‘Starting a small business’ or ‘Working for myself’…does the terminology really matter? (OH seems to think so)

[ImNotBarryAllenFFS]

So, I’m starting to take on work in an area that I’m good at and I think I could make something good from it.

I may occasionally use the term ‘starting a small business’ or ‘my own business’. OH really gets arsey about this turn of phrase, which is a bit of a conversation killer. Apparently it won’t be a business because I won’t be employing people, have a large enough turn over etc.

Have I been looking like a fool for using that phrase and does it really matter? I have heard this train of thought used before and a good friend became quite demoralised, she felt that compared to ‘real earners’ her business was just a ‘hobby’. She was actually doing ok at the time.

Well, it is your own business! I think he’s getting mixed up with the difference between business and company.

Wow what an arse your other half is! Call it whatever you want and hold your head high I say

There are legal definitions of what constitutes a "small business" to do with turn over and staff etc so in that sense your other half is right, but he is being very pedantic.

I don’t think he’s confused, I think he’s just being a knob and putting you down.

What an awful way to put you down!

I run three "businesses" (by his standards) I don't employ anyone but they are all businesses.

Only time I'd say this doesn't really apply is if it's a MLM type thing like a body shop rep.

Of course a single person can run their own business. A business isn't defined as someone employing someone else. If you're large enough to be paying tax (and believe me, that's not mega bucks) you're a business.
I believe the tax terminology is 'sole trader'.

Is he jealous that you're doing this?

Would he prefer you called yourself an entrepreneur ? I was referred to as this a few days ago - didn't sit right for me but maybe it would fit for you.

You can refer to your business how you like and good luck!

I agree with the PP that he’s getting confused with a company.

I’m self employed, no employees and still run my own business (full time and earn a good living, but some people can still think it’s a hobby!)

A business means you are charging money for the purposes of profit. Your DH is wrong

He’s being a knob. Why would it be a conversation killer? Sounds interesting.

You are starting your own business. You don't need to have a company, employees or a certain level of sales. You might give him this to read:

realbusiness.co.uk/business-vs-company

Though in some lines of work, particularly services that you might also provide as an employee, it seems more common to say you are working "freelance" .

He needs to mind his own business and stop being a butthead. (Badoom tish!)

It's a business and it's yours.

Fantastic, thank you all! hold your head high I say I will do, I don’t find it easy a lot of the time

Everything that’s been written rings true to what I thought…including the link. Good to know I’m not going mad, although I am asking myself some questions about the dynamic between OH and I

Entrepreneur doesn’t sit well with me either, or sound quite right with what I’m doing for that matter.

I think it won’t be a conversation killer if he gets arsey again

He's an arse. Tell him you're the CEO and also tell him to fuck off.

(I don't actually suggest the CEO bit - I run my own business and am the only employee, but would never refer to myself the CEO in real life. But I could if I wanted!)

I say I own a consultancy business. It is a ltd company so definitely a business that I own. I am the only company director and also only company employee though. I am not a sole trader, that's a slightly different legal term

I think you’ll find that when men do it it’s called “ being an entrepreneur “ , “ running my own business / company “ or “ being a company director “

When women do it, it’s called “ working for myself “, “ a hobby “ or “ pin money “.

HTH

So I would say you have your own business but you only have a company of it's set up as a formal company rather than being self employed

@Llareggub

I don’t think he’s confused, I think he’s just being a knob and putting you down.

Yes, this is what it sounds like.

I hate the word entrepreneur and can't help saying it on-tre-pe-newer in my head in the voice of Wallace (and Grommit) every time I hear it.

Accountants find people get this stuff mixed up.

You cannot be self employed if you have a company. In that case a company is a separate legal entity to the human directors.

However the word business covers all different types of legal entity.

OP you'd be classed as a sole trader and it IS your own business. My exh husband loves to discredit my small business and tell me 'it's not really a business because it's just you' which bizarrely still upsets me even though I know they're only being a dick to wind me up.

Kinda like your DH.

It depends what it is and how much money you make. I know a few (3-4) women who pretentiously call themselves business owners when they sell crap on line and make about 50 quid a month.

Likewise the twats who grandiosely pronounce themselves writers and artitsts when they produce very little and no fucker wants to buy the excrement they produce.
He might be the twat or you might depending on how like the above you are. ;)

You are a sole trader OP in the eyes of HMRC.

I have been both sole trader and alts company in my time. Pros and cons to both ways of running a business.

Good luck with your business and fuck what anyone else says!

OP if you're now asking yourself some questions about your dynamic then here's a story...

My ex wanted me to go back to work as soon as possible after our child was born (when we met I earned more), I couldn't return to my previous work because the hours were wrong, he was retraining in the evenings and I was holding the entire house together as well as having a child under one and also trying to forge a new career path which meant quite a lot of unpaid hours.

I got very good at what I was doing, started being offered paid work for magazines, expert witness for courts, and then shot a pilot for a TV show for a big UK network based on my expertise in a niche area with a view to a series.

He then left. He literally couldn't cope with me becoming a success at something he thought was "stupid". Then he launched several attacks via the courts which took up every ounce of strength I had and I lost my new career.

It took me years to get back on track, at the time I thought "I'll prove myself and then you'll see!" but it was never about the success, it was about me not being reliant on him for my self esteem anymore, he could not cope with that.