Clean It Up

UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neil Harvey on July 10, 2013, 02:30:02 pm

Title: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Neil Harvey on July 10, 2013, 02:30:02 pm
I have not long started my own oven cleaning business and was working on the basis of being a sole trader. However one accountant I spoke to has suggested coming a ltd company to save on tax. It seems to me like a lot of paperwork for not much more gain. Plus as a sole trader I could do the tax returns myself. Any thoughts out there from people who are just one man bands like me?
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Rob_Mac on July 10, 2013, 04:07:00 pm
Neil

The amount of turnover would be relevant, the commercial client base you have, we can't presume that because you have only just started you don't have some nice contracts.

From my perspective being Limited adds a certain amount of credibility and the clients I work with like to work with other VAT registered  & limited companies we are turning over a small profit and  am sure at some  point, last November, my accountant explained the reasoning why we went limited but it is lost in the fog of my brain.

It has clear benefits but I leave all that to my accountant - accountancy bills definitely go up when you go limited, my accountant lives in a very nice house ;D

If you are just tootling along don't stress yourself too much, just yet, with being limited, build your revenue & business first

All the best

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: B Bailey on July 10, 2013, 05:38:51 pm
Agree with Rob.
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: BDCS on July 10, 2013, 06:36:37 pm
I'm a one man band,Vat reg'd sole trader, turn circa 70k and my accountant also lives in a very nice house
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Rob_Mac on July 10, 2013, 07:31:28 pm
Carl

We should have done better at school :(

Rob ;D
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: BDCS on July 10, 2013, 08:31:54 pm
I'm doing slightly better than the teachers who said I'd never be an achiever  ;)

I had a bit of a think about a reciculation system - I want to pump the water out of the swimming pool, through the hot box and back into the pool  ;D
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Darranvps on July 11, 2013, 06:52:51 am
I'm doing slightly better than the teachers who said I'd never be an achiever  ;)

I had a bit of a think about a reciculation system - I want to pump the water out of the swimming pool, through the hot box and back into the pool  ;D

Great Idea!
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Kev Martin on July 11, 2013, 12:49:59 pm
I have not long started my own oven cleaning business and was working on the basis of being a sole trader. However one accountant I spoke to has suggested coming a ltd company to save on tax. It seems to me like a lot of paperwork for not much more gain. Plus as a sole trader I could do the tax returns myself. Any thoughts out there from people who are just one man bands like me?

Being a Ltd Company limits any liability you have to the share value of the company.  As a sole trader if you screw up in someone's house big style and you don't have liability insurance they can come after you personally and your personal assets if you are Ltd they can't unless they can prove that your actions caused the problem and  therefore you did not fulfil your responsibilities as a Director of a Ltd company.  i.e. you go in and clean someone's gas oven with petrol and you ignite the Gas to dry it out and the lot explodes :o :o :o

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Steven Butler on August 04, 2013, 09:46:02 am
Is there any benefit at all to a very small business carpet cleaning, oven cleaning, whatever, with very small turnover going LTD? Or is it purely for larger businesses?
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: BDCS on August 04, 2013, 10:05:46 am
Your accountant would tell you the answer to that but if you don't have an accountant then probably not
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: chris scott on August 04, 2013, 10:12:10 am
Ltd companies are good for me ...as i can go online and check out how much money people who are giving me advice on running my business are actually making ;D
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Diamond standard ltd on August 04, 2013, 10:59:21 am
I have not long started my own oven cleaning business and was working on the basis of being a sole trader. However one accountant I spoke to has suggested coming a ltd company to save on tax. It seems to me like a lot of paperwork for not much more gain. Plus as a sole trader I could do the tax returns myself. Any thoughts out there from people who are just one man bands like me?

Being a Ltd Company limits any liability you have to the share value of the company.  As a sole trader if you screw up in someone's house big style and you don't have liability insurance they can come after you personally and your personal assets if you are Ltd they can't unless they can prove that your actions caused the problem and  therefore you did not fulfil your responsibilities as a Director of a Ltd company.  i.e. you go in and clean someone's gas oven with petrol and you ignite the Gas to dry it out and the lot explodes :o :o :o

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd
+1
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: chris scott on August 04, 2013, 11:31:11 am
I have not long started my own oven cleaning business and was working on the basis of being a sole trader. However one accountant I spoke to has suggested coming a ltd company to save on tax. It seems to me like a lot of paperwork for not much more gain. Plus as a sole trader I could do the tax returns myself. Any thoughts out there from people who are just one man bands like me?

Being a Ltd Company limits any liability you have to the share value of the company.  As a sole trader if you screw up in someone's house big style and you don't have liability insurance they can come after you personally and your personal assets if you are Ltd they can't unless they can prove that your actions caused the problem and  therefore you did not fulfil your responsibilities as a Director of a Ltd company.  i.e. you go in and clean someone's gas oven with petrol and you ignite the Gas to dry it out and the lot explodes :o :o :o

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd
+1
I would have thought you would have been held responsible for your actions LTD or not. I would not regard being Ltd as any sort of immunity (for your actions).  Surly the correct public liability would cover this?
Title: Re: Ltd Company or Sole Trader
Post by: Kev Martin on August 04, 2013, 02:27:21 pm
Chris

I wrote this over 3 weeks ago.  Look at Limited liability and make your own decision.

Kev Martin
Marblelife Ltd
Tiling Logistics Ltd