A few questions...

gamez-over

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone could advise me on the following:

1. When a Ltd company T/A another business name, what is the reasoning behind this? Are there any benefits for doing so?

2. If I want to protect a company name, but not run it as a Ltd company is it worth registering it as a dormant company with Companies House?

3. What is the most appropriate professional title for someone who runs a company as a sole trader.

Thanks in advance

pinkclouds

Anyone can trade under an alternative name, I think. You could be John Doe t/a XYZ or ABC Ltd t/a XYZ. It might be useful if you wanted to use a less formal name to publicise your company e.g. Speciality Pizza Ltd t/a the Pizza Dude. (Or, conversely, if you were a sole trader who wanted to use a more formal name e.g. John Doe t/a Speciality Pizza.)

You *could* register a company if you want to prevent another company from registering with the same name. However, my understanding is: you cannot prevent anyone from trading as that name unless it is a copyrighted phrase or similar. So, you could register ABC Ltd and run two separate business entities, ABC Ltd and John Doe t/a ABC, and someone else could still be Jane Doe t/a ABC.

I think your job title depends on the type of business you run. If you offer a particular service, you should call yourself by the appropriate service title e.g. bookkeeper, plumber, landscape gardener. I think it is taken as a given that you also wear other hats e.g. owner, proprietor, director, administrator, general everything-rolled-into-one, etc.

firstinflight

If you're running a company then your job title is Company Director

gamez-over

Thanks guys, what about if I were a sole trader with employees? What can I call myself? I would rather have a professional title go down on my business cards.

Savvy_Sue

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer?

Seriously, call yourself whatever you like. You can call yourself the Managing Director even if it's not a limited company. But give a thought to what's appropriate / what will fit with your image.

For example, if it's a 'trade' you're offering, then having

Gamez Over
THE BOSS

on your business cards might make people smile and feel that they can call you direct to get a problem sorted.

On the other hand, if you want to present a more 'polished' image, then Business Owner, Senior Widget Polisher, Chief Engineer, Head Gardener or whatever might be better.

Horace

I don't have a job title on my business cards - although when I employ staff then they will have their titles on there but I won't - I know that I am still the boss, chief cook and bottle washer, general dogsbody etc.