Register in UK AND Singapore

[Thaiclan]

I'm about to launch my business. It is web-based and the main target market is London for the 1st quarter. However it will be gradually panned across Europe, Australia & US.
I am currently living in Singapore (my husband has 3 year contract), and will be working from home. Would there be ANY benefit to registering my business in Singapore rather than or in addition to UK (I am a UK citizen, but a PR here). Everything is in cyberspace anyway, so maybe for tax purposes Singapore is better, although start-up accounting is very attractive in UK??
Any advice gratefully received.

[ksl]

I'm about to launch my business. It is web-based and the main target market is London for the 1st quarter. However it will be gradually panned across Europe, Australia & US.
I am currently living in Singapore (my husband has 3 year contract), and will be working from home. Would there be ANY benefit to registering my business in Singapore rather than or in addition to UK (I am a UK citizen, but a PR here). Everything is in cyberspace anyway, so maybe for tax purposes Singapore is better, although start-up accounting is very attractive in UK??
Any advice gratefully received.

Inetrnet business is based on residential laws, not where the website is registered, so if you spend more than the 183 days in Singapore, you are liable to pay taxes in this country, and not UK, it is totally irrelevant, where the internetwebsite server is located, or where your business registration took place, or domain registration is located, I believe.

Although the thing to consider is the internet infrastructure and the amount of heavy data to be transferred, all data especially pictures need to be optimised for web display, even consider setting up mirror websites, in these countries, to provide better services.(consider purchasing more domains to extend your reach in Europe, and ensure your idea with trade names, and dates and plans are jotted down in a sealed envelope and posted to yourself, becuase competitors may try to purchase up, websites in different countries, or shrewed rogues, trying to make a quick $.

If it goes to court over who had the idea first, you will have the sealed envelope to prove when you decided on the trade name, ensure the envelope is stamped on the back with post marks over the glued area and post it to yourself.

To be quite honest it is not feasible to think you can penetrate a market within the first quarter (London) through internet marketing, unless you are actually paying a great deal of money to have this done, for you.

Also your website domain is probably a .com which is also a global address and not specific to country, if it is a country domain like .co.uk, then localised marketing is required. it is all quite complexed.

For the beginner, I would consider your domain name very carefully, relate the domain name to the business you are doing, rather than some fancy name. because people search products & services, and your aim is to be in the top 10 of the list.

Take my website, because vinegar is the product, and for those interested in vinegar to drink for health, what would be the obvious name for the domain name? Think about it and try a search!

I'm no expert in internet marketing, although I do have a strong interest in it, I learnt the hard way, by trial and error, and I can almost guarantee that it will take you over one year, to build up any significant traffic, although it also depends on thetype of business you have.

But B2C takes time, even by word of mouth, think of viral marketing techniques, to get noticed and other websites, that may compliment yours, to do free exchange marketing and advertising. But don't over do it, one or two is enough, ensure you have the ability to collect emails from interested parties on your site. and maybe post cards clients can send to friends, introducing your website. Good Luck

[Thaiclan]

It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to spend 6months out of Singapore (I have a house in Thailand). But then I'd have to pay UK taxes as I am still a British Citizen. However the UK accounting means I can pretty much offset nearly all my start up expenses against revenue for first 3 years - which can leave very little tax to pay. Is it a similar situation in Singapore (offsetting start-up costs against income/corporate tax?)

[ksl]

It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to spend 6months out of Singapore (I have a house in Thailand). But then I'd have to pay UK taxes as I am still a British Citizen. However the UK accounting means I can pretty much offset nearly all my start up expenses against revenue for first 3 years - which can leave very little tax to pay. Is it a similar situation in Singapore (offsetting start-up costs against income/corporate tax?)

Nothing to do with Citizenship, it is based on residential status, if you are in Thailand longer than 183 days, then you are liable to pay tax there and not UK, if in Singapore 183 days, then you pay in Singapore, if you remain in UK more than 183 days in one year, you pay to the UK, I'm 100% sure of this.

I have also discussed here with the authorities in SIngapore and they told me the same, I could continue internet business here, providing I remain non resident, and the rule is, if i am here in Singapore 183 days in one year, then I must pay tax to Singapore. Yes I believe the rule is start up costs can be offset against tax in Singapore.

Although UK have quite a large threshold before VAT registering, used to be 56,000 pound, may have changed! I think you will have to look at the pro's & cons more closely, and also business grants and subsidies. What line of business are you in, you can pm about it, if you like.

[Thaiclan]

I currently spend 3 months in UK and 9 months in Singapore. I referred to Thailand as I could easily spend 2-3months there instead of Singapore. Do you think I could just "choose" in that case where to pay tax?? Or can anyone recommend an advisor?
I currently have a different business registered in the UK and I pay tax in the UK.

[Thaiclan]

The rest of the business advice didn't load 1st time, so I'm sorry I only replied to the company formation part.
Thanks for all the tips. I'm not entirely new to this, infact its my 3rd venture and 2nd web-based one. I've received VC funding so there will be a mainstream ad campaign to help the start-up along initially. I agree not to rely on generating traffic via online web-positioning tools. I learned the hard and expensive way a couple of years back
Anyway, thanks for the reply, and the wish of luck!

[ksl]

I currently spend 3 months in UK and 9 months in Singapore. I referred to Thailand as I could easily spend 2-3months there instead of Singapore. Do you think I could just "choose" in that case where to pay tax?? Or can anyone recommend an advisor?
I currently have a different business registered in the UK and I pay tax in the UK.

9 months in Singapore makes you automatically obliged to register here for tax purposes. Once you have stayed over the limit 183 days, you must register the business with Acra, I believe.

UK you automatically lose residential status if out of the UK 183 days in any one year.

[Thaiclan]

Can you recommend a Singapore based legal adviser for business start-up? I have an accountant in UK, but he's not well versed in Singapore law.
I pay tax in UK on my company as it is Ltd registered in UK. I don't have to pay income tax but I do pay corporation tax there.
It all gets so confusing eh?
Anyway, great that I can post some questions and get feedback and advice. Thank you

[ksl]

Can you recommend a Singapore based legal adviser for business start-up? I have an accountant in UK, but he's not well versed in Singapore law.
I pay tax in UK on my company as it is Ltd registered in UK. I don't have to pay income tax but I do pay corporation tax there.
It all gets so confusing eh?
Anyway, great that I can post some questions and get feedback and advice. Thank you

I'll get back to you!