Assistants and extra children

[jamiebec2000]

Morning all,
I am sorry if this is repeated somewhere else I've had a look but can't find anything,
I am hoping to have a 17' x 11' extension built which will be used as a play room, there will also be a downstairs toilet, so I don't really need to use any other part of the house for my cm business (exc Kitchen).
My question is does anybody have an assistant working with them? or work with another cm?
Assistant ~ How does it work ~money wise/ are you their employer, do you have to do the tax/national insurance etc for them before you Ive them wages
CM ~ How do you work out money and who claims for what? For example if you are reg for 3 under 5 each do you only take payment for 3 each? or is it separated differently due to running costs of the business ~ heating etc?

Also does anybody know how many children ofsted would let me have in the new play room?

And does the assistant/ Cm work for anybody or has it been too much of a problem

Sorry for all the questions, they might not make sense as I have so many thought going through my head, what if.... will it work...... will i lose out money wise etc

Why is nothing we do an easy decision to make lol

Thanks in advance
Rebecca

[mel]

A friend of mine works with another childminder and they keep separate contracts and the homeowner claims the tax relief on heating / lighting etc. I think they share the cost of resources. I think they have found it easier having their own contracts but just enjoy working alongside each other. As far as assistants go, I have registered my husband as one, but only to make the hols easier so not sure how it works in a more 'professional' way!
Sorry can't be of much more help.

Mel x

[Pauline]

Hi Rebecca

My husbands works full time as my assistant.

Ofsted base the number of extra children on how much space you have per child - the ratios are stated in the childminding standards booklet and vary depending on age. We had to work that out for ourselves and then tell Ofsted how many children we would like to have as a maximum, funnily enough they suggested we had MORE than we asked for!

Paying an assistant varies - As my husband lives here and has a say in the business, he is registered as self-employed and is paid some of the income.

As regards employing someone who is not a relative - THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION THOUGH SO DON'T TAKE IT AS FACT ................. If you read the inland revenue definition of self employed/employed then it does say something about 'having a say in the running of the business', which obviously a stranger that you employ as an assistant wouldn't have, so therefore I assume you would have to pay them a wage, which would have to be the minimum wage plus do their tax and NI.

I base the above on reading this from the Inland Revenue website:

You are probably self-employed if you:

* run your own business and take responsibility for its success or failure
* have several customers at the same time
* can decide how, when and where you do your work
* are free to hire other people to do the work for you or help you at your own expense
* provide the main items of equipment to do your work

You are probably employed if you:

* have to do the work yourself
* work for one person at a time, who is in charge of what you do and takes on the risks of the business
* can be told how, when and where you do your work
* have to work a set amount of hours
* are paid a regular amount according to the hours you work, and get paid for working overtime (even if you do casual or part-time work, you can still be employed)



I know two childminders who work together in one of their homes. They are allowed 6 under 5's but obviously if one of them was ill then the other could only have 3. Again space is a deciding factor.

The running expenses (gas/elec etc.) go on the accounts of the one who's house they use and the other buys all the toys and equipment to help bring her income down. If you get what I mean.

Hope that helps

[chell]

admin said:

Hi Rebecca

My husbands works full time as my assistant.

Blimey, how many do you have? Isn't it awkward working together? :lol:

[Pauline]

chell said:

admin said:

Hi Rebecca

My husbands works full time as my assistant.

Blimey, how many do you have? Isn't it awkward working together? :lol:

LOL! Oooops what a typo!! Only the one thankfully!

Seriously though, it's fantastic, it's the best thing we've ever done (work wise ) wish we had done it years ago.

Luckily we get on so well and love being together, always have - 32 years married, and I can honestly say, hardly a cross word. He's my best friend and I'm sure I'm his.

We get plenty of time apart as sometimes he has children upstairs in the playroom while I have babies etc. downstairs. Or if the numbers are low I take them out to toddler/cm groups etc.

Don't think it would work for everyone though.

[mel]

It sounds great Pauline, but I don't think me and my husband would work that well together - he will be great in the hols (in small doses) as he will be responsible for our children anyway. Its great you both enjoy the same work.

Melx

[daisychainminder]

when i was registered previously i employed a part time assitant, you are responsible for their tax and ins and any other pay i.e sick, maternity pay if they earn above thersh hold currently about £80 so if they were earning less then this you dont pay tax or ins ofsted wise i was registered for 6 under 5 and 6 5-8 i also had to get permison from parents if she was to be left alone or driving them i worked ok but if you wanted someone full time i would split the hours between two cos if there sick you wont be letting to many parents down

[carolinel]

ah, that' lovely Pauline - i would love my hubby to work from home as my assistant but he just wouldn't be able to hack it!