Business name

lennypasta · 26 January 2005 at 8:34PM

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?

Caz2_2 · 26 January 2005 at 8:43PM

Hi why dont u want your name or business address on your business stationary, if thats not too checky to ask

timdiecast · 26 January 2005 at 10:59PM

You will have to put your name somewhere on your stationary e.g. 'James Williams trading as Williams Garden Services' . It would probably create a good impression if you put on your address but I don't think it's compulsary.

bridiej · 27 January 2005 at 9:24AM

Yes, what timdiecast said!

betterbargains4u · 31 January 2005 at 1:08AM

I have just started a new sole trader business. Am I obliged to register my business name, and if so, what happens if someone already has that particular name?

bridiej · 31 January 2005 at 9:38AM

I believe you will have to change the name.

Savvy_Sue · 1 February 2005 at 12:19AM

But I don't think you have to 'register' your business name if you are a sole trader, do you? Honestly, I don't know for sure, I thought you could just go Fred Bloggs trading as XYZ Catering or something like that, but it would be worth looking back through this part of the forum to get more info!

ReductionQueen · 1 February 2005 at 12:32AM

You don't have to register a name to be a sole trader. If you go a step further, and want to have a Ltd company, THAT'S when you have to register a name, at Companies House. There are plenty of company formations services on the web, do a search on Google if you are interested in going this route. Even if your chosen name is taken, you can either add something to your chosen name (eg Smith Ltd is taken, so you may be able to register Smith (London) Ltd), or take a 'generic' Ltd company name and trade as your original name (as in Catchpole Ltd T/A Smith the Builder). Hope this helps

betterbargains4u · 1 February 2005 at 2:34AM

Many thanks for that advice. I am only just starting out...so need as much info as I can grab!!

ReductionQueen · 1 February 2005 at 9:39AM

By the way, if you wanted to go the Ltd route, there is a way you can have one on your own (it legally takes two poeple to form one, a director and a company secretary) When you form the company (buy it ready formed or form one from scatch with your own name, from a formations service), many formation services will offer a 'nominee secretary' service. Basically, for a fee they will put up a person to take on the duties of Company Secretary and be named at Companies House as doing so. They don't have a financial share in the company and you can replace them with whoever you like when you choose, by notifying Companies House of the change with one of thier forms.

All Ltd Cos have pluses and Minuses. The main ones are plus - your personal assets are protected, should the worst come to the worst, you can wind up the company and creditors can't touch your house ect (though there may be exceptions as in VAT, Inland Revenue). Minus - year end accounts have to be submitted promptly, though you will be doing that anyway, and accountancy fees may be a bit higher.

bridiej · 1 February 2005 at 10:24AM

Yes, that's right, you dont have to register to be a sole trader BUT you still need to be careful about the name of the company and that it is not the same as someone elses.

Business name

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free