Using an Umbrella Company and having a Personal Website.

Using an Umbrella Company and having a Personal Website.

Author
Discussion

Sussex

Original Poster:

141 posts

228 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
Hi, I'm an IT contractor currently in contract using an Umbrella Company. Is it ok to have a personal Website advertising ones skills and services whilst in contract or is it not advisable?

Cheers for any advice smile

ukvoyager.info

2,780 posts

222 months

Sunday 3rd February 2008
quotequote all
Why the hell not? its not like your contract is going to last forever is it?

Probably wise on the site to extall the virtues of the employee(s) (you) rather than a very personal site just about you.

Sussex

Original Poster:

141 posts

228 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply smile

bigburd

2,670 posts

200 months

Saturday 9th February 2008
quotequote all
I have one - although it currently redirects to a mates site www.bladewatch.comsmile

Who's your umbrella? What kind of % retention are you getting?


polus

4,343 posts

225 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
I have a permanent role and I have a website to go with the contracting I do on the side.

Dodgy or not, I have to look after my own interest and when I've done my hours that's it, its my life.

Plenty of full time contractors I know have business websites advertising there services, most take on multiple contacts even if one takes up 9-5.

As for your website, Id personally get rid of the Flash. Once the website layout is fixed its 'OK' but I would not make it sound so singular. Maybe others will disagree but I've found describing the business around 'me' scares some people off and its more effective to describe the services offered and pretend to be a bigger fish.

Edited by polus on Sunday 10th February 00:29

Sussex

Original Poster:

141 posts

228 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies smile

I'm currently using Parasol but I maybe becoming a Limited later in the year if the tax benifits are worth it?

Not receiving any retention.

If your working using an Umbrella company is having a website advertising your services ok for taxation ie.IR35?



Edited by Sussex on Sunday 10th February 01:17


Edited by Sussex on Sunday 10th February 01:18

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
If you obtained work through this website - through what type of vehicle would you want to be paid -

a sole tradership?

your own limited company?

There is nothing particularly complex about IR35 and the principles it is based on. These principles predate IR35 by over 100 years.
Essentially, the Revenue want you to be able to prove to them that you are genuinely running a business as opposed to using a limited company to hide the fact that you should really be paid as an employee.

One of the hallmarks of a business is that it advertises its presence and the services it provides. Therefore, I would suggest that having a website which advertises your availiblity and your services would be a good argument that you were in business on your own account.


Sussex

Original Poster:

141 posts

228 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
If you obtained work through this website - through what type of vehicle would you want to be paid -

a sole tradership?

your own limited company?

There is nothing particularly complex about IR35 and the principles it is based on. These principles predate IR35 by over 100 years.
Essentially, the Revenue want you to be able to prove to them that you are genuinely running a business as opposed to using a limited company to hide the fact that you should really be paid as an employee.

One of the hallmarks of a business is that it advertises its presence and the services it provides. Therefore, I would suggest that having a website which advertises your availiblity and your services would be a good argument that you were in business on your own account.
I obtained my current contract from applying for a role advertised on the web. The role was being offered by an Agency and I am currently get paid through an Umbrella company.

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
So if you are touting for work you must decide in what capacity you are acting - a potential employee of the people who hire you or a self-employed/trading individual.

Gordon Brown

11,800 posts

235 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
If you obtained work through this website - through what type of vehicle would you want to be paid -

a sole tradership?

your own limited company?

There is nothing particularly complex about IR35 and the principles it is based on. These principles predate IR35 by over 100 years.
Essentially, the Revenue want you to be able to prove to them that you are genuinely running a business as opposed to using a limited company to hide the fact that you should really be paid as an employee.

One of the hallmarks of a business is that it advertises its presence and the services it provides. Therefore, I would suggest that having a website which advertises your availiblity and your services would be a good argument that you were in business on your own account.
Would the fact you have your wown web site looking for other work provide extra power to the argument that you are indeed self employed and not an employee for IR35?

JonRB

74,562 posts

272 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Gordon Brown said:
Would the fact you have your wown web site looking for other work provide extra power to the argument that you are indeed self employed and not an employee for IR35?
Yes. However, the fact that it is a personal website offering, presumably and implicitly, a personal service kind of weakens that, doesn't it?

In contrast, my Limited Company (which gets contracted by clients to provide services and it just so happens that it's mostly me that my company gets to fulfil them) has a website advertising its services. I'd say that is indicative of being in business on your own account.

As with so many things with IR35, the devil is in the detail.

Edited by JonRB on Sunday 10th February 17:53