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Starting a Web Design Business

    • Leckenby's Avatar
    • Leckenby
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    Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Well my idea is to make a little money (not much) from web design
      I live in the UK, and wonder what I actually need to do to trade legally as a sole trader. I am sixteen and still in education
      What did you guys have to do to start your business in terms of legalities, taxes etc.

      Cheers
    • mas's Avatar
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Just start as self employed - no need to register as a company or anything - you can do that further down the line if things take off. For now you just need to contact your local Inland Revenue Office and tell them you're self employed.

      Keep a good record or your income & expenditure and at the end of the year you can fill in your self employed tax return online (financial year end that is in April). They'll sort out any tax you owe and how you need to pay for it.

      Its a good idea to open a separate account and lots of banks will give you free business banking for the first year so you can see if its worth carrying on.

      More info is available from business link
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • I was looking through that yesterday
      Noticed the forms to declare as self employed
      Would have to pay £2.10 for NI and income tax
      I was going to keep good records

      So you reckon I should declare I am self employed then, even though im 16 and going to university etc.
  • Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Bloggs_x wrote:
      I was looking through that yesterday
      Noticed the forms to declare as self employed
      Would have to pay £2.10 for NI and income tax
      I was going to keep good records

      So you reckon I should declare I am self employed then, even though im 16 and going to university etc.

      You are still self-employed
    • James Spencer / Developer & Support / Hull, UK
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • if you're making money you have to declare it - depending on other jobs/how much work you do you have you might not have to pay any tax (but you still have to do self assessment). If you've got another job I think theres a form you can get to choose not to pay the National Insurance but you best check this with the tax office because if you don't pay it you can end up losing some entitlements.

      Its not really a big deal just a couple of phone calls and self assessment online is easy if you do it well in advance (which reminds me I should do mine now!! :o )
    • Dan L's Avatar
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • I think you need to prepare your expectations for how long some stuff can take.

      I've thought about working in a part/full time job and doing development in my spare time, but I don't even have time to even consider that notion these days...and I'm not a slow worker by any means!

      I've been working 12+ hour days now since Christmas and even will some weekend time, it's still not enough time.

      So be prepared...or set your goals lower and only take on what you can cope with.

      /heeds own advice
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Dan L wrote:
      I've been working 12+ hour days now since Christmas and even will some weekend time, it's still not enough time.

      lol wish someone had told me about that before starting too!!
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Don't get me wrong...I love every second of it...but it does consume your life.

      But choice is there? Time really does equal money ;D
    • Toolbox Digital | Dribbble | Forrst
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • Thanks for the advice everyone
      im planning just to sortof learn abit as I do it to
      It's only going to be something to make abit as im in education
      Should help in the future, and I enjoy doing it

      Does anyone know a bank that allows someone of the age of 16 to open a business account
      Lloyds TSB only allows 18+
      And HSBC doesn't say

      HSBC also looks good for e-commerce...
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    Re: Starting a Web Design Business

    Posted 17 years 7 months ago
    • don't bother with a business account for now - you can use a personal account as a self employed person as all cheques etc. will be in your name - its just a good idea to keep a separate account so you can keep track of income & expenditure when you need to do your self assessment (+ to check you're making money!)

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