Little details about having a self employed therapist

[theatticacle]

Hello,

I have a salon in Norfolk. It is currently only me working there but I am thinking of getting someone in, part time, on a self employed basis.

I have a few things that I am unsure of regarding how this would work. I understand that they are not employed by me and therefore are not working for my business as such so my queries are:

1. Do the treatments they offer go on my price list? Get advertised on my website/social media pages?

2. Although I understand I have no say over the treatments they offer surely there is limitations to this (ie has to be within the beauty industry?)

3. How do i deal with bookings which come through from my social media for treatments they would provide? Just forward onto them?

4. Is a shared booking system acceptable so I could work out their invoice at the end of each week/month.


Honestly any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Mstango]

I rent a room in a salon my treatments have gone on the price list of the shop. As in bookings all appointments are booked in the salon so we don’t double book.

It’s been hard when it comes to treatments as I am more qualified than the woman who owns the salon so in the past there has been a few issues me being double booked, putting in an early appointment and we do t start till half an hour later etc.

Also after 11 months the woman who owns the salon suddenly said she didn’t want me to take booking for new nails clients, so I think you need to be clear from the outset.

I am currently looking to move now.

Hope this helps you.

 

[CoCoKush]

Hello.

It really depends how long you have been in business at that location for and what are your reasons for taking on an additional therapist.

If it's to help you with work load and you both are present same time same place then you still remain in control of your business.

If you are taking her on on days you would like to be off and you are paying for her time to be there then all she does it does her work and that's that.

It a very tricky situation. Please do make sure there is at least one simple form of written contract or agreement.

 

[Traveller75]

Hello,

I have a salon in Norfolk. It is currently only me working there but I am thinking of getting someone in, part time, on a self employed basis.

I have a few things that I am unsure of regarding how this would work. I understand that they are not employed by me and therefore are not working for my business as such so my queries are:

1. Do the treatments they offer go on my price list? Get advertised on my website/social media pages?

2. Although I understand I have no say over the treatments they offer surely there is limitations to this (ie has to be within the beauty industry?)

3. How do i deal with bookings which come through from my social media for treatments they would provide? Just forward onto them?

4. Is a shared booking system acceptable so I could work out their invoice at the end of each week/month.


Honestly any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

Thank you

This is something you can decide with the person. They can have their own price list if they wish but may be happy to join yours, but remember they can set their own prices so may wish to charge more or less than you.

They may agree to shared booking system or may want to use their own.
I would hope they just practiced beauty treatments and didnt start fixing motorbikes in the salon!

You really need to find someone, discuss how you'd both like to work it, then get that all written in a contract, that way you both know where you stand.

 

[BannerPenguin]

This is something you can decide with the person. They can have their own price list if they wish but may be happy to join yours, but remember they can set their own prices so may wish to charge more or less than you.

They may agree to shared booking system or may want to use their own.
I would hope they just practiced beauty treatments and didnt start fixing motorbikes in the salon!

You really need to find someone, discuss how you'd both like to work it, then get that all written in a contract, that way you both know where you stand.

You should never share booking systems. It’s a breach of data compliance as technically the self employed business is sharing client data with the other business.

Likewise HMRC is likely to look at the person renting the chair and say ‘looks like she’s employed to me’ here is a nice fine for back payment of taxes.

Not worth it. The separate line should be very clear.

 

[AcidPerm]

I rent a room in a salon my treatments have gone on the price list of the shop. As in bookings all appointments are booked in the salon so we don’t double book. It’s been hard when it comes to treatments as I am more qualified than the woman who owns the salon so in the past there has been a few issues me being double booked, putting in an early appointment and we do t start till half an hour later etc. Also after 11 months the woman who owns the salon suddenly said she didn’t want me to take booking for new nails clients, so I think you need to be clear from the outset.

Sounds like the salon owner wanted an extra pair of hands but wasn’t willing to risk employing someone. If HMRC were to investigate that set-up, I wouldn’t be surprised if they declared it a sham employment arrangement which she can be prosecuted for. Also, your appointments shouldn’t be via the salon’s booking system as that way you’re allowing her access to your confidential client data.

Definitely focus on finding a new place to run your business ASAP.

It really depends how long you have been in business at that location for and what are your reasons for taking on an additional therapist.
If it's to help you with work load and you both are present same time same place then you still remain in control of your business.

None of that is really relevant when renting space to a self employed person.
They run their own independent business to the salon and manage their own clients. You cannot share the workload of the salon, as such, as your client data and their client data must remain separate and confidential to the two individual businesses.

If you want to reduce the salon workload, you have to employ someone.

 

[AcidPerm]

Having a written contract setting out the terms of the rental agreement is always an excellent idea but it needs to be drawn up properly, preferably by someone expert within the field.

If the salon owner tries to add terms that in any way impede the ability of the self employed therapist/hairdresser to run their own separate business concern within the salon, then, they are foolishly providing written proof of their intention to create a sham employment arrangement.

 

[AcidPerm]

Hello,
I have a salon in Norfolk. It is currently only me working there but I am thinking of getting someone in, part time, on a self employed basis.
I have a few things that I am unsure of regarding how this would work. I understand that they are not employed by me and therefore are not working for my business as such so my queries are:

1. Do the treatments they offer go on my price list? Get advertised on my website/social media pages?
You can do this but if they want to undercut your prices, it’s likely to have an impact on your existing clientele so how will you deal with that?

2. Although I understand I have no say over the treatments they offer surely there is limitations to this (ie has to be within the beauty industry?)
Not at all.
You are just the Landlady so you could rent out space to someone offering hypnotherapy services, for instance.

3. How do i deal with bookings which come through from my social media for treatments they would provide? Just forward onto them?
You can’t pass on your current client details as that’s in breach of data protection laws so you’d need to ensure your clients provide written consent beforehand.

4. Is a shared booking system acceptable so I could work out their invoice at the end of each week/month.
No, because both businesses should be keeping their client data confidential.

Thank you

It sounds like you want someone to take on your clients when you are fully booked but to have any control at all, you must employ them. Otherwise, they automatically become the clients of the other business owner. Could you employ someone on a part-time basis initially?

If you just want to increase your salon income without it affecting your core business, consider renting out space to a separate but possibly complimentary business. So something like hair extensions, Botox practitioner, Hypnotist, sports massage/Physiotherapist, chiropractor etc.

Also, consider ditching a treatment that you’re less keen on and have someone in who specialises in that treatment so a Nail tech, intimate waxer, make-up artist...

More info can be found here:
https://www.salongeek.com/threads/hmrc-guidelines-for-determining-self-employment.295298/

 

[Traveller75]

You should never share booking systems. It’s a breach of data compliance as technically the self employed business is sharing client data with the other business.

Likewise HMRC is likely to look at the person renting the chair and say ‘looks like she’s employed to me’ here is a nice fine for back payment of taxes.

Not worth it. The separate line should be very clear.

Is there no shared booking system available where by a client can book an appointment with a specific person, so none of their data is joined or passed over to other therapists? The frame of software being shared but the actual booking information private to each therapist? I don't know if such a thing exists, would that kind of thing pass compliance?

 

[BannerPenguin]

Is there no shared booking system available where by a client can book an appointment with a specific person, so none of their data is joined or passed over to other therapists? The frame of software being shared but the actual booking information private to each therapist? I don't know if such a thing exists, would that kind of thing pass compliance?

Yes, there is software that will allow someone to book a certain member of staff but both staff members would be 'admins' on the software so they can see everything on the whole system no matter who someone booked with.

Like I say, in HMRC lines the lines would be blurred anyway.
There is really no reason not to operate your own booking system, it's a tax-deductible cost and costs minimal anyway