Getting the basics right
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Make sure you have an address and telephone number where people can contact you.Voicemail is also a really good idea so people can leave messages when you’re not around but remember to sound professional in your message if you want people to have confidence in you. E-mail is also very good for this but if you set up an email address, make sure you have access to a computer so you can check it regularly because emails that sit around unanswered don’t present a good image.
TIP: As an ex-offender you may have difficulty getting a contract for a phone where you pay the bill at the end of the month. Instead, you can buy a pay-as-you-go phone, where you load credits (money) onto the phone and pay for the calls as you make them. It’s also easy to set up a free email address and you might be able to get free access to the Internet at your local library. |
A word of warning Lots of people keep swapping telephone and Internet companies to get the cheapest deals around but, if you’re setting up as self-employed, you could lose business if you do this. You also want to create the image that your business is here to stay and changing telephone numbers and email addresses all the time is not going to help this. |
Think about how people are going to pay you and where you’re going to keep the money you’ve been paid. Also, think about how you’re going to pay your bills, for example for materials you need, premises, tax and so on. The obvious place is a bank account so, if you don’t already have one, getting one opened is something you should consider doing fairly early on in your planning.
There are lots of different sorts of accounts about and most successful business people operate a separate business bank account so the money to do with their work is kept well away from their personal finances. But, in the early days, it’s just important that you have an account of some sort to help you manage your money.
Basic bank or building society accounts
Basic accounts are a good starting point and you may be able to open one while you are still in prison. They are designed for people who could have problems opening other accounts. For example, because they have a bad record of repaying loans or just because they don’t earn much money.
With a basic account, you get a cash card to withdraw money but you can only take out as much money as you have in your account. You’ll also get a debit card with either the Solo or Electron logo on it. This lets you spend your money in shops, over the phone or on the Internet without having to take out cash. You can only spend as much money as you have so you won’t end up with debts. You’ll also be able to set up direct debits and standing orders, which let you pay things like bills straight from your account.
As an ex-offender, you can contact any bank or building society. Banks are required by law to make sure that you are who you say you are so you’ll need to take along some sort of personal identification. This can be:
- a driving licence with identity card
- a passport or
- a benefits book.
You’ll also need to take along proof of where you live. Most banks accept:
- a utility bill in your name such as gas, electricity or water that is less than three months old
- a letter from your landlord or probation office confirming your address.
You will need to go in person to the bank or building society with your identification and fill out the forms needed to open the account. You should be able to do this in a private office and get help from a member of staff if you need it. You may have to wait for a day or two for the bank to make a decision and they will write to you either with your new account details or a reason why they will not open an account for you.
- You should be aware that if you have a record of fraud or are an undischarged bankrupt, banks and building societies could turn you down for even a basic bank account. Pages 4 and 5 of the FSA leaflet on basic bank accounts give details on different banks and who they may exclude.
UNLOCK can also give you more information and support
Credit unions
You may find that as an alternative to banks or building societies you can manage your money through a credit union. These are financial co-operatives, which means that they are owned and run by their members. They used to just offer savings accounts and loans to members but recently some of the larger credit unions have started offering current accounts, which come with debit cards and give access to cash machines and other facilities such as standing orders and direct debits. Some do charge a small fee for operating the accounts and most credit unions have membership conditions, such as living or working in a certain area.
The following website has more information about credit unions or to search for one close to you, use the site’s credit union search facility.
It’s a fact of life that people make judgments about what you’re like by looking at you so, if you don’t look the part for your work, you may find you never even get the opportunity to demonstrate how good you are. You’ll be giving your business a big helping hand if you spend some time thinking about the right way to present yourself.
- Bank managers and anyone you might be seeing to borrow money or get a grant from will probably want to see you smartly dressed.
- For jobs involving elbow grease like mending cars or cleaning windows and houses, you probably won’t be taken seriously if you turn up in a three-piece suit or with very long, immaculately painted nails.
- Safety gear like hard hats and special boots or motorcycling leathers are essential for other work.
