Alex employed query

[Debratee]

Can someone give me some advice please

I work for my friend as a cleaner, when I first started she told me to register as self employed which I did. The job centre asked for my business name I explained I work for my friend and I gave her business name, she stressed that I shouldn’t have done this as she hasn’t registered her business (I don’t understand what she means by this or why it is an issue that I told the job centre)

i was asked by universal credit for wage slips/invoices at a review appointment. I don’t receive wage slips (I’m paid every week from my friends personal bank) and I don’t make invoices (my friend gives me invoices to give to the clients they pay her into her personal bank and then she pays me). Should I be invoicing my friend for the jobs and should I be the one to decide how much I am paid as I am self employed?

I am on £10 ph but the invoices states £14ph, is she allowed to keep the £4 for every hour I work? i am paid £1 extra per job for travel time and I have to take the clothes home to wash them for the following day. should I be doing this?

tips I receive she splits them between herself and the other boss so if I’m tipped £3 we all get £1 each but obviously they don’t share theirs. If I go to a job and the client hasn’t left a key and isn’t home I don’t get paid but they charge a small fee which they also keep yet it’s my time and fuel spent travelling, is this right?

im sorry for asking but not sure how all this self employed stuff works it just doesn’t seem far what they are doing but if that’s correct that they can take a cut of my wage then il definitely be looking for another job as they make at least £30 from me every day I don’t get chance to stop for lunch and I have to pay for childcare whereas they stop working when it comes to the school run.

This is not right, your “friend” is either incredibly naive or ripping you off, either way they are breaking the law.

You must make sure you understand what being self employed means, and your responsibilities as you are very likely breaking the law. I know that sounds harsh, but you appear to have wondered into this situation without doing any research and just trusted what you have been told. This government website www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself, is a good starting point.

If you can get another job with a reputable company.

That is sort of how a cleaning agency works except for a few things:

Usually you would be employed by the agency. They would pay VAT, provide dick pay, do marketing, organise the admin etc. What's the point in having all the hassle of being self employed but just giving another business a cut?

If you are self employed you pay your own tax (see PP) but you can pick and choose when you work and, yes, you set your prices.

If your 'friend' is not paying VAT or similar unlawful activities then you are potentially just as responsible.

If you are tipped it's your money, unless your contract with the company hiring you specifies otherwise. You should declare it for tax.

TL;DR: This whole thing sounds nuts. Just set yourself up as a self employed cleaner. Make sure you Google how to do it first as PP says but it's not that hard.

They would pay VAT, provide dick pay

That should be sick pay. Dick pay is a different type of self employment.

She can charge the client £14 and pay you £10. That’s how cleaning agencies make money.

the rest sounds awful really and dodgy.

😂😂😂

Your friend isn’t your friend. Stop working for her and find a job with a proper company

If you are self employed you should be filing tax returns and paying over national insurance.

As you friend claims that you are self employed it is highly unlikely that she is registered as an employer and is likely not filing tax returns for herself either.

If you are not filing and paying any money due you can be fined by HMRC. You will also loose out as you are not paying NI contributions so will have less entitlement to pension etc.

You need to either get your friend to register you as an employee or file a tax return yourself.

You should look for another job too.