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Hi all I have various health issues which from time to time I end up house bound. I have been treated extremely badly by dwp in past and it took my local MP to fix 2 months of no money.

 

I'm desperate to try out a business idea, but looking at Enterprise allowance and Access to work guidlines both offer nothing and 10% loan and no money risk is too great.

 

So I have decided to go it alone and can prove expenditure and fact I haven't made a penny yet, my market is importing an electronics item and selling it.

 

It's a shame the Job Centre/dwp are not supportive, but I can't face more hassle on something that until I try may not be viable and being treated like scum for considering it.

 

I also find it tragic that due to verified ill health any official assistance is vindictive and your seen as liar for simply wanting to better yourself.

 

I'm too old for princess trust and I do not see any value in enterprise allowance scheme-it looks like I have little choice in discussion or advice other than this forum unless anyone else has ideas.

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Even if you don't actually want to take the money, you should consider going through the application process for the Enterprise Allowance and so on. You may be able to get free advice on things like writing a business plan that you may find invaluable. Once you can present a credible business plan other routes to funding may open up for you.

 

I would have thought that the sort of business you describe could be started very cheaply - you clearly need a small amount of stock and then to find a way to sell it (can you start up on ebay?)

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Even if you don't actually want to take the money, you should consider going through the application process for the Enterprise Allowance and so on. You may be able to get free advice on things like writing a business plan that you may find invaluable. Once you can present a credible business plan other routes to funding may open up for you.

 

I would have thought that the sort of business you describe could be started very cheaply - you clearly need a small amount of stock and then to find a way to sell it (can you start up on ebay?)

Quite simply the Enterprise Allowance is worthless, the job centre staff in prior experience are moronic.

I have previous business and sales experience, website cost £6 and credit card company ask no questions.

After dwp did their very best to make me homeless and atos got caught out with proof they lied- I have zero faith in them.

 

I have an outlet, website is up and running and worse case I make a loss-I will have to pay it back bit by bit each month as looked at £1000-£2000 stock

 

My plan if it works will allow flexibility as I still get chronic fatigue,stuck in house etc- but I think it is possible to still do it as I can get courier collection from my place.

 

I can't think any employer would want someone who crashes out asleep for 2-3 hours,get's periods of stuck in house ill- still wireless printing has it's advantages.

 

I don't want to be parked on benefits wasting my life away, my ill health the GP and specialist don't see me as employable- I have to try through as I feel a prisoner in my own home left to rot.

Edited by stuffed

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Is there a definite market for this electronic item?

 

Can you start small scale or would you need to be able to provide vast quantities of this product to any potential client?

 

Have you made contact with any potential clients and were they interested?

 

Do you need any special kind of permit to import?

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The DWP and 99.999% of the Job Centre staff know nothing about business and self employment so it's a waste of time discussing it with them. This is also why I'm so against the DWP being brought into the situation for self employed people on Working Tax Credits when (or if) it is replaced by Universal Credit.

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Is there a definite market for this electronic item?

 

Can you start small scale or would you need to be able to provide vast quantities of this product to any potential client?

 

Have you made contact with any potential clients and were they interested?

 

Do you need any special kind of permit to import?

Small scale and no harder than buying on ebay, already started and preparing to take the chance- not in profit, but some sales already.

Have to try it and if it doesn't work so be it

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The DWP and 99.999% of the Job Centre staff know nothing about business and self employment so it's a waste of time discussing it with them. This is also why I'm so against the DWP being brought into the situation for self employed people on Working Tax Credits when (or if) it is replaced by Universal Credit.

Quite simply my health means that I'm unemployable, who would employ someone who simply can't get to a 9-5 job as flat on back and housebound from time to time, or fast asleep with exhaustion and wide awake at 4am.

 

I have previous sales and business experience, via email and parcel collection from house means it is viable in theory.

 

I'd love to say where and what it is, but I fear being stitched up before I have even started

A friend has kindly given server space and helped set up website.

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Well good luck with it.

Just make sure you keep good records of your costs and sales.

At the moment are you doing it has a private buyer/seller? Because at some point you will need to think about what you are doing and if it affects benefits, or whether it is worth registering as a business. I presume you could get working tax credit, especially as you probably fulfill the 'disability' element of that.

 

My husband and I have our own business. At the moment we are paying ourselves a minimum way, actually less than the minimum wage, and sometimes no wage. But we are on WFTC, so that helps. We do have a couple of employees now and although we are not in profit, we are expanding rapidly, so should be in profit next year or the year after.

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Hello

 

On a topic. Prince's trust has two branches, the second is for Mature Enterprise (over 50). Your business idea, from my point of view, sounds quite risky and, consequently, a business plan, I recon, is the first necessary goose step. Nobody in the right mind would give a loan for a business proposal without proper risk estimation.

 

Last year we've met a young millionaire who've made 4.5 mil in 4 years. A student, he estimated zero probability of taking a loan, sold his old cheap car and invested a small sum in his first business idea. That young man is amazingly infections with positivism and pragmatism. He sees business opportunities where other see nothing or just problems. Yes, he sold his first business and now has another 2 + a few more ideas.

 

How about a different business model without taking any loans? Is there anything you REALY like? Really passionate about ?

:)

Edited by Tanya52

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Well good luck with it.

Just make sure you keep good records of your costs and sales.

At the moment are you doing it has a private buyer/seller? Because at some point you will need to think about what you are doing and if it affects benefits, or whether it is worth registering as a business. I presume you could get working tax credit, especially as you probably fulfill the 'disability' element of that.

 

My husband and I have our own business. At the moment we are paying ourselves a minimum way, actually less than the minimum wage, and sometimes no wage. But we are on WFTC, so that helps. We do have a couple of employees now and although we are not in profit, we are expanding rapidly, so should be in profit next year or the year after.

After my experience of DWP the only contact I will be having with them will be a 4 letter and a 3 letter word if I can make this work.

 

I've researched the market, I have a niche and I certainly would look at every method of tax minimisation self employed even a ltd with zero interest loans.

 

I hate being written off as a burden on society and aim to do whaever it takes, I know how to work the feckless lying dwp-I caught them out before and unless they can prove a profit-they can't do a thing

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Hello

 

On a topic. Prince's trust has two branches, the second is for Mature Enterprise (over 50). Your business idea, from my point of view, sounds quite risky and, consequently, a business plan, I recon, is the first necessary goose step. Nobody in the right mind would give a loan for a business proposal without proper risk estimation.

 

Last year we've met a young millionaire who've made 4.5 mil in 4 years. A student, he estimated zero probability of taking a loan, sold his old cheap car and invested a small sum in his first business idea. That young man is amazingly infections with positivism and pragmatism. He sees business opportunities where other see nothing or just problems. Yes, he sold his first business and now has another 2 + a few more ideas.

 

How about a different business model without taking any loans? Is there anything you REALY like? Really passionate about ?

:)

I'm 30-40 age group, nobody would give me a loan-credit card ask zero questions and if stuff doesn't turn up their problem not mine under section 75 consumer credit act.

 

I've waited years on false promises and simply if it becomes a problem IVA and walk away from it upto 15k

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I'm simply thinking of you getting stung by the tax man for 'working' whilst on benefits.

 

Make sure you know what you are doing. You might be able to get away with a 'hobby' interest for sales under a certain amount. But at some point, you may need to decide if you are going to make a go of it full time, and whether to be a sole trader or a limited company. My Accountant gave us advice for zero to help us set up properly. He has charged £400 for the year end books, which were quite complicated TBH. And he hasn't charged me anything on top for all the advice he gives, and his advice saves us and the company alot of pounds. So i'm not complaining.

 

We also could not get any loan from anywhere. So we used our savings - not alot. And the rest I have bought on balance transfers on credit cards, and when that balance runs out I simply move the balance to another zero percent offer. I know you cannot get credit, and again that might be something you need to work on. And it might be simple things like having a bank account, utilities in your name, being on the postal register to vote etc.

Edited by Sally44

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I'm simply thinking of you getting stung by the tax man for 'working' whilst on benefits.

 

Make sure you know what you are doing. You might be able to get away with a 'hobby' interest for sales under a certain amount. But at some point, you may need to decide if you are going to make a go of it full time, and whether to be a sole trader or a limited company. My Accountant gave us advice for zero to help us set up properly. He has charged £400 for the year end books, which were quite complicated TBH. And he hasn't charged me anything on top for all the advice he gives, and his advice saves us and the company alot of pounds. So i'm not complaining.

 

We also could not get any loan from anywhere. So we used our savings - not alot. And the rest I have bought on balance transfers on credit cards, and when that balance runs out I simply move the balance to another zero percent offer. I know you cannot get credit, and again that might be something you need to work on. And it might be simple things like having a bank account, utilities in your name, being on the postal register to vote etc.

I have a bank account, I have utilities in my name, I don't do electoral roll or voting or census or any of that as I don't like being treated like livestock.

 

I have zero intention of doing anything other than basic records that show I haven't made a penny yet. I simply do not trust authorities to see I wish to better myself. I know you may not agree, but after being stitched up less than a year ago I have no faith in integrity of any authority.

 

I haven't tried to get a loan, though I know I'm pre approved for 25k loan which is ridiculous via an associate I have known for years- even though I dont have means to pay it back.

 

I really hope it works, but if it doesn't worse case is IVA via CAB and 2 years you walk away clear.

 

I'm sorry if I sound militant, but society has rode ruff shod over me and I'm sick of it.

 

On the plus side I have 3 sales and several deposits.

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