Starting up a business. What do I need

Issylox

Hello! I hope this is the right section to post in!

I realize this is a fairly broad question but any help or pointers in where to get the relevant information would be great.

So we’ve just bought a 1982 sprite alpine caravan. I’m planning on doing it up to make it a cute vintage style caravan that we can use for weekends away. I’ve since had an idea that once done up I’d also like to hire her out as ‘a wedding prop’. I won’t be providing a particular service, more of a drop off for the day then pick up later type thing. Hirers could use her as they wish; photo booth, to serve welcome drinks from, sweet van etc. my question is, what sorts of insurances and licenses etc do I need? 🤔 Also any other tips such as any type of disclaimers or contracts I’d need drawn up!?

Any help on where I can find the information I need would be fantastic.

Thank you!

Mistral001

Best to go on personal experience. Hire a similar vehicle for the day and have a look at the terms and conditions and any disclaimers they have. Ask about insurance needed etc. I would not copy their terms and conditions but use them as a basis for what you need to know.

tacpot12

You need business public liability insurance - a good insurance broker will be able to find you a cost-effective policy.

I can't see much benefit to employers liability insurance, but ask the broker if it would be available, and at what cost. They should be able to guess what sort of risks you and your partner will face personally when moving a caravan to and fro.

You will need to tell your motor insurer that you will be using your car and carvan for business purposes - if you are going to deliver the 'van yourselves, which is likely because few customers will have a tow bar if they don't already have a 'van.

You probably need theft & accidentally damage insurance on the 'van that covers it for business use. The broker should be able to help.

tacpot12

Licence-wise, your driving licence needs to allow you to tow the van, and you need to register as self-employed with HMRC.

https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed

You may need a business bank account (buy try to use a personal current account if the t&cs don't prohibit business use) and you may want to have a card machine to take payments,
e.g. iZettle.

lindens

maybe consider offering the service for free as a test run for a couple of weddings. you can get some nice photos from it for your marketing, get them to leave you a review etc
you will probably need a business plan too, and always good to do one anyway to see if its viable

lincroft1710

If i'd spent time and money restoring a near 40 yr old classic caravan, the last thing I'd want to do would be to hire it out for wedding guests to use as they please!

edgex

Cute vintage style...
for a caravan from 1982? I could understand if it was pre 70s

Might want to have a read of these
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/blog/category/4724-me-and-my-caravan

00ec25

edgex wrote: »

Cute vintage style...
for a caravan from 1982? I could understand if it was pre 70s

Might want to have a read of these
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/blog/category/4724-me-and-my-caravan

totally agree

obviously a business idea has to be formed and tested, but I really struggle to see why a wedding would pay for an "object" to be available for "use" when they'd then have to pay someone else to use it for the purpose it is being marketed for.

a wedding would just employ a professional events company to provide whatever it is they want as a single package: changing room, photo booth... inside a caravan ... at a wedding .... how .... "tasteful"????