Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: JSMC on September 27, 2011, 02:44:09 pm

Title: business accounts
Post by: JSMC on September 27, 2011, 02:44:09 pm
do you all use them or just use your normal bank account?

i am with nationwide and just bank my cash in there each month.

what are the pros and cons ?
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Mike #1 on September 27, 2011, 05:37:11 pm
business account with bank of scotland ,  you need to keep all your business expenses separate , easy to keep track off for myself and accountant .   MIKE
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: dave.e on September 27, 2011, 05:45:47 pm
do you all use them or just use your normal bank account?

i am with nationwide and just bank my cash in there each month.

what are the pros and cons ?


my accountant told me not to bother with a business account being a sole trader because it was not worth it so took is advice and just use my own account now and saving loads of charges happy days.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: stuart mc on September 27, 2011, 05:52:26 pm
how do you lads bank cheques in your company's name with no business account, or recieve BAC's from clients
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Lee GLS on September 27, 2011, 06:05:42 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: stuart mc on September 27, 2011, 06:14:24 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account

I can't see my commercial work agreeing to that, it makes you look like you are on the fiddle, even if you aren't, not very professional
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: mike roberts on September 27, 2011, 06:26:09 pm
co operative bank ....free business banking ;D ;D
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Lee GLS on September 27, 2011, 06:27:40 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account

I can't see my commercial work agreeing to that, it makes you look like you are on the fiddle, even if you aren't, not very professional

So why are you bothering with this topic, its quite obvious that you cant have a normal current account and have cheques with a business name going into them.

I have my commercial work make cheques in my name, I dont see the problem, and why wouldnt they agree, you clean their windows you say make it out to Mr... how can they refuse, and why does it not look professional?????
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: stuart mc on September 27, 2011, 06:36:20 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account

I can't see my commercial work agreeing to that, it makes you look like you are on the fiddle, even if you aren't, not very professional

So why are you bothering with this topic, its quite obvious that you cant have a normal current account and have cheques with a business name going into them.

I have my commercial work make cheques in my name, I dont see the problem, and why wouldnt they agree, you clean their windows you say make it out to Mr... how can they refuse, and why does it not look professional?????

I am bothering with this topic because the poster asked for pro's as well as con's of having a business account.

so for me cons, monthly charges
pro's I can receive cheques in my company name and do business to business in a normal professional manner, not knocking either method.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: dave.e on September 27, 2011, 06:39:33 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account



lee you got it in one
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: dave.e on September 27, 2011, 06:41:40 pm
Get the customer to make them out to your name, don't bother with a business name on a cheque. Anyone can send a BACS transfer, so again it doesn't need to be a business account

I can't see my commercial work agreeing to that, it makes you look like you are on the fiddle, even if you aren't, not very professional



i will pro-tend i did not read that one mate :o just because you do not have a business account don't mean a thing >:(
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: mike roberts on September 27, 2011, 06:56:22 pm
Some major commercials we work for would only pay into a business account as per name on purchase order or proforma.

One bonus is the accountant does not see my personal account - and why should he ?
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: stuart mc on September 27, 2011, 07:32:34 pm
Exactly mike

lee/dave not having a pop or suggesting you are on the fiddle, but you have a company name, website etc. advertising your business name, if you were doing work for me I would expect to paying that company name, Imagine contacting a supplier and he said yes send a cheque to joe bloggs, because that is what we are to the clients a supplier.

I just can't imagine after having a web site picking up a commercial and producing my invoice with the company name on it and saying make cheques payable to another name
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: dave.e on September 27, 2011, 07:54:16 pm
Exactly mike

lee/dave not having a pop or suggesting you are on the fiddle, but you have a company name, website etc. advertising your business name, if you were doing work for me I would expect to paying that company name, Imagine contacting a supplier and he said yes send a cheque to joe bloggs, because that is what we are to the clients a supplier.

I just can't imagine after having a web site picking up a commercial and producing my invoice with the company name on it and saying make cheques payable to another name



i do not do commercial work and will never do any i have a big house i do he as a invoice every month his wife works has a tax inspectors' and when i started she made the cheque out to my business name then i closed the account down and she now makes the payment to my   personal name witch she has no problems with. in all the years i have been doing window cleaning i have never had problems with cheque being made out to my name and if the tax office wanted to see my account then fine i would high lite every thing because i have nothing to hide. not only that if they did a investigation on me or any one else you would have to show your personal account anyway so can not see the problem.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: stuart mc on September 27, 2011, 08:18:07 pm
Dave I don't have a problem with how you do it, I was trying to show the poster some of the upsides of having a business account, but as you don't do commercial it doesn't matter to you. but it may well to him.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: mike roberts on September 27, 2011, 08:22:26 pm
Look no ones having a go  ::) why is this side of the forum so xxxxxxx jumpy ???

As you say you only do domestics, but for large commercials its not just a simple matter of asking them to adjust cheque and make it out in you name. Usually it takes forever to set up account everything needs to be 'ticked' off.
Hence far easier to have a designated business account and yes ..sorry I still think it looks more professional especially if you have supplied a written quote / invoice under your company name... as Stuart has posted.

My comment about accountant does not see my personal account - for me personally i hate them like estate agents >:( I can view his companies data turnover etc ....But not his personal account, so why should he be privy to mine? - but thats me just being mad  ;D ;D Obviously the tax man can see it no prob :P
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Dave. on September 27, 2011, 09:04:39 pm
I'm looking to change my business account  from LloydsTSB as the charges are getting steadily higher each month (which must mean I'm paying in more  cheques ;) )

I don't pay in cash because it's too expensive to pay that in, instead that covers my day to day running costs and drawings.

Is the CO-OP free business banking regardless, or do you still have to be a member of some small business association which is affiliated to them?

I like the look of Santander, but as the nearest branch is about 20 miles away, does anyone know if you can pay in at the post office or other banks without being penalised?
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: dave.e on September 27, 2011, 09:10:30 pm
Dave I don't have a problem with how you do it, I was trying to show the poster some of the upsides of having a business account, but as you don't do commercial it doesn't matter to you. but it may well to him.



OK mate no offence taken just me having a mad moment
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: mike roberts on September 27, 2011, 09:19:24 pm
I'm looking to change my business account  from LloydsTSB as the charges are getting steadily higher each month (which must mean I'm paying in more  cheques ;) )

I don't pay in cash because it's too expensive to pay that in, instead that covers my day to day running costs and drawings.

Is the CO-OP free business banking regardless, or do you still have to be a member of some small business association which is affiliated to them?

I like the look of Santander, but as the nearest branch is about 20 miles away, does anyone know if you can pay in at the post office or other banks without being penalised?

I think you may have to be a member of fsb costs around £160 ish, buts once your in totally free cash cheques or fast trac payments, you can use postal service, bank or local post office (if you still have one!) you then receive loyalty payment every year £25. (wow but better than nothing!)
I used to be with lloyds cost a fortune how can they charge for cash deposits drives me nuts >:( >:(
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Frankybadboy on September 27, 2011, 09:23:16 pm
no need to have charges on you business account,there plenty that offer free banking for life.


also paying business money in to a personal account is not allowed by the banks,read t&c or small print of your account.

ive swapped over to santander 5 mths ago for free banking for life from the hsbc who where chargeing me £25/£30 a month.
when swapping over i got £100 from santander for do this,so far so good.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: mlscontractcleaner on September 27, 2011, 09:27:15 pm
We're with Santander and have been for a long time; never had a problem with them. No charges either so everyone's a winner ;D
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Frankybadboy on September 28, 2011, 07:11:35 am
We're with Santander and have been for a long time; never had a problem with them. No charges either so everyone's a winner ;D
;) ;D
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: andrewwebb1 on September 28, 2011, 08:17:31 am
Been with NatWest for over 30 years and have been paying my cheques into my personal account for the last 8 years. Paid some cheques in a few days ago and the cashier said that I must have a business account. she said that she will pass my details over to the business section who will contact me.
Firstly I dont really need a business account as all I do is pay in my cheques. Anybody else had this problem and if so what can I do about it?
They already agreed ages ago that I could use my current account for paying in cheques but now this.

Andy.
Title: Re: business accounts
Post by: Dave. on September 28, 2011, 01:56:29 pm
They probably changed their terms and conditions!

It's likely they'll give you a year or two free business banking - which gives you time to look around for the best free banking deal for you.

I had two years free with Barclays, then changed to Lloyds and had two years with them - but it ran out about a year or so ago, quite a few of my customers pay by bank transfer and have my account details - If i change to Santander I'll have to update the customers too.

What I'll save on bank charges will pay for some healthcare insurance - so I'll definately be better off