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Structuring a Business

Starting with the right legal entity is crucial, but as the business changes there are tax opportunities and implications.

Call today to find out how we can help you 01634 731390

Getting your business structure right.

Fundamental to every business is getting the legal structure right. Whether you are structuring a business as a limited company or sole trader, an LLP or a partnership, getting it right first time can save you thousands in tax and professional fees.

Below is our video about setting up a limited company:

 

What are the risks if I get it wrong?

It’s amazing how many times businesses are set up incorrectly or with key elements missing. Saving tax is important but it’s equally important how the business runs, how decisions are made and how problems and disputes are solved.

Getting everything right now can save a lot of time and money dealing with future disputes.

Whilst everything may be fine now, what would happen if:

  • Your tax bills are bigger than you expected, and could have been avoided or significantly reduced if you had the right legal structure
  • A bad debt closes your company and you’re liable for the debts which takes all your personal cash and assets
  • Your business partner dies and their shares go to their family who want you to buy them back
  • Your business partner isn’t pulling their weight or you can’t agree on the direction you want to take the business. Do you have a mechanism to resolve the situation?
  • A shareholder challenges what rights their shares have and there is nothing in writing to support the conversation you had a couple of years ago
  • Your business partner leaves the company but refuses to give you the shares back, and to add insult to injury has taken some of the staff and a lot of the business customers!

Finding what’s right for you.

Here at Friend & Grant we have the knowledge, expertise and experience to put the best legal structure in place. We’ll make sure that you chose the right legal entity and that shareholders’ or partnership agreements and company’s articles are correct so that future problems can be resolved easily.

We’ll discuss with you how to get the most from your business and how best to protect it.

We can provide bespoke planning including:

  • Creating a group structure or restructuring a group
  • Restructuring your existing company through the issue of different classes of shares, amendments to company articles and shareholder agreements
  • Business valuations
  • Share option schemes for key employees
  • Exit strategies including buy back of own shares, management buy-outs, passing the business on to the next generation or selling your business
  • Management buy-ins, mergers and demergers.

 

Mark Devaney
Surf Street & Effective Web Solutions

Building a Business Case study  

How do you choose an accountant to help you grow your business when you don’t know anything about running a business?

Sound like a familiar question you’d ask yourself as a novice business owner.

That’s exactly what Mark Devaney asked when he first needed an accountant. He didn’t know what that involved but he knew he needed someone who could help him. He hit the yellow pages and called a few on a Saturday; of course no one was in. He only left one voicemail message – Mark at Friend & Grant. Why? “Because he sounded like a real person rather than a stuffy accountant. As a young IT Consultant I was looking for someone a bit more dynamic.”

Mark met Mark; they got to know each other – they liked each other and over the past 19 years Mark has helped Mark (and his business partner Laura) on many aspects of his growing business and there’s now a strong trust bond. Here’s Mark’s (the client) story ….

“I knew my business and my market; I knew how to make money; attract and retain customers; buy and sell stock but that isn’t enough for long term success. I didn’t actually know how to run a business and I had no-one to help me. That is where Mark and the team at Friend & Grant became my virtual FD. I couldn’t afford a full-time FD but I couldn’t afford to be without one either. They were there to provide help and advice on how to plan, forecast and build a sustainable business.”

“Whenever I need to, at least twice a year, we sit down and simply talk through my current position, ideas and plans. I use my Mark as a sounding board. We also talk about my personal goals which motivate me to drive my business forward.  Mark gives me suggestions, and his team keeps me up to date on legal, financial or technology changes that could impact my business.  Without the help and advice from Mark and his team my businesses would not have grown as they have.”

“Whenever I have a new business idea, big or small, my first call is always to Friend and Grant for advice from one of the team.  That’s how much I value my accountant.”

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Are you hungry for success? If you run a small to medium size business and you want to grow your sales, increase profitability and pay less tax then you have come to the right place.