Business Practice
Outline of Syllabus Contents
1. Advertising standards: methods and wording, creating expectation and making
claims (S12(1) of the Medicines Act 1968).
2. How to advertise and promote your business; marketing skills; advantages and
disadvantages of the different types of employment; choice of premises; homevisiting practice; networking; financial considerations and business plans;
banking and writing a CV. Explanations of business development from sole
trader, partnerships and limited company.
3. Setting up a business; fees, charges and costs and insurances.
4. Taxation and business issues; record keeping; taxable expenses; tax shelter;
personal pensions, preparing Tax Returns and accounts; hiring an accountant;
National Insurance Contributions (NIC).
5. Selling products - Trading Standards; Trades Descriptions Act 1968, The
Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, Consumer Protection Act 1987,
Sale & Supply of Goods Act 1994.
6. COSHH, CHIPS, Health & Hygiene & Safety at Work Act 1974, Veterinary
Surgeons Act 1966. RIDDOR,
7. National laws and Common Law; Byelaws, Local Authority Licensing;
Recommended Reading
Aldred Elaine M., “A Guide to starting your own Complementary Therapy Practice”
(2007), Churchill Livingstone ISBN -0-443-10309-7
Bailey, Anthony The "Which" Guide to Starting Your Own Business: How to Make a
Success of Going It Alone ("Which?" Consumer Guides); Paperback ~ Paperback
288 pages (March 2003) Publisher: Which? Books ISBN: 0852029306
Bickne, Carrie Web Design on a Shoestring; Hardcover ~ Hardcover 250 pages
(July 2003) Publisher: New Riders ISBN: 0735713286
Reuvid, Jonathan & Millar, Roderick Start Up and Run Your Own Business;
Paperback ~ Paperback 292 pages (September 3, 2003) Publisher: Kogan Page
ISBN: 0749440287
Rooney, Kathy (Editor) Good Small Business Guide: How to Start and Grow Your
Own Woods, Caspian From Acorns... How to Build Your Brilliant Business From
Scratch; Paperback ~ Paperback 172 pages (December 12, 2003) Publisher:
Prentice Hall ISBN: 0273688057
Webb P & S (2003) The Small Business Handbook: An Entrepreneur's Definitive
Guide to Starting a Business Paperback 608 pages (December 15, 2003)
Publisher: Bloomsbury ISBN: 0747566909
Inland Revenue Leaflets (available as PDF’s from
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/):
SE/1 Thinking of working for yourself? - Includes an application form to register
yourself as a self-employed person and also to register for National Insurance
Contributions.
CF10 – Self-employed people with small earnings
ES/FS1 – Employed or self-employed for tax and national insurance contributions
SA/BK4 Self Assessment. A general guide to keeping records.
Gives general advice about the records that need to be kept for tax purposes each
year and how long they need to be kept.
SA/BK8 Self Assessment. Your Guide.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/your-tax-return.htm contains a lot of information useful
to the tutor when teaching about tax obligations.
Business Studies
Aims
a. To enable students to be aware of the legislative requirements of both
employment and/or self-employment so as to successfully set themselves
up and market their practice.
b. To have a clear plan for the short, medium and long-term in relation to
the development of their practice and their own self-development to enable
them to make the best use of their existing skills and qualities and build on
those areas in which they are lacking.
c. To make the student aware of the range of employment opportunities
within aromatherapy practice
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students will be able to:
i. Identify the resources and steps required to establish an aromatherapy
practice
ii. Understand how to practice within current national and local legislation.
iii. Promote themselves and their practice using a variety of appropriate
resources
iv. Understand how a regularly updated business plan may benefit their
practice
