Start a 'cottage industry'... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

bonsibabe

nykmedia, thanks for the advice. We actually live just off base, but walking distance away. Our area has a total of 5 different barracks, and we are walking distance from one, cycling from 2 and 15 miles from the other 2. I had thought about offering the Messes a service for typing up menus and the like as well.

I will sit down this afternoon and look at exactly what I can offer, and research how much these services cost in UK. I will price in sterling as well as Euros, as we will hopefully be moving back to Scotland later this year and I can use the leaflet when we get home as well. (save having to produce another leaflet!)

Thank you!!

Frugaldom

Hi Bonsibabe,

Something else that may help is getting military level security clearance, as though you would be working on base. It's similar to standard police check, but done via security services of MOD. It can take a few weeks to get the clearance, however. Many of the civilian companies who tender for contract via Defence Estates recruit through agencies, and it can be helpful if you already have sufficient security clearance. You could contact the agencies or, even, the companies direct and offer to work freelance from home. You need to be able to prove you are legally self-employed and you need to invoice them for any work carried out; I was told this is something to do with the fact that they are responsible for ensuring appropriate tax is paid by sub contractors, which is what you would be if you were typing letters, minutes, reports etc. (I haven't ever had any trouble with ministry related contracts whether directly or via the agencies.)

bonsibabe

Thanks for that Nyk, I hadn't thought of that at all! I am ex-army myself so should still have some clearance, although it shouldn't be a problem getting it all done again!

Definitely something I can look into.

Thanks again

Di x

RosaThorne

Quick question - I'm getting really pro-active by clearing out my junk to make money for crafty things. BUT:
If I had an etsy shop, would I have to register as a business? I'm living in a rented and part of the agreement is that we don't run a business from the house...

Frugaldom

RosaThorne wrote: »

Quick question - I'm getting really pro-active by clearing out my junk to make money for crafty things. BUT:
If I had an etsy shop, would I have to register as a business? I'm living in a rented and part of the agreement is that we don't run a business from the house...

Hi Rosa, the part where you are clearing out your own items is not classed as business but as soon as you start buying stuff for your 'crafty things' then it becomes business. I would check with your landlord as there are different meanings to 'running a business'. You would need to register as self-employed but this doesn't constitute 'running a business', and if you were conducting all your business online without the public entering your household then I would think that you would be 'running a business' via Etsy, eBid, eBay or wherever. Possibly the landlord simply means that you cannot use the address as a business address, so you would need to use a PO Box number. My landlord is perfectly happy for us to be here as self-employed and I have had no problems using either a PO Box number or an 0845 telephone number, although these are mainly so we have some sort of continuity when short term leases expire.

Good luck with your enterprise, should you decide to go the self employed route. If you are currently unemployed, there may even be grants available to help you set up your craft business and, depending on your age, if you have any children and the hours you work, you may be entitled to tax credits.

charlie37

I make and am trying to sell sugar flowers, which you can put on top of cakes and also making novelty cakes and cup cakes. Not sure where to start so any advice would be great!

RosaThorne

Sugar Flowers?? Sorry I can't help you there, but you've made me hungry.
Maybe if you just sold the flowers for other people to use on their own cakes, then you take away the hassle of baking etc. Etsy?

JimmyTheWig

I believe that the rules for selling food are quite strict in terms of labeling and packaging, etc.
My wife looked into it at one stage but it seemed like more hassle than it was worth...

sandraroffey

hi there, good luck with your money making ideas!! can i just say that running a business from home usually means that you cant turn the place into something like a woodwork workshop, mechanics yard, plumbers warehouse; you know the sort of thing messy, noisy etc. running small type stuff from your office (front room), is normally seen as ok.

Frugaldom

Good afternoon to all, I hope everyone is doing well with their cottage style industries.

Someone PM'd me a question relating to setting up the free MS website, so I thought it relevant to also post a response here, as it may be of benefit to homebased businesses.

I first spotted the ad for Microsoft Officelive when browsing www.mutualpoints.com (this is not a referal link). If you go to the 'Business & Careers' section, there's an ad for Microsoft Office Live (375 points) I signed up FREE to MS Office Live small business, claimed a FREE domain name (I claimed a .co.uk name) and set up my FREE website. All I did was follow the instructions online, got credited 375 points for doing so, and now have a website that I can submit to the search engines and use to promote my home-based business. It hasn't cost me a penny and the templates are easy to use. I am planning on linking this up to my eBid stores so that visitors to my site can buy online. I am sure that anyone can do this, regardless of location, so long as they are small business, which is what owning a cottage industry is all about, in my opinion.

The Office Live site can be found at www.officelive.com
Even if you don't have a Mutualpoints account, it seems too good an opportunity to miss. There possibly will be a downside along the way somewhere, but I haven't found it yet. If anyone else does, please let me know, thanks

Good luck with your websites and future promotions.