window cleaning? I wont wate hardley anything tbh, seems odd if i do? Or will it come under my waste licence?
I believe you only need to register once as a waste carrier and that allows you to work throughout England and Wales. have a look at https://www.gov.uk/managing-your-waste-an-overview

I have been told I do not need to register at companies house????
That's right, you can set up a limited company and trade through the limited company (which protects your personal assets should the business run into financial troubles) and that involves registering with Companies House and submitting regular audited accounts. When just starting out a lot of people opt for being sole traders, so there's no need to register with Companies House - it's wise to check their register to see if the name you want to use for your business is already in use though. Which option you go for will depend on your financial situation and attitude towards risk.

Is there anything else I need in order to make it legit and run smooth? ?
I can not think of anything else at present????
As you will be working in/around people's homes and potentially entering into contracts for services with consumers in their homes you need to ensure you comply with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations. There's a long list of information you need to give to customers - failure to give some of it will mean the customer doesn't have to pay you and other failures are a criminal offence. The same Regs also set out consumers' rights to cancel - read about that carefully because if you don't comply with the regs your customers may not have to pay you for work you have done. This is as good an explanation as any I have seen http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/business-information/business-advice-leaflets/fair-trading-advice-for-business?frmClient=CBBB3533-B665-E161-7F81CCE7E0C1D717&frmItemID=309219&frmShared=1

Thank you for your help.

Also, make sure you vehicle insurance covers you for work use.

All the usual fair trading rules will apply obviously- don't act aggressively or dishonestly when trying to get business, make sure you describe the work you will be doing and any products you sell accurately and ensure you carry out all work with reasonable care and skill.

Mistral001

Probably your biggest concern is how you are going to get rid of the waste. If there is more than you can put into your customer's bin or for some weird reason your customer will not want you to put it there, then disposing of it commercially could be quite a big expense.

antrobus

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

.....As you will be working in/around people's homes and potentially entering into contracts for services with consumers in their homes you need to ensure you comply with the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations.....

As it happens the regulations apply irrespective of whether or not you're working "in/around people's homes".

But never mind that. I'd imagine that, if you were a window cleaner and handed a prospective customer your business card with all your contact details on it and answered 'Ten pounds' when asked the question 'How much does it cost?', and said you'd come around every Wednesday (or whatever), then that would render you compliant with the the regulations.

Newdirection

Hiya,

Thank you for the replies so far to all of you. Yes someone has PM me and said that its about £150 for three years to get rid of waste, bit steep, but its needed, as clearing work is goign to be a big one i feel. I rather pay it and be legit and do my work the proper way.

I just want to be seen as doing the right thing and being in line with law.

So as far as I can see then the below is all I need to do:

I will be Sole Trader
Register with HMRC as sole trader
Public Liability insurance needed
Waste licence

If I gain the above and act as a gardener and window cleaner, then I am running in line. I just want to feel confident I am a bit of a worry guts that I am doing things right in law etc.

Thanks again, so respect all your replies and thank you browneyedbazzi for your advice.

Newdirection

Hi, me again lol.

I have just looked online at the gov.uk site for waste and EA website you are directed to and I filled in the form and it directed me to LOWER TIER sign up after answering the questions. I am still unsure this is correct but feel it maybe, but would like someone to confirm to me, there must be a gardener or someone with one adn will it cover myself.

I am a gardender and window cleaner, the gardening will be green wate, greas, weeds, hedge triming etc and window cleaning well no waste really at all. Please could soemone put me out my misery.

Also I have heared, you can only put waste away in to commercial waste centers and not your normal waste site? is this correct? and that also you get charged for waste each visit, this is crazy, how does a gardener cope? of does a higher tier sign up let you dispose at all centers?

Thank you. I do feel I will have to contact the EA again if I can get through to them.

browneyedbazzi

antrobus wrote: »

As it happens the regulations apply irrespective of whether or not you're working "in/around people's homes".

But never mind that. I'd imagine that, if you were a window cleaner and handed a prospective customer your business card with all your contact details on it and answered 'Ten pounds' when asked the question 'How much does it cost?', and said you'd come around every Wednesday (or whatever), then that would render you compliant with the the regulations.

Yes, they do apply in other circumstances, but it's particularly important for people who do work in people's homes because for them failing to comply with some parts is a criminal offence - the stakes are higher and the requirements more stringent for this type of trader. And, no just a business card and the conversation you mention would not be compliant. The regs require traders to inform customers of their cancellation rights, provide a pro-forma cancellation form and also to provide some details about the contract in a durable medium.

OP with regard to the waste carrier's permit - it's probably best for you to call and speak to someone at the Environment Agency to get a firm answer about what you will need.

What you have been told about disposal of waste is correct - you will need to go to commercial waste disposal sites or to council run sites that also offer a service for trade waste. You will have to pay for this. Domestic waste removal and disposal at civic amenity sites is paid for through taxes - disposal of trade waste has to be paid for by the trader.

Savvy_Sue

And I don't think you have yet got to the bottom of what's needed in terms of disposing of the waste water from the window cleaning. I've tried a google but the document which looks most useful won't download. However I did find an entire window cleaning forum, and that looks very worth joining!

Lomast

A waste carriers licence is simply that a licence to carry waste, disposal of that waste will then be charged at the point of disposal, some local authority sites have a weigh bridge entrance and will allow you to pay for disposal of commercial waste if not you will need to find a comercial waste disposal site

patman99

As a gardener, it might be worth your while finding-out if there is a commercial green waste recycling centre in your area. As these tend to compost the green waste to turn it into soil improver, they tend to be a lot cheaper than the regular tip site.

As for waste water from window cleaning, all the window cleaners I know just tip the bucket out on the garden, then re-fill from a tank in the back of the van.
Don't forget that a lot of window cleaners (mainly those undertaking commercial contracts) use a water-fed pole system, so the dirty water runs down the building and away into the drains anyway.

Also, your waste license will allow you to transport ANY waste, so if you get the chance, you can do a bit of house clearance work or drive around collecting scrap that people put out for the !!!!!! to collect.

cavework

patman99 wrote: »

As a gardener, it might be worth your while finding-out if there is a commercial green waste recycling centre in your area. As these tend to compost the green waste to turn it into soil improver, they tend to be a lot cheaper than the regular tip site.

As for waste water from window cleaning, all the window cleaners I know just tip the bucket out on the garden, then re-fill from a tank in the back of the van.
Don't forget that a lot of window cleaners (mainly those undertaking commercial contracts) use a water-fed pole system, so the dirty water runs down the building and away into the drains anyway.

Also, your waste license will allow you to transport ANY waste, so if you get the chance, you can do a bit of house clearance work or drive around collecting scrap that people put out for the !!!!!! to collect.

But don't forget that any transfer of waste requires duty of care paperwork , documenting where and what was collected and where it ended up This should be supplied to your customers with any invoice
Do the '!!!!!! ' I HATE THAT WORD .. and the assumption.. 'thing' and as a valid business your clients could be visited by Enviromental Health and fined if their waste has not been disposed of legally and there is no paper trail