Starting a business from home

[Butwhhhyyyyyyy]

Hi, I am looking into starting a small beauty business from home. I don't have a lot of space but have a kitchen diner so I could screen off the kitchen and use the extention.

Would it bother you to come into a room that has a sofa and tv for treatments or would you be ok with that?

Would a garden shed/office be better? Thank you

I think a garden shed/office would be better although I guess it depends what you mean by beauty business. If massages/facials then the environment is really important because you want that spa like feeling. Waxing I imagine you will want to be somewhere there are no windows. But if its nails and manicures then a small table in a living room is fine.

What does your house insurer and landlord/mortgage provider think about it? Also, there are business rates to consider when running such a business from home, so you will need to speak to the council.
As a customer I would be concerned about hygiene and privacy in your dining room.

@DelilahBucket gatecrashing the thread as it sounds like you know what you are talking about!

With regard to business rates, when do they kick in? Is it volume based or business type? For example, if you tutor from your home office do you not qualify but if you provide the service from a dedicated ‘shed’ would you become liable? I feel like the pandemic has blurred things as everyone has been working from home recently!

Also, would your home insurer care unless you were trying to make a claim? If you had separate specialist insurance for your industry would that underwrite it? Asking because I’m really not sure of the answers!

As a start up it'll be fine, as long as no one else is in the house at the time. My dc have music lessons in their tutor's kitchen!
Speak to your insurance company and check with the council about planning permission.

@Stircrazyschoolmum
It is usually based on how much of your property is exclusively for business use and also whether you have regular visitors, or can cause problems for your neighbours with parking/sound/rubbish/deliveries/unsociable hours. This can vary between councils though so it is best to check with them. Working from home as just an office for one person is very different to running a business from home.
Your house insurer won't know or be bothered unless you claim, but do you want the risk of something happening and you suddenly finding you are uninsured? A policy for your business will not cover your house, but if you use a specialised broker, you can get a joint policy that will cover both. I used to have one when I worked from home. Call your house insurer, some are fine with some working from home elements but may apply exclusions, for example theft where there is no forced entry.

Thank you @PutinIsAWarCriminal. I’m trying to systematically work through all things I need to think about and I just know there is lots of helpful advice out there.. struggling slightly with imposter syndrome but know I just need to dig deep and make the calls!

Just another thought, when I set up my business, I had a couple of meetings with the business advice team at our local District Council. The help they gave was invaluable and it even opened up opportunities for learning business skills.

Thank you! I will add that to my list!

It would depend on the treatment, but I like a clean, clinical, sterile environment. I want it to look like a doctor's or dentists, lots of clean white and smooth surfaces. Carpets, sofas and a TV would make me think of dust, debris, pet hair and children. Not what you want to give off if doing injections or abrasive techniques where infection control is paramount.