Self-Employed and pregnant

[greyfurrybaby]

For the past 5 years I've have run my own shop in my village in partnership with my Mum. I do nearly all the hours as my mum has other commitments with her other business and so we share the £16,000 annual profit 75%/25%.
I'm 9 weeks pregnant and making plans for next year when the baby is born.
Shutting the shop in not an option. I have rent and overheads to pay as well as my mum to think about. I've thought about selling the business but I know I'd regret that decision in years to come as the hours would really fit around school times etc.
I would like to employ someone to run the shop for me for the first 6 months after the baby is born but I don't think I'll be entitled to Maternity Allowance if the business keeps trading while I'm at home with my baby. I would have to use the money I would usually draw each week to pay someones wages and therefore be left with nothing for myself and not able to claim any money.
Does anyone have any experience of this and what did you do to support yourself?

You need to contact the Inland revenue. They were very helpful to me - even though I only got a very basic maternity benefit. You have a limited company? then you will be eligible for director's maternity benefit as you have a salary. If you're a sole trader, you will still be eligible. You may be able to work with the baby there in the shop with you.

You are wise to save money now as you never know how the birth will go.

I was back answering emails at work two weeks after DD was born (self employed), but over the next three years had to cut my hours working by about 75% due to bad recovery PTSD and adhesion pain from the crash section.. sometimes things can be unpredictable.

Good luck with it.

Contact the inland revenue to see what you have to do to claim maternity benefit (I had to apply 18 weeks before the birth and have my tax all in a row) and also contact an accountant to advise you.

Thanks zazen for your reply. My company isn't a limited one so we work as partnership (ie both sole traders). I'm hoping after the first few months I'll be able to take the baby to work with me but I'd like at least 3 months at home. I'm still not sure if I can collect Maternity Allowence if the company is still trading in my absence even though I'll not be taking a wage. It seems a bit unfair that if I closed the shop completely then I could claim it but if I keep it open and employ someone to run it then I can't.
I think I'll have a chat with my accountant in a month or so and see what my options are.

Do that, and good luck with it!