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Any ideas for a good software testing automation tool?

Constantin Singureanu
Hi,

We are a digital marketing agency, and developing quite a few websites. We also provide maintenance services.

We have quite a few clients, but one challenge our developer has is being able to monitor when a website breaks down from a UI perspective. We tried various in-house built solutions, but we were not able to capture all the errors we tested against.

We have now started to look into ready-made test automation tools, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this? And if there are any recommendations?

Load Testing is also another area that we play with to ensure the websites are secure, my understanding is that the software testing tools are also including this kind of functionality.

Anyway, this is not too technical, tx

Constantin
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Can I change a full time employee to zero hours?

G
We have an employee who is contracted full time. For around 3-4 years (excluding COVID) we agreed to flexible working, to help with easing the burden of his childcare costs. However, this was only supposed to be temporary and it was mutually agreed that once his youngest child reached school age, he would return to his normal working pattern.

He has now come to us and said that he doesn't want to return to his normal working pattern from September and instead wants to reduce his working week with us and take up employment elsewhere as well. (We suspect he's secretly been doing that anyway, but I don't think we'll be able to prove it as I think he's been earning cash in hand).

Whilst we don't necessarily mind him reducing his hours, his salary will obviously reflect this, I do suspect he's using the job with us as a means to an end and will eventually leave us. What we'd like to do is offer him either a low set number of hours per week OR change him to a zero hour contract, so that whilst he could earn more with us during our busier periods, we also don't feel obligated to still employ/pay him during the quieter ones. Can this be put on the table?

Many thanks for reading.
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Registering for VAT?

S
Hi,
I setup a new company in United Kingdom England which will be online retail shop with products directly from manufacturer brands.
Issue I have, is that supplier says I have to be VAT registered before they can do business with me.
As a new startup, how do I get required information for HRMC that I am intended to trade and charge VAT if all I have so far is website domain name.

I am only building website if VAT registration would be successful and not before so don't waste my time.

Any suggestions, on how I can get VAT application successful to be able actually start my business trading.

Thank you for any replies.
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Tips on running a small removal and delivery business in central london???????

bearerdelivery
I have been opened my own removal & courier company in central london, i have been getting most of my business from residential and small business customers. I would like to further develope my business customer base and get contracted by big players in the market. Also generate more local residential and business sales leads. Could you please advise on how i can achieve that and what are the neccessary steps to take to reach my goal.
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  • Solved
New going alone

Dixiecat
Me and my friend are being made redundant in march. We are both on low pay/ low income.
Aside from this, we have an idea to carry on in the same business and get new clients. It will only be us 2 in the business. So can we be sole trader and partner? Is this a thing? As its not going to be a huge profit making enterprise!
So, we have a shared new bank account so we can collect payments/pay for work related things in one place.
Now my other question is if we pay ourselves our 'wages' fortnightly like we're used to, and leave the excess in there (if any!) Where is the paper trail for tax at end of the tax year incase we go over the tax threshold.
We are extremely new to this!
Also does my friend have to her fill her own separate tax return??
Sorry for all the questions ?
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Transfer asset to director (only one director & SH)

C
Hi there,
I am ltd director as well as the sole shareholder & going to purchase properties under the company. My question is will i be able to transfer those assets into my personal name (maybe once I am going to close the ltd one day in few decades), if I wish to? Company is running smoothly now & as I have no other directors or shareholders that have control over this company.

Highly appreciate your kind response
Thank you in advance
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Mileage - Working From Home

A
We have a small group of employees that sometimes work from home (less than 40% of their working week), it not a job requirement, they are able to and are encouraged to work at their permanent place of work full time, but since Covid there is some flexibility.

Their job requires them to travel to various temporary places of work on a regular weekly basis.

On the days where they work from home and travel to a temporary workplace, we ask them to deduct their ordinary commute if they are travelling in a similar direction.

This process has worked for most employees. However recently this small group of employees have needed to go to various temporary places of work throughout the day and have a driving pattern of:

Home to Temporary workplace A
Temporary workplace A to home
Home to Temporary workplace B
Temporary workplace B to home
Home to Temporary workplace C
Temporary workplace C to home

Section 3.39 in the HMRC Ordinary Commuting and Private Travel guidance says 'Tax relief will of course be allowed for the costs incurred on travelling between the employee’s home and a temporary workplace' so we want to know if we continue to deduct the commute from the original journey unless its significantly different, but allow for all other journeys to and from home that day to be claimed? Or should all journeys be claimed for?
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How to calculate PAYE Arrears ?

ryuma87
I would to say thank you to the people who have helped me in my previous post.
Really, it is so much appreaciated.

I have found that a PAYE has been opened, chasing and chasing and chasing, my old accountant (an online accountancy agency, please avoid if you are thinking about them).
However, he has never submit any of my payroll in the tax year 21/22 to HRMC on the company behalf.
I would like to understand roughly how much the company has to owe in terms of arrears and penalties, I am also considering to sue my old accountant agency for negligence or bring him in civil action, if it worths.

Is there any way/method/formula to calculate roughly a PAYE Arrears, including penalties to understand how much I have to owe ?

I have done a research but i have just found bits of information, without a clear mathematical way to apply on my case.
This is not for a payment to HMRC, is just for me to understand how much I should expected.
Would you mind to help me, if you know, to understand if there is an empiric way to calculate this amount ?
My mind is running and expecting thousands of pounds. The limited company has a sole director, myself.

Fiscal Year: 2021/22
Salary type: monthly
Salary amount: 736 £ fixed + "x" dividends (varies, but not more than 800£ monthly)
Number of Salaries Payments : 9
First payment: 2/09/2021
Last payment: 22/04/2022

Thank you in advance to everyone can help me to figured out these.

Have you a lovely weekend.
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Raffle Prize

A
We need to despatch a washing machine to Republic if Ireland. We supply a raffle company, UK based and we are UK based so we invoice them as per normal, we also deliver the prizes we supply. One of their prize winners is based in the Republic of Ireland. The courier we normally use has asked us to complete export paperwork but as their is no sale or invoice between the recipient and us it is difficult to see how to complete the paperwork as there is no finacial transaction.
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Alibaba shipping costs

S
Hi there, Thank you for welcoming me to UKBF.
In September 2022 I bought some sofa legs from a supplier in China using Alibaba. Express delivery was used at a cost of 131 USD. I am in the process of reordering the same sofa legs and same quantity as before but have been given a price of 350 USD for express delivery this time. Can any explain to me why the price of the delivery has almost trebled over the last 5 months? This extra cost is making it almost unviable to buy from Alibaba anymore.
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  • Solved
What is the best way to chase a debt

P
I've been asked to help chase a 3k debt for some hire of a meeting room. Most of this is from 6+ months ago. The company is a limited company with a good credit rating (per Experian). They have been communicating with the person previously dealing with this, but she was given the run-around by them.

I'm looking for advice on the best way to get this paid. I'll try asking first of course, but if (when) this doesn't work do I go the legal route, try a solicitor's letter, pass it to a debt agency, or what?
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Need legal advice on business name registry with companies house

S
Hi, I'm starting up a company in the UK and trying to register a Business name however it has been rejected due to section 78 of the Medicines Act 1968 which specifically highlights the term 'Chemist', the term I have used in the business name is 'Alchemist' which has an entirely different spelling and definition, what can I do to resolve this with Companies House?

Would it be best to contact a lawyer and would pricing go with this, as I'm low on funding - the company is for a barber business which kicks off in 3months.
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Where to start?

B
Hi Everyone,

I've found a fantastic product that currently sold in Canada that I really believe there to be a market for here in the UK.

Other than reaching out to the company to see if they'd be interested in supplying me, where would you suggest I begin?

Would I set up a company in the UK as a subsidiary of their company? I.e Company Name (UK) LTD?

Any advice or pointers would be greatly appreciated to help me decide if it's a worthwhile venture.

Many Thanks,
Ben
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Tax on US Dividends received by a UK Ltd company. W8-BEN-E form.

M
Does anyone know the correct way to fill out the W8-BEN-E form specifically in reference to

Part III Claim of Tax Treaty Benefits​

14. Special Rates and Conditions


What percentage rate would one enter for Dividend income from US shares, is it 15% or 0%
And if it is 15%, can a UK-limited company claim this tax back when filling out their corporation tax returns or using any other mechanism?

I believe dividend income from UK shares is not taxed when being received by a UK Ltd company, so wondering if it's worth investing in the US market or not. It feels like being taxed twice.
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We are a startup in the Healthcare business and need your direction to move

HEADINGTON MEDICAL
Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2023...

Headington Medical, a start-up company based in Oxford is back on the road post-COVID.
We sell respiratory and critical care devices like portable and static Oxygen Concentrators used to treat COPD and asthma diseases.

We feel hard to identify potential customers and enter the NHS hospitals/trusts and private sector. We are trying our level best, however, we welcome and appreciate your views and guidance on how to enter and move in the competitive UK market...
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My SEO reported and am I paying to much?

DoolallyTap
I pay my SEO manager £100 per month, am I paying to much for my manager? My word ad is top of page 1 Google and my shop ad often knocks Amazon and others out. My website USP is 'Probably the UK's largest selection, Probably the UK's lowest price' (I actually know from much research my price is significantly lower than others)
This is his latest report for first half February. What I really don't understand is why my website visits are high but conversions are not.
Google Ads conversion are up a huge +123% which is driven by traffic uplift of +50% and a conversion rate uplift of +37% to 5.6% in total.
Traffic is up because of a reduction in the cost per click of -32% to just 11p per click on average and also the click through rate went up by +34% vs January.
So as a result the cost per sale is down -55% month on month to a crazy low £1.75.

These sales are SO CHEAP. I’ve never known a Google Ads account to perform like this
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  • Solved
Legal Tittle V Benficial Ownership

UK Contractor Accountant
One of the Directors of a 3 Director Company transferred out of company A an investment property to an associated company of his Company B. The Director is the controlling shareholder of both companies.

The Solicitor who dealt with the transfer states that he handled the transfer not the sale and value of £0 was placed on the transfer/TR1. Stamp duty was paid based on market value.

The main Director has since passed away and the remaining 2 Directors are stating that the legal tittle was transferred out but Company A retained the beneficial interest in the property as no money has been paid for the property and they did not formerly approve the transfer.

All a bit messy as the widow was left all the shares in company B and states the property is hers and is collecting all the rents.

What's the legal position here?
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RTI Help information to include

S
I'm after a little guidance on the fps and what information must be included.

Our payroll software provider states that if employee has 0 pay they do not have to show up on the fps report however all guidance I find online states they do need to show even if they have 0 pay to make hmrc aware they are still employed by the business.

Could someone please clarify this and share a link to a reliable source ie. Hmrc so I can take this back to our system provider ?

Any help is much appreciated !
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General start up advice

M
Hey all,

I'd really appreciate some insight into a conundrum I'm facing right now. I'll try and keep it as brief as I can.

For about five years now I've had this idea for a gaming venue for my local area that's severely lacking of anything of the sort, and a large part of our population here are young people/adults that I feel could really benefit from something like this. Gaming meaning consoles, VR etc. The problem I'm hitting time and time again is how I'm going to fund this. Unfortunately my personal credit isn't the best although this is due to my early teens being not so sensible with money and leaving it so long to rectify.

I have a near solid business plan in place, all that's missing is overhead figures which I'm struggling to produce as I don't have a specific premises in place, nor would I know how to acquire estimates if I did.

I suppose what I'm asking is, will I likely ever be able to fulfil this dream of mine? If so, what options can I try?

I appreciate any and all feedback, constructive criticism also. Thank you

M
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sole trader small van courier

P
Hi I'm looking at becoming a small van courier as a sole trader, my working background is in welding/engineering where I also drove a 7.5 tonne wagon and a 3.5 tonne van as part of my job so I have some experience in delivering to customers , anyway I was made redundant and I'm looking to buy a small Berlingo type van and I know I will need to get VAT registered but the money I am going to use to buy the van and the components needed to be a courier driver is from my redundancy payment I received can I take that money back out of the profits made as a sole trader?
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How to add a member in a creditor committee

Y
A creditor committee had been formed a few months ago in a quick time, without involving any voting or consent from the creditors.
We have found the creditor committee is not doing thing for the best interest of the creditors. We may take the following action.
1. To remove some existing members and to be replaced by some others.
2. To add some new members.
Can we do it and how can we do it?
Thanks
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Any bakery owners who could help with permits advice?

BuzzingBeeLdn
Hi everyone, Deb here co-owner at Buzzing Bee :)
We've been a home-based, online bakery for almost 4 years now and we are at that awful stage of looking for suitable premises where to bake and sell our products (up until now we've only delivered).
I've contacted my local council to ask for extraction permits, and received a very difficult-to-understand email back on the paperwork they require, including noise and odour reports.
Has anyone gone trough it and out the other way?
How did you deal with it? Did you pay the deposit and hoped you would get the permit, and gotten the deposit back if refused?
Is there someone who does this as a job? (Helps with paperwork and stuff).
Also do you need a lawyer to review a tenancy agreement for commercial premises?
If anyone could help, that would be awesome!
Cheers!
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