It's been hectic at Trebian Towers.
You may have noticed that the post on last Monday night's game is a bit later than usual. That's because I've been fairly busy on non-hobby related items. This has involved running around after parents, as usual, and dealing with whatever bureaucratic nightmare (real or imagined) as descended on them.
Most of last week, however, was taken up with trips to London. I'd had Thursday in the diary for a while. as I'd been asked to give a talk on outsourcing and systems implementations at a Breakfast Briefing.
Then towards the end of the previous week I was called and offered an interview. I'd said I could make any time on Thursday after 10:30, so they came back and offered me 11am on Friday.
And then, last Monday I was called and offered another interview. I said anytime Thursday after 10:30, or Friday after 12 pm. They offered me Wednesday at 12:30. So I ended up booking three individual tickets to the City on three successive days. I filled up the rest of the days with catch-up meetings with head hunters.
The guys on Wednesday had me in for nearly two hours, and gave me a thorough going-over. After that the head hunter called me back and said they wanted to see me again, - so I offered the times on Thursday & Friday. They took a slot immediately after my talk on Thursday and I had another hour long discussion.
I then headed off for my next meeting only to get a call saying I had to go and see the headhunter asap. I call into their office to be told I had to do an on-line personality test in their offices now, and would I mind seeing them again on Friday.
Which brings us to Friday, and a morning start for another interview and I get a call saying they want to offer me a 6 month contract and there's no need for a third interview. But do I have a limited company I can contract through, please, and can I start next Wednesday? I push them out to the Monday after, but agree to work from home from Thursday.
So off to London for some pointless meeting/interviews, but well, I've paid for the tickets and I've arranged to meet a wargaming friend for lunch anyway.
Lots of people give me advice about setting up the company, some of which I've taken, and I've sent in all the forms, so hopefully I'll own my own company by close of business Monday (well, part own, - Mrs T has 50% of the shares).
So now I need to see the accountant, open the bank account, transfer my phone and broadband into the company's name and everything else like that.
Busy, busy, busy.
You may have noticed that the post on last Monday night's game is a bit later than usual. That's because I've been fairly busy on non-hobby related items. This has involved running around after parents, as usual, and dealing with whatever bureaucratic nightmare (real or imagined) as descended on them.
Most of last week, however, was taken up with trips to London. I'd had Thursday in the diary for a while. as I'd been asked to give a talk on outsourcing and systems implementations at a Breakfast Briefing.
Then towards the end of the previous week I was called and offered an interview. I'd said I could make any time on Thursday after 10:30, so they came back and offered me 11am on Friday.
And then, last Monday I was called and offered another interview. I said anytime Thursday after 10:30, or Friday after 12 pm. They offered me Wednesday at 12:30. So I ended up booking three individual tickets to the City on three successive days. I filled up the rest of the days with catch-up meetings with head hunters.
The guys on Wednesday had me in for nearly two hours, and gave me a thorough going-over. After that the head hunter called me back and said they wanted to see me again, - so I offered the times on Thursday & Friday. They took a slot immediately after my talk on Thursday and I had another hour long discussion.
I then headed off for my next meeting only to get a call saying I had to go and see the headhunter asap. I call into their office to be told I had to do an on-line personality test in their offices now, and would I mind seeing them again on Friday.
Which brings us to Friday, and a morning start for another interview and I get a call saying they want to offer me a 6 month contract and there's no need for a third interview. But do I have a limited company I can contract through, please, and can I start next Wednesday? I push them out to the Monday after, but agree to work from home from Thursday.
So off to London for some pointless meeting/interviews, but well, I've paid for the tickets and I've arranged to meet a wargaming friend for lunch anyway.
Lots of people give me advice about setting up the company, some of which I've taken, and I've sent in all the forms, so hopefully I'll own my own company by close of business Monday (well, part own, - Mrs T has 50% of the shares).
So now I need to see the accountant, open the bank account, transfer my phone and broadband into the company's name and everything else like that.
Busy, busy, busy.
Trebian,
ReplyDeleteRunning a limited liability company is a piece of cake ... as long as you get all the paperwork done correctly. I set mine up in a day by using an agent.
Once I had the paperwork it was simple to sort out the bank. HMRC are, however, a different ball-game, and I would strongly advise you to take advice from a good accountant. They will also give you advice about how to avoid the pitfalls of IR35.
They will also give you advice about whether or not you need to register for VAT. I had to as local government departments (and hence schools and colleges) will not award you contracts unless you are VAT registered.
Funnily enough I am in the process of winding my company down, as both my wife and I are going to stop working after this Summer. Ironically I have just taken on a new employee. He is an ex-colleague who is in the same boat as you but who cannot be bothered to set up his own company. I employ him and charge him a percentage fee to invoice for the work he does and to handle his income tax and NI. He tells me what he has done, I invoice for the work, they pay me, and I pay him ... and make a small profit from the transaction. Can't be bad, can it?
Good luck with your new venture. After all, you can now call yourself a consultant (but make sure that when you tell people that, that you also tell them that you are not a doctor!) as well as a managing director and chief executive.
All the best,
Bob
I'm off to see the accountant on Thursday. It's all very exciting.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your venture, I expect it will be an adventure!
ReplyDeleteJim