Self employed van costs

Car_54

sevenhills wrote: »

Very difficult to know how much work you can get, until you try it, even with a bussiness plan.
I do a few odd jobs now, but I don't look for work, because I have my main job. I don't charge a viable rate, as I just work out of my car. When I 'upgrade' my vehicle, I will decide how much more money a van would cost. No difference in MPG, just the purchase and servicing costs.

... and the insurance. And as well as motor insurance, you need goods in transit (as already pointed out) and public liability.

Don't forget you'll be competing with the guys who "don't charge a viable rate" just as you do now.

BTW does your present insurance cover you for the "few odd jobs"?

sevenhills

Car_54 wrote: »

BTW does your present insurance cover you for the "few odd jobs"?

If you can tell me what type of insurance that is, I will let you know. £20 to go the council tip, £20 to do some gardening, £40 to paint a fence, £30 to build a fence.

I would need a waste permit of some sort, insured as a gardener and a painter and handyperson insurance; except that I would argue I don't make a profit.
My earnings are less than £500, car running costs and tools, almost zero profit, that is not a business.

AdrianC

sevenhills wrote: »

I would need a waste permit of some sort, insured as a gardener and a painter and handyperson insurance; except that I would argue I don't make a profit.
My earnings are less than £500, car running costs and tools, almost zero profit, that is not a business.

It IS a business. It's just a really poor, unprofitable one.

And how good a businessman you are has no effect on what insurances and permits you need.

Scrapit

Waste carriers licence, no disposal licence needed.

Car_54

sevenhills wrote: »

If you can tell me what type of insurance that is, I will let you know. £20 to go the council tip, £20 to do some gardening, £40 to paint a fence, £30 to build a fence.

I would need a waste permit of some sort, insured as a gardener and a painter and handyperson insurance; except that I would argue I don't make a profit.
My earnings are less than £500, car running costs and tools, almost zero profit, that is not a business.

You need insurance for business use. Unless you’ve told your insurer what you do, you haven’t got it.

If stopped by the police (or involved in an accident) while doing your odd jobs you could be charged with having no insurance. Six points, large fine, and difficulty in getting insured again.

Profit (or lack of it) is irrelevant.

Nearlyold

If you live in or near a well to do area with access to nearby rural footpaths bridleways etc setting up a dog walking business can be a goodish earner for a man/woman with a van.

ceredigion

sevenhills wrote: »

If you can tell me what type of insurance that is, I will let you know. £20 to go the council tip, £20 to do some gardening, £40 to paint a fence, £30 to build a fence.

I would need a waste permit of some sort, insured as a gardener and a painter and handyperson insurance; except that I would argue I don't make a profit.
My earnings are less than £500, car running costs and tools, almost zero profit, that is not a business.

I will say, as nobody else has. My van costs £10,000 a year (for tax purposes )
I'm a tradesmen, in order to work out your rates you need to add all your business costs plus salary and divide that by billable days (200 in my opinion). You will end up with a figure around the £200 per day mark. Will your expected cliental stand that?

James1968

GiT insurance is around £200 if you look around.
You would also Public Liabilities Insurance. I am a handyman and this cost me ₤145 this year.
A waste licence is £150 for 3 years.

Waste disposal will be the big cost. If you have wood, you can burn it or sort out the useable bits to sell on. Furniture can be donated to charities such as Emaus.

Green waste can be composted and sold on.

sevenhills

James1968 wrote: »

GiT insurance is around £200 if you look around.
You would also Public Liabilities Insurance. I am a handyman and this cost me ₤145 this year.
A waste licence is £150 for 3 years.

Waste disposal will be the big cost. If you have wood, you can burn it or sort out the useable bits to sell on. Furniture can be donated to charities such as Emaus.

I am now almost ready to buy a van. I don't want goods in transit insurance or public liability, at least for the first year. I believe a waste licence is free if its not your main business.
I will still have my PAYE job for the foreseeable future. I hope to recycle as much as posible, it is just a side-line with only a few job per month. Aside from the gardening and PAYE job.

I just want the van to be 100% legal. Not sure about insurance categories yet, as it will be for personal use and other jobs. I want to be insured for everything.


Do you pay on the weight of your waste at the tip, I know some charities can tip for free and if you have a note from the house-holder whose rubbish you have brought.
I can envisage doing a lot of freebies, or the same cost as the council. It has crossed mymind to set myself up as a charity, but that could be complex.

eamon

Leeds city council has a wealth of information regarding their waste disposal sites and associated charges.
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling
I know a couple of man & van people. They work long hours & usually 6 day weeks. I don't know their rates but at least one of them has a regular customer and that is long distance work at least twice a month.