Can anyone educate me on how to set up my own business?

[BLWisbest]

Basically dh is qualified to teach personal protection, breakaway techniques and physical restraint.
He teaches it to people who work with young people and those in the prison service.

After a discussion last night we were saying that these courses would be invaluable to women and men also. So we said that we should look into setting up our own business and doing courses all over the country.

But we have no idea how to go about setting it up or what we need. Its things like insurance, registering ourselves as a business (if thats what you do), all of it really.

So could someone give me an idea of how to go about things and where to start looking.
Thanks

anyone

Buy Teach yourself - Setting up a small business. It covers everything and is really useful.

Contact your local chamber of commerce there is so much support for new businesses and loads of free seminars and courses that you can go on.

Good luck!

business link

any bank will have a business start up book as part of it's first 18 months of business banking free package

an accountant will advise on the best business style presumably sole trader for you

all you really have to do if you want to start then is inform IR of the date you became self employed and keep accounts simply

you will need insurance inclduing public liability and maybe professional indemnity again axa or bank will advise

depending on your age there may be grants to help eg under 26 or over 50

Hmmmm, now I am 24 but dh is 33.
There isnt really anything we would need tbh because it would be a case of travelling around the country rather than have a permanent set up.

Is insurance costly?

insurance isn't generally particulalrly expensive but you would need something quite specific i guess for those activities

if there is an organisation you can join like eg the association of self defence experts then you will find thhat they may have negotiated special insurance terms for members

how will you advertise courses? will you have a web presence? how much will premises rental be? vehicle costs and accommodation

materials for students..certificates etc

there may be quite considerable costs in getting punters

look at shell live wire and ukbusiness forums

The IR are very helpful,they send out a pack with everything you need to know about tax,NI ect.Business link are quite good too.Good luck.I went self employed years ago & neber looked back.

Zippi, would probably have a website, do ad's in local papers, possibly radio.

It would be a case of renting out a hall or somewhere for the courses and there would only be myself and dh teaching it.

You'd need a van too for mats and stuff?

Definitely look at Business Link - I think they sometimes run free courses on setting up your own business, too.

You might consider being self employed but registered with a company like Maybo. You can run your own courses but they will put work your way and have course materials for you to use.

Might be worth doing it jointly if you are able to get grants due to your age.

Remember costs like printing off hand outs, pads, rubber weapons, telephone, postage, printing, advertising, website, bank charges, book keeper, logo t-shirt, advertising on car.

Def take advantage of free banking for first year.

You will need to register with Tax office as self employed and pay self employed NI.

Of course you know you will need public liability as well as other insurances.

Do loads of reasearch to see what other companies are offering and who you would be targeting for training.

Just wondering if you went ahead and how you are doing ???