Help with setting up my own dog boarding business

[Lauracarr55]

Hi I am setting up my own dog boarding business but need a little help. I have contacted the local council that are coming to check my premises. I have found a good insurance. I'm just looking for some advise on declaring tax. I've been told I won't need to pay tax as won't earn enough but surly I need to declare my business and earnings? Do I need to give a receipt to each customer to keep a record of payments
Sorry for the silly questions but I'm new to this.

I'd start by finding an accountant. Doesn't have to be a big one, but I think you will need proper advice.
You will have to register with HMRC and you absolutely must keep clear accounts and issue receipts or you won't know where you are.

Does your local council do business start-up advice? Well worth it.

In our area the local council runs free courses for start-up businesses, which I found really useful. It might be worth trying to find out if there's anything in your area like this. The courses I did covered all this sort of information, as well as social media, marketing etc.

Good luck with your business.

Go to HMRC website and look up how to register as a sole trader (if that's what you are). The process is a bit fiddly, but quite straightforward once you get going. Once registered you can set up a business bank account and make sure you keep records of what is going out (expenses) as well as going in, as this will make a difference to any tax if you pay it.

I sound like I know what I'm doing. I don't! But I am going through the same process myself so I'm learning as I go along!

Just a suggestion for you- in my area someone opened up a dog daycare centre. Sounded bonkers when I heard about it, but all the places filled up very quickly and they are full. Dog owners drop their dogs off on the way to work happy knowing that their dogs have lots of toys in themed areas, a sleep area act. Just like a kids nursery lol. My friend who uses it says she pays about £20 a day and her dog had to pass a kind of interview to make sure it was sociable and should fit in with the other dogs!

If I was more of a dog lover I would look into opening my own dog nursery!