Starting a US based business from the UK

Starting a US based business from the UK

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Discussion

silobass

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

103 months

Tuesday 13th November 2018
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Some of my customers have a US need for what we do but currently I can't service them as shipping and import duties are an issue so I was considering setting up a US based company that I can point them towards. It would only be a very small business (just me probably) and I'm aware that I can't actually work myself in the US. I have a company earmarked in the States that I will approach to do provide and ship goods for me directly to clients in the US.

I've looked into Delaware corporation set ups and think this would be the way to go - has any one done this sort of thing and was it easy enough to do?

I can't decide if it's a good idea or not.

Tebbers

356 posts

152 months

Tuesday 13th November 2018
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Would Stripe Atlas be any good for you?

silobass

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

103 months

Tuesday 13th November 2018
quotequote all
I guess so but haven't looked into their site properly just yet. It wasn't so much the how to go about it I'm after, I've been researching companies that help register companies etc., more if it's a good idea or not.

Thanks for the site though, I'll take a look.

foliedouce

3,067 posts

232 months

Tuesday 13th November 2018
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What do you sell? It would be easier to give advice (ex US business owner who still does some business in the US)

RickRolled

339 posts

178 months

Thursday 15th November 2018
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What do you sell?

It might be worth importing one bulk shipment and let a local company do the pick and pack.

You can get all local tax / duty billed back to you in UK if shipment is cleared under foreign importer.

Jeremy-75qq8

1,032 posts

93 months

Saturday 24th November 2018
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We were a software company with a USA operation and company ( whole business now sold)

The paperwork etc is extraordinary. We were in New York. You register the company then with the state then with the city. Payroll is staggering and you need a payroll company for deductions you can’t imagine

The tax forms ( I have done all company and personal ones in U.K. for decades) are simply mind boggling and they use lawyers for anything and everything.

If there is a way to avoid registering then explore the option.

Don’t open and office of the U.K. comment. You still need to register to trade and then the fed can look at your U.K. operation and you don’t want to risk that.

Good luck

silobass

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

103 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
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Jeremy-75qq8 said:
We were a software company with a USA operation and company ( whole business now sold)

The paperwork etc is extraordinary. We were in New York. You register the company then with the state then with the city. Payroll is staggering and you need a payroll company for deductions you can’t imagine

The tax forms ( I have done all company and personal ones in U.K. for decades) are simply mind boggling and they use lawyers for anything and everything.

If there is a way to avoid registering then explore the option.

Don’t open and office of the U.K. comment. You still need to register to trade and then the fed can look at your U.K. operation and you don’t want to risk that.

Good luck
Cheers, this isn't really what I'm looking at doing, I'll be much smaller. I'm going to be based in the UK still and it will just be me so won't have payroll etc to sort out. I've looked into the set up part though and our government recommends a corporation so they can't look at UK activities, just the US based ones.

I can't bulk import to the US as the product needs customising. The US wholesaler will do this for me.

I pretty much made my mind up I should do it but since then I've not had a chance to do anything about it!

The Moose

22,874 posts

210 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
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We should talk. I’m US based and it doesn’t have to be as complicated as people make out!

Shoot me a PM and let’s have a call.

Jeremy-75qq8

1,032 posts

93 months

Sunday 25th November 2018
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Shame I didn’t meet you earlier then!

We made money there but there was a load of pain with admin.

bga

8,134 posts

252 months

Monday 26th November 2018
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Jeremy-75qq8 said:
Shame I didn’t meet you earlier then!

We made money there but there was a load of pain with admin.
Compared to the UK the US is a really PITA, even with local employees who know how to run businesses.

My pet theory is that unnecessary bureaucracy is created purely to sustain jobs.

arfursleep

818 posts

105 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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I've considered the same, spoke to a guy that I was connected to through my bank and it kinda put me off given the amount of hassle / money it cost them.

He did admit that they made mistakes when setting up but they were ripped off by a business manager (hired fake staff to pay herself more) and a sales guy (spent 3 months and a lot of money flying the US but not doing any work) because they were remote managing.

Took sending a UK employee over to the US to work for 3 months to put it right and set up systems that allow payroll etc to be operated from the UK.

never heard of Atlas Stripe but will look at them.