china
Well-Known Member
how did u get started? did it cost much, what exactly do you need to start one up. and what is your business?
those of you with internet busineses?
- Thread starter china
- Start date
MrsMozart
Just passing through...
Cost depends on: what the business is; and what skills you have in-house and what you need to buy in.
We have an internet hosting business (specialising in low and good hosting prices), a horse community site, and will sell our software through another of our sites
. The costs have been minimal in terms of cash outlay, but we have a lot of in-house skills
.
We have an internet hosting business (specialising in low and good hosting prices), a horse community site, and will sell our software through another of our sites
china
Well-Known Member
do you need any licences etc. i want to to a online horse site but i assume you need some proof that you do business to buy things at trade price?
sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
I sell vintage clothing on my own website. It started when I was pregnant as I wanted to get rid of some of my HUGE collection of antique and vintage clothes on Ebay that I had been collecting for years, to buy baby stuff and help put a down payment on the house. I enjoyed it so much and saw that I was good at it, that I became official with the Inland Rev! I dropped Ebay and went on my own with my own site.
I didn't have any capital when I started as I used some of my own collection to get the biz started and then used that money when I sold stuff, to buy new stock.
My OH works with computers anddoes computery/internet stuff so he makes my website/ does all the web stuff so no financial outlay there except eat and sleep with him, LOL!
As long as I keep selling stuff, choose stock wisely, keep a separate bank account for the biz, keep up to date on my book keeping and then do my self assessment myself at the end of the tax year (which is rapidly approaching) then the business is self sufficient.
You have to be strict with your book keeping and your taxes, etc as sometimes I've seen with friends of mine who have had web businesses, they get lazy or sloppy with their records and then the sh*t hits the fan when they have to deal with the gov at tax time.
It's lots of hard work and cuts into my horse time but it's worth it and makes me happy.
I didn't have any capital when I started as I used some of my own collection to get the biz started and then used that money when I sold stuff, to buy new stock.
My OH works with computers anddoes computery/internet stuff so he makes my website/ does all the web stuff so no financial outlay there except eat and sleep with him, LOL!
As long as I keep selling stuff, choose stock wisely, keep a separate bank account for the biz, keep up to date on my book keeping and then do my self assessment myself at the end of the tax year (which is rapidly approaching) then the business is self sufficient.
You have to be strict with your book keeping and your taxes, etc as sometimes I've seen with friends of mine who have had web businesses, they get lazy or sloppy with their records and then the sh*t hits the fan when they have to deal with the gov at tax time.
It's lots of hard work and cuts into my horse time but it's worth it and makes me happy.
sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
do you need any licences etc. i want to to a online horse site but i assume you need some proof that you do business to buy things at trade price?
[/ QUOTE ]
You need to register as a Sole Trader with the Inland Rev. they are very nice and even sent a lady round my house to explain everything and what I could claim as business expenses and everything!
Once you register with the Inland Rev, then you can get trade catalogs and such. I even joined Makro myself!
do you need any licences etc. i want to to a online horse site but i assume you need some proof that you do business to buy things at trade price?
[/ QUOTE ]
You need to register as a Sole Trader with the Inland Rev. they are very nice and even sent a lady round my house to explain everything and what I could claim as business expenses and everything!
Once you register with the Inland Rev, then you can get trade catalogs and such. I even joined Makro myself!
Marilyn
Well-Known Member
If you want a website you've got to speak to Abbeyview Equine - £150 for website and then £19 a month! That's what I pay for mine. There is a more expensive option for a tailor made one but they can do loads with a template and make it look brill
MrsMozart
Just passing through...
Not licences as such. You would need the site up on the internet. Some suppliers would want payment up front as they don't give credit lines to businessess without a trading history. Pity re. the timing. The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) trade show was on two weeks ago.
You would need to contact all the manufacturers and find out if they sell direct to retail (you) or if they have a distributor. There are likely to be minimum order quantities as well as certain lines that you would have to stock.
The site itself would need building. There are a number of free/reasonably priced shopping carts available, but the free ones aren't usually as good as the ones you can have built especially for you.
Look at the current sites - see what makes them popular (or otherwise).
You would need to contact all the manufacturers and find out if they sell direct to retail (you) or if they have a distributor. There are likely to be minimum order quantities as well as certain lines that you would have to stock.
The site itself would need building. There are a number of free/reasonably priced shopping carts available, but the free ones aren't usually as good as the ones you can have built especially for you.
Look at the current sites - see what makes them popular (or otherwise).
china
Well-Known Member
oh i see, this rings bells from business studys at schoold lol. hmmm. my brother is fantastic with computers so he should be being an IT technition. he makes his own websites so would be ok in that department just need to plan things. could you give me a list of things i need to consider and plan before starting. complete novice at all this but would like to give it a go.
sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
Seriously, I knew NOTHING about business except selling my own things on Ebay. I just took the experience that I learned from selling stuff on ebay, like which payments that I will accept (cheque, cash, Paypal, bank transfer), taking GOOD photos, writing GOOD concise descriptions, etc and applied them to my own business.
I don't have a Royal Mail account but I use their postage chart to figure out shipping for things. We use Magento shopping cart which integrates Royal Mail shipping costs into it and different payment methods but it's not easy to use and best to leave it to your bro if he's the computer expert!
I'd ring the Inland Rev and talk to them as they even sent me a little book about starting up your business and what you'll need and everything. For the Tax Man, I cannot state enough how helpful they were.
I don't have a Royal Mail account but I use their postage chart to figure out shipping for things. We use Magento shopping cart which integrates Royal Mail shipping costs into it and different payment methods but it's not easy to use and best to leave it to your bro if he's the computer expert!
I'd ring the Inland Rev and talk to them as they even sent me a little book about starting up your business and what you'll need and everything. For the Tax Man, I cannot state enough how helpful they were.
MrsMozart
Just passing through...
As above, contact:
the Inland Revenue;
your local Business Link;
your Trading Standards (good to know what laws you have to know for distance selling).
Put 'start my own business' into Google and stand well back lol.
Don't pay for any help until you've searched fully - most help for starting a business is free from the Government in some guise or other
the Inland Revenue;
your local Business Link;
your Trading Standards (good to know what laws you have to know for distance selling).
Put 'start my own business' into Google and stand well back lol.
Don't pay for any help until you've searched fully - most help for starting a business is free from the Government in some guise or other
scotsmare
Well-Known Member
I have a couple of businesses I run via the internet, no licences needed as such but a load of red tape. I used to run an online saddlery and can confirm what Mrs M said about no credit for first orders etc which means a massive guess on your part regarding stock levels etc. If you're planning a horse sales site then do your research and think what your niche will be - there are already lots out there.
You will need a domain name / site hosting - can recommend Inbasket.co.uk
If you need anymore help then just yell
You will need a domain name / site hosting - can recommend Inbasket.co.uk
If you need anymore help then just yell
sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
Also too, if you have a Business Link office near you, visit them as they are a wealth of knowledge. I went on a free book keeping course with them and am able to do my own taxes and books accurately myself. This is coming from the girl who failed maths every year!!!
china
Well-Known Member
thanks guys!! you have all be excedingly helpfull!!
sidesaddlegirl
Well-Known Member
Yes, I agree- you need to know Trading Standards as selling things is alot stricter here than it is in say, North America.
royal
Well-Known Member
Your main problem with it being a horse retailing site, is that many of the larger retailers will refuse to sell to you if you don't have a premises which you sell from ie: will not supply you if you just sell from the internet...a few are ok with it....I have absolutely no idea how those that purely run websites do it, but I have managed a horse retail shop and know from experience that this is the case with most of the larger suppliers!!! ie: Weatherbeeta, Shires etc....
Mrs M is quite right - you will need to buy initial stock up front as you will get no credit accounts (the last small shop I managed started from scratch and spent £15,000 on initial stock, then had 6 months of buying before credit accounts would be set up...so you will need a fair amount of cash behind you for stock alone.
Mrs M is quite right - you will need to buy initial stock up front as you will get no credit accounts (the last small shop I managed started from scratch and spent £15,000 on initial stock, then had 6 months of buying before credit accounts would be set up...so you will need a fair amount of cash behind you for stock alone.
Dubsie
Well-Known Member
If you are young enough (under 26 I think) have a look at Shell Livewire and The Princes Trust - you may be able to obtain start up costs help. In some areas if you're in a deprived or rural area you may be able to obtain a grant. Business Link MAY be able to advise you (but it depends how good the advisor is in yiur area IMO)
The most important thing I will suggest is to make a proper business plan. You'll need this if you're applying for funding of any sort, and it is important you plan carefully how you will run your business, and how you'll expand your business what yiur costs will be - and how you'll cover your costs.
You can obtain free guides from most banks & Business Link as to how to write a business plan.
The most important thing I will suggest is to make a proper business plan. You'll need this if you're applying for funding of any sort, and it is important you plan carefully how you will run your business, and how you'll expand your business what yiur costs will be - and how you'll cover your costs.
You can obtain free guides from most banks & Business Link as to how to write a business plan.