Do I have to sign up for a website being using for a platform to host services ... TBC

[Deleted User]

I wanted to do baby sitting, house sitting and pet sitting as well as offer house help and My sister then wanted to advertise her service for pet sitting and house sitting.

so I created a website to advertise these services and called our selves "Cuddle Crew".
We haven't registered ourselves with the government as a business nor for tax purposes
as we've just started to put the idea in motion and haven't made any money at all on it.

The website would be used as a platform for us & other people if they wanted to, to advertise their services. We wouldn't employ these people as they have total control of when they work & how much to charge and we don't have any influence on them. Even with the content about them would be their own content they share with us to upload to their profile/sections.
The site / we would not take any money from them at all to use the site. It'll be free in every way to be listed, to post, to offer services etc

The only people who would have to pay anything would be the clients who book us for a service that has been carried out such as baby sitting.

I know I would have to sign up as a sole trader once I make £1,000+ but I know this won't be quickly but
Would we need to sign up as a business or not since the site itself does not get money and the people who would be listed are not employed by us?

Do I need to get a type of Liability insurance for myself,the site or both?

One more thing, I rent and ovbiously we're not allowed to run a business from our house,
but we would be going to other people's houses to do the job?

cedrag

Your previous thread on this topic here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6073941/how-to-set-up-a-baby-sitting-service-part-time-job

:cool:

[Deleted User]

actually, this is a different question.

Savvy_Sue

I'd keep any website very very simple. If it's JUST you and your sister offering services, you've no worries about whether other people will be reliable etc. Allow other people to advertise on it and you open yourselves to many problems.

rach_k

You need insurance whether it's just you, you and your sister or you, your sister and others advertising on your site, paid or unpaid.

If you break a priceless vase in a customer's house, you need some way of paying for it. Appropriate insurance will cover this.

If a customer claims you stole a priceless vase from their house, you may need legal help. Appropriate insurance will cover this.

If a person employs somebody based on an advert they saw on your site, then claims that the advert was all lies, the individual was a convicted criminal and stole all of their priceless vases, you may need legal help. Appropriate insurance will cover this.

Bear in mind that you don't have to DO something to be ACCUSED of it. Any customer can try to take you to court at any point. Even if you and they both know you're innocent, legal help costs money. You need insurance to protect yourself and your family against being ordered to pay zillions of pounds.

You also need to protect your customers. If you did break that vase, they deserve to be compensated for it.