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• # 118357
• Sun 02 Feb 2020 08:37 AM

At long last I think I may have my first client !!

The potential client runs a pet sitting service for home owners who are busy at work all day and also  takes care of the pets in their home while the owners are on holiday etc.

She wants to know a lot of information regarding  claiming her expenses as detailed below:

1. What expenses can she claim?

2. She is thinking of buying a new car specifically designed for pets and  wants to know the best way to claim that on expenses - perhaps capital allowance?

3. She wants to build a porch at her home specifically for pets and wants to know the best way to claim for that as expenses.

4. She is thinking of taking on 2 more staff due to the growing business but on zero hours, and wants to know if she needs to pay minimum wage etc.  Also one of the employees will be reaching pension age soon and wants to know if this has any effect.  The other employee is a lot younger and wants to know how to deal with maternity pay etc if she decides to start a family and also holiday pay.

5. She is also planning to go on a nutritional course for pets and wants to know the best way of claiming that for expenses.

6. Regarding the 2 other employess she plans to  take on, she wants to know if it's best to provide them with a business car to take the pets around or ask them to use their own car.


Being my very first client, I am very scared of getting anything wrong, so I rang HMRC the other day regarding all this just to get an idea, but they refused to tell me anything!!

Can someone me where else I could get help with all this?

Any advice from you kind folks much appreciated.

• Hi Folks
  
  I live in Wolverhampton.  does someone know which would be my local network?
  
  Many Thanks
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• # 118383
• Wed 12 Feb 2020 12:46 PM

Hi,

Congratulations on getting your first client. Unfortunately, I can’t offer any help with your questions, but thought as you hadn’t had any replies to your query I would at least make a comment.

I am considering applying for a practice licence, but am worried I will end up in a situation like you where I am being asked questions that I feel out of my depth with. Despite passing my level 3 and SAT courses with great grades I just don’t feel confident enough to go it alone.

I appreciate this is no help to you, but at least you know someone understands your current situation. Good luck

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• # 118385
• Thu 13 Feb 2020 09:31 PM

Thanks farge.

Please keep in touch - we can help each other along !

• Hi Folks
  
  I live in Wolverhampton.  does someone know which would be my local network?
  
  Many Thanks
• 
  Quote
  

• # 118391
• Fri 14 Feb 2020 06:13 PM

Congratulations on getting your first client, it can be very daunting when you first start off. I have always found it best to try and get a feel for a clients business by asking some of my own questions. So in answer to her question as to what expenses can she claim you need to know what every day expenses she incurs related to her business i.e. does she have a dedicated phone line/mobile phone or does she use one that is also used for personal use, does she supply dog treats, towels for cleaning muddy paws etc or are these supplied by the owners.  Once you know what she thinks she pays out you can then introduce expenses she may not realise are claimable or related to her business.  If the car is used solely for the business yes she could claim however are you providing a full accountancy service for her or just bookkeeping services - if she has an accountant as well she should speak to them about capital allowances and permenant alterations to her home.  She will have to pay minimum hourly wage rates based on the hours they work at the rate applicable to their age (you may find the ACAS website helpful was a great help to me when I used to do the payroll for a care agency on zero hours for calculating holiday pay and maternity pay etc which again will depend on how much they earn but there is help for small employers with SMP)

Hope this helps a bit

geek84 said:

“At long last I think I may have my first client !!

The potential client runs a pet sitting service for home owners who are busy at work all day and also  takes care of the pets in their home while the owners are on holiday etc.

She wants to know a lot of information regarding  claiming her expenses as detailed below:

1. What expenses can she claim?

2. She is thinking of buying a new car specifically designed for pets and  wants to know the best way to claim that on expenses - perhaps capital allowance?

3. She wants to build a porch at her home specifically for pets and wants to know the best way to claim for that as expenses.

4. She is thinking of taking on 2 more staff due to the growing business but on zero hours, and wants to know if she needs to pay minimum wage etc.  Also one of the employees will be reaching pension age soon and wants to know if this has any effect.  The other employee is a lot younger and wants to know how to deal with maternity pay etc if she decides to start a family and also holiday pay.

5. She is also planning to go on a nutritional course for pets and wants to know the best way of claiming that for expenses.

6. Regarding the 2 other employess she plans to  take on, she wants to know if it's best to provide them with a business car to take the pets around or ask them to use their own car.


Being my very first client, I am very scared of getting anything wrong, so I rang HMRC the other day regarding all this just to get an idea, but they refused to tell me anything!!

Can someone me where else I could get help with all this?

Any advice from you kind folks much appreciated.

”

• N Willett AICB CB.Cert

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  Quote