TheIronLady
New Member
So as many of us are, we are all going through our own nightmares.
I'm based in Edinburgh (My Clinic is around a 35-40 Minute commute from my home address), I set my clinic up years ago when I lived in the local town and have always been happy commuting back and forward and worked this around childcare etc.
So far the only grant that we have been eligible for was £10,000 at the beginning of the first lockdown, every other grant or loan we have been denied and it feels like after speaking with the local council today it's highly unlikely we will get any more and even if so it would be a very minimal amount.
The £10,000 is long gone on rental costs and other costs that come with running the salon, as well as some of it on surviving with mortgage costs at home etc, I'm a single parent and all I receive now (after months of fighting for it) is Universal Credit, which covers essentials for me and my little girl and that's it, it certainly doesn't cover the cost of running a closed down business.
My landlord had been as flexible with me as possible but its now nearly two months he hasn't been paid his rent because quite simply I cannot afford it.
This leaves me in a huge PICKLE! I am registered as self employed not a LTD company, and I specialise in package treatments, i.e a course of 6 Laser Hair Removal Sessions for X Amount. Now most of my existing clients who have paid for packages are either halfway through, had the first couple of treatments or are waiting to begin their first treatment. They pay in advance upfront in full and it can be anywhere from £149 for a package of 6 for the upper lip to £999 for full body. I usually see my clients once per month and some I even class as friends and do live nearby me. Therefore of course I can set some sort of home setup (when we are allowed) and finish their treatment, but is it reasonable to ask the clients who have paid for a package and booked at a clinic 40 minutes away to ask them to change and come to me until I get back on my feet? I'm sure 99.9% of clients will understand but I'd be annoyed! and I certainly don't have the money to issue refunds to everyone.
I don't know where I stand legally, the business bank is empty. So do I put a big spiel on my business page and website explaining we are closing completely, but will aim to treat the clients who are willing to travel when we are allowed and those that cant travel sadly will have lost their money or can they make some sort of legal case against me? I just hate to put my clients in this position as I love them all but I have until the end of this week to get all my equipment removed from the salon so I need to start thinking of what and where I stand for when the time comes in the future and its safe for us to re-open...
I'm based in Edinburgh (My Clinic is around a 35-40 Minute commute from my home address), I set my clinic up years ago when I lived in the local town and have always been happy commuting back and forward and worked this around childcare etc.
So far the only grant that we have been eligible for was £10,000 at the beginning of the first lockdown, every other grant or loan we have been denied and it feels like after speaking with the local council today it's highly unlikely we will get any more and even if so it would be a very minimal amount.
The £10,000 is long gone on rental costs and other costs that come with running the salon, as well as some of it on surviving with mortgage costs at home etc, I'm a single parent and all I receive now (after months of fighting for it) is Universal Credit, which covers essentials for me and my little girl and that's it, it certainly doesn't cover the cost of running a closed down business.
My landlord had been as flexible with me as possible but its now nearly two months he hasn't been paid his rent because quite simply I cannot afford it.
This leaves me in a huge PICKLE! I am registered as self employed not a LTD company, and I specialise in package treatments, i.e a course of 6 Laser Hair Removal Sessions for X Amount. Now most of my existing clients who have paid for packages are either halfway through, had the first couple of treatments or are waiting to begin their first treatment. They pay in advance upfront in full and it can be anywhere from £149 for a package of 6 for the upper lip to £999 for full body. I usually see my clients once per month and some I even class as friends and do live nearby me. Therefore of course I can set some sort of home setup (when we are allowed) and finish their treatment, but is it reasonable to ask the clients who have paid for a package and booked at a clinic 40 minutes away to ask them to change and come to me until I get back on my feet? I'm sure 99.9% of clients will understand but I'd be annoyed! and I certainly don't have the money to issue refunds to everyone.
I don't know where I stand legally, the business bank is empty. So do I put a big spiel on my business page and website explaining we are closing completely, but will aim to treat the clients who are willing to travel when we are allowed and those that cant travel sadly will have lost their money or can they make some sort of legal case against me? I just hate to put my clients in this position as I love them all but I have until the end of this week to get all my equipment removed from the salon so I need to start thinking of what and where I stand for when the time comes in the future and its safe for us to re-open...