[8weekly]

Id think before rushing in 8weekly, it sounds good having a unit and something different to your business that makes you feel good however say its going to cost you £500 a month, thats 30 grand blown in 5 years...a lot of money.
I was going to get a unit a few years ago but instead bought another house to rent out as 1 came out in an ideal location which is actualy next to my house where i live which has a large garage that i use aswell as my own so i guess im lucky to have 2 garages next to eachother that does me for work but all i use them for is making and storing water.
Maybe  think about doing the same sort of thing, paying for a unit is dead money unless its realy needed!
Cant you have your boys fill up at there houses by supplying them ro systems in the vans and take the vans home with them as a perk of the job??Id rather that and save 30 grand over 5 years than lose 30 grand in 5 years to keep the vans warm in winter and to make water having a computer and desk which can just as easy be done on your lap in your own home?..

Both employees (second starts in April) live in flats. There's two vans parked in the drive at the moment and I anticipate a third at the end of the summer. I really want a unit before the third van arrives (although there's a neighbour I dearly like winding up).  We could accommodate the third van with some juggling but it isn't what I want. It adds stress in getting ready for employees arriving. It's too much of an intrusion with employees and vans.

If you knew me you'd know that I don't run before I can walk and it is something I anticipate happening after I've picked up around 200 more customers (hopefully end of the summer).

[Tom-01]

I definitely do think with a multi van operation it's a necessary evil. As has been pointed out the cost for a unit over 5 years is eye watering, add to that running the vans and all that entails etc etc. If you're constantly getting work in that's great. Good going 8 weekly - if I Knew how to do a 'thumbs up' icon I would.

Tom

[Smudger]

thats £45,000 over 5 years.wow!thats a hell of a lot of money for a unit.you could buy 4 brand new vans for that outright.

So where do you suggest I put 5 vans, 2 trolley systems, 4 floor scrubbers, generators, gutter vac's 6,000 litres of water storage, spares etc....

Guys can't take them home, the vans have different drivers different days - 2 part timers and I'm not happy for them to fill at home and stop the vans freezing up during the winter months, as said a necessary evil

Darran

[Shane sharples]

I definitely do think with a multi van operation it's a necessary evil. As has been pointed out the cost for a unit over 5 years is eye watering, add to that running the vans and all that entails etc etc. If you're constantly getting work in that's great. Good going 8 weekly - if I Knew how to do a 'thumbs up' icon I would.

Tom

👍

[Dave Willis]

We started with a small 500 sq ft. Unit which nicely fitted in 3 vans all the water storage and RO plus spares ladders gutter vac and a nice sized work bench etc...
Very lucky it's in my village and council run cost £550 p.m.
Now moved across the yard to 1000 sq ft. Costing £750 p.m

I think it's an expense I could do without at times, however all vans are inside, free from frost, any repairs can be done in the dry, all storage,spares, etc are easily accessible and dry! and for those who worry about staff moonlighting they can't because the vans are at base not on the employees drive.

Farms are a great source for cheap units, but have drawbacks in that many are not easy to access, muddy farm yards, smell of cow,pig,chicken sh!t€ and the water or more importantly electricity supply is not always the best.

Look on gumtree or daltons weekly (if it still exists) for lock ups or small units

Darran

thats £45,000 over 5 years.wow!thats a hell of a lot of money for a unit.you could buy 4 brand new vans for that outright.

Where do you get these new vans at £11,250?

[Tom-01]

We started with a small 500 sq ft. Unit which nicely fitted in 3 vans all the water storage and RO plus spares ladders gutter vac and a nice sized work bench etc...
Very lucky it's in my village and council run cost £550 p.m.
Now moved across the yard to 1000 sq ft. Costing £750 p.m

I think it's an expense I could do without at times, however all vans are inside, free from frost, any repairs can be done in the dry, all storage,spares, etc are easily accessible and dry! and for those who worry about staff moonlighting they can't because the vans are at base not on the employees drive.

Farms are a great source for cheap units, but have drawbacks in that many are not easy to access, muddy farm yards, smell of cow,pig,chicken sh!t€ and the water or more importantly electricity supply is not always the best.

Look on gumtree or daltons weekly (if it still exists) for lock ups or small units

Darran

thats £45,000 over 5 years.wow!thats a hell of a lot of money for a unit.you could buy 4 brand new vans for that outright.

Where do you get these new vans at £11,250?

China

[Tom-01]

thats £45,000 over 5 years.wow!thats a hell of a lot of money for a unit.you could buy 4 brand new vans for that outright.

So where do you suggest I put 5 vans, 2 trolley systems, 4 floor scrubbers, generators, gutter vac's 6,000 litres of water storage, spares etc....

Guys can't take them home, the vans have different drivers different days - 2 part timers and I'm not happy for them to fill at home and stop the vans freezing up during the winter months, as said a necessary evil

Darran

Also don't forget storage for your lunchbox Darran 

[Smudger]

You been talking to Mrs smudger again 

Darran

[Rogue Trader]

I pay £300 to rent some land on a yard that has utilities. I bought 2 cheap Portacabins, 1 is my office the other is for the equipment and lads have access to it. and a garden shed that I have 2 x1000ltr ibc tanks. Loads of space to park the vans etc. Yes it is an expense but it is a business expense, tax deductible and necessary. I used to run the business from home and I hated it. Vans outside, lads turning up at 6 pm with a half completed worksheet and a sob story. It was a nightmare. I have been where I am for 4 years nearly and my business has gone from strength to strength.  It has by far outgrown anything I could gave done from home. I agree that some business expenses are unnecessary but business premises if you wanna grow are a must.

[Matt.]

The cost of the unit is offset against turnover anyway, so as long as you earn enough to cover the costs it all good.

As for running your business from home and the thinking oh al build an extention with garage down stairs office upstairs and have the company pay for it  ........ It's not that straight forward. Ask ya accountant for details.

[Smudger]

The cost of the unit is offset against turnover anyway, so as long as you earn enough to cover the costs it all good.

As for running your business from home and the thinking oh al build an extention with garage down stairs office upstairs and have the company pay for it  ........ It's not that straight forward. Ask ya accountant for details.

Very true

Darran

[SeanK]

The cost of the unit is offset against turnover anyway, so as long as you earn enough to cover the costs it all good.

As for running your business from home and the thinking oh al build an extention with garage down stairs office upstairs and have the company pay for it  ........ It's not that straight forward. Ask ya accountant for details.

Very true

Darran

Its far from true, for a start only a percentage of the unit price can be offset against turnover in other words around 27pence from every pound spent, Tax and NI.
Building your own extension might not be the best way for offsetting tax but it will certainly save you more money long term
and you will still have something of value to show for the money.
Renting any property is dead money and should only be done if your getting it for peanuts or there's no other option.

[Smudger]

home improvements that are claimed for  business use will be taxed as capital gains when you come to sell your house, there is a minefield about what you can claim and what you have to pay back on your property,

If you rent a house then run a biz from it and say use 2 rooms ( 1 bedroom and a dining room ) and use 1 bedroom and lounge for personal use you can claim 50% of the rent against the biz. ( kitchens, toilets, bathrooms don't count ) you can not claim any part of a repayment mortgage payment against the biz.
(Only a percentage of the interest of that payment)
Rent of the unit is 100% deductible cost against the biz - that's its sole purpose, just like diesel

Darran

[SeanK]

home improvements that are claimed for  business use will be taxed as capital gains when you come to sell your house, there is a minefield about what you can claim and what you have to pay back on your property,

If you rent a house then run a biz from it and say use 2 rooms ( 1 bedroom and a dining room ) and use 1 bedroom and lounge for personal use you can claim 50% of the rent against the biz. ( kitchens, toilets, bathrooms don't count ) you can not claim any part of a repayment mortgage payment against the biz.
(Only a percentage of the interest of that payment)
Rent of the unit is 100% deductible cost against the biz - that's its sole purpose, just like diesel

Darran

Nobody  is saying the unit isn't 100% deductible  but all that means is for every £750 you pay on rent you pay around £203 less on Tax and NI but that's still a shortfall of almost £550 a month.
All I'm saying is that the money might be better spent on an extension or a property with land to build your own unit as the
lose in tax relief will be more than covered by the extra value added to your property and savings on future rent.

[Smudger]

The cost of the unit is offset against turnover anyway, so as long as you earn enough to cover the costs it all good.

As for running your business from home and the thinking oh al build an extention with garage down stairs office upstairs and have the company pay for it  ........ It's not that straight forward. Ask ya accountant for details.

Very true

Darran

Its far from true, for a start only a percentage of the unit price can be offset against turnover in other words around 27pence from every pound spent, Tax and NI.
Building your own extension might not be the best way for offsetting tax but it will certainly save you more money long term
and you will still have something of value to show for the money.
Renting any property is dead money and should only be done if your getting it for peanuts or there's no other option.

Looked pretty much like you said it ? Hence my reply, but I may have misunderstood ?
As said, I'd prefer not not have rent, however finding a property with enough space to build then run a fine line in tax, tax gains etc is not straight forward, then if I had a nice property would I really want loads of vans and an industrial unit in the front garden ? I think not

Darran

[sunshine windows]

Buy your own farm, simples!