angeli

I was interested to read the thread about self employment....I too would like to set my own small business here in Italy, in a horticultural capacity. Before fully commiting myself I would like to 'test the market', to see if my plans are viable. Does anyone know how I should go about this without having to pay the prohibited amounts for Tax, IVA and INPS... I plan to make no more than 5000 euros a year as it would be an extension of my hobby...Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

linseed oil

best talk to a comerchlister acountant if you dont speak italian there is a firm i use they speak perfect english and an enquaryt like youre will be free havent got there contact details on me and not sure i could post them if i had send me a pm and ill sort it

Lorna at Vicenza

Angeli,

this might be a way forward for you ........... prestazione occasionale.

Basically it's for one off jobs that last for up to 30 days and no more than 30 days. You don't need a partita Iva. I use this system for translations so if you need any more info just ask.

http://www.okpedia.it/prestazione_occasionale

angeli

Thank you both. I have PM'd you Linseed Oil with e-mail address and look forward to hearing back from you. Lorna, thank you for that too but unfortunately I would be up and running - growing and selling for probably a 6 month slot, May - Oct. Any more ideas ?

Lorna at Vicenza

Ahhhh --- I thought you meant something like doing somebody's garden and then moving onto another different client.

angeli

That would be nice Lorna but now have the opportunity of going back to my growing roots so would like to give it a go....doing something a bit different to the norm' here so not competing with local peeps.... just very wary of starting something that will cost me an arm and a leg before I make a bean for myself ! My tax coding in the uk for 2012 -2013 was 810L, meaning I could earn £8000 before paying tax...how much can anyone earn here before paying tax if such an amount exists ?

Sancho

If I were you I'd ask the Coldiretti. If there are any tax-breaks, start-up grants, etc available they'll know. They help their members with tax.

There'll be an office near you - instantly recognisable from the old men chewing bits of straw going in the door just after breakfast, and the Apes parked outside.

angeli

Thanks Sancho, I will go and see the Coldiretti, excellent suggestion

Sancho

Good luck. Hope it goes well. Have you thought of organic farming / vegetable production ?

angeli

Yes, Sancho, I think there is a demand for organic fruit and veg be it a niche market...However I plan to grow something different.....this is year 1, so fingers x'd something will grow !

Sancho

Any idea of what sort of different you'll be going for ?

If not, here are some ideas:

Potatoes - widely eaten but generally not understood in Italy I think - except the far north of course. Jersey Royals ? (I believe they use seaweed in Jersey, which might be difficult.) King Edwards ? Offer jacket potatoes in the market in winter, with oil or some sort of local cheese perhaps instead of supermarket "fillers". Ditto new potatoes, with oil. Be ready to advise on how they should be cooked. The important thing is that they should taste of something, unlike the potatoes supermarkets sell.

Rhubarb ? Available, but very hard to find. You could sell rhubarb crumble or rhubarb "compote" at first, ready to be warmed up. Then stalks your customers can cook themselves. It's about time Italy woke up to English puddings, like France has.

Anyway, I mentioned organic farming because:

- there seem to be a lot of small organic farmers starting now

- I have a feeling grants may be available from the EU

- possibly tax breaks too

- and support, including advice and training courses, from the organic farming association, which is affiliated to Coldiretti,

- they're a particularly friendly lot in my experience

- it's very timely - worries about horsemeat, GM food, etc

- it fits in with the popular flavours of long ago / our grandparents meme

- you can charge more, so you need less land.


Sometimes they say biologico, sometimes they say ecologico. I don't know if there's any difference. I have an idea there are degrees of organicness, if you see what I mean, depending on things like whether your land has gone the required number of years yet without any chemical fertiliser.

P.S. How about having bit of horseradish to sell ?

P.P.S. Gooseberries ?

angeli

Thank you Sancho, I love your thoughts and agree with you, you cant buy a half decent potato here and no choice. Am just about to order....some gooseberry plants....and rhubarb crowns. May also try growing some from seed. Have PM'd you.

Lorna at Vicenza

I'll buy parsnips in the future but no rhubarb thanks.

Trilly

Definitely agree with Linsead as it's best to employ a commercialista for these things. I was told that if you earn over 7000 euros in one year you must legally contributr to INPS, ask your commercialista about paying tax as there may be small business incentives!?! No doubt these things are set to change next week when the elections take place. What a nice venture!

angeli

Lorna, can you buy parsnips where you are ? We have The Little British Foodshop in Servigliano, Marche and they sold parsnips before Christmas, delicious, peeled and par-boiled them and froze some to eek them out....was a big bag. They do mail order too if you are interested....Welsh leg of lamb arriving early March !