One of the questions we are most frequently asked at Company Bug is “how many limited companies are there in the UK”, or similar questions relating to the business population as a whole

Salary benchmarking has become one of the most important tools for businesses seeking talent. If you’re struggling to find the best and you’re offering the average wage, it’s tempting to up your offering and see who takes the bait. But what if you don’t have the budget – or the inclination – to inflate the market? Are there more important things to job seekers than money? What are the options open to your business?

Reader’s question:  I am interested in setting up a company and would like to associate it with a particular name.  When searching companies house I found that the name I was interested in had been registered in the past but the status was showing as ‘DEAD’.  Would you be able to advise what this means and whether I would be able to use this name?

If you’re thinking of selling your business, it is important to keep tax considerations in mind. One way to do this is with an Employee ownership trust, which enables you to sell your business without tax (tax free). 

You can commence the striking off procedure for a limited company providing certain conditions are met, and the company has not traded for the past three months.
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If you work for yourself, there’s a strong chance you’re a sole trader. As a popular method of setting up a small business, sole traders make up almost 60 percent of all self-employed people in the UK.

You must act fast to avoid your business being harmed by bad air quality. Productivity is one of the most important variables to examine for every company. Your earnings will almost likely rise if you can increase your productivity. As a result, it’s no surprise that business owners all over the world are constantly seeking innovative ways to boost productivity and engage their employees.

Starting a business can be an adventure, even more so when you have just graduated. After leaving university, for the first time you are exposed to the real world. It’s also the time that you make the moves and take the steps to define the person you are going to be and the career you will have. You might be ready to dive into an office job by being an employee or you might have ideas that could make you your own boss.

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You don’t need us to tell you that the world of work has changed. If you are involved in working remotely, you’ll also know that some aspects of work life have become even more exhausting.

Reader’s question: If I structure my ltd company with my two older children as directors’, can I then via company supply them lease cars paid from the company as they are directors?

Reader’s question: I am a sole trader and have machinery worth £20k. If I transfer this to a Limited company by selling it to the company and setup as a director loan in the company, how do I treat this from a self-assessment point of view….do I pay CGT on the £20k?

There’s no denying that COVID-19 affected every part of the business world. From a major switch to remote working and mass closures—temporary and permanent—the effects of the pandemic were far-reaching. One area that hasn’t gone unscathed is training and development. 

To start a business whilst studying may seem incredibly daunting, you may feel like it’s not the right time or that you’re not ready. However, having access to your student resources could be hugely beneficial for starting up your business and to the success of it. So if you have a dream of starting your own business, then why wait around? Get started on building your future today.

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Now that the world has placed a greater focus on the effects we have on the environment, finding more environmentally friendly ways to source our energy is vital. The world has already found some innovative ways to sustainably produce energy without the reliance on coal, oil, and natural gas. However, there is still more to be done. Other than the changes we as individuals make, businesses need to adapt their operations to use greener sources of energy – such as wind power.

The Government has made numerous financial provisions to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme. The scheme has meant that many businesses have been able to continue paying their staff whilst they haven’t been able to operate at full capacity, or at all. Fundamentally, it has allowed them to retain valued employees whilst saving on monthly costs, of which, payroll is often one of the largest.

There are several different kinds of limited companies available to set up in the UK. Limited companies are the second most popular business structure in the UK, only coming second to sole traders. The type of limited company structure chosen for a business will depend on various factors such as the number of shareholders, the responsibility that the shareholders have and the level of involvement by the public. Each has their own benefits, so each business will need to decide what is the most suitable structure for them.

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When you are a smaller company than many that operate in your area, you want to make sure that you are still able to provide a high-quality service, without becoming overshadowed. It is not always the size of the company that matters to clients, but instead the way that business is run, and how valued an individual feels when they seek out certain goods or services. To help yourself get ahead, you want to open as many proverbial doors as possible, which can aid in both gaining customers, and help drum up repeat business.

If you are thinking about setting up a limited company, you might be surprised to find out that you can incorporate a new company for only £12.99 with our partner 1st Formations. Here, we look at how incorporation costs vary according to the formations service you choose, together with additional costs you may incur.

Readers questions: As a limited company, can I put garden groundworks (path and patio) through the company? I am now working from a garden office and this work would provide access.