sole trader and office/work from home

mike_456

Hello,

I have an opportunity to become self employed as a sole trader.

What are requirements when registering as a sole trader in Ireland - do I need to have contract for office space? Or can I rent mailbox and register to that address?

If I decide to work from home do I need planning permission even it is just job on the computer?

Thanks

OttoPilot

This is just a layman's opinion, but I don't think you need planning permission. You don't need to rent an office or po box. I'm fairly sure you can use your home address. Best of luck!

amtc

All you need to do is register your business name as a t/a. CRO give you a company number You also register with Revenue as self employed. If over 37500 revenue you need to register for VAT.

It can be good for the first few months to use an umbrella company. When I worked self employed I was paid this way. I used Contracting PLUS.

Your Local Enterprise Office does courses on this.

mike_456

Thanks for answer.

All you need to do is register your business name as a t/a.

That must be RBN1 form, right? In the form it says "Give the full postal address, in the State, of the business. A Post Office box number or a ‘care of’ address will not be accepted."

JustAThought

When you registered as a sole trader revenue or VAT used send 2 people out to the premises to check you lived there & go through the paperwork & make sure it was kosher. Don't know if they still do that - it came as a big surprise to me.

Regarding Sole trader status you realise you can be personally sue- d and if you own a house that taken into consideration for any liabilities or debts - including VAT/ unpaid taxes etc. Also once you register you will absolutely lose the safety net of all state support such as unemployment should it go badly, rent allowance, FIS, medical card etc and not be able to sign on the dole if things don't work out for two full years after your ST company / work is officially accepted and signed off ...Its why a lot of people don't do it - naturally as the empoyer takes no risks and has no responsibilities in terms of employee payments - , PRSI contributions, overheads, VAT, pension contributions, holiday pay or sick pay etc they always think it is a fantastic opportunity - an it is; for them. It leaves you with little security and lots of risks that often don't become obvious until it is too late. tBH having done it I'd be very wary of doing it again. Advance tax bill for 2018 or 2019 payable in advance of any work confirmed or penalty fines imposed - audit bills at the end of the year for accountants, - no thanks mate. There are easier ways to earn a living and far less stressful and risky ones.

Mrs OBumble

JustAThought wrote: »

Regarding Sole trader status you realise you can be personally sue- d and if you own a house that taken into consideration for any liabilities or debts - including VAT/ unpaid taxes etc. Also once you register you will absolutely lose the safety net of all state support such as unemployment should it go badly, rent allowance, FIS, medical card etc and not be able to sign on the dole if things don't work out for two full years after your ST company / work is officially accepted and signed off ...Its why a lot of people don't do it -

This is untrue.

Yes its harder- but welfare access is means tested not removed totally .

Theres also a threshold before losing access to entitlement benefits kicks in. They wont tell us what it is but i have recent experience that 3k per annul profit is under it. (Yes I'm registered as a sole trader.)

redbel05

Registering the company with the CRO, and registering with revenue as self employed has been covered above.

As for planning permission... There is no need so long as you won't have clients/ customers calling to your house. Working from a computer in your house should be fine.

I would recommend calling into your local enterprise office for advise. I found them immensely helpful about funding, help with business plan, training courses in bookkeeping and online marketing, plus it can be useful to bounce your business idea off someone who knows about getting startups off the ground.