Tips: Self Employed

[yogavo]

I am close to getting a UTR Number while I am working on what I hope will be a 9 month contract.

Do any of you plumbers have any tips for going/being self-employed?

Please share.

 

[lame plumber]

9 month contract with one employer = employed surely

 

[yogavo]

I will be paid as self-employed

 

[Whl4852]

Yeah, don't do it!

 

[lame plumber]

if your working for a builder for several months taxman calls that employed as the definition of self employed looks at whether your providing materials etc so watch your back on this one

 

[plumber0808]

A nine month contract is a good opportunity if the money's ok.

 

[peteheat]

Get advice from an accountant, your playing a dangerous game and don't know it.

If it's any help the builder will do OK out of an arrangement like that.

 

[Ray Stafford]

Read this link

It gives the HMRC guidelines on what constitutes being self-employed.

 

[gasmanrob]

Charge him for a tube of mastic a week don't wear any uniform supplied unless you buy it, never put the words @ £--- per DAY on an invoice and put one or 2 pj's on a proper invoice and you have just become your own risk and there for sit within the letters of the law. But can you live with it morally lol.

 

[AWheating]

its fine if your working that contract and do other work for your own/other customers during the same period. If you do no other work then you may struggle to prove it if questioned.

if you work soley for on company for a long period you could be made to become an employee with them, but its a small risk tbh.

 

[hammers4spanner]

are you not working now?

 

[Aquazone]

Also, a point to note on legalities of working for the same company for a long period of time is that it is the employers responsibility to determine your employment status.

Working for 1 employer for a nine month period exclusively does not automatically mean you should be employed, it depends on a whole host of factors, hence the employers responsibility.

The only person to gain from you being self employed is your employer as he will not have to give holiday pay / NI contribution / sick pay etc.

If you have a problem you should take it up with the employer first, and if your still not satisfied then an industrial tribunal would take place.

 

[dontknowitall]

My favourite tip for anyone going self employed is:

If you want to make a small fortune, start with a large fortune.


A very tongue in cheek remark, of course. Wishing you the best of luck! It's not easy and it requires hard work but if you succeed then the best of luck to you!!!

 

[Veggie Dave]

The only person to gain from you being self employed is your employer as he will not have to give holiday pay / NI contribution / sick pay etc.

Actually, you should get holiday pay in a situation like this, even being self-employed.

 

[Avatar]

This is exactly why some may like you to be like this - so that they can dodge all of the legal requirements of having an employee . . . .

You will be paid the same, you will just have none of the rights and entitlements!

Its like this if you sub onto building sites through agencies. You can be kicked off the job with no notice at all!

It you want a job with no security then go for it . . .

 

[Gerard17]

Hi all just after abit of advice really, I'm 24 and self employed, I did a 5 year apprenticeship and and after a few years out my time I left and went self employed as I didn't like my boss and wanted more money.
ive been self employed for nearly 2 years now an I don't no weather to carry on or take up a new job with some1. It's to stop start for me, 1 week I mite fit 2 boilers and then the next week I. MIte do a couple of little crappy jobs. Sometimes i can bank a load of money in a month and then the next not a lot. I no it evens out over the year but I just hate not having weeks of work booked in. I go to work most days but sometimes I'll have nothing until the night before.

This week I've fitted a boiler and done a couple of little jobs so I've made a good amount of money already and it's only Wednesday so I don't need to earn any more but the point being is that I hate not working or working half a day it just gets me down and I'm abit insecure when it comes to money. I don't advertise and something usually comes in but what I'd someday it never.

ive been offerd a job an just wandering weather or not to take it. The money is ok but it's working away a lot of the time an I have a wife and 2children. But it's in the renewable game so i would be learning something new other than just gas and plumbing.
Any advice would help cheers

 

[Blake]

Only you can really answer that one pal, weigh up the pros and cons, write them down on a list and that will give you a good indication.