Company name for 2 different services

[Tempest]

Can I do this?

My 'company' (ST status) is offering childrens parties (face painting, nail art, fancy dress etc,), and unique portrait oppertunities (body paint), whilst at the same time offering freelance body painting services to (for example) PR and marketing companies.

Now the name I may use for the bulk of the business (parties/portraits) would possibly bear no relation to the services I provide as a freelance artist.

So the question is, can I operate under both my name and a formal company name?

Presumably this would only have an effect on cheques written. Am I right in thinking everything would have to be Myname t/a general parties?

(Any name suggestions would be welcome )

 

[confused]

Not sure if you can or not, but, why would you want to? from an admin point of view would it not be easier to do it all under the one? for eg my main business IT support is DatacomUK, and my secondary business - printing promo items etc is also under the same name, all invoices go onto the same system, the only difference is I have different headed paper. Same logo, just one says the IT side, the other the promo side.
As s sidenote, mousemats, mugs, tshirts etc with photos of the people painted up would look great. I can sort out some decent prices if interested.

 

[bwglaw]

You can trade under as many names as you like provided that you disclose your name alongside any trading names you use in any letterheads, invoices etc.

You mention a company name. You do not have a company unless it is a Limited Company. If you have a Limited Company then the disclosure rules will apply.

 

[CKG]

I do the same thing for the 2 different sides to my business.

Doesn't really cause me any confusion to be honest and nobody has ever questioned the name the cheque has to be made payable to.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Just be sure that your bank knows you are "Doing Business As" (DBA) two different names. That way, there will be no problem depositing checks for both names into the same bank account.