Selling prints and unemployment?

rokklym

Nevermind :patch

Chris H

Not sure about the states but in the UK you can have as many businesses as you like. I'm a working architect (one of the few) and have just set up as a limited company for my photography. They're entirely seperate and if I was made redundant from my current job (a distinct possibility), the photography wouldn't affect and redundancy pay.

Art Scott

rokklym wrote:

So a couple days ago I got notice from my employer that July 20th is my last day of employment. I'm getting a 3 month severance package and then unemployment and I'm hoping to go to school after I get the boot.

I happened to be taking photos as a side business and its pretty slow, but the other day I was out for a motorcycle ride and took a photo with my point and shoot that has gotten very popular with my friends on face book and I've already sold 2 11x14 prints. I know thats not much, but those people are asking about other prints etc and hey, its good advertising.

I have a pro account on smugmug and I haven't set prices on the site yet, mainly because I'm not sure how having a side business will affect my unemployment compensation. There is a good chance that my sales won't be enough to affect anything but I really can't risk it.

Any hints, suggestions, words of wisdom?

each state is a bit different but Ks deducts 2$ for each 1 you make during a benefit week........until they decide to stop payments altoghether......best to just check with your UEI office on their current rules and regs.....or only accept cash............

jfriend

rokklym wrote:

Yeah, I kind of figured that each state would be different. I might just have to have the sales go through me until the unemployment runs out. Thanks

I find it interesting that you guys are openly discussing ways to defraud the government and hide income so you can collect more unemployment. In case it didn't cross your minds, that's illegal.

termina3

jfriend wrote:

I find it interesting that you guys are openly discussing ways to defraud the government and hide income so you can collect more unemployment. In case it didn't cross your minds, that's illegal.

Absolutely. But stealing from an impersonal, larger-than-life entity that just booted you is pretty easy.

What they're proposing is wrong. That said, I empathize in the sense that those who "manage" money pay less than 20% a year while those who earn can pay up to 40%. If the richest of the rich can get that kind of break, why not let the little guy?

jfriend

termina3 wrote:

Absolutely. But stealing from an impersonal, larger-than-life entity that just booted you is pretty easy.

What they're proposing is wrong. That said, I empathize in the sense that those who "manage" money pay less than 20% a year while those who earn can pay up to 40%. If the richest of the rich can get that kind of break, why not let the little guy?

We can all empathize with someone who lost their job. But that still doesn't mean I condone illegal activities as some form of retribution or entitlement.

It's flat out illegal. Many parts of life are unfair, but using that as a justification for doing something that's illegal or unethical is just wrong and much of civilized society starts to break down if we suddenly think that's OK and can all make our own rules anytime we've been dealt a bad hand.

You can see where this leads to. Why shouldn't the guy who had few chances at a decent education be allowed to rob banks then or defraud the welfare system or steal from the IRS?

Art Scott

John.....it is not illegal to work an make money while collecting unemployment here....as I stated Ks deducts $2 for everyone you make.......make money turn it in and it is deducted off your weekly benefit.....they shut you off after several weeks of doing this to make you reapply and prove you weren't cheating and just turning in partial income....you show you only made X amount and BAM!!!! Your drawing your benefits again and paid full back benes.....it is not illegal.....it is the way it works........Spitir and Boeing both have made aggrements to allow workers to wrk 3 days and draw UEI benes with the state of Ks to keep from laying people off......

Of course I have no idea about your state....but UEI is state by state.....not federal govt......just like welfare......state by state........

Accepting only cash is only illegal if one is lead to not turn it in........that is a personal choice.........

jfriend

Art Scott wrote:

John.....it is not illegal to work an make money while collecting unemployment here....as I stated Ks deducts $2 for everyone you make.......make money turn it in and it is deducted off your weekly benefit.....they shut you off after several weeks of doing this to make you reapply and prove you weren't cheating and just turning in partial income....you show you only made X amount and BAM!!!! Your drawing your benefits again and paid full back benes.....it is not illegal.....it is the way it works........Spitir and Boeing both have made aggrements to allow workers to wrk 3 days and draw UEI benes with the state of Ks to keep from laying people off......

Of course I have no idea about your state....but UEI is state by state.....not federal govt......just like welfare......state by state........

Accepting only cash is only illegal if one is lead to not turn it in........that is a personal choice.........

It's pretty darn easy to interpret your previous statement about checking on the rules or just taking cash instead as less than ethical.

I've said my piece.