There are quite a few key differences between a business being registered as a sole trader compared to a limited company. Sometimes, business owners may wish to convert from one to another. This article will explain how that’s possible and the key things you need to do to successfully convert from a sole trader to a limited company!
Don’t forget to check out the short video on the bottom of the page
For the record – yes, your business absolutely can convert to a limited company even after you’ve registered as a sole trader. It’s a natural process that occurs for most business owners. You just need to follow the correct guidelines according to revenue and customs laws, which we will touch on in a moment.
We have an article on our website already detailing the differences between a sole trader and a limited company, but we’ll run over some of the basics here for the sake of context.
A sole trader is the name for a business that is owned and controlled by only one individual. Legally, there’s no distinction between you and your business. This means that you personally have total liability for any losses, debts or legal issues that are incurred as a result of business. While being a sole trader has other handy benefits, the unlimited liability is a very significant flaw, and one that eventually convinces people to convert to a limited company.
A limited company is a business owned by multiple shareholders and managed by more than one director. The same people can be both shareholders and directors, meaning you have the opportunity to own and control the business like you would as a sole trader, but with one key difference – you have limited liability. If there are problems with the business, it now becomes the responsibility of the whole company, which HMRC will see as separate from you as a person. Great! Of course there are some disadvantages, but trading as a limited company is generally the better option for those with growing businesses.
There are some steps that you must take in order to set your limited company up properly. They are as follows:
You need to register a limited company before you do anything else. A very popular and inexpensive way of doing this is through an approved company formation agent. The process is quite straightforward and most of the application is conducted online and approved within a few hours of completion.
To register your company online, make sure you have:
As with all business dealings, it’s very important to let HMRC know that you are planning to convert. This means letting them know you have ceased trading as a sole trader and have registered as a limited company. There’s a form you have to fill out on their website which is straightforward enough, which will ask you for your:
Make sure to send your final self assessment tax return by January 31st at the end of the tax year as well!
You may possibly need to transfer any existing business assets to your new company. Depending on the type of business you had, these may vary. You should be aware of possible tax changes at this stage – transference of assets can trigger increases in capital gains tax. We strongly encourage seeking out the advice of an accountant or professional for advice in this area, something we can offer at Cubed Consultancy with a free consultation call.
A brand new business bank account is the best option to separate your personal and business finances. There is no legal obligation to do so, but it is easier to work with!
Anyone who has interest in your business will need to be informed of the change, regardless if the name changes or not. This includes the likes of employees, clients, banks, service providers, landlords and debtors.
When your company has been registered, you will receive a letter at your registered address from HMRC. This will inform you of your tax obligations and give you a unique taxpayer reference (UTR). Within 3 months, you must register your company online for corporation tax, and if you think your taxable VAT for a 12-month period will be over £85,000, you should register the company for VAT as well. If your sole trader business was also registered for VAT, this should be cancelled within 30 days of converting the business.
Phew. One last point: if you are to receive a director’s salary and have employees to pay, you also need to register as an employer and set up Pay As You Earn (PAYE) before the first payday.
There are a lot of things to remember to do when changing from a sole trader to a limited company, but many of them are straightforward and beneficial to the growth of your company. Hopefully this article has clued you in a bit more about the process. If you have any other concerns or questions, then please get in touch with us here at Cubed Consultancy.
We are a Hertfordshire based consultancy company headed by two chartered accountants, Mark and Richard. With years of financial experience between us, we work closely with all types of clients, whether they are individuals or businesses, in order to tailor to everyone’s unique financial needs and requirements. Get in touch with us today and book a free consultation call via our website!
Related Article that may be of interest to you : Sole Trader vs Limited Company (The Startup Delimma)
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