Newly established Ltd Co - mobile phone contract?
Discussion
I have a newly established Ltd Co which currently has very little cash and obviously no history (I'm switching to IT contracting from a permanent role)
Will need a business phone when I no longer have a company mobile - how long am I likely to need to have been trading before a mobile provider won't just tell me to FRO?
Will need a business phone when I no longer have a company mobile - how long am I likely to need to have been trading before a mobile provider won't just tell me to FRO?
My 'personal' mobile has been on a business contract for at least ten years.
They set up the DD from my personal bank account and, as far asI recall, they didn't give a toss about the business, or even whether or not I had a business (I did).
In practice, it makes no difference whether you have a business or a personal contract, unless you have more than 20 lines.
They set up the DD from my personal bank account and, as far asI recall, they didn't give a toss about the business, or even whether or not I had a business (I did).
In practice, it makes no difference whether you have a business or a personal contract, unless you have more than 20 lines.
Or, in the interim you can set up a VOIP local landline number for peanuts and either re-direct calls to your mobile, or use an app like 3CX on your phone or computer/pad-thing.
Sipgate Basic is PAYG and cheaps. £10 gets you started.
Soho66 is monthly debit of about £4 with more features.
(There are others.)
Both have re-direct on non-answer or immediately.
Advantages: you can get a landline number today and re-direct it or VOIP it to whatever you end up with. You keep the 'landline' number even if you change mobile numbers.
Sipgate Basic is PAYG and cheaps. £10 gets you started.
Soho66 is monthly debit of about £4 with more features.
(There are others.)
Both have re-direct on non-answer or immediately.
Advantages: you can get a landline number today and re-direct it or VOIP it to whatever you end up with. You keep the 'landline' number even if you change mobile numbers.
Doofus said:
In practice, it makes no difference whether you have a business or a personal contract, unless you have more than 20 lines.
It does if you need it to be in the company's name in order to account for it as an expense though 
Slushbox - thanks for the tip, already got a VOIP number diverting to my personal phone for times when having a "landline" number are a good idea
Toaster Pilot said:
Doofus said:
In practice, it makes no difference whether you have a business or a personal contract, unless you have more than 20 lines.
It does if you need it to be in the company's name in order to account for it as an expense though Slushbox - thanks for the tip, already got a VOIP number diverting to my personal phone for times when having a "landline" number are a good idea
Toaster Pilot said:
Everything I've read suggests doing so for a personal phone contract that is used for business is generally a bad idea and that having one in the company's name is the accepted way of doing so
Why? What have you read? I've used my personal phone for the several business I've had over the past fifteen years and more. I have a business tariff and a contract in my name personally. I've always reclaimed the cost as a business expense and until today, I doubt even my wife would have known this was the arrangement, so I'm not sure how anyone can say this isn't 'acceptable'.Plus, if you're concerned that any provider is going to refuse you a business contract, then you ain't got much choice anyway, have you? ;l)
Just try it, they can only say no. It will depend on the result of the credit check. I tried to get a cheap phone contract on a company 3 years old, but we had moved registered office twice (for reasons not in our control) recently and the computer said no. So the nice lady asked if I had any other companies, and I did have one, recently registered and not yet trading. Computer said yes!
Doofus said:
Why? What have you read? I've used my personal phone for the several business I've had over the past fifteen years and more. I have a business tariff and a contract in my name personally. I've always reclaimed the cost as a business expense and until today, I doubt even my wife would have known this was the arrangement, so I'm not sure how anyone can say this isn't 'acceptable'.
Plus, if you're concerned that any provider is going to refuse you a business contract, then you ain't got much choice anyway, have you? ;l)
There may be NI implications. See https://www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-mobile-ph...Plus, if you're concerned that any provider is going to refuse you a business contract, then you ain't got much choice anyway, have you? ;l)
RM said:
There may be NI implications. See https://www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-mobile-ph...
I've never had an issue. 50% line charge reclaimed, plus calls, which is alwyaays nil unless I'm abroad because I have so many free minutes on my contract.And yes, one of my companies did have a lengthy PAYE audit. They found nowt. Bloody glad I was insured though...
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