What is the cost/What should I charge?

[janefoster]

Hi everyone, looking for some pointers here, so if anyone can give me their opinion it would be great!
Ok, started a little business (just 2 of us) and working from my home so no real cost involved, (couldnt afford to pay anyway!) Now expanding to 6 (bit of a squash but Ok for a few months)....potential offices in Jan 2010. What amount can I realistically charge back to the business as a rental for the expense of using the ground floor of my home? (Its not the full floor as theres also a double garage on that level (3 storey house)....the area we are using is around 250sq ft but obviously staff will use the upstairs kitchen and the loo etc.
I feel I should be compensated as though I were a landlord as such but can't be greedy as this would impact on the business.
Thanks in anticipation!

[accountantpete]

Personally I would advise only claiming for the proportion of expenses that relate to the office space (get the total expenses for the house and multiply it by the fraction that the office space bears in relation to the house as a whole).

Expenses can include mortgage interest(not capital),council tax,power bills,insurance, etc but I'd advise you to have a chat with your accountant beforehand.

[janefoster]

Thanks for that. I thought about doing a calculation of that sort. This is very short term but the impact on the rest of the family is quite significant so feel justified in levying a charge. Will run it by someone as soon I have come up with a figure.
Thanks for your reply!