trash116 started this topic @ 14:34 on 18/10/2003
I'm going to be starting a business, probably as a sole trader, not trading under my name.
On my stationery etc I don't want to quote my home address, so is a PO BOX Nr acceptable ?
And i believe i will need to state the propertier of the business (i.e. my name) - is this correct.
I don't want to do this either. How can i not do this - can i quote somebody else connected to the business?
If i have to quote my name & address - and i really don't want to can I avoid this by forming a Ltd company or partnership.
RE: Sole Trader
nickc | 19/10/2003 09:55 AM
As a Sole Trader you will need a name to trade under. I don't put my address on any of my stationery or in emails or on my web site but it is essential to provide my address directly to customers if they want to send me a cheque. Your name (but not address) must appear on your invoices as proprietor - this is so your customers know who you are dealing with and is a legal requirement (I think). If you become a Ltd company, you will need to setup a head office which will be extra expense if you don't want it to be your home address. I'm not sure why you want this annoymity (I hope you don't intend doing anything dodgy) but it is a matter of trust - your customers really need to know who they are dealing with.
Nick
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RE: Sole Trader
emplaw | 19/10/2003 12:14 PM
Please read the posting on PO BOx for the law on this one. If you trade under another name you need to show your clients who they are dealing with and it depends on the name you are using! Nick makes lots of good points but there are more details to consider.
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RE: Sole Trader
cjlashley | 19/10/2003 01:40 PM
Hi
As an alternative to a PO Box address, you could use a mailbox address through MBE or something similar if you weren't keen on using your home address. But again, you would need to use your name to establish trust with your customers and this is where I agree with Nick.
Although I am not a practising lawyer, I'm pretty sure that it's a legal requirement for your name to be posted where appropriate - you'd need to let customers know who they're dealing with.
However, I am curious as to why you're setting up in business in the first place if you're not prepared to reveal your name to establish trust with your potential customers. Are you acting as a sleeping partner for someone else you're looking to bring into your business or what? If there's that much reluctance to reveal something as straightforward as your own name, what's the point of you being in business? Furthermore, if you were in partnership with other people, you would still have to reveal your name for things like joint bank accounts, agreements and contracts. Even as a sole trader, you would still have to reveal your name...
Just some thoughts....
Caroline Lashley
The Editor's Office, London
theeditorsoffice@yahoo.co.uk
Tel/fax: 0845 125 9493
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Caroline Lashley
The Editor's Office, London
Email: theeditorsoffice@yahoo.co.uk
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