Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
So, you have made the decision to start your own business, great! Let’s work on turning your idea into a reality. There is a lot to starting your business properly, this is why we have put together this 18-item checklist you’ll need to do before you start your company all the way through to your regular routine once you have formed your limited company
Checklist for before you start your company
#1 – Research
You should research the viability of your business idea, as well as who your target market is. You will also need to research who your competitors are and how your business idea differentiates from them. Once you have done this you should test your product to make sure your product is right for your target market and there is a need for your product or service.
You can find some testing methods in our previous article Escaping the nine to five: can I turn my passion into my business?
#2 – Think of a name
Your business name can come to you instantly or it may take longer to come up with. Either way you need to carefully consider what your business name will be
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Clear the clutter: stop junk mail with LegalZoom
by Legal Zoom • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Legal Zoom on Small Business
Junk mail is annoying wherever you are. Whether you’ve started up from home or you’ve opened an office for your new small business, dealing with unsolicited flyers through your door can become more than just a drain on your time and resources. It can become a question of security.
Your business address, by legal requirement, is easy for anyone to find. Companies House lists it publically and it must be displayed on your website. It’s reassuring for your customers that your company can be traced to a specific address and it shows your commitment to corporate transparency. This address is also where important correspondence from Companies House, HMRC and other government agencies goes.
Of course, you want official regulatory bodies and your customers to know where to find you. But you don’t want just anyone to be able to send you their bulky marketing materials.
There is a simple way to stop junk mail dropping on your doormat. Sign up to LegalZoom’s Registered Agent service when you form a limited company. Our central London office becomes your official registered address. So all your post comes to us. We sort it, bin the junk, and send it
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How LegalZoom protects your private address – keep your home safe
by Legal Zoom • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Legal Zoom on Small Business
You give your customers your time, your expertise, your blood, sweat and tears. You don’t need to give them your private home address as well.
Protect My Privacy
There are a million things to think about when you’re setting up your own small business. From the practical considerations of how and where to work to the emotional stress of striking out on your own, it can be easy to overlook some of the smaller details. Like, for example, accidentally making some private information – like your home address – public.
What is a registered address?
When you register your UK business, it’s a legal requirement that you tie it to a specific address. That information is publicly listed by Companies House and must also be shared on your official business assets, including your website.
That address doesn’t necessarily need to be the same as your trading address. But all your official correspondence from Companies House, HMRC and other government bodies goes here, so it’s important that you can sweep it all up when it comes through. Unfortunately, a PO box won’t cut it legally.
>See also: Protecting your privacy – keep your business address separate
What should I use as
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Protecting your privacy – keep your business address separate
by Legal Zoom • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Legal Zoom on Small Business
We understand that privacy is important and needs to be protected. People take measures to ensure their privacy is protected in many aspects of their personal life. That’s why we at LegalZoom are all about protecting your privacy too.
Let’s take social media for example; by limiting people who can view your profile and not having your personal address and phone number available on social media platforms, you are protecting yourself from unwanted invasion of privacy and unsolicited messages.
Why should this be any different for your business?
When you set up your business, you must have a registered office address and a service address. Your registered office address is displayed on the public register – which anyone can access, it will be on all company literature and public documents and is where all statutory documents from Companies House and HMRC will be sent, as well as any junk mail.
>See also: Start your company the simple way
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way in which you could use the same principles of protecting your privacy on social media and apply them to your business, avoiding invasion of privacy and unsolicited notices?
This is where we
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7 start-up mistakes and how to avoid them
by Legal Zoom • • 0 Comments
Originally written by Legal Zoom on Small Business
Starting and running a business can feel like a whirlwind at times. Quite often you’ll need to wear more than one hat, making decisions on everything from operations and HR to marketing. It can be easy to make start-up mistakes when you’re operating at 100mph, so we’ve put a list together of the typical problems faced by start-ups and how to avoid them.
#1 – Choose the right formation agent
The reason for using a formation agent to register your business is simple: it can be more cost effective and just as quick as going directly to Companies House. When you use a formation agent, they will also seek to provide a simpler online process with more professional guidance and help with added services after your business has been incorporated.
With our company formation packages, your company incorporation can take as little as three hours to complete and our online form can take 20 minutes to fill in. It’s an online process but you’re not alone while you’re doing it. Our support team can be on hand to help during office hours, 9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, either by phone or email to make your