Im Just Trying To Start Off And Looking For Advice And Tips!

[rugbywolf]

As long as you register with hmrc within 3 months and have records for all of the work done in the meantime that is fineI have done this for 26 years with no accountant and always been fine

I have got an accountant now who is a customer starting in April but you don't actually need one

I bet you'll notice a difference, I can't see the HMRC helping you out much with writing down on expenses etc.

 

[Tuffers]

I currently do security so iv been sat in my office for 12 hours a day watching youtube videos on how to clean windows haha! just a bit confused about what pole to buy? any recommendations? also what makes a good scrubber like what do you look for when buying one?

Practice cleaning the windows on the security office while you're there.

 

[Tuffers]

I currently do security so iv been sat in my office for 12 hours a day watching youtube videos on how to clean windows haha! just a bit confused about what pole to buy? any recommendations? also what makes a good scrubber like what do you look for when buying one?

Practice cleaning the windows on the security office while you're there.

 

[Dave B]

I bet you'll notice a difference, I can't see the HMRC helping you out much with writing down on expenses etc.

I know exactly what i am doing with regards to hmrc

All my expenses are logged and i know exactly what i can claim as percentage of household bills as i use 1 room as my office..portion of mobile phone bill etc

I have spreadsheets with formulas i have made which i enter it all in on and it works with my spreadsheets for income etc and takes tax and ni off for me after taking into account my tax threshold and expenses

Won't make any difference with an accountant except i want to free up some time that i usually spend doing admin and he is a customer who works from home and is giving me a good rate to do it

 

[adamangler]

I use the simplifies expenses for my tax returns, makes life so much easier, no need for an accountant as a sole trader just make sure you know what you are doing.

I can record all my income and expenses and mileage in george, just need to keep the receipts and bank statements to back it up.

 

[rugbywolf]

It's not so much about doing your accounts, it's a sort of protection. HMRC will give you what you are entitled to, but your interest is not their concern, whereas it is to your accountant. When £2200 was demanded I had no support, which is why I then got an accountant. He saved me more than his fee; there is a saying that 'an accountant will cover his fees by what he saves you'.

 

[richb77]

It's not so much about doing your accounts, it's a sort of protection. HMRC will give you what you are entitled to, but your interest is not their concern, whereas it is to your accountant. When £2200 was demanded I had no support, which is why I then got an accountant. He saved me more than his fee; there is a saying that 'an accountant will cover his fees by what he saves you'.

Completely agree. Accountants will know about loopholes (legal obviously) I've had mine for two years now and probably will have one more as I discuss everything with them and see what they are saving me and where. I'll take that forward when I do them on my own. It's small things like paying your other half a wage to do your books (providing they don't work and using her tax allowance) saves me a lot over a year and all above board.

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[A KLEAN]

Hey, well.. i am currently in full-time employment working 3 days a week (12.5 hour shifts) but I really fancy starting a window cleaning business on my days off work to facilitate some extra cash as my girlfriend is currently pregnant with our first child so I am hoping that this window cleaning on the side can replace my full-time job eventually! Really I'm just looking for tips to get started, I have been practicing regularly with basic stuff and I think I'm starting to pick it up, Anyway.. just looking for tips really on what equipment I need? Do i need a ladder or can I just use a long expandable pole instead? also what other equipment do you recommend for starting out? personally I'm not into the water fed pole system thing (my girlfriends parents window cleaner uses one and it always looks terrible where the water dries)! any advice on what equipment will be much appreciated and also any other hints and tips! thanks, sam

get two sets of ladders one for top windows of houses and a good set of steps for lower windows conserv,and get a full set of tools i.e. blade/mop,bucket on belt.i use unger and i have used the realy cheap crap,its worth paying a bit more,i use the medium size mop and blade so i dont need to change up a ladder,i also use unger soap,some ppl use wash up liquid but i cant get away doing that so i spend money on the unger soap,same goes for cloths i cant get away with the shrims i use micro fibre cloths from £1 shop,another thing is a scraper,use the smaller one you get in the sets ,blades are cheap,

 

[cmack001]

get two sets of ladders one for top windows of houses and a good set of steps for lower windows conserv,and get a full set of tools i.e. blade/mop,bucket on belt.i use unger and i have used the realy cheap ****,its worth paying a bit more,i use the medium size mop and blade so i dont need to change up a ladder,i also use unger soap,some ppl use wash up liquid but i cant get away doing that so i spend money on the unger soap,same goes for cloths i cant get away with the shrims i use micro fibre cloths from £1 shop,another thing is a scraper,use the smaller one you get in the sets ,blades are cheap,

Just out of curiosity, how come you can't use washing up liquid?

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[Chris33]

Or scrims? Lol. Scrims work for me and fairy works for me

 

[Hawke]

Lidl W5 washing up liquid for me - get the platinum one. Its blue coloured and find any lines are a bit less noticeable....

Also microfibre scrims are definitely the best.

 

[Hawke]

Oh but shell out for the proper ones from WCW or the like and use the cheap ones for sills.

 

[Chris33]

I'm unger grade a scrim for detailing and microfibre for sills. Fish scale microfibre for small window buffing etc

 

[Clisty1989]

Also magnum platinum, unger scrim for detailing and a cut up tea towel for sills for me, does the job. And 1/2 an old beach towel for going over my brush for the pita soffits with the vents all across. Wet it and then put over brush head and secure with elastic band, water off and wipe them down, no dirty water bleeding out all over the place, and gets them clean. If it gets dirty just turn water on to rinse it out and carry on, saves me a load of water and time

 

[Skxawng]

Also magnum platinum, unger scrim for detailing and a cut up tea towel for sills for me, does the job. And 1/2 an old beach towel for going over my brush for the pita soffits with the vents all across. Wet it and then put over brush head and secure with elastic band, water off and wipe them down, no dirty water bleeding out all over the place, and gets them clean. If it gets dirty just turn water on to rinse it out and carry on, saves me a load of water and time

I usually use a scrim over my brush for that but that makes a lot more sense. I'll use a towel next time

 

[rugbywolf]

It is interesting that after discussing HMRC, I have just had one such situation that I will relate to show what I meant by being protected by having an accountant. Last September my accountant told me what tax I would have to pay. In January HMRC sent through my tax bill, which was as prescribed by my accountant. In with the bill was a form that they send out that you can submit a request to off-set your tax (part of you tax is for what you are going to earn next year, assuming you will be working at the same level). As I have reduced my work load now, and will be doing less, I contacted my accountant and asked for the off-set. All well and good, he wrote back saying it was all done and told me what my tax would be in Jan and June, which I was very pleased about. I paid the 'new' amount in January. And low and behold, on Saturday, I got a stern letter from HMRC saying I hadn't paid enough, and to pay it NOW, or they will be adding interest. If you had not got an accountant, you probably would get quite a fright receiving such a demand, and would pay it. But I guessed what had happened, which turned out to be correct. My accountant had sent the necessary request, but it had not been 'processed'! Now I know you will say 'Ah well, you would've got the money back', but that's not really the point - it may have caused financial hardship. So Make sure you are always protected from the evils of HMRC!!!!!

 

[Clisty1989]

I pay nothing for my accountant, he's my mrs's cousin

 

[rugbywolf]

I pay nothing for my accountant, he's my mrs's cousin

Bit like mafia then?