To think it's impossible to come off benefits to start own business?

[HipHipHippoo]

I have been claiming income support for a couple of months after being made redundant from my job. I found another recently but now they've changed the original requirements to include one weekend day which I can't do as I'm a lone parent.

I really want to start my own business as a childrens party organiser. People always remark on my children's parties, and I've organised and hosted them for friends children too. I know it involves weekends too, but I could do it with my DC around. I just know I could make it a success.

I spoke to the advisor at the job centre about how I can survive while establishing my business, whether I can receive partial housing benefit while I'm not earning much at the beginning and so on. She pretty much told me it's not worth the effort

I have no support or savings and am really struggling to survive on benefits. I just don't understand how I can transfer to my own business and survive (without being fraudulent!) Has anyone else managed it and could possibly offer any advice? Or is the advisor right and it's just not possible?

If you are in the Harrogate area, double check because that area is where the 10,000 will be moved onto UC in July, and yes, it included families.

How can you work weekends with kids? Until you are quite established you will need to go along to the events you organise and nobody would accept your kids turning up. It's not a bad idea, but it's not realistic. A decent job which pays enough for childcare eg an au pair or after school nanny would be far more stable

If you are under 30 though you can approach the princes trust. Universal credit could also work

Goggle New Enterprise Allowance OP and then ask your jobcentre work coach to refer you to the scheme (NEA) once you're sure it's right for you (it's on the Gov.uk site). You can sign up for the webinar and, as you have a business plan, you should be offered an initial assessment and then a place on a LUSU (link up start up) workshop. You will be allocated a mentor and funding while you set up your business.

Do your research first on the Government New Enterprise Allowance scheme, and if you're told no again, ask to see the jobcentre manager and insist on a referral.

I know you want this business to work and it’s be great if it did but you do need some advice. This includes listening to your target market and most of us here have had multiple parties for children.

If your business is not viable, you will be told this by the provider outsourced by the Government to run their New Enterprise Allowance scheme at the initial assessment that the jobcentre will set up for you.

People here have not seen your business plan. The outsourced Government providers are experts - listen to their advice.

While working, you can also claim back 85% of your childcare costs on Universal Credit.

As I said above, I'm not looking for advice about the actual business. Just how to transition from benefits to self employment.

Start with a workable idea.

Get a job and raise enough money to cushion you for the first twelve months of not earning an income.

This includes listening to your target market and most of us here have had multiple parties for children

I think this is very important. Your friends and family will be supportive as they want you to do well. However, they won't be your customer base. Regular people on here could be future customers, it's important to listen to them and respond to their concerns.

You really need to write a plan and estimate of earnings. I’m not sure on the costs of planning children’s parties, but maybe write down how many you can do in one week, how much you’d charge and figure out the most you could possibly earn. If it doesn’t seem viable at the maximum income then it needs more work/or you need to expand. If you can do kids parties, why not adult birthdays, engagement parties, hens, you get the idea! You’ll be surprised at yourself once you start working on a big plan, I didn’t realise how much money I could earn with my ‘talents’ until I jotted it all down. The key to making (lots of) money in business is to do more than one thing

When I started my business I had saved a cushion I gave my self 6 months. No kids no benifits no help. Best thing I ever did. You can do this but you need to make it work.

if your DC gets at least middle rate DLA , you qualify for carers allowance and would not be forced to look for work. If that were to happen, would it somehow help with setting up the business?

OP just try - have you experience of this?

OP listen to the other posters- most of this business will be at weekends.

Your own children will not be welcome at these events.

If you won't take advice from those of us on here who are professionally qualified to give such advice, at least talk to a chartered accountant or business start up advisor in real life who will tell you exactly the same thing, but perhaps you will listen to them. You have received a lot of sensible advice on here already.

Luckily you have said that you already have the supplies you need, so you won't need to borrow money that you have no hope of repaying to buy stock. Nobody would offer finance based on the outline you have given and the constraints you are imposing.

Do you actually know anyone in real life within your social circle who would be willing to pay £150 - £200 to set up and clear up a children's party? What exactly is the great idea that they would be paying you for, that they couldn't do themselves for that amount? I know you will probably say that people don't have enough time to pack party bags and send out invitations themselves, but do you really know enough people with that amount of cash to throw at someone to do it for them? I do not believe that people would be naive enough to pay someone who is not established and has no reputation to do it for them. Would you then just abandon the venue as soon as the kids turned up, letting the poor parents (who are incapable of sending an invitation out) to deal with little Demelza who is stuck in the loo and little Benedict who is throwing a tantrum because he didn't win a prize. This idea would not get past the application stage for Dragon's Den. Please listen to what we are telling you.

Speak to your benefits adviser about the possibility of New Enterprise Allowance it’s a scheme set up to help people who are unemployed move into self employment, you get a dedicated business adviser and a period of six months where you can retain benefits and develop your business to a point where it’s viable.

I was a children's entertainer in a previous life, when people had money to throw at these things.
i'm not sure party organisers are a thing for kids, the parents usually organise and book whatever their dc want.
There's nothing wrong with starting a business and I wish you all the best, but find something that will bring the money in.

The clients will likely want you to work the party, too, or you'll need to pay for those who do and then settle for a cut. It's like wedding planners, they or their staff are expected to be present to deal with any last minute issues or issues during the party and sort them. I've got a friend who is a highly successful florist in the SE and she is expected to be available to get to the event if there is a mishap or something unexpected or send/have something there to see to it. It's a very hands on job and the clients won't want your kids to be present in all likelihood as they are paying for you to see to their child and party.

OP...I have a 7 yr old and all her friends have parties and entertainers/discos and it all comes as a package without food and hall hire....the last one I had was for 42 kids and it cost me 40 for hall ..400 for food ...then the entertainer was hired from a national chain of entertainers...I paid for a 250.00 package...I paid 150 to the company who in turn supplied the entertainer who brought all the games and disco equiptment then paid her the remaining 100 on the day...now I know they take a huge cut and she gets only a portion of it but they find the entertainer bookings and look after her interests...maybe you could try that? That way you have a schedual of engagements and know when you will be working and how much you will be earning a month? The only word of caution I can offer you though is every single party and believe me over the last 7 years there has been lots ..each and everyone we have held or attended has been on a saturday and sunday 98% of them I would say..factor in travelling distances and you may if you are lucky get 3 per day....I admire you wanting to break out and do your thing but you have to be realistic...Good luck to you though

Under Universal Credit if you are considered to be 'gainfully' employed as self employed, you can be given one year to build your business up and in that time they will consider your ACTUAL earnings rather than the minimum income floor - which is calculated by taking into account the hours they consider you could/should be available to work, at the minimum wage.

This is not easy to do though, especially if it is a brand new business where you don't have any previous expertise. The advisor is the one who needs to support you through this and if they don't, you won't be successful.

Be warned though, if the reason you can't take certain jobs is your lack availability outside school hours, then any business plan that includes you working those hours unless your child can actively be there (like a child minder) they aren't likely to support you.

The best way to be to transition from one type of self-employment where they WOULD support you (child minding is one obvious one), and then when you are financially on your feet, start doing the party planning, and gradually grow it.

I think you are able to work and have the amount you earn deducted from your benefits u til you start out earning them. You will have to send your records off each month and the amount you receive should be recalculated. Are you a single parent, sorry didn't catch if you were or not, there should be a single parent advisor at your job centre who can advise.

I think I'm your target market. I've paid for party planners before including for kids parties, and entertainers. But I don't get the concept you're offering. You'll charge £150 to put up some props and tidy up. So what will you do whilst the actual party in on? Not the food, not the entertainment, not the organisation. You'll wait outside in your car till it finishes then go in and tidy up? This is not a service people will pay for, sorry. I know you don't want any feedback on your actual business idea, but this is not a Workable idea. People won't pay for that when they could pay the same or similar for someone to run the whole party.

See the entertainment I’ve paid for just turns up and looks after the kids, I’ve had Magicians, clowns, fairies none of them have ever put out props or cleared away but I think a combination of the two could work. I’d pay another £100 but I’d expect the paper plates etc to be included in that

I used to sort my own props and wouldn't have trusted others to know where I needed everything to be.
My kids never came with me I was working. A professional doesn't turn up with their kids, you'll look like a mum helping out or someone who volunteered.

I think the shift to self employment could work if you initially started some sort of business working from home that you could do alongside your regular job.