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rema · April 18th, 2007

Selling T-shirts online need UK legal info

Hey everyone me again I am planning to start selling my t-shirts online once I finalise designs and production method I just wanted to know are there any legal matters I will need to consider like setting up a business and paying uk tax, because my initial plan was just to set up a site, and start selling the t-shirts using paypal or a cart company.

Any advice, insight, wisdom tips or information

Would really be great as this side of things is rather new to me as im a graphics student

Cheers Rema

grundys · April 18th, 2007

Hi Rema

Best to give the tax office a call. Tell them exactly how you're running your business and they'll let you know. Theoretically, you'll only need to register for VAT if you earn over £60K (or something.. It changes). In which case, you just need to declare yourself as self employed. But depending on if and where you're importing wholesale goods from, you may need a VAT number anyway.

re: standard docs on policies, you may want to look at Redirection to Simply-Docs.co.uk who have a lot of templates you can use.

How are you doing your website production and payment methods? Where in the UK are you based? Also, don't buy into that SEO costs a packet crap.. It can do, but any new site will take time to make it's way up the list.

Other advice would be to keep receipts for EVERYTHING. A good accountant will be able to tell you what you can (creatively) claim..

Kevy

rema · April 18th, 2007

hi there kevy thanks for getting back to me in answer to your questions i will be designing the website myself and either using paypal to handle payments or one of those cart companies, i am based in London, i have not heard of SEO before could you explain

also a few more questions have a orison from reading you reply will i have to set up a limited company, i don't plan on importing goods from abroad just using uk suppliers,

regarding the link i took a look but was rather lost

thanks again for information so far

grundys · April 18th, 2007

Hi.

No problem.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. Basically it's making sure you can be found. It can cost an absolute bomb, depending on your web developer (as some promise more than can be delivered). Any Developer will add in an amount of SEO (or should) as standard. If you need a good one, I know one. Very reasonably priced, and would rather give you all the facts, even if it means you go for the cheaper option. Let me know and I can give you their details. They're based in London too.

Re: Limited Company vs Self Employed.. Now, I'm far from an expert, but for me it was a choice of the easier option. To become self employed, you pretty much just have to state that you are and done! To form a limited company involves much more bureaucracy, but is not difficult. As it was just me working on my business, for now at least, I decided there was no point in becoming limited (and if I remember correctly, you need at least 2 people to form a ltd co). There are also advantages to becoming ltd re: financial accountability, I think. Weight them up and maybe speak to a financial advisor..

With the link.. I think you want to look under 'trading'. Much of it won't apply, but some will.

Hope this helps a little..!