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hi guys,
in july, I went to the prince's trust and did a small business start up course.
I completed the course and was given a certificate, then told we should get a phone call in the next few weeks to arrange a small business advisor and have the opporunity of a grant.
I have never heard from them and before I left the course discusses a grant with them, and was told that no small business loans were being offered in my area.
I feel I have been let down again but in 2011 I would like to try again and get somewhere with my venture, CLIXON PHOTOGRAPHY.
does anyone know anything about how to get a small business going, I really love my photography and I am getting requests for portrait sittings coming out of my ears, yet, by law, I am not allowed to charge for work done as it will affect my wife's benefits.
what also scared me last time was the fact that I am not earning anything from my photography yet and I have my own business name and logo put into place ready, I am fearful of being prosecuted for not declaring it to HMRC. I would have though I shouldn't have to being as I am not earning anythiung from it.
I don't know too much about this, but surely the amount of that benefits will be reduced by will be less than the income earned from your business?
well, thats just the thing. I need to make more than what my wife would lose, but the other thing is I really don't know where to start.
Alot of places around here at the moment are charging £40 upwards for sittings, with a couple of free prints chucked in.
I am asking £25 and offering the disc and copyright for that price too. (except for weddings and big events where the price will be higher to meet costs)
however. having no money to my name, I have to ask the client to pay on the day and the money they give is for "equipment" and printing costs, so none of it reaches my pocket.
the last time I did a sitting was actually back in april or may last year. so all this work that is coming out of my ears, people are asking for the work but trying to get something for nothing, if you get what I mean, they don't want to part with their money in other words.
I have just signed up with smallbusiness.co.uk to get information on starting up and loans and grants etc. college courses are hard to come by too. I want to get my qualification but I am finding it hard because I am being turned down by several based on my age.
To be truthful, I think I am living in a dream world, the government have screwed me, the education authority screwed me when I left school and I am still paying for it now because the government are still screwing me now by not offering me any support because I am not entitled to any help or support from them because I am a dependent of my wife's benefits. every where I go at the moment it's cold turkey or a kick in the teeth, (what teeth I have left).
if there is a business support advisor registered here, please do get in touch.
A friend of mine has been doing photography recently. It started out as a hobby with any income simply paying for the equipment (camera about £1400 and about the same for a lens I believe for his latest stuff) - he went to events with his wife and he took photos, back to the car where he gave her the SD card which she downloaded and then he was off again taking more pictures (sometimes they swapped roles). At the car, there was a screen set up so people could see the photos and buy any number of pictures, which they burned to CD there and then, and charged £5 (increased to £8 after a while). Made very little money, but they got a reputation for selling very high quality photos for very little money initially. After a while, they started being asked to events to take photographs and started taking more money - set up a website and now posts pictures (and video) so people can order from there, and also asked to do a couple of weddings.
Just thought that might be useful as a way to get started - if you aren't making any money to start with, you won't affect your wife's benefits, but after a year of so, you may well get yourself in a position where you can start charging proper business prices and then make a living out of it. Hope that helps.
ACTD,
that's a great bit of help thanks.
I am trying to do some "free" sessions at the moment as I have just started a photography course at Bishop Auckland college. Only one night a week but enough to teach me a few more methods too.
I think I am going to definately get the business run this year and I have just been to see a disablity adviser too at the job centre about my dyspraxia, althought I can't get any help from them because I am not in reciept of benefits, they have arranged some appointments for me with an organisation called working links. They may be able to offer me a business grant too so this should also start me off on getting clixon photography going too.
oh, if any of you are on facebook and would like to have a look at some of my work, please feel free to search "clixon photgraphy" on facebook and send me a request. you may have to send me a message stating who you are too, I don't let everyone in as I have had cases of spammers joining the group and advertising diet products..
thanks for your advice ACTD.
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