[the red carpet]

Hi Doug, I aint doing to bad with the site im one below you on google
and one above you on yahoo

thats based on typing in "carpet cleaning essex"

Ian's getting good listings on there nowadays as well

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Red,

I have noticed how well you and Ian are doing and it's good to see the forum members coming to the fore.

I only really take notice of Google as this is where most people search.

However I did the Yahoo search and see i have been relegated to positions 3 4 5 6 7  : but am still top for Essex Carpet Cleaning or Cleaners .

Cheers

Doug

[craigp]

Remember in the next year set up a direct debit to another account for your tax bill, as it looks like next time your have one, its hard to sallow if you've not put it aside specifically.

increase profit by cutting over heads with suppliers, better sourcing, check your service suppliers are giving you good deals like phone, mobile, van insurance.

advertising, if its not working cut it, keep doing what works. im sure your doing all this anyway,

as you steamline your profit margine will increase your turnover will increase as well, this effect combined, your do very well.

you just had a slow couple of months like most of us.

[Ken Wainwright]

I notice, Red, from your stated overheads, you have not made provision for Public Liability Insurance. This is a legal obligation. So is Employers Liability, even if you have someone for just a minute a year and don't pay them anything.  There's no legal requirement for Treatment Risk insurance but I would strongly advise that you take it out.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[spindle]

 hey red

was that all cheque/account work???
 

[Matt Read]

You should be able to claim working tax credit red,they work it out on your yearly net profit and then pay you the difference to what you are entitled to(varies on family circumstances) i think you can also claim even if you are single with no dependants. One word of warning though is that you need to be clear on what you think you will realistically earn the next year because if they pay you the full whack on the back of making a loss, this benefit won't change until you have submitted the next profit figure. If thats quite a step up from the prev year then you will have been overpaid. Over estimating is best because they will back pay you once a couple of years figures are in and by then you should be established and earning the same each year give or take a couple of grand.

As for how you are doing ,it all looks good to me, not many business' turnover 30 k  a year that quickly,you just need to work smart to maximise your profit which will come with experience.

[mark_roberts]

What happened in Aug that your did £4k or so.  What ever it was just keep doing it.

No matter what turnover i achieve i find i spend around 1/2 of it. 

Did you buy a TM or am I getting you mixed up with someone else?

This time of year can be slow so hang in there.

Mark

[the red carpet]

Ken, i have the insurance so dnt know why its not on there, it looks like a basic set of accounts that they have for all thier clients its prob lumped in under a different heading.

Mark, yep got tm recently, Aug Sep last year i worked my ar$e off. I was cleaning or doing flyers 7 days a week and taking any job that came in i done some really rubbish work round that time the type that nobody else wants.

[Ian Gourlay]

Dan.

As a Local government Councillor , I can tell you that you would have probably been entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit when you started out.

They would have accessed you on your projected Income. It would also help if the figures were supported by an Accountant or Business Link.

Your situation now is more complicated as your Turnover is high, but from what you have told us so are your expenses.

I think you will find your local authority will want figures for your last quarter not your years Profit and Loss, but phone up and ask how they access self employed people..
The Good News if you have kids is your Working Tax Credits is on last years figures

Ie April 2006 to April 2007. it can be anticipated figures but you would have to confirm actual once accounts are done.

Again you should have applied when you started then it could have been on projected profit,

I cannot see a Depreciation figure on Vans and Equipment in your Accounts.

Perhaps your accountant counted your machines as small tools.

Do not forget Computers Desk Filing Cabinets etc,

Electric Gas Water Rent Council  tax when you work out Home as Office Cost

only a proportion though  Just looked you only claimed £90 for use of home as office.

I would have thought £700 to £1000 was realistic depending on your actual costs

Also remember for all the above we are talking Houshold Income so if your partner works his or hers income is taken into account. If you have people living with you there is a deduction for them

Gets complicated if you share a house with non related individuals.
I know it does not apply to you Dan but if you are Under 25 and been out of work six months or more you can get a New Deal Grant.

I think there is also a New deal for over 50s and people with disabilities, Single mothers  but your job centre  plus should be able to help.