New to contracting need some help!

[rjs4]

Hey I am new to contracting, need some starter tips and a good local accountant

thanks

[cojak]

Welcome!

You'll find a lot of answers to your questions within the CUK website.

On the right you'll find CUK Navigation. >>>>>>>>>

Look down and you'll come to the First Timers section. Have a read through there.

Basic expenses questions answered here: Contractor Expenses - How to claim Travel and other expenses via Limited Company or Umbrella

Then pay particular attention to IR35.

If you go into the Accounting/Legal forum you'll discover the thread Basic advice when running your own contractor business.

Guide to Contracts also has some good articles.

And finally - accountant recommendations - Ta-da!

Happy reading!

[Craig at Nixon Williams]

Hello!

My starter tip (which might seem influenced by where I’m posting from but is actually genuine) would be to appoint a contractor accountant rather than a local one. Hopefully someone else will back me up on this..

Craig

[northernladuk]

You want us to help you with a good local accountant but don't tell us where you are. 'Fraid we can't help with that one. We can't do all your research for you and hold you hand along the way either. Time to step up and do some work.

Hello!

My starter tip (which might seem influenced by where I’m posting from but is actually genuine) would be to appoint a contractor accountant rather than a local one. Hopefully someone else will back me up on this..

Craig

My local accountant was bloody awful and left me in a right mess. He didn't know contractors and didn't have to time to deal with me properly either. Switched to SJD and never looked back. I haven't met my accountant in nearly 6 years now and don't see why I should ever need to so being local doesn't add any value.

The guys I would trust on here without a doubt would be InTouch, Nixon Williams and SJD. All take the time to post good solid advice on here so know their stuff. All three will give me £100 for you starting with them which I will split with you so tell them NLUK sent you.

There is also a thread discussing accountants here...

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...-requests.html

Now it's your turn to do some reading and learning.

[AptoAccounting]

Hi. I often look on this website and there is some good content. My personal top tips are these... ...albeit I'm a chartered accountant so totally biased!

- specialist contractor accountancy firms may be able to offer better insight than your local high-street accountant. Recently, I've spoken to high-street accountants that were blissfully unaware of the recent changes in the intermediaries legislation; and the impact on their clients who found work through agencies.

- as the old adage goes... ...."if it's too good to be true, it probably is". Anybody claiming to be able to save you more than the next accountancy firm is probably misleading you. We all have to adhere to the same tax rules!

- if you want to go down the limited company route, be aware that there will be some extra administration. For example, you're going to have to pay some bills out of your business bank account. I'd be suspicious of any accountant claiming that they can take this admin away from you might be falling under the managed service company legislation.

- personally I would avoid anything that involves offshore solutions. I've spoken with other accountants who 'make available' offshore products mainly to city bankers. Whilst some of these schemes have been deemed non-DOTAS by various QCs, I'm not convinced by them.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Alex
Apto Accounting

[speling bee]

Aside from the practicalities of setting up, you need to find contracts. My experience has been the LinkedIn is very powerful. Build a good profile. Link with people. Make your job title clear that you are e.g. - xxxx developer - looking for contract work.

[rjs4]

found a GOOD accountant

Thanks for help guys am an using <mod snip>

[northernladuk]

How do you know they are good if you have only just joined them?

EDIT : Ugh he's been busted and banned... Forget that then.