oldbie trying to catch up with the world!

**DaveB** · 13 April 2006, 08:45

Originally posted by amx

Hi ya'll,

I've been contracting for ages and ages now, but only just catching up with this "limited company" malarky... any suggestions who I should go for?

Not done a great deal of research into any yet (as there are sooo many around out there!!!) so it's mighty overwhelming, and a tricky decision...

any thoughts?!!

cheers in advance

amxamxamx

Malvolio, I think this one is for you.

**cojak** · 13 April 2006, 10:51

*grabs tin hat, dives into fox hole*

**PerlOfWisdom** · 13 April 2006, 11:03

When you pick a company name, make sure the domain name is available.

**amx** · 21 April 2006, 08:37

humz

no suggestions.. so had to do some of my own ground work!

think i'm going to use these Charterhouse people...

http://www.charterhouseplc.com/limited-companies

they seem pretty alright having spoke to them a few times.... and mainly coz it's one of the few i cant find any BAD comments on!!

any one else use these guys?

**MrsGoof** · 21 April 2006, 08:46

why not grab an accountant and let them do it for you.

The resdient acountants Darren of 1st accounting and Simon of SJD (although not seen him for a while) will do it for you and maybe FOC.

When I went Ltd I got my accountatn to do it £50 IIRC

MG

**MrsGoof** · 21 April 2006, 08:52

just checked out their website and found

Fees
We charge 5% of each invoice you raise.

No way

A decent accountant will charge £60 to £80 quid a month which , unless your rate is very low, will be a lot cheaper than the 5%

**The Lone Gunman** · 21 April 2006, 09:16

Originally posted by amx

humz

no suggestions.. so had to do some of my own ground work!

think i'm going to use these Charterhouse people...

http://www.charterhouseplc.com/limited-companies

they seem pretty alright having spoke to them a few times.... and mainly coz it's one of the few i cant find any BAD comments on!!

any one else use these guys?

How much research have you done? There is a link just to the right there for SJD which you will note offers to set up your company for free and then they will charge you 80 quid a month. If you look at the members of this site you will find a chap whose handle is Darren@1stAccountancy (clue there) who will set up your company, for a small fee, and then do the accountancy thing for 50 quid a month.
All figures approximate!!
A simple search of previous threads would give you quite a lot of advice.

You might want to consider not contracting if this kind of thing is too difficult.

**amx** · 21 April 2006, 09:26

havent thought about the going it on your own route with an accountant...

isnt it simplier and easier to go through one of these suppliers, such as charterhouse?

humzz too bl00dy complicated!

**MrsGoof** · 21 April 2006, 09:37

It might seem scary but it really is easy. I got the hang of things after a couple of months and when I'm not sure or just need help then I ring my accountant, because thats what I pay him for.

Each Month all I do is:
Produce an Invoice for client (5 mins)
When Invoice paid
I enter details onto a spread sheet (Gross, VAT and Net)
I pay myself (salary and expenses- spreadseet for calcs procided by accountant (record on spreadsheet)
I send chq for pension (record on spreadsheet)
U send cheque for PAYE to HMRC (record on spreadsheet)

When I spend money (record on spreadsheet)

When I get a bank statemnt
I confirm my entries on my spreadsheet

When VAT is owed - HMRC tell me
I add up the VAT charged and take away VAT spent
Send chw to HMRC

If I spend > 1 hour a month then I;ve lost the plot

My view is that it's my money, so I want control.

oldbie trying to catch up with the world!