Hi guys

Ive been a hairdresser for 12 years and think its time to go mobile. I have a good few clients who i already do at home so should be ok.

I want to be able to keep my income at a low level in order not to have a huge tax bill or anythign like that as thats what im scared off.

has anyone went from being on Jobseekers benifit to working mobile?

1) can you still claim housin benifit in you become self employed
2) what is the most/least you can earn to be able to get your wages increased through working tax credits
3) How can you manage your income with your expenses etc to ensure you dont have a huge tax bill
4) what percentage of your takings can you use as your wages

Hope someone can help

Hiya, going self employed is the same as a regular job. If u go to the job center and ask to be put in touch with their people who deal with business/self employment. You will still be entitled to the same benefits as you would be employed, but no sick pay or holiday pay. In regards to your wages, you will be working alone which is known as being a sole trader. This means that any profit you make wil be yours to keep. You put all your supplies, petrol, insurance, phone basicaly every single thing you use for your business through your business account. You need to be making a huge profit before you have to pay big amounts of tax I dont know the exact figure. Hope this helps id have a trip down to the jobcenter if I was you xxxxx

i dont think you pay tax on less than 4,500 , the inland revenue do a really good start-up course no obligations to go self-employed and its free and run locally all over the uk. Benefits will really depend on total household income, which i usually give an estimate to the tax credit people and then ring through when i do my end of year calcs with the real figure .
Im not sure where it would leave you in terms of rent or morgages .
Only thing that i have found difficult is making use of the goverment paying towards childminders , as my hours are so varied and having to pre -book and pre pay , and percentage of hours said childminder is being used while id be working- they are hardly going to pay for it while i run around sainsburys between clients.

All my profit is my wages . I can take off what i bring in -trade magazines , half my petrol , half my phone , day trips( work related), products etc..
As said before , job centre is a good start or go to inland revenues website .