Eager to put my foot in, but anxious

Joseph

Hello all,

Since I was very young I've always been very interested in business. I've always liked it and followed the general idea of it. I've also been very into comptuers.

At the stage I'm at now, 16, and extremely computer literate I would really like to combine the two. I have worked with computers as a job for nearly 3 years now. Repairing, tuning, making, adjusting etcerta. But it's always been on a word of mouth sort of thing.

Last year I invested some money into it, bought expert equipment and a labtop so I could do call out jobs to the best of my ability. I am prepared for nearly everything that can be thrown at me.

I want to expand now, not leap but stick my foot into the world of business. I would like to start my own mini-business. But I'm not sure what to do at all, I've researched into Ltds etc coming up fairly blank as to the route I can take.

Is it even possible for me to legally start a mini-business of any kind? I don't mind being legally taxed and doing accounts and yearly reports that's no problem, but do I have to get an accountant to do that for me or could I do it myself?

It will be starting off small scale so there won't be alot of managment to do I'd imagine, but I want to expand myself into software design/programming which I am playing around with at the moment.

I would really apprecaite you're opinions on this, any feedback is good feedback.

information

Deaddude wrote: »

I have worked with computers as a job for nearly 3 years now. Repairing, tuning, making, adjusting etcerta. But it's always been on a word of mouth sort of thing.

Last year I invested some money into it, bought expert equipment and a labtop so I could do call out jobs to the best of my ability. I am prepared for nearly everything that can be thrown at me.

So are you doing all this for free, if not you already have a mini business.

1: Pick up the phone call your local revenue office.
"Say I'm 16 I want to start my own part-time business repairing computers, I'm planning on registering as a sole trader, are there any restrictions becasue I'm only 16 ?
What are the steps I have to do ?"

2: Then you fill in the form to register as a sole trader
3: Fill in the CRO.ie form to register a business name
4: Print yourself up some fliers and stick them in the letter boxes around your area.

5: You will have to record all your accounting transactions
* look at the VAT rules(you don't have to register until you go over a limit)
* you will have to pay taxes each year, you could do this yourself if you are prepared to put some work into researching the details, probably best to get an accountant to do it for you the first year, but no legal obligation to use an accountant.

ImDave

I have a feeling you must be 18 or over to register a business name. Sounds stupid but I recall many years ago when I was about 17 being called up by a woman in the CRO to say I would have to get a parent to register the name on my behalf. May have changed since then however.

narkymarky

Have you checked out the shell livewire site (www.shell-livewire.ie)? Well worth a visit if only for the free info and toolkits online. Also offer a mentoring service.
Good luck