The challenges of setting up in business

I have been technically self employed for 6 years now. I receive donations for the work that I do in Christian Ministry, therefore I declare to the Tax man what income I receive from this.

Earlier in the year I started a hobby of Jewellery making, I soon realised there is only so much you can make for yourself, so what are you going to do with the rest? Give it away? Yes but again there is only so many friends I have.

So the next obvious answer is sell it. Sounds easy isn't it? Well yes - but you are setting up a new entity. The administration is more than you may think.


I am obviously thought online selling is an option ebay. Yes but there is so many people doing that, it tends to sell for buttons , if at all. Your own shop. You can try online carts from google and attaching them onto you blog.

Hosts such as Groovycart also make setting up a free shop a simple process but there are limits to the free site and the silver and gold options cost as much as a own website a year. My shop in groovycart is Ochiltrinkets. (If paying by cheque there groovycart supplies customers with my de

So then we come to the own domain. What issues have I found with that. Under the UK registry system Nominet, you must if trading on your site appear on a WHOIS database, this means anyone can see your address. Some hosts even show phone numbers and email. Now you are a business so that may not seem a problem. However I work from home and my home telephone is ex directory.  So do I want that displayed on my site? Many customers want to see proper contact details so they can see who they are dealing with. (Which is perfectly understandable.)

I then thought about virtual office ideas. Again some people are suspect of such systems. To the sole trader however, a low budget solution would be ideal. So what do you think? Would you know a virtual office address? Would you naturally  be suspect? Or would you try a new business if you liked there stock?

Any comments welcome 

So I then thought about a phone system or alternative mail address

What are your heart values?

A few months ago I went to a women's weekend away and during the course of the weekend we were given a piece with lots of statements on it.

There are lots of variations of these available, some geared for workplaces whilst others are more individual.
This one was individual and detailed.

I must say that my results did not surprise me but some of the women with me really struggled as we had to refine the statements down to 3.

I know that I am a woman who values my family and I love them to pieces. I also know that I would struggle to be a stay at home mum. Hats off to you ladies, I get cabin fever and I have to work and have a mental stimulus.

My kids know that I am a woman who likes Honesty and Integrity. If my kids do something wrong, they know the worst thing to do is lie about it. They are probably going to get more of a row for the lie than what they would for their demeanour.

The bit I found hard in the exercise was getting it down to 3 as work and family give me a happy balance.

Honesty and Integrity is also interesting. I recently had to submit a cover note for something to do with the swimming pool campaign and I was told that I was too honest. I had given specific info that prevented the council authorising the flyer to go into the school bag. I was told if I had given a more general statement, then perhaps it would have been passed.

In recent days there has been conversations about Jeremy Clarkson's statement on the strikers. Legislate for this? Come on be serious.

What he said was bad taste, granted. But you have 2 choices really.

1)Think (or say) What an idiot he is.

2)Take offence and get uptight over it.

 What I do not want is someone else trying to tell me what I should be offended at and making a law about it.

I am all for equality but please don't take my Christian beliefs and trample over them for the sake of others.

I may not agree with everyone in the world but that does not mean that I don't respect their right to live as they choose to live.

That was Clarkson's error. His crass humour has disrespected people's right.
I think what makes it worse is that he probably has no real idea of how tight budgets are and the stress that puts on family life.

At most you can say don't give this guy air time or work. (If he lost his job he would not suffer hugely  and he would be snapped up by someone else no doubt)

But don't legislate.

People who want to legislate against that which offends them (or worse, that which they think may offend others) are more dangerous than people like Clarkson.

Standing up for what is right

There is a time for everything...

Some people like to keep different areas of their lives in different boxes... Sometimes though you need to "Nail your colours to the mast" and Shout when you think that there is something fundamentally wrong.

When I read in the paper the Council was going to close the pool in February I had to get involved. Months later we are still fighting on, hoping to convince the Council to asset transfer the building to us.

Some of the decisions have amazed me. The pool has been badly managed for years. In the short time we have been looking we have found businesses willing to let out the pool or the hall, yet they were not given that facility as an option when they asked.

The council is now renting time at a pool the police own, rather than use the one they own. They are trying to say there is no demand for it! So the parents are being asked to pay more for swim lessons and have to travel to the next county for the privilege... So that is 2 extra costs for parents.

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A new way to support my Ministry

Hi this is just a quick plug. I have started making some wee trinkets and Jewellery. If you are looking for a gift, you can support me by purchasing some earrings or bookmarks.
I am still in the process of making things and new products will be added. So please keep checking back. The link below will take you to the main page

http://www.GroovyCart.co.uk/?d=2240

My site is www.GroovyCart.co.uk/ochiltrinkets