Business name

Justin_Credit

lennypasta wrote:

I am considering setting up my own part time business, can anyone answer this question for me....apologies if it's a stupid question.

If my name is James Williams and I want to set up a gardening company for example if I call the company 'Williams garden services' does this satisfy the sole trading rules and therefore my name and business address would not need to be on business stationery?

You'd better check on this lennypasta but I'm pretty certain that you will have to have your name and business address on your invoices at least. I have read somewhere that it is a legal requirement that the names and addresses of both parties to the invoice should be on there. I can't remember where I read it but will try to find out.

Hope this is of some help.

JC

Justin_Credit

Ah I have just found it in a book-keeping text book that I have.

An invoice should have the following details:

(i) the names and addresses of both parties to the contract.

(ii) an exact description of the goods, including the number, unit price and total value of the consignment.

(iii) the terms and conditions of sale, or a reference to the place where the terms and conditions of sale may be discovered.

Jettycat

I think that you can have whatevery name you like for a sole trader or partnership business, but it would be sensible to check that you are not using the same name as another business in your area or a national name, eg, I think you might get some objections if you called your self Microsoft or the BBC. I'm not up on the legal bits but I assume they could sue you or something to stop you using their name.

In terms of business stationery it would be the business name that needed to appear on the invoices, etc. So if that was Williams garden services then that's what would need to appear. If you operate from home then your address would need to be shown but if you operate from somewhere else then that address would be used.

Justin_Credit

I've just done a search on Google and came across this site https://www.businesslink.gov.uk

Sorry, I tried to insert the link to the actual page but it didn't work.

It gives all the answers that you are looking for lennypasta.

Basically your choice of name of 'Williams Garden Services' should be fine as long as there are no other businesses in your area with a similar name which could be deemed as misleading.

However, it says that your stationery must display your name as well as the trading name of the business e.g. James Williams trading as 'Williams Garden Services'

Hope this is of some help, check out the site.

Regards JC

bridiej

Yes, that's right if your company name is not your actual name you have to have your name displayed somewhere...

ReductionQueen

Justin_Credit wrote:

I've just done a search on Google and came across this site https://www.businesslink.gov.uk

Sorry, I tried to insert the link to the actual page but it didn't work.

It gives all the answers that you are looking for lennypasta.

Basically your choice of name of 'Williams Garden Services' should be fine as long as there are no other businesses in your area with a similar name which could be deemed as misleading.

However, it says that your stationery must display your name as well as the trading name of the business e.g. James Williams trading as 'Williams Garden Services'

Hope this is of some help, check out the site.

Regards JC

Usually this is displayed as heading - Williams Garden Services, address - whatever this is, your home if tha't where you operate from or business address if you have one (one small thing, be carefull as some types of business need planning permission, so a small investment for a box no address is well worthwhile. If not and you need permission and get fpound out, not only would you be against planning regs, but may be liable for business rates.). At the bottom would be your details - your name if a sole trader, eg Mr A Williams proprietor, or the Ltd Co name Trading As eg Williams Ld T/A Williams Garden Services. 'James Williams Trading As Williams Garden Services' is usually how the details would appear on a cheque book.

lennypasta

I've managed to confirm what's been said via the tax office web site....I just need to get my house move and wedding out of the way before I proceed with my business idea.

Regards

James.

Savvy_Sue

lennypasta wrote:

I've managed to confirm what's been said via the tax office web site....I just need to get my house move and wedding out of the way before I proceed with my business idea.

Yes, get your priorities right

All the best with those small details, come back when you have some more questions for us, and hope the business works out well.

Poppy9

A small computer repair company trading in a local market called MikeOsoft was forced to change its name after Microsoft sent a legal letter to proprietor. From what I remember when I set up my business, yes if you are not Ltd you can call yourself anything you want but if there is another business of the same name they could sue you for Passing Of. i.e. if you called yourself Prism windows (Bristol) and there was a Prism windows locally they may sue you. Also you don't want customers to confuse the two businesses because you don't know how good the other company is so you might be associated with their bad reputation.

Address - personally I never do business with anyone unless I have an address for them. If working from home agree you need to clear with Council re planning permission and rates. Also don't forget your home insurance. Not usually any extra cost for doing the paperwork from home but you can't claim more than 10% of home utility bills as a business expense. You will also need public liability insurance. If you don't have it you can be sued by clients/potential clients for millions if they are injured by you or your business.

ReductionQueen

Poppy9 wrote:

Address - personally I never do business with anyone unless I have an address for them. If working from home agree you need to clear with Council re planning permission and rates. Also don't forget your home insurance. Not usually any extra cost for doing the paperwork from home but you can't claim more than 10% of home utility bills as a business expense. You will also need public liability insurance. If you don't have it you can be sued by clients/potential clients for millions if they are injured by you or your business.

I think what you mean is, if you don't have public liabilty insurance you would have to pay out of your own pocket if you are sued for injury ect. Having insurance won't save you from being sued, only pay for it should it happen. This is also another good reason not to use your own home address on business stationary, and another good reason again to set up a Ltd company to protect yourself.

By the way Poppy9, so sad that Microsoft felt threatened by a Market Stall Holder that they had to threaten to sue. It's pathetic, and they have the money to persue it too.