Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about joining, your profile, features and growing your business with JSO.

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  What is Just Starting Out?

  Just Starting Out is an online service provider that enables new business owners (professionals) to advertise their company to the general public (customers). Services are usually offered at reduced price, or are sometimes free of charge.

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  How does it work?

  Customers can search for a particular service (e.g. a hairdresser) on our website, or, may want to browse all services in a particular area. Customers can also 'post a job' (e.g. 'hairdresser wanted'), which will automatically notify registered professionals who match the service criteria.

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  How much does it cost?

  We pride ourselves on being an affordable option for new business owners, as we understand that starting a business isn't cheap. We have various price-plans for you to choose from, so you can select which one works best for you considering how many months exposure you would like to have on our platform. The even better news... We are offering FREE sign-ups for all when we launch, for a limited time only!

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  Are there any hidden charges or monthly fees?

  No, we don't believe in hidden charges or on-going fees. The only payment we require is the upfront cost when you choose your price plan.

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  How would a potential customer pay me?

  All payments for services provided are directly between you (the professional) and the customer, including forms of payment (bank transfer, etc.). We always encourage costs to be discussed and agreed by both parties prior to a service being carried out, and we would always recommend that services are paid for upon completion.

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  What should I charge my first few customers?

  This is completely up to you and we would encourage you to thoroughly consider your charges (bearing in mind your qualification level and experience) before you advertise on our platform. Many professionals advertise their Just Starting Out hourly rate on their profile, whereas others advise that charges are dependent on service requirements and can be negotiated.

  Remember that our site advertises services at reduced prices, so when deciding charges, consider what you are hoping to gain in terms of building your business. Often, a strong testimonial, or a customer agreeing for you to take photos to use for your portfolio is more valuable.

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  Do I need to be qualified?

  At the same time as endeavouring to support all new businesses, Just Starting Out upholds a duty of care towards all users through ensuring a robust professional registration process. There are particular professions where qualifications are advantageous but not essential (dog walking services, for example), and others whereby qualifications are imperative (building services, for example).

  Upon registration, you will be able to indicate whether you are qualified, (and if so, for how long you have held a relevant qualification), awaiting certification, currently studying, or unqualified. If you are qualified in your area of work then you may wish to upload your qualification certificate to your profile gallery, for customers to view. To safeguard all Just Starting Out users, we regret that there are a number of professions whereby only qualified professionals are able to register.

  Did you know there are over 70 free courses available through Free Courses in England? These courses are a great way to add professionalism to your profile. Popular options include Customer Service, Business Start-Up, and many more-perfect for boosting your skills and credibility.

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  Do I need to be insured?

  Yes. All professionals who register with us will need to confirm that they hold appropriate business insurance. You may want to upload a certificate of your business insurance to your profile gallery for customers to view.

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  What happens when I come to the end of my price plan?

  We will notify you by email one week before your chosen price plan is due to expire. Once this time period has expired, your business will automatically stop being advertised on our site. If you wish to continue advertising with us, you can purchase another price plan at any time.

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  Can I stop advertising my company on Just Starting Out before the end of my price plan?

  Yes. You can stop advertising your company with us at any time by pausing or deleting your account.

Learn how to find and connect with trusted local professionals on Just Starting Out.

• info

  What is Just Starting Out?

  Just Starting Out is an online service provider that enables new business owners (professionals) to advertise their company to the general public (customers). Services are usually offered at reduced price, or are sometimes free of charge.

• search

  How does it work?

  Customers can search for a particular service (e.g. a hairdresser) on our website or app, or, may want to browse all services in a particular area. Customers can also ‘post a job’ (e.g. ‘hairdresser wanted’), which will automatically notify registered professionals who match the service criteria.

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  Is Just Starting Out free to use?

  Yes, Just Starting Out is completely free for customers to use.

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  How much should I pay a professional?

  This is dependent on the requirements of the service provided, and should be discussed and agreed with the professional before any services are carried out. Many professionals advertise their Just Starting Out hourly rate on their profile for you to consider/compare. Other professionals advise that charges are dependent on service requirements and can be negotiated.

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  Are professionals on Just Starting Out qualified?

  At the same time as endeavouring to support all new businesses; Just Starting Out upholds a duty of care towards all users through ensuring a robust professional registration process. There are particular professions where qualifications are advantageous but not essential (dog walking services, for example), and others whereby qualifications are imperative (building services, for example).

  Upon registration, professionals are able to indicate whether they are qualified (and if so, for how long they have held a relevant qualification), awaiting certification, currently studying, or unqualified. Professionals are also able to upload qualification certificates to their profile gallery, for customers to view. To safeguard all Just Starting Out users, we regret that there are a number of professions whereby only qualified professionals are able to register.

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  Are professionals on Just Starting Out insured?

  Yes. All professionals who register with us have confirmed that they hold, or will hold, appropriate business insurance before they perform their first service. Many professionals choose to upload a certificate of business insurance for customers to view. Just Starting Out does not independently verify insurance documents; presence on a profile reflects the professional's self-declaration.

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  Do professionals on Just Starting Out have DBS or other background checks?

  Where a profession requires it, professionals must confirm they hold a valid DBS (or equivalent) check before they can accept customer enquiries or jobs through Just Starting Out. Professionals may also upload or declare check details on their profile. Just Starting Out does not carry out DBS checks and does not independently verify certificates; a check shown on a profile means the professional has confirmed it. If a background check matters to you, we recommend asking to see the original document in person.

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  In what ways could I support a new business if I am satisfied with the service that I have received?

  This is what we love to hear! There are many ways in which customers can support professionals after receiving a good service. These include writing a testimonial, telling friends and family (spreading word-of-mouth), providing a rating/review through our platform, or allowing the professional to take photographs of the service that they have provided for marketing purposes (images for their business website, etc.). We would encourage you to speak directly to the professional in order to find out how best you could support their new business.

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  What should I do if I am not satisfied with the service that I have received?

  This does not make us so happy, and we are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with the service you have received. As Just Starting Out is a connection platform, we accept no responsibility for the outcome of services provided. We would strongly advise you to discuss the matter with the professional who has provided the service, and try to reach a mutual agreement and fair outcome. If, however, after 14 days have passed and an outcome has not been reached, you can submit a formal complaint by reading our complaint policy and subsequently completing our complaint form.