Business address - options

start

Thanks for the help!
Very basically do not own a house and am living in someone else's house who is not ok with a business being registered there that would not benefit them in any way.
Any stock can be kept in a friend's empty garage so no problems there.
That's a good point about the virtual address and shall be researching into that more.
Maybe thinking setting up with HMRC and a bank is harder than it really is, it's just a little more confusing when you don't have a house and will not have one for the next year or so probably.
Thinking a trip to the bank to talk with them will be a good option from here.

HatAndScarf

start wrote: »

Thanks for the help!
Very basically do not own a house and am living in someone else's house who is not ok with a business being registered there that would not benefit them in any way.

You are not registering a business. You are going to be a sole trader, and there isn't anywhere to register such a business even if you wanted to..

There are many people in this country who live in someone else's house.

You really think none of them have bank accounts, amazon or ebay accounts, or even register with HMRC???

start wrote: »

Any stock can be kept in a friend's empty garage so no problems there.

There probably will be

But if that will be used receive goods for sale and/or to accept returns, via a virtual address or directly, then you can use that address for the puposes you said in your OP


But this is obviously not the answer you want to hear, so go and rent a virtual address.:cool:
(Even though it will be of no use to you for most if not all of the purposes you say you intend to use it for in the OP)

rhysadams

Not sure if this is an option where you are, but we rent a storage unit in Derby that provides you with a free address. We pay roughly £260 plus VAT per 6 months and of course it provides us with storage, free office facility, the address and gym use.

start

That sounds ideal rhysadams will be googling for similar locally and HatAndScarf this address as a business address is not an option because it's not my house, just like if I had a house and someone registered a business to it, I would be annoyed. No problem using the garage as it's unused and plenty of space although little is needed and Amazon prime shipping is something that looks very appealing as this would eliminate the need to hold stock. I would sell from a personal account if the limit was not so low and you need a credit card for Amazon which I don't have, only a debit card which they will not accept unfortunately.

Savvy_Sue

I'm just wondering why I'd buy from you and not Amazon?

Mistral001

If you are a sole trader you must use your own name on any business correspondence and you must give an address that you can be contacted at. Basically this is because YOU personally are responsible for all financial responsibilities of the business. If a supplier or customer has a problem with your products or payments they need to know with whom they have a contract with and need to know where they the person they have the contract with.


As a sole trader you can have a trading name but you do not need to "register" the business or business name. HMRC will want to know the trading name of the business for their own internal reasons. Telling them the name does not register the business. In the UK there is no such thing as registering a business if you are a sole trader

martindow

Have you spoken to an accountant about VAT? You can register voluntarily if you wish but are not obliged to unless your turnover exceeds £85,000 pa.



And you certainly don't need a VAT number to get a business account.

start

Ok from what I have seen here it looks like I could register as a sole trader to get a VAT number and open a bank account with nothing but id and proof of address?
This would be fine but I have been told not to put the address on any sales page, ie Ebay or Amazon and HMRC. This is annoying but I have to respect this as it is not my property. And owning or renting a place of my own is far from reach at this present moment.
Have to be registered legally for tax, have an account to take payments directly into and have it all stored on a bank statement separate from a personal account.
A small credit limit or buffer of £500 on a credit card would be ideal but highly doubt they would lend to a new start up (or maybe they would?).
Currently just want to get the pages set up, sell a few things and reinvest but all through a business account.

Savvy_Sue

I think you need to do a bit more research into online selling. You have got to give an address to which returns can be made. If you can't use the one at which you're living, then rhysadams' suggestion sounds like a good one: people DO check out online sellers, especially ones with not much history, and they DO use google maps to do so: if the address you give looks like a mailbox service, this will reduce the trust people place in you.

You'd be well advised to consult a solicitor about any rental agreements you make, and also about your terms and conditions of sale, so you need some money up front.

but for the last time, why do you need to register for VAT? How long is it going to take for your turnover to reach £85000? Are you aiming to sell to individuals? If so, there is absolutely no advantage - and many disadvantages - in registering before you absolutely have to.

start

Got VAT and UTR confused a few times, mean UTR number and not VAT.
Found a web page that helps with understanding things called 'the company warehouse', they have a page called 'register as sole trader' which helps understand a lot clearer but won't be using their service.
It would help someone by reading it for 5 minutes, it explains a lot!