The Great British Benefits Handout

[nicanary]

Balmoral said:

nicanary said:

Mother of 6 kids intends to open a sandwich shop. ?

Mother of 4 kids wants to open a shop selling bespoke kids' dresses.

Not to do with benefits telly, but on this subject, my home town has a number of shops that seem to be on a continuous cycle of...

let > repainted & refurbed > trade for 6 months or so > fail > shop cleared > empty for a bit > re-let and repeat.

Each and every time I've thought, how can that possibly work? just doing basic figures in my head for costs and likely turnover, I'll give it 3 months, 6 months or whatever.

Each time there must be a good £30K wasted or written off, or a new bankrupt and a dream shattered. I'm all for enterprise and having a go, but so many seem to have no idea.

I've wondered whether they get the idea from the TV company. They apply and get interviewed, and at the interview they get asked what skills they have. It's then suggested that they open a shop where they can utilise those skills (i.e. dressmaking). It'll make for good TV, even if the poor woman will be completely out of her depth, and the business will have no chance to succeed.

I know someone who had a dressmaking shop - trying to get people through the door is very difficult, because there's just no demand. She went bankrupt.

[nicanary]

How can you spend £700 in Primark? Did she buy the company?

Burger-bar lady says they took £180 in a day. That'll be £90 net, but what about the rent for the site? And the gas, and electric?

Party bus guy loses interest as soon as he finds out there is paperwork to sort out. Where was he going to keep a double-decker?

[nicanary]

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Quite. What's wrong with a bank draft or cashier's cheque? I suspect the vendor insisted on cash.

I know people who do grass-cutting. There's business out there, but round here it's about £10 a lawn. You need to do an awful lot of gardens to make a living.

[nicanary]

cjs racing. said:

e21Mark said:

They're paying him in cash? WTF?

Bet he went straight out and opened a new van around the corner, that has happened a few times around here.

People that buy a business like that generally have no idea of a no compete clause.

The money follows the person, not the van.

I'm not convinced it's going to work out for them.

It's quite possible you didn't see the end credits which contained a trailer for next week's episode. They showed this couple's bank balance. I'll say no more.

[nicanary]

Last episode last night. Virtually every family has spent the lot. Interestingly the burger van seems to have been a good buy - regular takings of £200 per day. I suppose the mark-up is about 100% so that's a net £600pw if you work Saturdays.

The last we saw of the kids' dressmaker suggested she was getting regular orders. I hope these orders are meaningful - £3 income form a craft fair isn't worth the bother. The gardener still suffers from depression and undercharges. No hope for them IMHO.

I still reckon the best bet was to return to paid employment, like that lorry driver. They'll have regular money coming in and no need for sleepless nights.