For some people starting a business in Australia, deciding whether to set up as a sole trader or establish a company can be pretty daunting. How do you really know which option is best for you? It can be confusing. Between the labyrinth of government websites, lawyer’s legalese and accountants Excel spreadsheets… deciding the best structure can be incredibly tough.
Making the right decisions when starting a business can be hard. Hopefully this simple layman’s guide to deciding whether to sole trade or start a company will help.
Business founders who decide to start up business as a Pty Ltd company are often on the right track. The benefits of a Pty Ltd company structure make setting one up the wisest option. This is especially the case if you are:
starting up with business partners, be they Directors or shareholders
seeking fast growth
plan to supply to major corporations
intend to hire staff
seeking to maximise the benefits of a tax effective business structure
considering equity investment
want ‘street cred’ as an Australian company
already considering exiting the business at some stage
If one or more apply to you, you should seriously consider forming a Pty Ltd company. That’s not to say setting up as a ‘sole trader’ is not a suitable option. However, people who set up to ‘sole trader’ usually fall into one of the following categories:
starting up a hobby business to supplement income
starting a part-time businesses
planning to work as a one man/woman band for the foreseeable future
testing the waters in business for the first time
looking to run a business that fits an existing lifestyle
generally not seeking significant growth.
Every person’s circumstance is different so exceptions to the guidelines above do occur. The decision is not always simple or clear cut. Age, industry sector, start up capital, family status, asset base and a range of variables should be taken into consideration.
For this reason, input from a professional, such as a lawyer, accountant or a specialist start up firm is very much worth considering.
What else determines the decision to choose between sole trader and Pty Ltd?
In a word, liability. And it is so important a point it deserves a section of its own. As a sole trader your liability is unlimited. That means if you are sued your personal assets (house, car, money in bank, valuables etc.) are 100% exposed. A Pty Ltd company structure offers a better level of asset protection, as the business is its own legal entity (and therefore separate from you).
Regardless, for all new businesses we highly recommend business insurance. It’s like going out for a walk on a cold Winter’s night with a really warm jacket on. However, for sole traders with 100% liability risk, insurance cover is doubly important.
What about the cost?
Setting up a Pty Ltd company in Australia is a little more expensive that setting up as a sole trader. However, for the sheer value it delivers, we believe that …
Welcome to the wide world of Forex! As anyone can see, Forex is a world of its own, with unique trading techniques, trends, jargon and more. Currency trading is very competitive, and it may take a while to find what methods are best for you. These tips can lead you in the right direction.
It is of the utmost importance that you stay up to minute with the markets in which you are trading. The speculation that drives prices up and down on the currency exchanges tends to grow out of breaking news developments. Set it up so that you get email and text alerts about the markets you dabble in so that you can potentially capitalize on major developments with lightning speed.
Learn about your chosen currency pair. If you try to learn about all of the different pairings and their interactions, you will be learning and not trading for quite some time. Consider the currency pair from all sides, including volatility. Then, study the news and the forecasting surrounding the pairing, but stick with simplicity.
When trading, try to have a couple of accounts in your name. Have one main account for your real trades and one demo account as a test bed.
When you are looking at forex patterns, remember that there are going to be both up and down market trends in play, but one usually dominates. It is easier to sell signals when the market is up. Choose the trades you make based on trends.
Depending on forex robots to do trading for you can end up costing you. This may help the sellers, but it will not help the buyers. Think about the trade you are going to make and decide where to place your money.
Forex is not a game. Individuals who are more interested in the thrill of trading are not necessarily in the right place. With that attitude, it is not unlike going to a casino and gambling irresponsibly.
As a novice in forex trading, you are best served by setting goals before you begin and not waffling on these when you become caught up in the high speed transactions. Set goals and a time in which you want to reach them in Forex trading. Keep in mind that the timetable you create should have room for error. If this is your first time trading, you will probably make mistakes. It is also important to know the amount of time you can give yourself for this project.
Forex robots don’t work. If a book on Forex promises to make you wealthy, don’t waste your money buying it. These products offer you little success, packed as they are with dodgy and untested trading concepts. Therefore, the sellers of these products are likely the only ones that will make money from them. While working on your trading, you may want to think about using some of your money to get a professional trader’s help instead of gambling with your present knowledge.
In the …