[Fast 1 *]

My mate tells me that you have to have a business account.I dont personally have one,and put my cheques in a personal account.Does it really matter?can they stop you from doing this?I know they charge a percentage on cheques if you have a business account.I am a sole trader,using my name,not a company name.On my flyers though,it says GM window cleaning services and a customer wrote this on a cheque.I told her to change it to my name,and i think she assumed i was avoiding paying tax(which im not).I know someone else who doesnt use a business account,and he runs thousands through his account.Could someone enlighten me.

[macleod]

i can enlighten you....

stand over here whilst i shine my tourch 

[Fast 1 *]

tourch?

[Johnboyfree]

i can enlighten you....

stand over here whilst i shine my tourch

  I liked it even though spell check doesnt work

In answer to youre question,No you dont,as long as you can prove to the taxman what payments were for business and what were personal,,,,,,

[Sunshine Cleaning]

Partnerships and LTD companies need business account . Sole Traders do not.

[Mr.G]

my bank made me have one, cos of the amount of cheques i was putting in. [HSBC]  Anyone know of a bank that doesn't mind? cos they're charging me  around 15 quid a month...

[neil100]

You need to record seprate Entries or withdrawls that are used for private or Buisness use.

Its Preferable to have a seprate business account and private account.

Nel.

[Moderator David@stives]

It looks so much more professional with a business account.

"Who do i make the cheque out to, Mr Fast One   or  GM window cleaning ?."

Which is the best reply ?

Dave

[Fast 1 *]

The thing is i also do work for builders on C.I.S,and have always traded under my name.I know what your saying about it sounding more professional,but its a liberty to charge you on every cheque for the privelage.What are the benefits?
Anyway,dave--whats wrong with Mr Fast One?

[WavieDavie]

whats wrong with Mr Fast One?

Absolutely nothing.

But if someone makes out a cheque to your trading name and you ask for it to be made out to your own name instead, it looks a bit iffy. For all they know you could be an employee or subby of GM window cleaning taking the money for yourself. I know, I know . . . but you asked!

[Ian_Giles]

I'm the same as fast one, I did have a business account, but like him I also got hacked off with the constant charges for everything.

On my invoices I print in bold, highlighted text; 'If Payment is by cheque, please make  payable to; Mr I giles.

Works for me

I'm with Lloydstsb, free overdraft facility and no charges for anything, they no longer offer the particular account I have, and they keep offering to upgrade my account to another one....but this one is better than the new ones!

Ian

[macleod]

i was told (not sure if it is true) that if you say to your bank you sometimes get cheques made payable to GM window cleaning and sometimes Mr Fast One then you can pay it into the one account. 

[Moderator David@stives]

You will not find any big companies using private accounts for there banking.

I am a great believer in doing everything right from the start.

All bank charges are tax deductable and for the extra info shown on my statements , its more than worth it to me.

[windows_chepstow]

My mate tells me that you have to have a business account.I dont personally have one,and put my cheques in a personal account.Does it really matter?

I also use a personal account.  I've read on this forum that a business account is required if you work in a partnership, but not as a sole trader.

On my flyers though,it says GM window cleaning services and a customer wrote this on a cheque.I told her to change it to my name.

This happens to me quite frequently with cheques posted to me, even though I have clear payment instructions left with the envelopes.

All I do is use a similar pen to the one use already on the cheque and put a line through my company name and write my own name above it.

I then put a small 'squiggle' on either side of my correction.

Technically, this is probably illegal, but hey, the money is for payment to me and it would just be too much hassle to then send the cheque back or go round and get the customer to amend it.

No-one is going to contest my amendment and my bank accepts the cheques without any problems.

[robbie14000]

Fast One, Even though you are a sole trader you can have a business account with both your name and business name so you can pay both in.
I have one and it works well apart from the more cheques you get the more they charge you (£60.00+ a month at the moment)
I am looking for a new bank as you can recieve free banking with certain banks for a set period so it is worth changing every few years.
Also Abbey national do one where you can pay up to 100 qheques in a month without charge for life.
Good Luck Robbie -Clearshine - harrogate

[Fast 1 *]

 my real name is not Mr Fast One

[Fast 1 *]

theres no way im paying £60 a month charges.You get caned enough with tax

[windows_chepstow]

theres no way im paying £60 a month charges.You get caned enough with tax

Fast One, there's no probs using a personal bank account.  I prefer mine.  The bank I use is handy for me and the girls in there are great.

The only charge I have is that I give the girls a bottle of wine and a big box of Quality Street each Christmas, to keep 'em sweet.

Anyway, how's your round going, mate?  Are you still brick-laying, are or you a full time window cleaner?

[WavieDavie]

If you're paying in loads of cheques and don't like being stung - £60/month FFS - there are a couple of things you can do.

1 - CHANGE BANKS! investigate Abbey and Co-Op

2 - If you don't want to change, put your excess balances into a high interest account . Hopefully the interest will more than offset the charges.

That'll be a fiver, thanks.

[Fast 1 *]

hello tosh,
All next week im working in greenwich,bricklaying for a builder.Got quite a few private jobs aswell.Have just knocked a load of window cleaning out in the last couple of days with a young lad.We done about £250 on friday and i paid him £70.Thats £180 in my bin.Thats the way i would like to go,but i havent got loads of work yet,hense still doing building.Im going to go knocking soon and try and get some more.My girlfriend is(hopefully) going canvessing in bluewater shopping centre for me as shes got a couple of days offMe and my mate do a large shop in there friday and wenesday nights and its a good earner.Thats where the money is.How you doing tosh?