Worth getting a van (p/t window cleaner)while doing another job?

[purpleroad]

My friend has a job, (not secure). He is able to get out in the afternoons and clean windows and also on Saturdays. He does it in his car, but driving to the lockup, carrying barrels into car and other equipment is time consuming. Having a van with a tank would be so much easier. Financially is it worth having a van and a car out of interest?

Other issue, is if he gets a van (without car) his now inconspicuous p/t business wouldn't be able to be hidden. How can you drive a van and then deny you are working in some way? Consequently, he might lose work, as everyone earns little money anyway at his PAYEE job and this extra job would make people jealous and the manager would say " well he has his other job, he doesn't need as much work here as my other employees, I will cut his hours!" (Well possibly!)

Any ideas on what to do?

 

[boarcity]

is this friend actually You

if it isnt you- let Him worry about his dilemma you crack on wi what your doin

 

[TolishAPurd]

So far it sounds like this is just a fiddle job with no tax or insurance being paid. Theres enough people running around doing that already, and they are usually the ones that make my prices look expensive. So I'm out until proven otherwise.

 

[adamangler]

Firstly theres no reason you cant register as a legitamate business whilst being employed, ive done this for two years.

Theres no need to by dodgy In my first year i made about 2 grand loss with buying all the gear so no extra tax to pay

In my second year i was part time employed and part time windows, i still bought loads od gear for the business so again hardly paid any tax

you only pay tax on 10 grand combined remember

As to wether its financially viable to have both vehicles, only you can decide. I have a car and a van id rather just have a van as i only need the car once a week but i do need the car.

Another option is a crew van or pick up but both have their limitations.

As for the made up scenario of losing hours at his PAYE job thats not a consideration just a figment of his negative imagination.

One thing i will say is trying to both jobs will drive him (you?) nuts

your stuck in work when its nice weather and cant get windows done in **** weather, you work half of the day then jump in the van to get changed and try to squeeze a couple hours window cleaning in when it gets dark, its a nightmare

If he/you does decide to do windows alongside another job go as hard as you can as quick as you can and aim to quit the employed job asap dont drag it out, i have done for over a year and it achieves very little

Infact in hindsight if i was to do it again, instead of trying to do both jobs at once. i would stay in my employed job, practice on my own windows, get a website setup, get all the gear, save as much as possible and look to buy a round. then quit and go full time

 

[Danfire]

I had a similar dilemma. Started cleaning using the family estate which was ok but my wife kept throwing a spanner in the works by needing the car when I wanted to be cleaning. I got an mx5 restored which I thought she could drive but I don't want it driven in the rain so it's become a garage queen. I've taken the plunge and bought a van, I've really got more vehicles than I need now but I love the 5 so can't see me getting rid of that. I'm looking forward to a massive reduction of wasted loading time in the new year. Another advantage is the extra advertising if you need more Windows and the van is 100% tax deductible (so long as there is no private use).

 

[Taxlossloz]

is this friend actually You
if it isnt you- let Him worry about his dilemma you crack on wi what your doin

@boarcity

For me that is quote of the year

Love it

 

[Duncs]

is this friend actually You
if it isnt you- let Him worry about his dilemma you crack on wi what your doin

sure boar is right are you testing the water with your wee toe

i can read you like the bible

 

[adamangler]

Be aware it depends how you do your tax whether a van is tax deducatable

i use the simplified expenses which is based purely on mileage

 

[Bingo]

My friend has a job, (I could be on about me to be honest). He is able to get out in the afternoons and clean windows and also on Saturdays. He does it in his car, but driving to the lockup, carrying barrels into car and other equipment is time consuming. Having a van with a tank would be so much easier. Financially is it worth having a van and a car out of interest?
Other issue, is if he gets a van (without car) his now inconspicuous p/t business wouldn't be able to be hidden from the DSS and honest hard-working neighbours.

How can you afford to drive a van and then deny you are working in some way??

Consequently, he might lose his Unemployment Benefit, as everyone receives so-little money anyway from their Benefits, this job would make people jealous and the DSS Manager would say "Well he has a job, so he doesn't need to claim here as do my other Claimants, so I will suspend his claim while under investigation!"

Any ideas on what to do?

If you don't like how I've altered your post above, then.... that's too bad....but that's how your 1st post on this Forum has come across.

 

[Danfire]

Be aware it depends how you do your tax whether a van is tax deducatable
i use the simplified expenses which is based purely on mileage

Can you explain. As I understand it the purchase cost of the van and all associated expenses (and all other operating costs) come off of my income for the year and I will pay 20% tax on the residual profit. I believe the rules are now I can either take the van purchase cost as a one off expense or depreciate it over up to three years.

 

[adamangler]

Can you explain. As I understand it the purchase cost of the van and all associated expenses (and all other operating costs) come off of my income for the year and I will pay 20% tax on the residual profit. I believe the rules are now I can either take the van purchase cost as a one off expense or depreciate it over up to three years.

@Danfire Youre probably best speaking to an accountant if you dont already as i dont really know much about what you speak

I do my own tax returns and use simplified expenses Simplified expenses if you're self-employed - GOV.UK

because it makes it easier and my van was really cheap, if you have an expensive van then maybe you would be better off doing it another way, i dont know.

basically you can use a flat rate for the van mileage rather than claiming tax back on the purchase price, running costs and repairs , its the same with working from home allowances.

 

[purpleroad]

Firstly theres no reason you cant register as a legitamate business whilst being employed, ive done this for two years.
Theres no need to by dodgy In my first year i made about 2 grand loss with buying all the gear so no extra tax to pay

In my second year i was part time employed and part time windows, i still bought loads od gear for the business so again hardly paid any tax

you only pay tax on 10 grand combined remember

As to wether its financially viable to have both vehicles, only you can decide. I have a car and a van id rather just have a van as i only need the car once a week but i do need the car.

Another option is a crew van or pick up but both have their limitations.

As for the made up scenario of losing hours at his PAYE job thats not a consideration just a figment of his negative imagination.

One thing i will say is trying to both jobs will drive him (you?) nuts

your stuck in work when its nice weather and cant get windows done in **** weather, you work half of the day then jump in the van to get changed and try to squeeze a couple hours window cleaning in when it gets dark, its a nightmare

If he/you does decide to do windows alongside another job go as hard as you can as quick as you can and aim to quit the employed job asap dont drag it out, i have done for over a year and it achieves very little

Infact in hindsight if i was to do it again, instead of trying to do both jobs at once. i would stay in my employed job, practice on my own windows, get a website setup, get all the gear, save as much as possible and look to buy a round. then quit and go full time

When you register twice does that mean you risk paying a lot more in NI payments to get the same pension when you retire? PAYEE is class 1 and Self employed is class 2. How does this combination affect your pension payments when you retire? I know with tax this isn't a major problem as equipment can be written off against profits.

The car costs- The car has already been paid for. So extra costs would be - road tax and insurance- so £500 extra on top of van. Is it worth it for p/t gig?

Regarding doing two jobs- well the feeling of getting out of an indoor frustrating job makes the window cleaning so much more enjoyable. Also, a physical injury or rain can stop window cleaning- (then where would you get your money from?)

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I got an mx5 restored

@Danfire I don't know why but I thought you were a fireman not a poncy bleedin hairdresser...

Oh well each to their own. /emoticons/tongue.png

 

[purpleroad]

Also, I hope you're right about having a new van and the new manager not reducing the hours! You really don't think he would? Would jealous fellow employees call HMRC though?

 

[adamangler]

purple getting run over by a bus could put an end to your life

so what?

i cant help but conclude this is a wind up

so im out

 

[peter rogers]

tell him stop being a sponger and pay tax and insurance like everyone else and stop being ****

lol u can have a job and do a pt job also

he shud have a contact in his pt job to stick to

his employers shud be sticking to it also

 

[purpleroad]

tell him stop being a sponger and pay tax and insurance like everyone else and stop being ****
lol u can have a job and do a pt job also

he shud have a contact in his pt job to stick to

his employers shud be sticking to it also

No real contract.- Zero hours contract. The manager can cut hours as and when he wants. Do you think he's worrying too much about getting a van and driving it to work and it affecting hours at work? Or jealousy of other employees?

 

[Bingo]

No real contract.- Zero hours contract. The manager can cut hours as and when he wants. Do you think he's worrying too much about getting a van and driving it to work and it affecting hours at work? Or jealousy of other employees?

I think you should stop talking to your imaginary friend, give yourself a good kick up the ar$e and get-on with your life.

 

[boarcity]

seems youre a worrygut type. who thinks the company and colleagues are out to get you. the truth is they wont even have noticed ur little fiddles prob doing bigger fiddles of their own

now get a grip and lets have your name and address so WE can dob you in

 

[boarcity]

theres also a possibility, hmmm yes indeedeee, that "young purple" is actually undercover HMRC , fishing

and they wont take kindly to p/sstakers

hi Purple,me ol chum , ignore any of my previous posts over the yrs where i stated my daily take. my actual earnings are a 1/4 of what i stated

 

[Dave B]

Also, I hope you're right about having a new van and the new manager not reducing the hours! You really don't think he would? Would jealous fellow employees call HMRC though?

I think i speak for all of us on here who are trying to be diplomatic in how they are wording their answers but that has never been my style

I would call hmrc for sure to stop another uninsured sponger living off my hard graft and ruining the reputation of decent hard working window cleaners who get a hard time as it is

Don't know what makes people feel entitled to **** us over and live off the tax that us honest people have paid all our lives

Either play the game or **** off