Start up a school visits program

Had a meeting with a business advisor which went over stuff we already knew and confused us about whether to become a limited company or not.

1 step forward, 5steps back.

Went to the book keeping course today (with Miriam and Kev) and as I had NO background in it whatsoever I was MILES behind everyone else. It didn’t help that the tutor was whizzing through it all too fast for me (because of having to try and translate it all as I went) coz everyone else understood.

The test at the end took me nearly an hour – everyone else took about 35/40mins. We had to fill in a sheet of pay ins and expenditures (as we’ll have to do for our businesses) then do a summary sheet of it with the end profit clearly calculated (like you’d submit with your tax return). It reminded me of maths exams where they tell you to show all the working out steps :S Though it took me way longer I then understood it and managed to get all the right answers.

It was bloomin hard work but I got there. Then I heard the guy was doing another course after lunch so I called mum to get her to pick us up after that one.

The second course was all about VAT and other taxes. I didn’t struggle as much having just understood the morning course by now (lucky I could do it all in one go!) I learnt that as Andy, Miriam and I are all going to be directors we need to do 4 tax returns – one each plus the one for the business. At least it’s just the short from as we shouldn’t be earning enough to make us have to do a long form (thank god!) We also learnt about national insurance brackets, dividends, wear and tear costs etc.

All in all I felt great after the 2 courses but my brain does feel a tad melted lol! At least I know I’ll have a basic grasp on what to do with the books and I can repeat a course if necessary at a later date when we’ve actually started trading and the book keeping and taxation comes in in full force!

Hit a bit of a speed bump in terms of financial projections. Miriam was wondering how we can make it viable. Was a TAD worried yesterday but am trying to think of ways (by hook or by crook) to make this work.

Miriam’s nearly there on the registering side of things and has been looking into insurance too.

I’ve been researching bank accounts and Abbey National is looking the best so far.

We’ve written our blurbs about ourselves for the business plan and have just got to write the summary – that last bit to do, which is the first proper page in the plan – to draw in any possible grant givers in the future.

The 1st May finance / book keeping course was full but I’m booked in for the 18th May, which was added due to popular demand in Stevenage :)

We’re getting there slowly but surely and are hoping to do our first paid school day in 10weeks time! Fingers crossed that we’re ready in time (with paperwork authorised and sent back to us) to do it!

Went over our mate’s business plan (Caroline – “Down The Woods”) in our meeting having all made notes on it as to how to adapt it to our business.

Miriam took mine&Andy’s notes home with her to begin to type it all up on her laptop which she’ll bring to the next meeting so we can edit it together more easily than exchanging e-mails about it.

Registering the company seems pretty straightforward thanks to “Companies House” (2 forms and 2 written bits to send off for £20).

Bank account… Am thinking HSBC or Barclays. Am gonna do my research when this bank holiday is over – Tuesday afternoon / Wednesday.

I’m gonna go on a book-keeping course coz one of us has to be able to do the books, and “secretary” and “history buff” roles are taken already lol! The soonest one is 1st May in Stevenage so I really hope I can make it to that one, otherwise it’s WGC or Bishops Stortford in June or July.

.Sigh. Getting there. After this it’s the insurance to sort out!

Our second evening with both groups went really well too!

I told a story about Odin to get them gathered around and listening (first week we did the mock-burial) then they went to continue the 6 activities.

At the end they filled in some basic feedback forms telling us their favourite activities and drawing a picture – SO adorable! We got a couple of adults to fill in more complex forms which we can use on our website along with the photos Caroline took for us :D YAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!

Caroline also e-mailed me her business template so I could see a more kinda plain English version rather than confusing yuppy-speak, and be able to write ours :D YAY! I hate Business Link, they confuse me :S (And they managed to send me to Tilbury instead of Luton for a course and never reimbursed my train fare but that’s another story).

.Sigh. So yes, all this is totally exhausting (what with working at The Camp too) but it’s worth it longterm!

We carried on having weekly practices in the cubs church hall and did our first evening for them on Friday!

It went SO unbelieveably well!!! We were all so enthused afterwards, and went for dinner to celebrate and decide how to start and end next Friday’s evening with them.

We’ll hopefully start with another Viking story, then go to the activity tables for them to do the ones they didn’t get a chance to do the first week, and finish off with some feedback time. I love it when plans come together :)

Here comes the boring business-y nuts and bolts part…
Caroline is being SO helpful it’s just awesome! I’d spoken to Andy and Miriam previously about business plans, registering the company vs self-employed, business bank accounts and insurance and it was practically dismissed. Caroline brought up all these points without even seeing my notes and I think that made it hit home a bit harder to them as our “homework” this week is research on all of the above! YAAAYYY!!!

Caroline also said that she knows an accountant who should take us on, and advised us to bank with HSBC. Me having previously researched this stuff and knowing about all their small business initiatives had already thought them to be the best option. I was just SOOO glad to have someone neutral agreeing with me on major issues that were being ignored before :D

End business-y rant.

So yeah, all is going so well I can’t believe it!!! I just hope we can all look through the options and ultimately decide painlessly :S That’s my only worry. Either way, we’re really getting there now. It’s just so good to be able to see it all coming together after like a year of planning, buying and making!

We finally had our first practise like last week (and I’ve only just got round to writing!)

It went REALLY well using Caroline’s cubs’ church hall! We got our intro pieces written and practised setting out all the activity stations to see what kit we have/need. I’m in the process of writing a full inventory and will continue that next time.

Since the practise, I’ve written up blurbs for the activities and done some more research for it. My sister and her mr have also offered their help with the financial/business plan side of things :)

YAAAAAAAAAYYY PROGRESSSS!!! That’s the gist of it anyway lol.

Ok, so Tuesday practise at the cub hut didn’t happen but we’re gonna plan it for a day next week… I hope.

Note to self: Not Monday as I’m cooking dinner for Andy&I and Ben&Amy as we haven’t done that in about a year.

EDIT: It was a formal dinner party – first one I’ve ever done – and it went flawlessly! HUZZAH!

Today brought another meeting about the business…
We now have a bundle of our fave design of the business cards, a perfect A5 flyer for museums etc. and have resolved to go to Caroline’s cubs meeting hall on Tuesday for a first run through of kit and activities (just us, no kids) so we can see it all put together so far.
Miriam has also pre-shrunk the linen we bought at TORM, ready to get stitching w00p! Am crazy nervous about costume making but really looking forward to getting it done though! Once costumes are done we’re well on our way to being ready for our first “taster” sessions with said cubs pack. CAN’T WAIT!!!