Hi Kris

I think I would treat them all as individuals as you are suggesting, and invoice each individual company. They are going to need individual invoices for their accounts.

Again, I agree that as you are making a contract with seperate entities, then you need a letter of engagement for each (along with seperate MLR records as well).

All this assumes they are all independant, and not part of a group.

Bill

Reading this the first name that comes into my mind is Craig Whyte (note below). I get suspicious when one person has so many different companies. There may be legitimate reasons for the person you are talking about.

I wouldn't walk away though. If he passes due diligence then how is there a problem? If he pays on time - you will be able to see this by looking at his books anyway. If he is up to something dodgy at a later date then report him.

I was carrying out my own investigations into someone that had put in a planning application in my old village. It was in the name of a limited company. Himself and another were directors of the same companies. One company was dissolved then one of the other companies changed its name to the name of the dissolved company. Very dodgy goings on.

Note : This name Craig Whyte is in the news just now although someone reading at a later date may wonder.

Hi Amanda,

It's not a VAT thing, they're all VAT registered. I may be getting worried over nothing, but I'm not sure. I also broke my own golden rule on pricing at the meeting so have really underpriced the work. But it will give me a chance to move to a real office space and possibly even take on a new employee and is a springboard to other work too.

Oh dear.

Kris

Amanda wrote:

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Kris,

Sometimes you have to take a hit to move upwards, maybe delve abit deeper and then make you mind up?
What about pulling the accounts on companies house to have a look at them?

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http://companycheck.co.uk

http://www.duedil.com/

Save the £1 and get them free from the above 

Yeah Bob. I see that in the cold light of day. But you sit in a room with a snake oil salesman and say no

I am very clear, I say at the start of my first meeting that the purpose is to get a good understanding and may need to email/call if anything occurs to me afterwards. I they push for a fee quote I explain that I will put a proposal together with different options. I'd suggest you look at your sales process and how you position meetings.

Kris - not hammering, just explaining how the "sales" pressure can be reduced. Stating upfront what the objective of the meeting is helps you as much as the prospect.

NO I'm sure you are not alone!!!!

I use to be one of those Sales persons although on the phone as oppose to face to face, must say I wasn't that slithery although I did enjoy ripping people off!

Must say I'm not like that now though. lol
Its different when you work for yourself you have to be more responsible!

HI Everyone,

The companies that Peasie suggested to check companies information from do the said companies that you are checking get an email /letter to say that you are checking them out???

I know that is a daft question but I need to pull someones accounts (not one of my clients) to do abit of research on them but obviously don't want them to be informed that its me thats pulled the accounts??

Its nothing dodgy that I am doing just checking out some competition!

thanks

Hi amanda,

Further to Bills post. I can confirm 100% that duedil don't communicate with the company. They just compile and provide access to information in the public domain free. Its a good service but I see they are going to be doing an advanced 'paid for' service too soon.

Kris

kjmcculloch83 wrote:

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Hi amanda,

Further to Bills post. I can confirm 100% that duedil don't communicate with the company. They just compile and provide access to information in the public domain free. Its a good service but I see they are going to be doing an advanced 'paid for' service too soon.

Kris

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I don't know what the "but" is for - I'm looking forward to see what they "paid for" service is.  What is currently free will remain free. There is one slight problem with Duedil - sometimes the website details will have the latest accounts filed but the actual files to download don't change and you need to email them. Sometimes - not always. 

And with Companycheck sometimes the files for previous years just aren't there even though there is a link for them. The details are on the website but I like reading the notes that come with them.

As more and more people are filing their accounts directly online and it's probabaly mandatory now anyway then less and less information is available. People file abbreviated accounts rather than the full thing. But when it was an accountant filing by post sometimes even the whole Profit & Loss account was included.

Must say i read it wrong too Kris, humblest apologies, i see what you mean now upon reading your post correctly.

(I too have been having sneaky peekies)

Neil.

Spamkebab wrote:

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Must say i read it wrong too Kris, humblest apologies, i see what you mean now upon reading your post correctly.

(I too have been having sneaky peekies)

Neil.

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The good thing about sites like these is if you get sent changes by email for companies you follow. Any time a new document is filed at CH they'll send you an email. Some will do a weekly email with changes for all the companies involved. If there's a change of director, a mortgage etc. For those of you that have lives this may not be important. But for saddo nosey gits like me it's great.