Florist News

hello im sharon and im new to floristnews, im looking for some advice on starting my own private floristry, ive been a florist for seven years working for other people although ive been out of work for two years due to being a new parent and now i would like to work from home privately, i need some advice on how to purchase stock at trade without a vat number to start with?

you don't need to have a vat no but you do have to register with the inland revenue to go self employed it is difficult setting up on your own are you sure about working from home you have to remember you can only target a certain type of client that way where as if you had premisses then you can get passing trade if i didn't have that i wouldn't survive and my bills are very small you don't need a big shop i have one that is 15ft by 5 and its a little gold mine.You will have to look into what market you can target while using your home address also you have to be careful if you rent but i am sure Ianf can help out with this one he is successfully working from home

Pottyxx

Hi Sharon, welcome to the site - am sure you'll get lots of good advice here. In my limited experience you don't need to be VAT registered. I've recently set up part-time from home and all I needed to do was tell the tax man (as mentioned by Potty). My wholesaler doesn't require any kind of VAT details. Are you targeting a specific market? Events? Weddings?

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www.treesfloraldesign.co.uk

At our wholesalers you don't need a VAT number just bona fida co name, although Van Vliet are a whole different ball game, they want your shoe and bust size along with a minimum spend of around £2000 a year to keep your card. Hello and welcome by the way, I'm a Sharon too, curse of a name isn't it? Well it is for me I live in Essex!

yes im hoping to just target on funerals as due to recently done flowers for family members and now due to someone seeing my work is wanting me to do a wedding next month and i dont want to buy from my local florist as of prices, and knowing you can get them half the price from wholesalers.

hi ya i live in bucks and the wholesaler near me said that i need a business name and a vat number(being all stuck up) AND I TOLD HIM MY NAME !! so yes it must be a curse lol

very bizarre sharon some shops don't register for VAT for the first year cos legally don't have to till your turnover is 60 thousand i think. Try a less grumpy wholesaler

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Sarah Creating Bespoke Wedding Flowers Cheshire

Just out of interest... have you not considered working in a shop again?

Yes, but because i have my daughter not at school yet, i wanted to do some private work until she starts.

have to considered freelancing i know i'm looking of one and with xmas coming up you can charge your own rate and say what hours you can work also the florist are staring to like this way as you pay your own tax and ins i know it would be good for me