Carlsberg don't do umbrella companies but if they did................................

[geoff from contracta IOM]

Here goes, what would make an umbrella company the best ever umbrella company, what would it do and how would it do it ?

[Support Monkey]

It would go ltd

[pmeswani]

It would go ltd

And stay in the UK for the purposes of tax.

[cojak]

<snork>

[Emmie Noughton]

Well I don't know about the best umbrella company in the world but I have just started contracting, looking at my options and a colleague has recommended umbrella companies due to the ease in getting started and lack of admin involved. I was initially thinking Ltd Company but to be honest this intimidates me a little at the moment. I have looked into a few umbrella companies and I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the level of customer service. Some of the staff were not very helpful at all. Just wanted to sign me up but not willing to offer any advice. I'm pretty new to everthing at the moment but having read some of the forum posts I think this site could be very helpful - if you have any advice for a first timer using an umbrella company I would welcome it!

[Steven@Parasol]

Well I don't know about the best umbrella company in the world but I have just started contracting, looking at my options and a colleague has recommended umbrella companies due to the ease in getting started and lack of admin involved. I was initially thinking Ltd Company but to be honest this intimidates me a little at the moment. I have looked into a few umbrella companies and I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the level of customer service. Some of the staff were not very helpful at all. Just wanted to sign me up but not willing to offer any advice. I'm pretty new to everthing at the moment but having read some of the forum posts I think this site could be very helpful - if you have any advice for a first timer using an umbrella company I would welcome it!

I am biast as I work for an umbrella but I would be extremely wary of an umbrella company that claims its overarching contract of employment is 'HMRC approved.' HMRC does not work in this way so it sets alarm bells going straight away.

[doodab]

I would think a service that provided a director or part time employee who ran your limited company and took care of all the accounts and paperwork for you for a nominal fee would be best.

[Support Monkey]

I used several Umbrellas before going limited and the only one that did not say it was HMRC authorised and did not tell me to claim a load of expenses i was never going to spend was ContractorUmbrella

[geoff from contracta IOM]

I would think a service that provided a director or part time employee who ran your limited company and took care of all the accounts and paperwork for you for a nominal fee would be best.

Interesting

[GillsMan]

Well I don't know about the best umbrella company in the world but I have just started contracting, looking at my options and a colleague has recommended umbrella companies due to the ease in getting started and lack of admin involved. I was initially thinking Ltd Company but to be honest this intimidates me a little at the moment. I have looked into a few umbrella companies and I have to say that I wasn't impressed with the level of customer service. Some of the staff were not very helpful at all. Just wanted to sign me up but not willing to offer any advice. I'm pretty new to everthing at the moment but having read some of the forum posts I think this site could be very helpful - if you have any advice for a first timer using an umbrella company I would welcome it!

I used an umbrella for the first three months of my contract. Parasol - and I was very happy with their service for whatever it's worth. That gave me time to get into contracting and research the responsibilities involved in being a company director. Now running my LtdCo and very happy with the decision I took to start with an umbrella and then go Ltd.