Registering new company in uk help

[zaheer0027]

Good day all

 

I am currently in the uk on a business mission. Basically I'm in the initial steps of creating a uk business which will serve as a base for my European expansion plan.

 

My questions are the following:

 

1. For now i need a virtual address for incoming mail. Which providers can you recommend that are reasonable in price as well as trustworthy?

2. After creating my company, i will need to register with hmrc.what other authority do i need to register with to obtain necessary import/export registration? I am an importer and distributor of new motorcycle spares and accessories.

3. Which are the major shipping ports of entry into the uk? This is important as it also gives me an idea on location i should be looking at to setup office/warehouse

 

I could take the short cut route of simply getting an agent to do all this but i am a very hands on person so i prefer to handle as much as i can on my own.

 

Any help appreciated

 

Regards

 

Zaheer

 

 

[rider]

There are a whole raft of virtual office companies which offer mail forwarding through to a receptionist service. Similarly its an easy search for a third party that do all the companies house filing for a very small fee. Your main problem could well be with the named director(s). You now need to name a buck stops person and I don't know if that can be someone who is not resident in the UK, so you should check that out. The main ports for container traffic is Felixstowe, other ports of note are Southampton and Liverpool.

 

The real question though is why set up in the UK unless the UK is your main market location. Ireland has much lower company tax rates. If setting up a Warehouse in the UK Wales offer generous grants and subsidised broadband to companies that you won't get in England and North Wales is close to the port of Liverpool.

[rider]

I'd recommend you join the below linked forum. You can ask any question about just about anything and get plenty of useful and sometimes not so useful advice. Really good for any HMRC questions you may have.

 

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/

[zaheer0027]

Thank you rider for this invaluable information. I will check it out.

 

Regards

 

Zaheer

 

 

[el_bandido]

You've picked the UK to serve as the base for a European business empire, a few days after article 50 was triggered?

[Al Massey]

Depends on the type of company you want to set up.

[SupraAyf]

You need to visit a UK-based accountant ASAP to help aid and establish your understanding of tax procedures and the legal status for trading within UK Tax law.

 

Explain your MO; your business plan and your company objectives to him/her and then see what the ACC has to say. It is critically important at this early stage that you understand the relevant tax issues and the trading liability types of the UK system prior to initiating a new company; this type of info will better prepare you in terms of configuring a well defined business plan with positive growth objectives.

 

Thousands of businesses collapse in the UK every year because the business owner does not understand his/her financial liabilities.

 

Also, you need to know that the HMRC is 'getting wise' so you need to consult an expert to see if you're likely to be caught with your pants down in the future.

 

What is good for you this year (in terms of running a business of this style) may not be good for you next with our HMRC system evolving as it is currently ;-)

[SupraAyf]

You've picked the UK to serve as the base for a European business empire, a few days after article 50 was triggered?

 

You may not be aware but South Africa's credit rating has only just been reduced to 'Junk Status' so in principle anything/anywhere is better than a financial initiative in RSA at the moment.

[el_bandido]

Yeah, but would Ireland not have been a better choice, given that it will retain EU membership and make trading inside the EU much simpler?

[SupraAyf]

Yeah, but would Ireland not have been a better choice, given that it will retain EU membership and make trading inside the EU much simpler?

 

If it was a corporation-style business then yes. The Op wants a low yield trading business that can easily be administered without too much supervision. He will need access to the global arena without the political crap that goes with it so Europe would only complicate a start-up business of this style, plus it's much easier 'for now' to start a UK business than one in the EU.

 

The tax authority in RSA is also desperately trying to recoup monies earned by its citizens abroad hence why a good number of RSA guys are attempting this type of off-shore business.

 

I have many pals from RSA who have since moved away as the country and its financial structure is falling into the sea.

[gordy.r]

Ports wise:

 

Newcastle, Liverpool, Southampton, Grimsby and Bristol are all major ports for import / export.