Banks accounts; trading names
Discussion
Do bank accounts, web sites etc have to have the name of the business owner as well as any trading name on them?
So if a self employed plumber, for example, is called Tommy Smith but trades under the name of Speedy plumbing is it Ok to just use speedy Plumbing on web sites, invoices, bank accounts etc, rathe rthan Tommy Smith trading as Speedy Plumbing?
I have a new business venture which is a 'value' product and I dont want it to damage the 'quality' products I already sell by people connecting the two businesses.
So if a self employed plumber, for example, is called Tommy Smith but trades under the name of Speedy plumbing is it Ok to just use speedy Plumbing on web sites, invoices, bank accounts etc, rathe rthan Tommy Smith trading as Speedy Plumbing?
I have a new business venture which is a 'value' product and I dont want it to damage the 'quality' products I already sell by people connecting the two businesses.
As a self-employed bod for 25 years all my stationery and my website used only my trading name. I agree that the image you're trying to build up can be undone by having 'Tommy Smith' on it. I also gave my house a name and it worked perfectly (though I think some of the blue chip bods were rather surprised to find themselves in a living room!)
As for what your cheques say, that may depend on whether you have a business or private account. But only suppliers will see that, not clients.
As for what your cheques say, that may depend on whether you have a business or private account. But only suppliers will see that, not clients.
LDN said:
Officially, you must put 'John Smith T/A Speedy Plumbing' - but many people do not bother... I would at least bury it somewhere on your website - so that you're covered if it ever comes up.
I am surprised at how few put detauls like that on their web site. I had thought it was a legal requirement, thus my question.I am also thinking about using an accomodation address in London which you can get for £99 plus vAT a year ( Glasgoiw is a bit cheaper). And possibly a telephone answering service with a geo numbe rin the same city.
Does that complicate things?
Does that complicate things?
Edited by Cogcog on Friday 15th July 08:29
As long as your brand is clear, the web address can just be the brand and - you are supposed to have in the small print on official letters / on your website somewhere; that it is 'Your Name T/A Acme'. If you want to play by the rules, just make it very small in the footer of letters and perhaps small font / faded colour in your website footer. But again, most people don't bother putting it anywhere. Bit naughty but there's no task force out looking for such violations...
Address and phone number front, if I understand you correctly, is fine. I use Mailboxes ETC for an address and Telecoms World for number forwarding.
Address and phone number front, if I understand you correctly, is fine. I use Mailboxes ETC for an address and Telecoms World for number forwarding.
LDN said:
As long as your brand is clear, the web address can just be the brand and - you are supposed to have in the small print on official letters / on your website somewhere; that it is 'Your Name T/A Acme'. If you want to play by the rules, just make it very small in the footer of letters and perhaps small font / faded colour in your website footer. But again, most people don't bother putting it anywhere. Bit naughty but there's no task force out looking for such violations...
Probably if we'd stayed in the EU there would be, going round fining little guys struggling to make a living in sheds and dining rooms.My view is 'publish and be damned'; if someone has nothing better to do than sue you for not having your name on something, then you can add it and say sorry, you're just a little guy and don't have a team of solicitors at your behest.
Simpo Two said:
Probably if we'd stayed in the EU there would be, going round fining little guys struggling to make a living in sheds and dining rooms.
My view is 'publish and be damned'; if someone has nothing better to do than sue you for not having your name on something, then you can add it and say sorry, you're just a little guy and don't have a team of solicitors at your behest.
My accountant once told me I was low hanging fruit for HMRC, no cash sales, one man band with no admin support. Sure enough VAT man came and wanted the 67p I had reclaimed in VAT on a jar of coffee for visitors. Once he found £100 or so (errors on car parking and postage) he said he had earned his crust for the day, bit did continue looking.My view is 'publish and be damned'; if someone has nothing better to do than sue you for not having your name on something, then you can add it and say sorry, you're just a little guy and don't have a team of solicitors at your behest.
I dont think (hope) HMRC will be interested in me not having a T/A name on the site if they get their 67p.
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