starting a business

Have a read of Sewer Rats posts.

Great idea, but it's a lot more difficult to make a living than some of these programmes make out.

I've had two businesses in the past, and can recommend business link as a great starting point (I couldn't be bothered reading their site, so I just gave them a bell - they posted me a *load* of info).

2nd time around, we got an accountant - really useful as first time around we struggled (I'm not a math type person!)

Are you doing this alone, or with a partner?

Try it for a bit, to see how it goes - if you're going to go sole trader/partnership you'll see how it goes (oh and you've 3 months to inform hmrc you're trading).

If you do go for it (I'd say go for it!) keep a track of all expenses as you'll be able to claim this back tax-free, a good accountant will be able to really reduce your tax bill, and show you where you can and can't claim, etc..

Not sure if you'd need food hygene typey stuff for a produce selling business?

Off home now, will post more later

thanks both for the replys , me and my partner will both be doing this ,

At this moment it is only a project / hobbie and we will both be keeping are full time jobs and doing this .

My first thouhts were to start up selling on line and a stall at the farmers market

Like i said we have so many ideas we will be doing a brain storming session this weekend.

Best of luck with it - very sensible keeping in full time employment. Maybe let it grow organically - if you'll forgive the pun.

If you're both continuing work maybe you could ask colleagues if they'd be interested in buying Seasonal veg boxes from you...get a pricelist sorted beforehand to avoid any awkwardness over people expecting freebies.

Good Luck.

I cant remember the figures but I know that loads of new business ideas fold due to cash flow problems, keeping full time employment will help that tremendously.
I think you will need various licenses to sell foodstuffs, no it wont be easy, yes its definitely a current growth (scuse me) industry so lots of others are probably doing similar things... but...
What a pity it would be on your deathbed to still be wondering if it would have worked!!

Best of luck whatever you decide

Exactly - good luck and as Wayne says, read Sewer Rats posts

If you sourced some local meat you could put together organic lunch boxes for delivery to workplaces. Just a thought, but that way you could easily employ everything you produce into one packet, and you wouldn't have to worry about having a glut of something no-one buys as you could choose to put it into the boxes yourself.

Not sure how well it would work, but I can stand for hours in front of a sandwich van or staring at a menu without being able to choose. I'd certainly sign up for a service that does the choosing for you and delivers a different box of grub each day.

Making food eg cakes and Jams isn't all that straight forward in a do it at home sense. You need to speak with the council about health and hygine.

Things like sperate hand washing sink fair to say i can't be making cakes at home to "sell" but if people wanted to donate £££ for a wedding cake who am i to stop them. Contact the council and they'll tell you what you need.

Good luck. My OH set up his own business and has never looked back.

My only question really is why now?..........is it because it is the start of the growing season & has got your mind racing. What are your plans for the winter months?.........sorry, that's 2 questions.

what selling experience do you have? What about trying to sell a few things via eBay to get an idea of what's involved. You don't need to be a shop, just keep it as a hobby for now: no overheads!

Car boot season will be upon us soon, may be a good starting point to do a bit of advertising, giving out leaflets.

Lots to consider before you take the plunge.
One acre is not a lot of land when you need to make a living from it, so you need to ensure that you can utilise every square foot.
You mention selling eggs - from your own chickens? These might take up more space than their income can justify if done on a small scale.
Pigs - not on one acre.
Apple trees - too long before cash comes in.
As far as crops go - as I said one acre is not really a lot to make a living from so you really need to concentrate on high value stuff - the king of crops is strawberries, followed by most of the other berries - you could either harvest them yourself or run as a small PYO eneterprise.
Speak to local garden centres about supplying them with veg plants, blackcurrant bushes (grown by yourself from cuttings), strawberry runners (in pots) - tomatoes wholesale at about 45p per plant, cukes at about 75p per plant and cell packs of 12 brassicas about £1.75) Obviously this is pretty much a seasonal thing, but your young plants and fruit could see you through the summer - it's winter that will be the make or break.
The first thing you need to do is identify if there is a market for what you intend to produce - are there others in your area doing the same (check local Farmers Markets), would the local garden centres be interested.
On the jam and chutney idea - don't be put off - call your local enveronmental Health office - explain what you are thinking about - they'll send you a pack with all the bumph you need to know re hygeine, labelling requirements etc, and if you decide to go ahead, they will come and inspect your kitchen, and make sure you have a grasp of the hygeine routines, sterilising of jars. Mine were very good and helpful. You'll also need a basic Food Hygiene Certificate - (you can sit the exam on-line for £25)
Loads more but brain is addled - if you have any specifics after your brain storming session this weekend, let us know and we can advise further.