Moving to Ireland from the UK to set up a business

lmartin

I am a shareholder (10%) / Director of a UK based company currently doing business with both consumers and businesses in Ireland. I am also part-Irish, have lots of family in the Kildare area and love the place!

Sales to Irish customers has grown steadily over the past few years and in particular in the past 12 months we have seen a lot of demand for our products - some of which has been impossible for us to fulfil due to being based exclusively in the UK and serving Irish customers from here.

So, in September, I am 'upping sticks' and moving over to Dublin. I intend in the coming months to find a storage facility in Ireland either by renting a small warehouse myself or space in one.

We already have a respectable turnover, but don't make it very easy for Irish customers to buy from us so I believe we can build on this significantly. Which, combined with our ability to service more customers by having our stock over there, gives us an overall positive feeling about the venture even though European economies are all a tad rocky! (Got to be positive eh?!)

Therefore, when I move I intend for us to operate as an Irish business, by incorporating an Irish company, opening Irish bank accounts, sorting out Irish credit/debit card processing facilities etc...

I intend in the longer-term to take my full salary from the Irish business although this may not be possible from day 1 and the likelihood is I may receive some salary from the UK and some from the Irish business. As a Director of the UK business I will still be dedicating part of my time to the overall business picture, even though living and operating from Ireland, as much of my job can be done remotely quite comfortably.

In the UK we have a very good relationship with our accountants who we have used for 20 years. In fact, we stayed with them despite moving the business 300 miles away from them about 10 years ago. They are easy to deal with, friendly, courteous and extremely helpful. But most of all, they are very good value for money.

We are a small business after all, not a big corporation, and to make ends meet in this economy requires hard work and as low a cost base as possible!

I am essentially looking for similar in Ireland, but I want to hit the ground running in advance of my move so I'm not sat twiddling my thumbs when I get there.

We will run the day-to-day book-keeping ourselves, including purchase and sales ledger, credit control etc.. etc.. But I will need some advice on the best way of paying myself whilst complying with the Irish laws / taxation system I currently know little about. And I will also need help incorporating the company, conforming to the appropriate legislation (which I think is very similar to here) RE filing returns / accounts / etc... Most of all though I need this person / company to be good value for money, straight-forward and easy to deal with!

I don't know if soliciting for business on here is accepted, but if it is then on this occasion I am inviting anyone who might be able to help me or anyone who can recommend someone I should talk to to PM me. I can then send you my email address.

Any advice / things to look out for that anyone can give on this thread do feel free!

Thanks in advance,
Liam