Category: Starting a business

15:47:51 GMT • 13 November 2024

How to become a painter and decorator

17 August 2023

•

10 mins read

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Have you ever wondered how to become a painter and decorator? If you love making interiors look great, applying some flair and creativity, and working out and about rather than in an office, it could be the career for you. And at a time when demand for good tradespeople continues to outstrip supply, it’s a chance for you to potentially earn some really good money in the long-term. But if you’ve never explored painting and decorating as a career option before, where do you start?

This guide tells you all you need to know about how to become a painter and decorator. You’ll discover your day-to-day duties, the qualifications and skills you’ll need, how much you could potentially earn, and what you need to consider when setting up a business.

What does a painter and decorator do?

The range of duties and jobs that professional painters and decorators are hired for is huge. That’s because every home and building is different, and every client has different ideas about what they’d like to see.

First of all, when looking at how to become a painter and decorator, it’s important to remember that the job isn’t just restricted to people’s homes. The same services are just as in demand in commercial settings like shops, and in industrial environments like offices. This is good news for you as it gives you the opportunity to differentiate your skills and business, and stand out more from the competition in your area.

From a more practical, day-to-day perspective, your responsibilities may include some or all of the following:

Mixing paint and applying it to walls, ceilings and other materials

Applying primer or undercoat

Carrying out repairs to surface, such as filling cracks

Pasting and applying wallpaper

Stripping old surfaces for new substances to be applied

Surveying and measuring environments, both for quotation and to determine the quantity of materials required

What qualifications do I need to be a painter and decorator?

Technically speaking, there is no legal requirement to become a painter and decorator. However, it’s strongly recommended that you get some formal training and qualifications behind you. Without them, it will be extremely difficult to get a job with a decorating business, which will want concrete evidence of your capabilities. Similarly, if going down the self-employed route, then customers will be more likely to trust you if they can see any reliable credentials of your skills.

The good news is that there is a wide variety of courses and qualifications you can take to get the certification you need. Perhaps one of the most common is the Painting and Decorating NVQ, starting at Level 1. This initial course gives you theoretical and practical experience of using the right materials, best practice in health and safety, the range of products available to you, and being able to mix and apply paints, varnish and sanding.

From this, you can move onto Level 2, which brings in paint and surface preparation, up-to-date techniques, and further information around business and customer management. Level 3 takes these skills to the next level and allows you to gain a Gold Advanced Craft Card, which stands you out as a highly competent painter and decorator.

Alternatively, you can go down the City & Guilds route, starting with the Basic Wallpapering course. From this you can take the Intermediate and Advanced Painting & Decorating courses, and gradually build up the knowledge and practical skills that you need over time.

Some of the courses available do have the option for online learning, but it’s important to check what the facilities are for practical training in your area.

How long does it take to become a qualified painter and decorator?

This depends on the type of courses you take, and whether you’re learning full-time or gaining your qualifications on-the-job. Using NVQs as an example, in most vocational professions it generally takes between one and two years to reach Level 3 from a standing start.

You may find some colleges and training providers offer ‘intensive’ training that allows you to gain qualifications in much shorter timeframes. However, you should never neglect the value of practical experience: you’ll never stop learning as a painter and decorator, and practice will ultimately make perfect!

What skills do I need to be a painter and decorator?

First and foremost, painting and decorating is a practical and hands-on job, so you’ll need to be good with your hands! Perhaps just as importantly, you’ll need to have a strong work ethic: you may well be required to work outdoors, in difficult conditions, and sometimes at unsociable hours like evenings and weekends.

One skill set you might not associate with the profession – but can be a real differentiator – is computer proficiency. That’s because the planning of painting and decorating is becoming increasingly digitised, with digital colour charts and paint mixing apps taking some of the guesswork out of the job. So, if you’re good with computers, it can add another useful line to your CV. Painting and decorating also requires a decent level of mathematical skills, so that you can work out quantities of materials, and formulate quotations.

If you intend to work on building sites at any time, then it will also be a legal requirement for you to gain a Construction Skills Certificate Scheme (CSCS) card.

What tools and equipment do I need?

You’ve probably already worked out that you’re going to need paint, brushes and rollers if you’re going to be a painter and decorator. But that’s only a small amount of the equipment that you’ll need. Other equipment and tools required includes (and is not necessarily limited to):

Trays for brushes and rollers, and materials for cleaning them

Dustsheets and other measures for protecting items from paint damage

Sandpaper and other abrasive items that help prepare areas for decoration

Stanley knives, spirit levels and stepladders

Suitable clothing and footwear that will keep you clean and safe

A first-aid kit in case of an accident or injury

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you may have further requirements depending on the environment you’re working in. For example, on a building site, steel-capped boots and a hard hat will be mandatory, even if the work you’re doing isn’t especially dangerous or heavy-duty.

If you’re taking a job with a professional decorating firm, make sure you check in advance how much equipment is going to be provided. Some may lay on everything you need, while others may expect you to bring some of your own stuff with you.

How much can painters and decorators make?

The range of potential earnings on offer for professional painters and decorators is substantial, and there are two main reasons for this. The first is that the public is willing to pay a premium for access to good-quality workmanship with an excellent reputation, especially as skilled tradespeople are in particularly short supply at present. The second is that your earning power is potentially limitless if you’re self-employed or run your own business, rather than earning a fixed salary working for someone else.

According to the National Careers Service, a full-time employed painter and decorator can expect to earn anywhere between £17,000 and £32,000 a year, depending on location and experience. But if you’re running your own business, your rates (minus expenses and overheads) are up to you, meaning your earnings can increase by a substantial margin.

Business formation

Firstly, you should decide the legal status of your business, and there are two main options open to you. The first (and simplest) is to operate as a sole trader, which is preferable if you’re intending to work on your own. This means that your income and expenditure is directly tied to your own personal finances, and are assessed for tax when you fill out your Self-Assessment every year. But there is a downside: if you fall into debt, including if a claim for compensation is made against you, then you are personally liable for the bill. In the worst case scenario, your home could be at risk if you have no other way of settling the bill.

The safer, but slightly more complex option, is to set yourself up as a limited company. This means you have a degree of separation between your business finances (operated through a business bank account) and your own affairs. It also means that any debts are the responsibility of the business rather than you personally. This can make things much clearer from an operational point of view if your business will be relatively complicated, and especially if you intend to hire other people to work for you.

Setting prices and rates

The next step is to work out how much you intend to charge per hour for your services, and there are two defining factors at play here. The first is how much other firms in your area charge: you may want to charge a little less to attract business to begin with, but this will naturally limit your potential profitability.

The second consideration is your expenses, from your wages and earnings, through transport to different sites, to the materials, tools and equipment you need to do the job. When you quote for different jobs, it’s vital you take materials into account as well as labour, so that there is a decent amount left over for yourself.

Marketing and promotion

Your ideal starting point for marketing your services is to set up a simple website that details your skills and services, and link it to some social media platforms on which people can find you and enquire. However, don’t neglect the usefulness of more traditional forms of marketing: flyers, posters and adverts in your local newspapers are still often relied upon by people looking for reliable tradespeople.

Legal and insurance

When you run a business, you’ll be required to comply with a range of different legal frameworks, health and safety perhaps being one of the most important. But there are others to take into account, too, especially if you’re employing other people: you’ll need to pay Employer’s National Insurance, and take out a tradesman insurance policy that encompasses cover for employees. In any case, covering your business with specific painter and decorator insurance is always a good idea, given the potential for an accident or incident that can be disruptive and expensive.

Affordable painter and decorator insurance from Protectivity

Even the best and most experienced painters and decorators get things wrong at times – nobody is perfect, after all! The only problem is that from a business perspective, mistakes, incidents and accidents can become expensive.

At Protectivity, we provide affordable painter and decorator insurance cover specialising in small businesses. Our policies include public liability, products liability, commercial legal protection, and employers’ liability if you hire other people. That way, when unforeseen circumstances occur, you and your business won’t end up out of pocket. We now also offer insurance for your tools to help protect you should they be stolen or damaged.

Take two minutes today to take a closer look at our painter and decorator insurance policies.

Get Painters and Decorators Insurance from Protectivity

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22:14:33 GMT • 22 January 2025

How to become a massage therapist

15 August 2023

•

7 mins read

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Have you ever considered how to become a massage therapist, and how to turn your skilled hands and passion for care into a career opportunity? Whether working full-time or on a self-employed basis, massage therapy could be your way to do a job that you love – and potentially earn a good living at the same time.

If you want to know how to become a massage therapist, then this guide is the perfect place to start. We’ll give you all the key information you need to know: the qualifications and skills you need to be successful, how much you could potentially earn, and how to go about setting up your own massage therapy business.

Why is massage therapy so popular?

Massage therapy is being used by more and more people, hence the rise in opportunities to make it a career. The range of massages that can be administered is huge, including sports massages that help muscles and joints, shiatsu that undoes any knots and stresses, and Swedish massages that reduce tension.

The physical benefits of massage therapy are well-known, but at a time when people’s mental wellbeing is in sharper focus, massages are increasingly being used to help the mind as well as the body. Being able to relax for a period of time, and remove all the strains and pains from the body, can make a huge difference to a person’s mood and character.

What does a massage therapist do?

Obviously, the core of your role as a massage therapist will be to deliver massages of the highest possible standard, and help your clients get the best possible results. But that’s only one part of the job.

There’s a lot of planning that goes into effective massage therapy and treatment. You’ll need to identify the areas of the body which need the most attention, and work out the best way to apply your hands to good effect. Within this, you may need to speak with the client to identify their needs and objectives, and potentially explore their lifestyle, diet and medical records as part of your planning.

Your business administration tasks will include keeping client records up-to-date; maintaining clear communication with clients before, during and after therapy; and referring clients to other medical professionals if you feel that they need further help. Connected to this, you may also be required to give advice to clients on how to maintain good physical and mental wellbeing in their day-to-day lives.

What qualifications does a massage therapist need?

While it’s true to say that it isn’t a legal requirement to get massage therapy qualifications, you’ll find it very difficult to progress your career without them. Businesses hiring massage therapists will be looking for your qualifications on your CV before pretty much everything else, while clients searching for self-employed massage therapists will want concrete proof of your credentials.

The good news is that you don’t need to commit the time and money of getting a degree to obtain the qualifications that you need. Instead, you can take more vocational courses like the International Massage Diploma, or a course certified for Continuous Professional Development (CPD). You can also explore options like a BTEC in Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage, as well as advanced vocational courses which can allow you to get trained in specific massage techniques and specialisms.

If you’re looking for an alternative that can allow you to work and train at the same time, then there may well be massage therapy apprenticeships available to you, too.

How long does it take to qualify as a massage therapist?

How long is a piece of string? There are so many different qualifications that there’s no fixed timeframe you should devote to becoming qualified. Certainly, you should expect to take anywhere between one and three years to get your credentials up to a good standard for a professional. However, you should never stop learning: there are always new techniques, opportunities and specialisms to explore, so in theory, your work to get qualified should be a constant process throughout your career.

How much do massage therapists earn?

There’s no hard and fast rule about how much you can earn as a qualified professional massage therapist. That’s because your location, level of experience, and specialist areas of expertise will all influence your earning potential. There’s also a substantial difference between working full-time for an employer, and working for yourself on a self-employed basis.

As a general rule, a full-time employed massage therapist can expect to earn around £30,000 a year, although this can be higher if you have specialisms or skills that are relatively rare or in high demand. If you work for yourself, then theoretically your earning power is limitless, depending on the hours you’re willing to work, the rates that you charge, the amount you lose to tax and expenses, and how well you market yourself.

How do I start my own massage therapy business?

If you decide to go down the self-employed route, then you’ll also have plenty of business-related duties to take on, in order to maximise your profitability and comply with rules and regulations. These include (and are not necessarily limited to):

Business type

You’ll first need to work out whether you want to operate as a sole trader or register as a limited company. While the limited company option is a little bit more complex from an administration perspective, it does give you separation between your personal finances and those of your business operation. If you run into debt or you face a substantial liability, this can give you extra protection and ensure that your home or other assets don’t end up at risk.

Rates and expenses

It’s vital to strike the right balance with the fees you charge your clients. You’ll need to take into account how much you want to earn, and how much you’re paying out in your business overheads and expenses. But you’ll also have to consider how competitive your rates are against other massage therapy businesses in your area, and avoid pricing yourself too cheap – or too expensive.

Marketing

It’s vital to get your name and your unique selling point out there, especially in a relatively saturated market like massage therapy. While social media and online promotion will play a big part, don’t overlook physical methods of advertising, such as leaflets, flyers, business cards and advertising your local paper. You should also try to leave marketing materials in places relevant to your specialism (e.g. at leisure centres if you offer sports massages).

Insurance

Insurance is strongly recommended for any small business – and if you employ anyone else to work for you, then having employer’s insurance cover is a legal requirement. Even if you provide your massages from home, you may not necessarily be covered under the terms of your home insurance, so it’s always strongly recommended to take out cover that’s specific to the nature of your business. Good cover will also protect the value of your equipment such as massage tables.

Get massage therapy insurance with Protectivity

As with every type of small business, taking out comprehensive insurance cover is crucial, particularly having specialised insurance for massage therapy.

Protectivity’s massage therapy insurance is designed with skilled entrepreneurs like you in mind. Our cover includes public liability insurance of up to £5million, professional indemnity, personal accident, equipment cover, and employers’ liability if you employ other people.

Our policies are available through flexible payment plans giving you peace of mind and the confidence to grow your business. Take a closer look at our massage therapy insurance in more detail today.

Get Massage Therapist Insurance from Protectivity

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16:16:46 GMT • 13 November 2024

How to become a sports therapist

1 August 2023

•

8 mins read

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If you love sport and want to make a career out of it, then become a sports therapist: it’s an excellent way for you to do something you enjoy and make some money out of it at the same time.

Sports therapy isn’t just limited to working for professional teams and athletes: there are plenty of members of the public and amateur competitors who can benefit from treatment, too. This means there’s a huge range of opportunities open to you if you want to turn it into a career, whether you want to become a sports therapist that works for someone, or branch out on your own.

In this guide, we’ll tell you all the basics you need to know on how to become a sports therapist: the types of treatments to provide, the jobs and business models available to you, and how much you can potentially earn.

What will I do if I become a sports therapist?

There are two major variations in sports therapy: the type of work and treatments that you deliver day-to-day, and where you’ll be working from.

Your normal duties could involve any or all of the following (and is by no means an exhaustive list!): examining injuries and diagnosing issues; planning out programmes and timescales for treatment; administering a range of treatments including massage, manipulation, electrotherapy and more; and work out how long it will take someone to regain full fitness.

You should also remember that there will be paperwork to fill in, too: for example, your treatment may well require a client’s medical records to be updated. In any case, you will certainly want to keep your own records on the treatments you have administered, and allow your clients to keep track of their progress.

Most people naturally think of a sports therapist working in a studio or specialist fitness centre, but this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. You might find yourself working in a hospital (either NHS or private), out on a sports field during the game, or as part of the back-up crew at a mass participation event like a marathon. Naturally, this means that if you want to become a sports therapist, you should be prepared to work in all kinds of environments, both indoors and outdoors, and at unsociable hours.

How do I become a sports therapist?

The first thing to say is that you will definitely need some qualifications of a good standard if you want to become a sports therapist. However, there are multiple routes you can take to get the credentials that employers, clients and health bodies will be looking for.

If you decide to take the university route, then look for degrees in Physiotherapy, and make sure that your chosen course is approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). There is also the option of taking a postgraduate course if you have an undergraduate degree in something related like Sports Science or Biological Science. Be aware, though, that you may well need a first or upper-second class degree in order to qualify for the postgrad course.

If the university route isn’t available to you, then you can explore getting a degree apprenticeship and gain the skills and qualifications you need on the job, instead. These typically take around four years to complete, but give you the chance to work and gain relevant experience at the same time. Ideally, you’ll need two or three good A Levels to qualify for a physiotherapy apprenticeship, and one of them should be in Biology.

In either of the above cases, don’t neglect the value of volunteering to gain extra experience and improve your suitability for the courses. These can be in any healthcare or personal care role, and it’s also worth looking for work placements in private clinics, local sports teams or even nursing homes.

Another area that you should explore at an early stage is getting all the relevant registrations that you’ll need to provide sports therapy services professionally. Start by registering with the Health and Care Professions Council, and look for further information about the industry with the CSP and with Physios in Sport.

What skills will I need if I become a sports therapist?

Having the right qualifications and treatment skills is only half the story when becoming a sports therapist: you need plenty of positive human attributes, too. Ideally, you’ll have:

Compassion: the people you treat will likely feel upset, frustrated and/or in pain because of their injury, and they’ll be looking to you for emotional support just as much as physical aid. Being able to understand how someone is feeling with sensitivity and patience is therefore critical

Team skills: unless and until you branch out with your own sports therapist business, you’ll be working with other therapists and members of healthcare, fitness and administrative staff. You’ll need to build good relationships with all these people in order to build your reputation and grow your career, and be able to share knowledge and motivate others

Good hands: the vast majority of the treatments you’ll provide will be delivered by the hands, so you will need a good sense of touch. You should be able to apply your hands strongly enough to massage muscles or to apply effective treatment, but without causing undue pain or distress to the client

IT skills: most documentation and paperwork is now digitised, so you’ll need to have a reasonable working knowledge of common computer applications. You may also be required to get to grips with hand-held devices like tablets, especially if you’re working outdoors and remotely

Background checks: as you’ll be coming into physical contact with many different people, you will be legally required to pass enhanced background checks before taking up any sports therapist employment

How much can I earn as a sports therapist?

There is no hard and fast answer to how much you can earn, because there are so many different variables involved. However, many of them are variables that you can work on and influence, in order to maximise your earning ability:

Experience: as is the case in any walk of life, you’ll be starting at the bottom and working your way up. If you can prove your ability and build up years of experience, then you should be able to increase your earnings over time

Qualifications: the more credentials and certifications you have, the greater your credibility in the eyes of companies looking at hiring you. This perhaps can make an even bigger difference if you’re self-employed and trying to attract clients directly

Specialism: certain skills and areas of work are in high demand, and being able to offer proficiency in those skills can stand you out in competitive job markets. If there’s a particular area you’re interested in, look at focusing on experience and qualifications that can add focus to your CV

Location: some parts of the UK have higher average salaries than others (although this can be tempered by higher living costs, especially in and around London). However, if you have the ability and flexibility to move further afield, then your chances of finding a job that meets your earning expectations will increase

Business model: as you gain experience, you may decide to go it alone and set up your own sports therapist business. Theoretically, this means there is no limit on what you can earn, but it comes down to your talent, work ethic, communication skills, and the level of competition in your area

Generally speaking, as an employed sports therapist, you can expect to earn anything between £24,000 and £45,000 a year if you’re working full-time hours. However, if working evenings, weekends and bank holidays, these figures can increase.

Get sports therapist insurance with Protectivity

Every good sports therapist will understand that there can be a number of risks associated with the business. You can suffer an accident or injury, and perhaps even more concerning is if you cause injury to one of your clients. That, along with any damage to property or negligent advice, could lead to them making a claim for compensation against you, the costs of which could easily run into the thousands of pounds.

To cover yourself against these major financial consequences, we recommend taking out the comprehensive sports therapist insurance policy that we offer at Protectivity. Our cover encompasses public liability, professional indemnity up to £5million, and optional equipment cover, too.

Our policies start at just over £3 a month and can be paid for through flexible payment plans, meaning you can get protected without breaking the bank. Take a closer look at our sports therapist insurance policies today.

Get Sports Therapist Insurance from Protectivity

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16:21:23 GMT • 13 November 2024

Dog business ideas

18 July 2023

•

12 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

Get pet business insurance from Protectivity

If you love dogs, and you’ve always wanted to start your own business, then what’s stopping you from getting the best of both worlds?

All over the UK and beyond, there are people who have pursued exciting dog business ideas and turned their passion into a profession. Whether you want to keep dogs fit, make them look beautiful or keep them fed, the possibilities are virtually endless. What’s more, your success can be directly connected to your own talent and commitment to hard work.

In this guide, we’ll explore a huge range of different business ideas for dog lovers, highlight some of the pros and cons involved, and underline some of the essentials that no small business should be without.

Dog grooming

There is a multitude of ideas for dog grooming businesses that you can explore, especially as the popularity of keeping dogs clean and healthy is perhaps as high as it’s ever been. It can be a versatile job, whether you’re required to clip nails, give baths, trim hair or treat painful skin conditions. It’s fair to expect the occasional bite now and again, but the happy looks on dogs’ and owners’ faces at the end of a successful treatment can make it all worthwhile.

Most dog groomers start out working in a salon, but once you’ve gained some expertise and experience, you can look at branching out on your own. You could set up your own salon, work on a freelance or mobile basis, or specialise in certain types of grooming (such as for competitions or for dogs at shelters).

Dog walking

Every dog need plenty of exercise, but in the busy world we all live in, not everyone has the time or the energy to walk them every day. This often proves to be the case with people who bought dogs during the COVID lockdown and had plenty of time to walk them then, but who find it more difficult now that they’ve gone back to regular work.

Because of this, there is particularly strong demand for professional dog walkers at present, and much like grooming above, there are lots of different ideas for dog walking business to explore. You can travel to a customer’s house and pick the dog up for a walk, or they can bring them to you. You can stick to your local area and places you can reach on foot, or you can equip your car to carry dogs and travel to country parks and fields further away.

The great thing about these dog walking business ideas is that they can be very flexible: within reason, you can do the job whenever you want to and fit it around your lifestyle and other personal commitments.

Dog sitting and pet-minding

Just as some people struggle to find the time to walk their dogs, it can be a similar challenge to make sure they’re properly cared for when their owners are away. This doesn’t just apply when the owners go on holiday, either: dogs may also need looking after through short business trips or even days out.

Dog-sitting is therefore an excellent way to make some money without having to make significant investments in qualifications or equipment. You have the choice of looking after them in the home of the owner, where they would be more comfortable, or taking them into your own home. How you set up your business model is up to you, in terms of length of care, location and unsociable hours, but you’ll naturally stand a better chance of maximising your earnings if you’re as flexible as possible.

Doggy daycare

Similar to dog-sitting, there is also great demand from owners who need their pets taken care of during the working day. In a dog daycare scenario, it’s likely that you’ll be aiming to look after several different dogs simultaneously, which can make for a busy day – however, this is the best way to multiply your earnings capability and turn it into a viable business.

There are two things you’ll need here which are absolutely essential: a love of being around several dogs for a long period of time, and a home which is a suitable place for them to spend time.

Pet shop

This is perhaps one of the first dog business ideas that springs to mind, and even in an era where online retail is ever more popular, there is still a market for a good-quality, bricks-and-mortar pet store. Where these stand out in particular is in expertise: if you know your pets and how to care for them, then customers will be happy to visit your shop and get advice on the best products to buy. This also helps you build up relationships with your customers and build the loyalty that will bring them back to buy from you again and again.

It’s likely that you’ll need to diversify and sell products relating to other animals than just dogs, but a passion and knowledge for all things canine gives you an excellent starting point.

Dog treat maker

If you’ve ever been to a craft food fair, you’ll most likely have seen some genius bakers and confectioners that make and sell their own sweet treats. Well, if you do that for people, why can’t you do the same for dogs?

Developing and marketing your own dog treats can be a creative business idea, and help you enjoy the entire process end-to-end, from coming up with ideas for treats to selling them on to satisfied customers (and their owners!). There’s a particularly strong market for dog treats that are organic, as many dog owners have concerns about some of the ingredients and additives that their dog might be consuming through ‘mainstream’ dog treats and food.

Owners who can get hold of fully natural dog treats are normally happy to pay a premium to do so, as well as getting the satisfaction of supporting a small, ethically minded business.

Dog clothing and toys

If you’re thinking of doing something craft-based and creative, but food isn’t really your thing, then making and selling your own dog clothing and toys is perhaps the best alternative. You can do all the manufacturing from the comfort of your own home, and you have the choice of whether you sell your creations yourself at events or online or sell them wholesale to other retailers.

The possibilities in this area are virtually endless: shirts, pyjamas, costumes for Halloween and Christmas, or toys for home use or when out on walks. Perhaps the biggest area of potential profitability here is to personalise gifts, either for specific breeds (as some breeds are much bigger in size than others!) or especially for individual dogs as gifts. Whether it’s toys for the summer or cute cardigans for Christmas, there are opportunities to generate sales all year round.

Dog-friendly Cafe

Now more than ever, pubs, cafes and even restaurants make a real effort to cater for our four-legged friends, whether that’s providing water, giving away some dog treats or even selling dog-friendly beers and soft drinks. This means that now is the time to explore opening a dog-friendly cafe if there isn’t already one in your area.

Of course, there are lots of different things to consider when opening any sort of cafe: staff, insurance, meeting food safety regulations, finding an affordable location and premises, and so on. But marketing yourself as a cafe where owners and dogs can have an enjoyable time and make new friends can stand you out from the other cafes in your community. Just don’t forget to make sure that the human offerings and the dog items are on separate menus!

Dog photographer

Dog massage therapy

This might sound like one of the most unusual dog business ideas at first glance. But when you think about it logically, it makes sense: dogs are living things with bones, muscles and skin, just like humans are. And that means that dogs will always need some help, just as humans do, to keep themselves fit, healthy, relaxed and pain-free.

The area of dog massage therapy that you want to specialise in is completely up to you. For example, you could focus on muscle relaxation, or easing the pressure on a dog’s joints. On the other hand, you could explore more alternative means of caring for dogs, such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy or even homeopathy.

It’s important that you have the right skills, qualifications and insurance in place for this type of work. But as dog massage therapy is not an especially common job, your potential target market could be big.

Dog training

It’s perhaps one of the oldest dog business ideas there is, but dogs need training and behavioural improvement now just as much as they have for centuries. And that means that there will always be demand for dog-training, which makes this job one of the most solid long-term ideas to pursue.

Obviously, you’ll need to get plenty of training yourself in behavioural techniques and how to help dogs learn and get some recognised qualifications in that area. It’s also likely that you’ll start out working as a trainer for an established business before you’re able to branch out on your own. But equipped with these credentials, excellent communication skills and a good dollop of patience, you’ll get to feel the satisfaction of improving owner/dog relationships forever.

Dog writing and blogging

There are plenty of people who love reading about all things dog – including you, as you’re reading this blog, after all! So, if you have a knack for writing and a passion for dogs, you can combine the two by selling your services as a freelance blogger or writer. You can either set yourself up with a regular blog and try to drive income through readership rates and advertising, or sell your articles to magazines, newspapers and online publications. As you can work anywhere and anytime as long as you’ve got an internet connection, it’s also one of the most flexible dog business ideas there is.

Do you love to write? If so, another pet business idea is to start your very own animal blog! You can take this one step further by also lending your writing skills and expert insights to other businesses’ blogs and publications.

Freelance writing can be an awesome way to make a decent income – especially since you can set your own rates. The more your work is published, the more clients you can secure going forward. On the other hand, if you’d prefer to write strictly for your own blog, this would be a idea best paired with an additional business service.

Get pet business insurance with Protectivity

As this guide demonstrates, there are plenty of business opportunities for you to explore if you love dogs. And while there’s wide variety between all of them, one thing remains constant: if you’re running any sort of small business, then you need good-quality insurance cover to protect you against any mishaps.

At Protectivity, we offer comprehensive insurance policies for a range of different dog-related enterprises, including dog walking, dog grooming and many more. If you suffer an accident or injury in the course of your work, if something happens to one of your four-legged customers, or if a compensation claim is made against you, we can make sure that you don’t end up out of pocket.

Our policies are available from just a few pounds a month and can be paid for through flexible payment plans, meaning it can fit around your finances as you get your business up and running. Take a couple of minutes today to find a policy that’s right for yo

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11:40:54 GMT • 14 November 2024

Small business expenses – what can you claim for?

11 July 2023

•

8 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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If you’re just starting out running a small business – or even if you’ve been operating one for a while – learning about all the financial ins and outs can be extremely complex. And the world of small business expenses is certainly no exception to that.

High costs can quickly eat into your profit margin and limit the success and potential viability of your business. However, there are many different small business expenses for which you can claim the tax back from the Government, and it can make a big difference to your bottom line.

In this guide, we’ll explore a wide range of the most common small business expenses you’ll be able to claim for. You’ll also learn that while you may incur substantial costs running your enterprise, there are certain things where you shouldn’t cut corners to make a saving.

Why is it so important to claim business expenses?

If you aren’t claiming business expenses, then you’re doing the metaphorical equivalent of flushing hundreds or even thousands of pounds down the toilet every year.

Most reasonable costs that you incur running your business are considered ‘allowable expenses’ by the Government and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). For a limited company, it works like this: when your accounts are calculated at the end of your financial year, your overall profit figure is your total income for the year, minus these expenses.

It is your profit figure from which Corporation Tax (CT) is calculated, so the more expenses you claim for, the lower your profit figure and therefore the lower your CT bill will be. Given the current rate of CT is anywhere between 19% and 26.5%, depending on the amount of profit you make, every £1000 of expenses you claim for can reduce your CT bill by between £190 and £265.

If you’re working as a sole trader rather than as a limited company, then a similar principle applies. However, in your case, the expenses will be claimed for as part of your Income Tax Self-Assessment, and your Income Tax bill will be reduced accordingly.

A word of caution, though: you shouldn’t try to claim for anything that isn’t related to your business operations – this is illegal. If you are investigated by HMRC and you are found to have claimed for expenses that were personal rather than business in nature, then the penalties can be extremely severe.

Types of allowable business expenses?

The range of allowable business expenses is simply vast – hence the reason that many small businesses avail themselves of a professional accountant to ensure that they’re leaving no stone unturned! Many of them are specific to certain types of business, so it’s worth doing your own research to find out those that apply to your enterprise.

Here, we’ll take a look at eight of the most common types of allowable business expense that most small businesses will generally be able to claim for:

Office equipment, property and utilities

All the costs of running an office are considered reasonable to claim for. This includes rent paid on premises; bills for heating, electricity, water, telephone and Internet access; stationery and related functions such as printing and postage; plus any property insurance that is specific to your company. If you need to use any software, then this can also be claimed for, as long as you regularly renew the licence or use it for less than two years.

If you run your business from home, then there are also certain levels of expenses you can claim, such as for a room that is dedicated as a home office.

Clothing and footwear

Anything that you need to wear as part of the job – or that your employees need to wear – can be claimed for. This includes uniforms if they’re required, as well as smart business attire for more formal settings like meetings. All personal protective equipment (PPE) is also allowable, from face masks and safety goggles to gloves and steel-capped boots. At the slightly more fun end of the scale, if you run a more creative business where costumes and make-up are used, then you can claim for these, too!

Staffing costs

If you employ people to work for you in your business – even if it’s only one person – then everything involved with them can be claimed for. After all, there wouldn’t be much incentive to grow a business if you were taxed for hiring staff!

The list in this area is comprehensive: salaries, benefits, pension contributions, Employer’s National Insurance contributions (you still have to pay them but they don’t count as profit), and equipment and clothing costs as mentioned above. Given the substantial outlay involved in hiring employees, ensuring that everything is appropriately claimed for can really relieve the financial burden of doing so.

Training and development

Whether you want to develop your own skills, or you want to ensure that a new recruit gets fully up to speed with the job, all training courses and qualifications that are paid for by your business are also allowable. In a similar vein, you can also claim for any exhibitions or conferences that you attend in a professional capacity and that you’re required to pay to attend. If you bring in a trainer or expert to run a course on your premises for you and/or your staff, then the cost of hiring their services can also be claimed for.

Transport and travel

If you have to get out and about as part of your work, from making deliveries to travelling overseas for meetings, then every single cost involved in that travel can be claimed for. If using a car, then you can claim for fuel, parking, insurance, tolls like the London Congestion Charge, and potentially the costs of maintaining the vehicle, too. You can also claim for train and flight tickets, taxi rides, any accommodation you need, and food and drink while you’re away.

Do bear in mind, however, that you would need to justify the purpose of a claimed trip if HMRC asks you to – with evidence, if necessary. It is not advisable to claim for travel and accommodation costs for your next summer holiday!

Goods

Trading in goods rather than services brings a whole new world of costs with it – but the good news is that these costs are generally considered allowable business expenses. Buying in stock and procuring the materials to make goods are allowable, as are all the costs you incur in producing items for sale (for example, the running costs of machinery).

Finance, legal and admin

As this guide demonstrates, even small businesses can be complicated to administer. There can be lots of functions – and therefore costs – involved, most of which you’re able to claim for. Accountancy fees, for example, are considered allowable, as are the fees of any legal or other professional services that you might have to use. Bank charges and credit card fees are also claimable, as well as the interest that you pay on any business loans or credit facilities that you have. It’s also possible to claim for any bad debts within your business, but you should seek the advice of a professional accountant to check your eligibility in this area.

Advertising and marketing

Last but by no means least, you can claim for anything you spend on promoting your business to your customers and the wider public. This starts small with costs like website hosting and domain names and runs all the way up to large-scale advertising and marketing campaigns (including any fees you pay to professional agencies to run these for you). Stands at exhibitions and all related expenses can also be claimed for, as well as any subscriptions you take out for trade-related journals, and memberships of professional organisations.

Get small business insurance with Protectivity

You may feel like there are lots of expenses here to get your head around, and that they could be a serious drain on your potential profitability. Whilst it might be tempting to cut corners and make savings in some places, this is definitely not advisable. Particularly so, for insurance.

Every business is vulnerable to claims for compensation when something goes wrong, but for small businesses, these claims can be especially damaging. The costs can easily run into the thousands, and can cause substantial long-term effects to your business’s viability – and in the worst-case scenario, to your own personal finances.

At Protectivity, we can make sure that these financial shocks can’t affect you through comprehensive insurance cover for a range of small businesses, from pet businesses and dog groomers to personal trainers and hairdressers. Not only do our policies give you peace of mind to grow your enterprise with confidence, but they’re also available through flexible monthly payment plans, meaning they don’t put too much pressure on your balance sheet.

To find small business insurance cover that’s right for the specifics of your operation, get in touch with our team today.

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16:42:00 GMT • 13 November 2024

Dog and pet events in 2023

6 July 2023

•

8 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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Barely a weekend goes by in the UK without some sort of pet or dog-related event taking place (particularly in the summer!). These can be fantastic events to attend, whether you’re looking for new business opportunities, want to meet like-minded people, or simply you fancy a doggy day out. But which ones are the best to visit in your area?

In this guide, we’ve picked out some of the best dog and pet trade shows in the second half of 2023 across the UK. Whether you’re interested in food, products, activities or just dog culture in general, there’s bound to be a pet industry trade show for you to explore.

Paws in the Park

If there could ever be such a thing as a dog version of Glastonbury, then this is probably it! Paws in the Park are huge outdoor festivals that bring all sorts of canine activities together over an entire weekend. The first event of 2023 at Ardingly in West Sussex has already passed, but the autumn version is still to come, hosted at Detling in Kent in the middle of September.

There really is something for everyone at Paws in the Park: agility events, water sports, trade stands, shows and exhibitions, and plenty of food and drink options for owners and dogs alike. Book in advance and you can even camp there over the weekend and turn it into a short, fun-packed, dog-friendly holiday.

Dogfest

Similar to Paws in the Park, Dogfest is a national tour that takes a variety of dog activities and exhibits to people all over the country every summer. There are three Dogfest dates still to look forward to in 2023, at Ashton Court in Bristol, Knebworth House in Hertfordshire and Harewood House in Yorkshire.

It’s a very active event to visit, with sport demonstrations, advice and workshops, and plenty of activities that your own dog can take part in. There’s also some fantastic food and drink to enjoy (for both human and canine consumption), and you’ll also get the chance to explore a beautiful stately home at the same time.

Edition Dog Live

Dog beauty and wellbeing has become big business in recent years, whether it’s thanks to keen owners who want their pets to look their best, or competition dog owners preparing their pooches for contests like Crufts. Either way, there are lots of businesses and treatments to explore, and Edition Dog Live – run by one of the UK’s leading dog magazines – is the place to check them all out.

This year’s event is on 27th August at the NAEC in Coventry, so the combination of a central location and a Bank Holiday weekend makes it easy for everyone to access. You’ll see a range of exhibitors across wellbeing, nutrition and holistic care in particular, so this should definitely be one in the diary for everyone who takes dog care seriously.

The Game Fair

Working dogs have very different demands to pets in terms of training, care and ownership, and so owners often need specialist products and advice to keep their dogs in tip-top condition. The best place to get those tips and insights is the Game Fair, and this year’s edition is at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire over the last weekend of July.

There is a wide selection of trade stands and retailers devoted to gundog equipment, specialist dog food, and other areas like health and wellbeing, and transportation. But the event isn’t the sole preserve of the working dog owner: in previous years, there have been dog photographers and portrait artists exhibiting too, so it may be worth a trip to see some of their examples.

North East Dog Festival

If you’re in the north of England or in Scotland, and some of the events listed above look a little far from your reach, then don’t worry: the North East Dog Festival in September has you covered.

It takes place at Kirkley Hall near Newcastle on the first weekend of September and is packed with things to do for both dogs and owners. Some of them are activities you’ll be used to such as exhibition, trade stands and dog agility trials, but there’s also plenty that you might not have seen before, such as scentventure, gundog scurries and dog parkour.

And if you’re worried that some of the activities might be a bit too ‘expert’ for your dog, then fear not: there are plenty of chances to ‘Try Your Paw’ at skills like flyball.

London Vet Show

This might not sound like the most exciting or dog-friendly event in the world – after all, what kind of dog enjoys a trip to the vet? But if you run a dog business that’s involved with health and wellbeing, then this could well be worth a visit to Excel in London on 16th and 17th November.

You’ll get to hear from some expert speakers who’ll give you a real insight into the present and future of animal health. But there are also a huge range of exhibitors with innovative products that are breaking into the market, or that will be making their own mark in the months and years ahead. Whether you want to find products to sell, or want to get your own concepts to a wider, engaged audience, this isn’t an event for you to miss.

BETA International

This is a good show for people who live in the countryside, or love to take their dogs there. This show at NAEC Coventry on 10th-11st September isn’t just a dog show: it’s aimed at the wider pet, equestrian and countryside industries, too.

There are countless retailers and exhibitors showing off the latest products and techniques, and it’s an excellent place to meet people with similar interests. This is an especially good show to visit if you’re running a dog-related business and want to get your products out to a wider audience.

All About Dogs

This is another fantastic tour of fun dog festivals that tours the country during the summer, and there’s one more still to come in 2023, at the Norfolk Showground over August Bank Holiday weekend.

This is one of the best events to go to if you want to get your dog to try lots of different activities: lure racing, dock diving, fastest recall and flyball are all available to sample. You’ll also get to see some displays from some superb dog teams, and there are also four show rings and nearly 50 classes that are open for you to enter. As well as a range of exhibitors, there will also be expert advice on offer from certified animal behaviourists and more.

Looking ahead to 2024

If you don’t have the time to make it to any of the above events still to come this year, then there are plenty of excellent dog and pet events to enjoy in 2024, too.

Crufts

Crufts has already confirmed its return to the NEC in Birmingham for 7th-10th March next year, and needs no introduction for anyone who loves their dogs. The Kennel Club’s showpiece event has been running since 1891 and now attracts more than 18,000 competing dogs each year. Outside of the contests, there are also demonstrations by emergency service and medical detection dogs, and the chance to see virtually every breed of dog that the Kennel Club recognises.

Woofstock

Down in Devon at Powderham Castle, Woofstock is a dog festival by day and music festival in the evening, making it a perfect weekend getaway for dogs and owners alike. The 2024 edition is on 14th-16th June and tickets are already on sale. And at the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex perhaps better known for the Festival of Speed, Goodwoof features competitions, workshops, talks and free interactive activities in a beautiful setting. Next year’s event will take place in May, with the exact date being confirmed soon.

Get pet business insurance with Protectivity

Whatever your interest in visiting pet trade shows later in 2023, it’s likely that you’ll be attending in a business capacity. And however you want to grow your business and increase your profitability, you need to do so in the confidence that you’re insulated against any financial shocks beyond your control. The best way to do that is to make sure you have the best-quality insurance cover in place for your specific enterprise.

Protectivity has years of experience insuring entrepreneurs like yours across a range of different canine businesses, including insurance for dog walking, dog grooming insurance, pet sitting insurance and much more. That way, if you’re subject to a compensation claim, or an accident or injury occurs to you, a customer or a dog, you won’t end up out of pocket. Depending on the policy, we may also be able to insure your equipment, and cover you for Care, Custody and Control.

Take a couple of minutes today to explore our full range of pet business insurance policies and find one that’s right for you.

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16:43:03 GMT • 13 November 2024

How much can I earn as a dog walker?

8 June 2023

•

6 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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So many people around the UK own (and love!) their dogs, but struggle to find the time to give them exercise. This is especially the case in recent years, where many families bought dogs during lockdown, but now can’t give them the same time and attention as they’ve returned to regular work.

As a result, there’s never been a better time to start a dog walking business. It can be a lucrative endeavour if you get it right, and can help you pursue work that you really enjoy. However, there is much to consider in terms of the money you bring in, and the money that will have to go out before you can accurately assess your earnings.

In this guide, we’ll explore how much dog walkers charge, how much you can earn as a dog walker, and some of the expenses to watch out for.

How much do dog walkers charge?

Generally speaking, you should be able to charge between £10 and £15 per hour for walking a dog. But the amount a dog walker charges can vary, depending on where you are in the country. As is the case in many lines of work, operating in or near London generally means higher rates, in order to mitigate the higher cost of living in the south-east of England.

As the National Living Wage is £10.42 per hour for the 2023/24 financial year, this may not sound like a particularly attractive level of earnings. However, you can multiply these figures by walking several dogs at the same time. It’s important to assess how many dogs you can comfortably and safely walk in one go, as well as the size and temperament of the dogs involved.

Areas that may impact your earnings

As with any business, there are many different factors that mean that you won’t be able to keep hold of all the income you generate. When you’re considering how much to charge as a dog walker, you should also take into account costs in these areas:

Business expenses

You’ll incur many expenses in the course of your business activities, from dog treats and toys to food and drink for yourself, as well as the cost of transporting dogs to and from different places. These expenses are generally tax-deductible, helping you recover some of the cost, but you’ll still need to spend out on them first.

Tax

A certain proportion of your turnover will have to be paid to the government in the form of income tax and national insurance. How this will work depends on whether you’re operating as a sole trader (in which case you’ll need to submit a tax return) or as a limited company. In the case of the latter, this guide to limited company tax can help you understand all your tax implications.

Accounting

Connected to the previous point, you may want to consider hiring the services of an accountant to take care of all your tax and finance paperwork and obligations. Not only can this free up some of your time and make your job less stressful, but can actually end up saving you money if they can find ways to make your affairs more tax-efficient.

Qualifications

While you don’t need any formal qualifications to set up a dog walking business, they can be useful for improving your skills when out on a walk, and showing off some credentials to impress potential customers. But whatever qualifications you pursue, there will naturally be a cost for any courses you undertake – although these may well help you earn much more in the long run.

Marketing

Every dog walking business needs to get their name out there, and this requires investment into marketing over an ongoing period of time. This includes minor spending like website hosting, and major commitments like leafleting or advertising. As with the business expenses mentioned above, any spending here is also considered tax-deductible.

Employing staff

Your business may grow to the point where you can employ other dog walkers to work for you. That’s great news as it means you’ve made your business a real success, but it also comes with several extra costs to take into account: employee wages, Employers’ National Insurance contributions, employers’ liability insurance and more.

Insurance

There are specialist dog walking insurance policies that can protect you and your business in the event of a claim being made against you. These policies can often be taken out on monthly payment plans but can give you peace of mind, as well as financial back-up if something untoward happens.

Obtain dog walking insurance with Protectivity

Dog walking insurance isn’t a legal requirement, and because of that, it can be tempting to leave it out in order to cut costs, especially if finances are tight. However, this can end up doing much more harm if unforeseen circumstances arise. These could include dogs jumping out in front of pedestrians, cars or cyclists; a dog attacking another animal; or someone tripping on a lead and hurting themselves.

These are just three of the possible mishaps that can easily happen – and all of them could lead to a substantial claim for compensation. Without insurance, you can find yourself with a sizable bill to pay if the claim is successful, and in the worst-case scenario, your home could be at risk if you’re struggling to cover the cost.

That’s why dog walker insurance is vitally important, and why Protectivity offers insurance for pet businesses like yours with comprehensive policies. For as little as a few pounds a month, we can make sure you don’t end up out of pocket if you face a claim, vet bills, or if you’re unable to work yourself due to injury. Our policies also include public liability insurance, and ‘Care, Custody and Control’ cover, so that both you and your business can grow with confidence and reassurance.

Take a closer look at our dog walking insurance today and find a wide-ranging policy at a price that suits you.

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12:20:00 GMT • 14 November 2024

Businesses you can start for under £1000

6 June 2023

•

8 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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Millions of people all over the UK dream of being their own boss and starting their own business. And while it’s unlikely that an entrepreneur will become the next Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, it’s still immensely rewarding to start a business from scratch and develop it into a viable, profitable success.

The only problem that stands in many people’s way is the need to ‘speculate to accumulate’: that is to say that it can take a lot of initial investment to get a business idea off the ground. This can be off-putting if it involves getting into large amounts of debt in the early stages, or simply impractical for those who don’t have access to that kind of startup capital.

However, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible! There are countless small business ideas out there that require minimal initial outlay – and in some cases, nothing at all – making them viable for anyone who wants to strike out on their own. In this guide, we’ve picked out 14 of our favourite small business ideas that can be set up for less than £1000.

Online retail

The ability to buy and sell goods from anywhere in the world has fundamentally changed the retail world forever, and opened up new opportunities for small business operators to grab their own slice of the action. You don’t need a huge amount of capital to get things up and running: just the right platform for selling your goods, and an initial amount of stock to get you started. By taking small steps, you can gradually grow your business without taking on too much debt.

Reselling and upcycling

These are two trends which have gained real popularity as hobbies in recent years, but have now grown to the extent that many people are now pursuing them as full-time jobs. Whether you find bargains in charity shops, in auctions, at car boot sales or from other sources online, selling on goods for profit can help generate a good income if you know what you’re looking for. It’s a relatively simple business to set up and manage, too.

Creative services

If you have a creative mind, then there are many different options that you can explore on a freelance basis. If you’re a good wordsmith, for example, then you can work as a copywriter, while those of a more artistic bent may want to consider becoming graphic designers and web designers. These are jobs that are perfectly practical to do from home – all you’ll need is a good computer, internet connection and any relevant software.

Pet grooming

When it comes to hiring, there are two ways in which people make mistakes when starting a business. The first is taking on too many full-time staff members too soon. The second is not bringing in any help at all.

When your business is still finding its legs it’s important to strike a balance between areas where it’s more important to save time, and where it’s more important to save money. Bringing in staff, be they full-time or part-time, can help to spread the workload, saving you time and energy, but it runs the risk of being a drain on your funds – at least at first.

Pet-sitting

When pet owners go away on holiday or for work reasons, they want to make sure that their dogs, cats and other animals will be cared for. Putting them in kennels and catteries can be expensive, so hiring a home-based pet-sitter is often a cheaper and more personalised alternative for them. You can provide a dedicated service that caters for an animal’s specifics, and you have full choice of which pets you’re willing to accommodate and which ones you aren’t.

Tutoring

There are always people who want to expand their education and knowledge, whether training for a particular qualification, studying for an exam or even just learning to play a musical instrument. In any of these cases – and a whole lot more – you can offer one-to-one tuition from the comfort of your own home. Along with your expertise, you’ll need some relevant qualifications, plus a DBS check if you’re planning to tutor children.

Cooking and baking

If food is your passion, then why not take that passion to a wider audience? All over the country are bakers, caterers and street food vendors that started their business on the strength of their own recipes and ingenuity. If you’re able to travel to events to sell your creations, then your expenses are pretty much limited to your transportation costs – as just about all the other equipment you’ll need is already in your kitchen!

Hairdressing

You have two equally exciting options to pursue if you have talent and experience in cutting and styling hair. The first is to provide hairdressing services from a designated space in your own home; alternatively, you could set yourself up as a mobile hairdresser and provide sessions in customers’ homes instead. Either way, you’ll enjoy full flexibility in when you work, and can enjoy all the rewards of your efforts.

Beauty treatments

Similar to the hairdressing services mentioned above, the same principle applies to all sorts of beauty treatments, as long as they don’t require lots of space or specialist equipment. For example, there’s nothing to stop you offering manicures and nail-painting services from your own home, or the homes of customers, rather than having to invest in expensive high-street retail space.

Laundry and ironing

If you’re going to do housework, then you might as well get paid for it! There is a substantial marketplace for laundry and ironing services, from people who need a freshly ironed shirt for work to those who need their clothes washed, but don’t have the time or the appliances in their own home. If you already have a washing machine, iron and ironing board, then you’re good to go – although you may want to consider transport costs so you can offer collection and delivery, too.

Dog walking

Britain is a nation of dog-lovers, and there are lots of dog owners out there that don’t have the time to give their pet the exercise it needs… which is where you can come in as a professional dog walker! While dog walking fees are relatively small – between £10 and £15 per hour is commonplace, depending on the area – you can multiply this by walking several dogs at the same time. This makes it a lucrative job you can do in your local area.

Life coaching and therapy

Any services that involve simply talking to someone, or conducting a physical treatment, can be done from home (as long as you have the suitable qualifications and experience). Putting in place all the equipment to offer massages and physiotherapy may require more of a substantial investment. But areas such as mental wellbeing help and life coaching can be more viable – and can help you make a genuine positive difference to people’s lives.

Handyman/handywoman

Some people are much better than others at DIY and other repairs, and those who don’t are often willing to pay to get somebody in to do a job properly on their behalf. If you have a bit of common sense, you’re good with your hands and you’ve got a basic set of tools, then you can start a business doing odd jobs and other minor bits of work. You’ll need to be able to travel, but it will be mostly light labour – and you’ll probably get offered plenty of tea!

Event organiser

While there are countless jobs that can be done from home with a computer, one that you may not have considered is organising events professionally. From weddings and funerals to village fetes and sports competitions, many large-scale events need a coordinator who can pull everything together and make sure that everything runs smoothly on the day. As a freelancer, you have total freedom to pursue the types of events that interest you the most.

Get small business insurance with Protectivity

Even if your small business idea needs very little startup capital – or none at all – you’ll still need to take action to protect your revenue and assets as you grow. That’s because you never know what might happen, and even a minor issue that is beyond your control can easily escalate into a substantial claim for compensation.

At Protectivity, we’re dedicated to making sure that aspiring entrepreneurs like you don’t end up out of pocket when unfortunate or unforeseen circumstances arise. That’s why we provide a wide range of affordable small business insurance policies for a variety of different specialisms, such as hairdressing and pet businesses insurance, with additional policies such as event insurance and counsellors insurance.

To find out more on our policies and how we can protect your business, get in touch with our team today.

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16:50:14 GMT • 13 November 2024

How much tax would I pay as a limited company?

2 June 2023

•

11 mins read

Contributors

My main focus is managing the blog and product content for the Protectivity website ensuring everything aligns wi...

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Starting a small business can be extremely exciting and rewarding. If there’s something you’re passionate about, you’ve spotted a gap in a market, or you just want to be your own boss, then there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to become an entrepreneur. And perhaps the best part about it is that there’s no limit to how successful your business can be and how much money you can make… except one.

Tax isn’t exactly the most fun part of doing business but it is an unavoidable fact of life. As a small business owner, you’ll be required to pay tax not only personally, but also for the limited company you operate. Unfortunately, this can be a fiendishly complicated subject to deal with, as there are many different taxes, thresholds, rates and deadlines to comply with.

This guide makes all the basic ins and outs of limited company tax digestible and easy to understand. If you’re starting a small business, or thinking about doing so, then it’s essential that you understand the key facts around tax – even if you intend to recruit a qualified professional to take care of your tax affairs on your behalf. We’ll cover all the main kinds of tax both you and your company will have to pay, how to (legally) reduce your tax bills, how to get help with tax, and the other key considerations to make as you begin your business adventure.

What types of tax does a limited company pay?

There are five main kinds of tax to watch out for if you’re running a limited company. Some of them may not apply to your business, and you may be able to apply for reliefs and exemptions for others. However, you should keep abreast of all of them, as the thresholds and requirements are liable to change on a regular basis (especially in the Government’s annual Budget, usually announced in March).

Corporation tax

So, how much is corporation tax for a limited company? Well, there’s no fixed answer to that question, as it depends on a number of things.

As and when your company makes a profit, you will be required to pay a certain proportion of it as corporation tax. Your profit is defined as your takings for the year, minus any wages and dividends you pay out, any pension contributions, any expenses (more on that below) and any allowances or reliefs that you may be entitled to.

The rates that apply depends on how much profit you make within your accounting year. Your first £50,000 of profit for the year is taxed at 19%. After this, a tax rate of 26.5% is applied to all profits up to the £250,000 mark, then 25% after that. This is so that larger companies pay tax at a higher rate overall, because it means that all companies that make more than £250,000 profit in a year pay a total rate of 25%.

Employer’s National Insurance contributions

If you employ any staff within your limited company (even just one) then you will be required to make National Insurance contributions, on top of those that employees make themselves out of their wages. These contributions also have to be paid on any employee benefits and expenses that employees claim. The rate is generally 15.05%, although people including the low-waged may be exempt.

Business rates and small-business rates relief

The simplest way to describe business rates is that it is the business version of council tax. It applies to any properties within your company that are primarily used for business purposes; if you are a one-person business working from a computer at home, then business rates generally don’t apply.

While the costs of business rates to your local council can be substantial, there are several reliefs available to small businesses that can lower the size of bills, or sometimes wipe them out altogether. These include (and are not necessarily limited to): farm buildings, religious buildings, properties used for the disabled, and businesses with a low rateable value. Retail properties can also apply for 100% business rate relief for three months.

VAT

If your business turns over more than £85,000 in any 12-month period, you are legally obliged to register for Value Added Tax (VAT). If your turnover is below the threshold, you can also voluntarily register for VAT as it can sometimes be advantageous to do so. The current VAT rate is 20%, and you’ll be required to charge it on top of your normal fees for any goods or services you sell, and pay it for any that you buy.

The amount of VAT that you have to remit to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is whatever you’ve taken in VAT from other businesses from your sales, minus any VAT you’ve paid out in goods and services you’ve bought. So, for example, if you’ve collected £10,000 in VAT within a three-month period, and you’ve paid out £3,000, then you owe £7,000 to HMRC.

The good news is that the system works both ways: if you have paid out more in VAT than you’ve taken in, then you can apply to reclaim VAT from HMRC and they will refund you the difference. As the example here, if you’ve paid out £5,000 in VAT, but only taken £1,500 in, then HMRC should pay you £3,500.

Capital gains tax

If you are a limited company, then capital gains tax (paid on any profits you make by selling assets) doesn’t apply in the same way it would to a sole trader or a partnership. However, you are required to pay corporation tax on the profit instead: the money you make will count as part of your overall CT profit and therefore taxed at the applicable rate (see above).

What kind of personal tax would I have to pay as a limited company owner?

As the owner and director of a company, you will naturally want to take some (or all!) of the fruits of your labours as your earnings. There are a number of different ways to do this that are open to you, and which will be better will depend on the state of your business and your own personal circumstances. But in general, there are two main taxes that will apply to you personally:

Income tax for employees

Much as you would if you worked for another business, any wages you take are taxed according to normal income tax rates.

As of the 2023/24 tax year, the first £12,570 you earn each year are exempt from any income tax, but all your earnings beyond this up to £50,270 will be taxed at 20%. Earnings beyond this are taxed at 40%, and if you’re doing well enough to be earning more than £125,140 a year, then the highest rate of 45% applies. Please note that slightly different thresholds apply in Scotland.

You’ll also have to make National Insurance contributions in the same way as a ‘normal’ employee. This is in addition to the Employer’s National Insurance contributions mentioned above.

Dividend tax

You can pay dividends out of your company to yourself whenever you want, but this will be subject to dividend tax. As of the 2023/24 tax year, the tax-free dividend allowance is £1000, and this is expected to be cut again to £500 in 2024/25. Beyond this, dividends are taxed at 8.75%, which still represents a tax-efficient way to pay yourself compared to regular income tax.

However, if your normal pay plus your dividends totals more than £50,270 a year (which would normally move you into the higher rate of income tax), then you’ll have to pay 33.75% dividend tax on all your dividends above this threshold.

When should limited company taxes be paid?

These requirements vary from one tax to another, depending on the time of year you started your business, how much you pay yourself and other employees, and whether certain taxes are applicable to you. As a general guide, the following timescales normally apply:

Corporation tax: nine months after the end of your business year (i.e. if your business year runs from 1 January to 31 December 2023), then your Corporation Tax bill will be due around the end of September 2024

VAT: this should be remitted to HMRC quarterly, no more than 37 days after the end of each designated three-month period. You are still expected to submit a VAT return every three months if registered, even if you don’t have any VAT to pay for that period

Business rates: you will normally receive a business rates bill around February or March, detailing the monthly instalments you’ll be required to pay for the following financial year

Employers’ NI: should be paid at the same time as you make each payment of wages to your employees (i.e. weekly or monthly)

Income tax and dividend tax: this could be through Pay-As-You-Earn, an annual Self-Assessment with associated payments every six months, or a combination of the two

What should I do about tax when starting a limited company?

If you’re worried that the above is overly complicated and too much to keep track of, then don’t panic: you’re certainly not alone in that. Even the most experienced entrepreneurs and small business owners can find limited company tax requirements perplexing.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to hire the services of a good accountant when starting a limited company. They will be fully up to speed with everything mentioned in this guide, and any upcoming changes that may affect you. They will be able to organise your payslips and tax returns, and give you all the information you need about what you need to pay and when.

How can I legally reduce my limited company tax bill?

Tax evasion is illegal and never a good idea, even if your business is struggling. However, the complexity of tax regulations means that there are a number of legal ways that you can reduce the amount of tax your or your business has to pay. Using dividends instead of PAYE to pay some of your wages, as mentioned earlier in this guide, is an excellent example of this and common practice among small business owners around the country.

This is another area where having an accountant really comes into its own. They’ll have the expertise and experience to advise on areas where you can bring your tax bill down, such as business expenses you can claim that you may not have been previously aware of. While you’ll need to commit a certain amount of money to hire an accountant’s services, they can often save you many times you outlay in tax each year, making it a very worthwhile endeavour.

Get small business insurance with Protectivity

If you’re just starting out with a small business, there’s a lot to get your head around – and tax is just one of the complex challenges to navigate. Given the risks of starting a business, anything you can do to protect yourself and your enterprise from financial harm is worth doing, which is why good insurance cover is essential right from the start.

At Protectivity, we specialise in comprehensive insurance cover for countless small businesses just like yours. We offer hairdressers insurance and insurance for pet businesses and dog groomers. We can give you peace of mind that if the unforeseen happens, such as an injury or damage to property, you won’t be out of pocket. Our flexible, affordable policies start from just a few pounds a month, meaning you can safeguard your future without breaking the bank.

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