Sole trader business structure

[katy]

Hello every one,

I am located in the UK starting a business providing a certain mobile phone related service on the internet. My services will only be applicable to UK customers. I will be starting as a sole trader and will be the only person in the company.

The thing I am not sure about is what is my “position” in the company. I have had quite a few different answers from people I know: CEO / Manager / Owner / Director. Do these types of titles even exist in a sole trader type business?

I really don’t have a clue and would appreciate any help any one could give me. Many thanks.

Regards,

Katy

[epiphany]

None of the above :) You will be a Sole Trader :D

[Rob Holmes]

The positions don't exist unless you decide to call yourself one of them..

If you're worried about what to put on business cards etc why not put your business name and your own name?

People appreciate it if you are just straight.

Hope this helps a bit..

Rob

[Ozzy]

My business cards until recently didn't have a title on them so it gave me the opportunity to be "Tea Boy" if I wanted to be :)

Business Development Manager seems to be the in thing at the moment, or Proprietor would be another good one. Really you can call yourself what you like its your company!

[Rob Holmes]

How about Inter-galactic Emperor ? :D

Rob

[Ozzy]

Sith Lord?
/me goes back to work :)

[MikeH]

I agree with the general run of this thread. Use of a title is really not required. Biz name and your name will be fine. Titles may be deemed important by some of the people that you meet (normaly those that are hung up on their own title), most of your customers will be pleased to speak to you simply knowing your name.

Mike.

[Fab1]

Hi Kate

As a sole trader, you are not actually working for a company but simply are choosing to trade as a self employed individual.

I was sole trader once (had a restaurant), I though that "proprietor" was appropriate enough to describe my status, the most important bit being the business itself.

Good luck

Regards

Fred

[katy]

Wow this is a really great forum, so many helpful responses. From your responses I gather that my title is not important as I am a sole trader. Thank you I really appreciate your advice.

Katy

[james constant FCCA]

You should be more concerned about other matters than the title.

When you are a one man business you are really everything. You are CEO, head of production, head of marketing and actually the employees doing all the above work at ground level. My suggestion is to concentrate developing systems from bottom to top for two reasons:

First, a systems based business is more succesful than a people -reliant because people are unpredictable and because your business will be running profitably on autopilot and therefore be easier to sell it at a hhiger price.

Thje second reason is you will be ready to hire your first employee if you have effective systems in place and well documented. You can then leave some of the bottom level work to your employee without having to worry too much and that will you give you some time off. After all, isnt that one reason we go into business - to have a more relaxed time? And you cannot achieve this unless your business is on autopilot.

As to your descrption, there is nothing stopping you to call you Chairman or Chief Executive Officer- that shows that you are the person having overall responsibility and accountability.

I hope this helps
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[buying_it]

Have you ever heard of Semco or Ricard Semler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Semler)?

He basically destroyed most peoples preconceptions of how to run a succesful business down to the point of allowing all staff to choose their own pay, benefits and job titles. There are a couple of good books to read "The Seven Day weekend" & "Maverick".

My point is - job titles are there to allow other people to catgorise you and decide how you you should be dealt with (in a nice way of course).

I lean towards no title and decide on the spur of the moment whether I am a CEO (board level corporate people), Operations Director (senior corporate managers) or business owner (other SME companies).

To people I know (and now this forum) I am the cook, bottle washer and dog walker of my business. I am the one who does what it takes to make it work and the person where the buck stops. 'nuf said

Andy