Just learnt about the trivial expenses rule and wasn't sure whether they need to come from a business account or if they could be bought by a director and claimed back eg amazon gifts?
Edit: For context and clarity I am the company director
Im sure this has been asked before but cant search so apologies. Im looking at buying a pet shop approx £25k to £30k . Ive not got any experience of buying a business but assume I would need to use a solicitor to purchase.Any advice would be helpful. My main question is what would be the average cost of solicitors be , any recommendations if allowed.
TIA
I’ll try to be brief.
I’ve always owned a car personally. Mainly because in years gone by the tax implications weren’t great, and I didn’t want another vehicle to add to our small fleet of vans (I drive one of the vans).
Our car needs changing now - we only have one at home, which my wife drives - and I’m thinking of trying one through the company this time.
I’m not ready for full EV, I’m thinking of maybe Volvo XC90 phev, used not new.
Please don’t answer “why don’t you ask your accountant”, because this is simply a first foray to get others experiences. I will speak to the accountant as a next step.
I run a children entertainment company. We have had a rough year. More cancellations than ever. I am considering shrinking the business.
We have had a steady growth of about 20% per year and Our turnover this year is about £120k. We have been vat registered since November. I have 1 permanent employee and a handful of contractors. Our profit this year is £25,000. The business is getting unmanageable for a few reasons, and the contractors are not happy that they are getting less work. I fear they will leave and then I will be stuck in an unfortunate position that will result in cancellations and a loss in reputation.
I am considering shrinking the business and going down to just myself and my permanent employee. This would bring us to about £85,000 turnover and about £35,000 profit. If we are able to deregister for VAT then it would go upto £50,000 profit. I have spoken to my accountant and they have suggested that I put the business into administration, and set up a new one. This doesn't sound right to me. I also want to keep our name because our reputation is phenomenal in the areas we work in.
Is there a way I can approach HMRC and let them know that we would only be capable of making £85,000 max if we were fully booked. I have saw that I can do it if we make less than £88,000 turnover over a year but that would mean I have to wait around 10-12 months to do that.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I was wondering if I could get some advice on asking my current commercial landlord for a reference without directly telling them I may be terminating the lease and moving elsewhere.
Basically one of the conditions in my potential new lease requires me to submit a reference from my current landlord before we sign any contracts etc. if for any reason it falls through I’d rather not alert my current landlords to me possibly moving until I’ve signed my new lease and I can give them my official notice. Not sure if there’s a way to go about this or I just need to bite the bullet and tell them I’ve been looking at a new property to rent. TIA
Hello everyone! I originally posted in a different subreddit but perhaps my question is best suited here. I am trying to source goods manufactured in the UK, am getting nowhere and wonder if anyone can shed some light on where I may be going wrong.
I started a company in the UK a while back and was purchasing through UK brokers(who buy in from Asia and mainland Europe). I have a growing customer base and have been trying to directly source goods manufactured in the UK for months, the production capabilities exist. I know the market and did additional research, identified good candidates to approach, offered 100% upfront terms(of course), everything I could think of, but...nothing. Barely even an acknowledgement of my enquiry.
I've been clear that I understand there will be additional costs associated with UK manufacturing, my customers do too. That's not an issue.
My competitors all source offshore, and I really wanted to at least offer a 'made in Britain' option to our customers, but UK manufacturers aren't engaging at all.
On the other hand, contacting a Chinese manufacturer gets a same day response.
What's going on? Perhaps the UK manufacturers don't believe there is any point quoting the work? What can I do to reassure them?
Thanks!
I’ve been experimenting with my 3D printer and its textured printing capabilities, and one thing I’ve been playing around with is making custom coasters.
The idea is to make them more interesting than a basic flat print different textures, shapes and designs, with the possibility of matching a particular restaurant or café aesthetic.
I also quite like the idea of keeping some designs really simple, like just a name or small logo. Sometimes less is more.
Just sharing the idea because I think the combination of 3D texture and custom designs could make some pretty nice-looking coasters.
It is quite stupid how we need to publicly disclose a legal name as well as an geographical address. There's a simple solution for an address: virtual addresses / po box. Now the issue is putting my legal name on there (not quite a "john smith" name).
I've tried scouring the internet, trying to find anyone who has been fined or otherwise consequenced for not disclosing their name and found nothing.... has anyone here gone through something like that?
Edit: sole trader (registering a business will have your name on company house anyway)
Hi everyone,
I’m in the process of launching a UK skill-based competition platform on WooCommerce.
Everything is almost ready to go; the website is built, branding complete, business bank account set up, and initial prizes secured.
My main hurdle right now is finding a suitable payment provider/gateway for micro-transactions.
The Problem:
Standard card processors charge ~20p–25p plus x% per transaction. On a £1 entry ticket, that wipes out 25%–30% of gross revenue instantly in processing fees alone.
So I’m looking for a provider/setup that keeps fees at or under 10% (sub-10p total fee) on a £1 transaction.
What We’ve Tried:
We’ve approached providers like Atoa and TrueLayer, but hit roadblocks due to either high-risk sector classification or being a brand-new startup without trading history.
My Questions:
For anyone running or operating in the UK competition/prize draw sector, which gateways or high-risk merchant acquirers actually accept new startups?
What payment setups or workarounds do you use to keep fees sustainable on £1 ticket sales?
Are there specific UK high-risk payment brokers or gateways you'd recommend for WooCommerce?
Any advice, recommendations, or insights from experience would be hugely appreciated!
Hi all
Managed to give myself the itch to investigate starting a vodka brand and I'm caught between what I feel is a good idea and the realities of what I'm proposing - I'd appreciate some advice from anyone who has been on a similar journey please.
Essentially I am a marketeer by trade and feel like what I have is a branding concept which could stand out. I am not a master distiller and I don't proclaim to be. Heck I don't even want to be. I will be quite happy contracting that out to local white label distillers who can give me their expertise on what goes into the bottle while I concentrate on what the bottle looks like and what goes on the outside of it. I am very clear that I will never be selling my product on the basis of my personal distilling journey.
I've spent a while designing my dream bottle and brand and have reached out to a few bottle suppliers to see if I can get a sample. I'm wondering next if I should be hunting a print shop who can make me a wrap or if I should be instead focusing elsewhere.
It is such a yawning chasm between 'hey this virtual bottle looks cool' to 'excellent now let's meet with a bar' that I honestly wonder if I can cross it. A bottle and a logo does not a business make, I know. But then I read about the creator of Buzzballs, and the lads behind AU Vodka, and wonder if it's not something that could be achieved.
Appreciate any sensible advice and next steps you feel like offering!
Year end 31st July.
My accountant emailed saying they aren't renting my services at end of Sept.
Spoke to another accountant today and they said there is no point in letting them do it.
Her words (from the transcript are):
Oh, I see. So he's got. So to be honest, you better tell him not to do them if you're, you know, looking to have other accountants, because hopefully we should be able to save you tax. I would imagine.
No, I wouldn't. No, no. As I say, it's a bit pointless you you coming to us and having a meeting. Well, it's not pointless, but then we wouldn't be able to do anything for you until a year's time, apart from it, a tax return. But he would obviously, if he thinks he's losing you, he would rather do those accounts for you before you leave him. That makes sense, doesn't it?
I don't know what to do.
I pay current accountant monthly.
He's the one that doesn't want the business.
Hi folks. I asked something reasonably similar recently but something else now.
I'm one of two Directors of an ltd that doesn't do anything.
Partner has informed me I need this new code for some sort or return. But looking at it I also need to create a gov one login which sure looks like digital id to me. Without wanting to get particularly political.... I ain't interested...
I've said given it doesn't do anything to just close it but apparently I need it for declaring whatever from the last 2 years?
How do I avoid signing up for digital id. It sounds to me I'm rather stuffed.
Well played starmer. Well played 😂
Ive been in the automotive space since i left school at 16, I'm now 29 and have been self employed for the last 8 years. The last year has been tough on me both mentally and financially trying to grow from being a one man operation to nearly and team of 5 or 6 back down to just me and one other as of recent.
I started as a HGV mechanic but after a few injuries and near misses i decided to venture into auto electrical installations such as dash camera's trackers etc...
So far this has proven to be less profitable than the repairs and have thought about going back to automotive repair alongside the installations.
However i just don't whether that will work in the long term, as not only am i trying to grow the installation side i will also be trying to grow the repair side? Essentially growing two small businesses from nothing. Or should i just focus on one?
I own a small international confectionery store in Chicago and I'm looking for a more cost-effective way to regularly import products from the UK.
I'm expecting to ship roughly 100–200kg every few weeks, mostly packaged confectionery/snacks. It would typically be multiple boxes rather than a full pallet/container.
I've looked at DHL/UPS/FedEx, but direct courier pricing seems extremely expensive at this weight.
For anyone regularly shipping UK → USA:
I'm less concerned about super-fast delivery - keeping the shipping cost down is the priority. Ideally I'd like to build a relationship with one company since these would be recurring shipments every few weeks.
Would really appreciate hearing what other importers/small businesses are actually paying and who you're using.
If a public sector client has agreed to vary their standard T’s and Cs to cap liability at the value of the project and to a maximum of one year after end of the project, can this be done in a short one page doc that just clearly states the relevant variations?
This is for a relatively small web design project of 10k in a niche area. This is my first experience outside IR35 and the contact at the client is also inexperienced at using a freelancer. I’m told that the Procurement dept are happy with him making these variations.
However I was then sent an agreement with about twice as many terms as the original T’s and Cs... this appeared to be an unedited template. I’ve replied to politely point out this is a more complex document than the original T’s and Cs.
Also from my past experience working as an employee purchasing services/goods at a similar organisation, a purchase order is auto generated with a reference to the standard T’s and Cs only. So am concerned that any variations document will not be legally binding.
The standard T’s and Cs also say that they take precedent if there is any conflict or ambiguity with other docs.
For context - i have no intention to continue this as a business for 6 years as the market is very small (potentially only 1-2 others who might decline anyway).
Thank you for any advice whatsoever on this!
Hi All
I’m a sole trader providing online services directly to consumers. Up to this point, I’ve had a fairly basic set of Terms of Service included in my onboarding form, which clients explicitly agree to upfront (scope of services, payment terms, cancellation terms, debt recovery, limitation of liability, notice terms, etc.).
The business has largely grown through word of mouth, but I’m now looking to make it a bit more public-facing and launch a website, so I’d like to get my Terms of Service properly reviewed and tightened up. I’ve contacted a couple of freelance solicitors specialising in business/commercial law, hoping it might be a more affordable route, but the quotes are still coming out quite high and I can’t really justify spending a few thousand pounds at this stage.
Short of biting the bullet and paying a solicitor, are there any resources, platforms or services that other small business owners have used for drafting/reviewing contracts and T&Cs that don’t cost an arm and a leg?
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Hi everyone,
My wife and I are considering getting involved in a new beauty salon branch, and I’d really appreciate some honest advice from people with small business experience in the UK.
My wife has been working in a successful beauty salon since April 2023. She has strong experience in beauty treatments, client care, and day-to-day salon work. The current salon owner has been in the beauty industry for around 12 years and already runs an established salon in Leeds city centre.
The owner has offered my wife a 50/50 partnership in a new branch. The idea is that my wife would manage the new branch, while the current owner would bring her experience, brand reputation, and business knowledge.
The new location seems promising. It is in a good area of Leeds, near a Post Office, with parking available nearby. From what we have checked, there does not seem to be another full-service beauty salon very close by. There are some nail salons, hair/aesthetics places, and smaller beauty businesses, but not really a salon offering the full range of treatments we would provide.
The main concern is the money. We may need to take out around a £25,000 personal/business loan to cover renovation, interior work, equipment, products, and setting up the new branch properly. The rent is quite reasonable for the area, and the current owner believes the new location has strong potential because some existing clients already prefer somewhere outside Leeds city centre with easier parking and access.
My main worry is whether borrowing £25,000 for this kind of first business/partnership is reasonable, or whether it is too risky. We understand that it may take several months, or possibly longer, for the new branch to build a regular client base and become profitable.
For people who have opened a second branch, beauty salon, or local service business in the UK:
Would you consider this a reasonable risk, given the background of both shareholders, the existing business experience, and the location?
Thanks in advance for any honest advice.
❎I forgot to mention an important point. The business partner is also putting £25,000 into the new branch, so both sides would be investing the same amount financially. It is not a case of my wife taking on all the financial risk while the other partner only brings experience or the existing brand. The proposed setup is a 50/50 partnership with equal financial contribution from both sides.
Hi, first time posting but I kinda need some advice from people who have been there. I've been building a photography business (headshots) alongside a full-time job for about a year now. The job has gotten bad enough that it's genuinely affecting my health.
For context: I live with my parents, have a stable but unfulfilling full-time income, and very little in savings. The business hasn't made money yet. I have fixed monthly costs (studio rent plus other bits) that add up to a meaningful chunk of what I'd need to replace. On top of that, my studio space has been unbearably hot with basically no relief, poor ventilation on top of the AC unit shortage that's hit the UK this year, so I can't even safely have clients in there at the moment (this is a work in progress, i do have fans and will be purchasing / having clients in there as it gets cooler).
It's a bit of a catch-22: the job is what's meant to fund me until the business can stand on its own, but the job itself eats the time and energy I'd need to actually fix the studio issue, chase bookings, and push the business forward. So the thing that's supposed to be buying me time is also part of what's stalling the thing I'm trying to build.
I know logically that with barely any savings and little business income yet, quitting outright feels reckless, i'm not naive to that fact, (being at my parents house feels like part of the reason it would be the best time to do it). But I've been telling myself "just keep going a bit longer" for about a year now, and I'm exhausted. It's hard to tell the difference between "this genuinely needs more time" and "I'm just scared to make a decision."
Not really looking for "just push through" or "just quit." more wondering if anyone's been in a similar spot (unwell from a job, business not quite there yet) and how you actually figured out the right timing, or what helped you get unstuck when everything felt like it was happening at once.
I appreciate the time thanks everyone.
We are a small micro business (limited company - 2 directors only) and we are considering hiring a temp for 2 months for approx 12 hours per week to aid with the production of stock for the seasonal period.
We have no knowledge/experience in hiring so looking for some hand-holding advice.
Are we better to try and hire someone who is self employed (a freelancer/contractor ) who can invoice us periodically to save on the PAYE paper work/faff/costs?
What else do we need to think about/consider?
Thank you
I received an email telling me I have business mail. I have only signed up to receive letters from companies house and HMRC so I’m being asked to pay extra to receive this business mail.
I don’t recall signing up for any business services using my address, could it be junk mail? I’ve only signed up for a business bank account and used my personal address for that.
Just wondering can the virtual address company tell me what the letter is or will I have to pay first?
I wonder if it’s worth discarding without me even reading it because I have a service based business and I haven’t signed up to anything except for a business bank account and I’m wondering it might be junk mail?