Hi,
I want to start a business in the UK but I want to do it properly. Can anybody help me out?
Mine is a pet-sitting business. I want to go to people's houses and take care of their pets, e.t.c. I already did a CRB check in college, and I've found a website for insurance: https://www.lrms-secure.co.uk/ <assuming that this website is legit?
Is there anything else I need? Do I need to apply for a business license?


(bonus question: would a sixteen-year old get granted for insurance?)

I for one don't click on links. But I would talk to an insurance agent locally, not online. Some companies are good at honoring claims, others just take your money.

You also want to discuss what the insurance covers - the pet itself, the people or property the pet might harm, the property you enter when the owners aren't home?

Are you planning to hire a 16 year old?

A CRB check for under 18's is utterly pointless and unneeded for this type of business.
As for insurance, as you cannot legally enter a contract, until you are 18, you will not be ale to get any form of liability insurance in your own name..

OP is in or has finished college, so I think the 16 year old is someone else..

No, I'm sixteen but I'm from the UK. College works a little different around here. You start when you're sixteen.
Thank you for your responses! So I guess I could get the insurance in my parents' name? Or is this whole business idea pointless for me? Which is a shame, because I was actually so looking forward to doing it.

Have you actually asked around to see if there's a need for this type of thing ?
Pet sitting is only really going to be useful when people go on holidays, i.e. summer..
Also consider offering dog walking as well, gives a wider audience..

People go on holiday in the winter, too. But that's only for people with cats, birds, e.t.c so that I can look into the house every hour or so to check on the animals, feed them, e.t.c. With animals like dogs, however, of course they would have to be excersised so dog walking kind of naturally comes into it. But I wouldn't look after dogs whilst people were on holiday, because that would mean that the dogs would be alone at night. I'm going to offer dog-walking separately. I basically want to offer lots of different things.

Don't you think it's a good idea?

Anyway that's not really what I need help with. I've got all of that sorted out, and advertisement e.t.c. It's things like insurance I'm struggling with.

Have you researched your target market ?

There's little point in marketing a business that has no clients if there is little requirement for such a service.
Also how would you deal with travelling to clients ?

Seems you have part of an idea, but not the complete picture.
Identifying the need is the very first step.

There is a big difference between an adult's business and a minor's. A minor can't even sign a contract under the law. People just aren't going to pay much for your services, so there is no point in spending a lot. You want to get started locally, neighbors and friends, and grow before you spend that kind of money, or get a license. Parents are liable for children until they are 18, so someone could sue your parents if their pet or house or property were damaged, or a pet bit someone while out walking, etc.

I had insurance when I was 16 for my children's swimming class, but that was back in the early 60s, and times have changed. It's even possible that since it was a very small town, the agency sold it to me but it was really in my parents' name. I can't imagine an insurer writing coverage for a minor's business today.

I'm making some business cards that I was going to leave in vets and pet-groomers, so that people can come to ME if they're going on holiday.

Okay, I'm going to have to rethink this whole thing. Thank you all for your advice. I guess I'll get back to you if I think of something else.

*I HATE being a minor!*