Starting out as a CM in Scotland.

[SimpleAsABC]

Can someone please advise me?

I think I've got a handle on what to expect from inspection but I can't find any literature on how much registration costs?

How are CM's finding available work in this economic climate?

I'll probably have lots more questions soon too!

Find your local SCMA advisor and get yourself on the pre-registration course. It's free and covers everything you need to know to get registered, also about pricing, policies etc. Well worth doing. Don't think it's compulsory, but there are a few cms in my area who didn't do it, and tbh they're just not so professional.

Thanks FromGirders. Will find out about that tonight.

Can any one give me a heads up in the meantime?

Thanks!!

I think annual registration with the care commission is about £17, and that membership of scma plus insurance is in the 70-ish region, but that's off the top of my head. Your most expensive cost is likely to be getting your smoke alarms wired into your mains electricity, which cost us around 200. You may be able to get a start-up grant to help with initial costs though, at least there used to be one. Again, your scma development officer should advise.
Whereabouts are you? No probs filling places in my area, but it can come and go a bit.

Your main costs will be
annual registration with Care Commission - £17
SCMA membership and Public liability insurance - £75 ish
(it is not necessary to be a member of SCMA or buy PLI through them. Others you could look at are Michael Morton. You do need the PLI though but don't buy it until you have a mindee as it runs for a year at a time).
You may want to buy a business start up pack with basic paperwork like contracts and fire blanket etc -£60ish

Basically it cost nothing to do the pre-reg course which will answer your most of your questions. I did mine intensively over a couple of weekends, you can also do it one evening a month for several months - depends on your local authority.

Agree that your smoke alarms will be expensive. I also had to get mine fitted for about £200, but a lot of new houses have them as standard.

Good luck!