This tag is for questions that relate to doing business in the United Kingdom.
11
votes
5answers
428 views
Running an aggressive promotion against a competing product
We want to run a promotion on our website. In the promotion, if someone can provide us proof of purchase of a competitor's software license, we will give them a free software license of our product.
...
6
votes
7answers
734 views
New Product Ideas - how to get started
I've got several ideas for new products that I think might fill various gaps in the market. However, I'm unsure where to start. I'm not an engineer, nor do I have access to facilities to create ...
5
votes
5answers
214 views
How does one go about finding shared office space, specifically in the UK?
I'm currently working from home, but finding this too solitary, and also need a change of environment in general so I'm considering moving cities. I think this is a great time to branch out of my ...
5
votes
5answers
325 views
Start-ups in the UK
Any specific advice for a start-up in the UK? We're not going to be in London or any other big city, but do you see that as being a problem? (Our products are apps for mobile devices, primarily sold ...
5
votes
3answers
181 views
Does using Fulfilment by Amazon in a different country makes you liable to charge local sales tax in the country?
My business is in Canada. I sell goods online that I ship by mail. I would like to use a fulfilment center in the UK to lower the cost of shopping for my european sales. Do I become liable for local ...
5
votes
1answer
346 views
UK based subscription web app - best payment provider for $5 per month payments
I am currently developing a SaaS product and am at an impasse in terms of how to charge.
The subscription is only going to be $5 per month. Although I'm in the UK, my main market is going to be the ...
4
votes
2answers
513 views
Can I use my personal bank account instead of a company account?
I've just registered a limited company in the UK. I wonder whether this is possible/legal to use your personal bank account until the company has its own account? I want to make online transactions on ...
4
votes
4answers
806 views
Basic legal requirements to set up web design business in UK
I am in the UK and I want to start designing web sites for people, through my own web design company, mainly because it is about the only thing I can do due to a disability. I have set up my own car ...
4
votes
2answers
151 views
Running a startup in parallel with a job in the United Kingdom?
I am a Software Developer who recently graduated from University. I just secured a job with a big company with a nice salary. However I don't really see myself being content with that as I have ...
4
votes
3answers
292 views
Recommend a supplier of (UK) template contracts for software development [closed]
I'm looking to purchase a template contract for delivering fixed scope/price software development projects, dealing with IP issues and everything else that needs to be taken into consideration.
I can ...
4
votes
2answers
340 views
UK Tax for Online Startup Software Company
I currently work full time for a private company and am considering on starting up my own online software company by forming a private limited company. I had a few questions:
I've noticed that the ...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Options for hiring Indian workers directly
My core aim is to hire people directly in India (Delhi) and spend a lot of time there myself (I am a British person with a British passport).
I am interested in knowing what are the best options for ...
4
votes
1answer
444 views
How do I pay myself from a UK-based startup?
I've been self-employed as a sole trader for over a year, but now I want to form a private limited company and trade via that (I'm in IT, and some organisations here won't contract an individual ...
4
votes
2answers
437 views
Suggestions for a merchant account and payment gateway for a UK startup using recurring payments?
We are a new company and have developed an online service that we want to charge a monthly fee to use. So far, we have tried two merchant account providers and have been turned down because we are a ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
I am a US citizen and want to become a partner in a friend's UK startup
I am a US citizen and want to become a partner in a friend's UK startup, helping her start a branch office in the US. What is the best way to proceed with this? What forms need to be filled out?
4
votes
4answers
437 views
Startup Office Space in the UK (or should we just work from home?!)
Does anyone have much experience with finding office space for a small startup (less than five people) in the UK?
There are more and more places out there offering eBuisness or Start-up designated ...
4
votes
2answers
395 views
UK startup bank account for new arrivals
I moved to the UK this week, and want to start a company. A few months ago I registered a Limited Company with Companies House, and I am the sole director of the company.
I was able to open a ...
4
votes
3answers
277 views
What are the most startup-friendly options for mobile payments? (UK)
A young team in the UK has come up with a neat way of creating a social application to help people keep their promises - for instance, keeping up-to-date with their coursework.
Without getting into ...
3
votes
4answers
347 views
How to market web based beauty salon management software in UK?
I'm looking for new ways to market our product, a web based software targeted primarily at spas, hair & beauty salons (and could be used by dentists or other small appointment-based businesses) in ...
3
votes
2answers
251 views
Choosing a company name
Location: UK
I'm thinking about going freelance and having a decent name, and in near future probably convert to a Limited company.
However I found on businesslink.gov.uk that the company name is ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Does a 'Director' need to be an Officer (UK)?
In the UK, are there any obligations (legal or otherwise) for someone with 'Director' in their job title to also be an officer of the company (i.e. registered as a director at Companies House)?
The ...
3
votes
2answers
86 views
Looking to hire designer for a few days. What do I need to know?
I'm probably going to hire a freelance web designer for a few day to complete a project. The designer will probably be freelance so I will be paying a fixed amount on completion. Are there any legal ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Has anyone had any experience with GoCardless?
Has anyone had any experience using UK startup GoCardless for only payment processing?
Get paid directly from your customers’ bank accounts. No merchant account. No credit card fees. No hassle.
...
3
votes
2answers
204 views
Can I claim back in expenses costs of my uni degree?
I've registered a UK limited company which is going to sell online language courses. Can I claim back in expenses costs of my university degree, if the degree is highly correlated with what my company ...
3
votes
2answers
189 views
UK Taxation: Do you need to pay tax on revenue gathered from advertisements and donations
I have a plan for some software / services that I believe can generate some cash through advertisements, selling 'pro' versions of the application in their respective 'app stores' and through ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
Operating a UK limited company from California
Hi anyone that can help!
I have a UK limited company which is web based. I am thinking of spending anything upto 12 months in CA and wondered if its legal for me to carry on running my UK business ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
[UK] Pros and cons of self billing for first time contractor?
I've just started my own company and I'm initially contracting - I've been asked if I want to send invoices, or do self billing. I've had a look online and I can't see any reason not to self bill, ...
3
votes
2answers
495 views
Monthly subscription management service and payment gateway UK
We are currently building a website which includes a monthly subscription plan(s). We have a merchant account with Streamline and looking for a payment gateway.
We would like to use a billing ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
Legal Status of USA/UK Start up forming
I and a partner wish to set up a company. One of us lives in the UK and the other in the USA. We both want to make sure we are one legal entity so we can sell shares, or if the start-up was bought ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
Can a UK company have the same registered office, director's service address, and director's residential address?
I'm going through the process on the Companies House website to create a UK company (at http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/promo/webincs/) and I've got to the page asking for "Details of new director", ...
3
votes
2answers
250 views
UK one-man software house Ltd - should director have employment contract?
Scenario: A one-man, self-funding software developer with a software-licensing business model. Startup is self funding with no revenue anticipated for at least 1.5 years.
My query relates mainly to ...
3
votes
4answers
260 views
How does a UK-formed LLP get a US merchant account? Do we need a US EIN?
We are a UK-formed LLP website trying to allow our US PayPal customers payments remain in dollars without the currency charge to transfer to pounds. How do we get a US merchant account? Do we need a ...
3
votes
2answers
181 views
Manufacturing Polo Shirts
We need to find someone in the UK who can tell/show us how to make small batches of polo shirts.
3
votes
2answers
147 views
Physical server location and place of supply
I have a company which is based in the UK, but I myself don't live in the UK (I do come to the UK from time to time). The company has a registered office address in the UK, but not a physical ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Sending an offer/request by e-mail
Are there in the UK any particular regulations regarding sending business offers/requests by e-mail? I was unable to find any, but for example in my home country, Poland a company can send an e-mail ...
3
votes
1answer
243 views
A very simple multi-currency accounting system
I run a small limited company in the UK which requires very simple bookkeeping.
The company sales online services (internet apps) and the only costs the company have are:
domain and hosting,
...
2
votes
4answers
402 views
What is the most affordable combination for taking credit card payments online from around the world?
I have looked at the similar questions posted and believe mine is different - please read the specifics of my question below:
Assuming we do not want to use PayPal (or Google Checkout etc.), it seems ...
2
votes
5answers
209 views
Are there any startup networking opportunities in the UK?
Are there any networking opportunities for startups (primarily internet entrepreneurs) in the UK - or more specifically, London?
Since we are mostly bootstrapping and therefore need to keep costs ...
2
votes
3answers
163 views
Non-compete clause in social media
I am in talks with one company (to be hired as a web developer) and looks like a contract is going to be signed soon. There are talks about non-compete clause that does not allow me to work in the ...
2
votes
2answers
266 views
Cheques made out in business name (UK)
I am planning on setting up a private limited company with my brother. We are going to register with the companies house with the business name (example) "123". Once we are registered, and have a ...
2
votes
4answers
646 views
Datacenter internet UK? (Where to get 1GBPS?)
I'm planning to have one good server computer (Intel Xeon processor) running some linux server distro handling all the files for my file hosting website. I can buy it plenty of space (I assume I can ...
2
votes
6answers
222 views
What do I need to do legally for an evening and weekends web startup? (UK)
I'm currently working on a web app and associated blog, mainly for experience in web design and marketing, but also to hopefully make a bit of extra money on the side.
I work full time so this is an ...
2
votes
3answers
193 views
How can I find out if a US company has a patent in the UK?
I am trying to set up a leisure centre in the Uk with an idea that is from the US. They have a US patent and say that they have a UK patent pending.
1.How can I find out if they do have a patent ...
2
votes
2answers
270 views
How to start a UK online business? (admin)
A few years ago I had an idea for an online business, its going to operate as a freemium model and simply deal with information no tangible goods. since then I have been creating the site learning ...
2
votes
2answers
261 views
Is Employer's Liability Insurance necessary to operate in the UK?
After doing a bit of research into sponsoring foreign workers from a UK based company, I came across something interesting; according to the UK Border Association, a small business must have ...
2
votes
3answers
118 views
Payment solutions for the UK [closed]
I'm struggling to find a payment solution for my UK based startup. I don't intend to sell internationally for a considerable amount of time. I do have a turnover and can probably satisfy merchant ...
2
votes
1answer
192 views
Can a UK Limited company (with standard articles) issue options?
I am about to start a limited company, myself and the other initial shareholders wish to be able to grant options to individuals who contribute significantly.
We understand that we can't issue shares ...
2
votes
2answers
495 views
Easiest way for UK startup to get onto Microsoft BizSpark program?
For the past few days I have been trying and failing to get onto Microsoft's BizSpark program. I left my day job and incorporated last week and am now setting up my development machines. I really ...
2
votes
2answers
201 views
Extract tax efficient earnings for owner
So, I know this is a question probably for my accountant, but I want to do a little research myself. What is the most tax efficient way to extract earnings as an owner..?
I have a small startup that ...
2
votes
2answers
139 views
UK budget changes June 2010 - move from umbrella to startup own company?
I've been freelancing as a software engineer for a couple of years using an umbrella company. At the time I started, the consensus was that it wasn't worth the effort setting up your own company.
In ...
