Mishmash issue to resolve

[Brachio]

Maybe too complex an issue for a single topic question, but I’ll start here anyway.

I am building/running an online science project, which is like an interactive visual, educational encyclopaedia. I want to release it publically later in the year. It will be non-profit and generally free to use for research, universities, schools, libraries, industry etc. I will be seeking sponsorship/funding and it will remain private property. I would like to incorporate charitable status (but unsure of requirements on this). It is an international venture (mainly US/UK) and I want to incorporate donations with immediate effect. I would like it to be an educational tool and/or an actual school, and perhaps register this and possibly get educational benefits, like cheaper/discount/student software or access to research paper sites.

If there is anything that could wait until later (like obtaining certain statuses) in order to get something official up and running ASAP and to allow donation to be made?

How will the US/UK aspect work? Can a US company and a UK one be formed, separately or as one? There are side venturws which can be a part or separate.

I have a preference to be named or be a director.

What type of organisation should it be?

Where do I start for speed?

I don't want to create something which cannot be undone or can't be changed if need be.

Thanks!

 

[NickGrogan]

like an interactive visual, educational encyclopaedia. I want to release it publically later in the year. It will be non-profit and generally free to use for research, universities, schools, libraries, industry etc.

www.wikipedia.org ?

 

[Brachio]

I suppose if you use this as an example of the type/area I am looking at, then yes. Like a supermarket is a shop, as is an internet cafe which also sells hardware. Same idea/model, but very different things.

 

[billmccallum1957]

A starting point could be a social enterprise, where there are no shareholders and profits are re-invested into the business.

You can be a director and accept donations, and pay yourself a wage (if/when you get enough income).

Having said that, make sure you retain the IP for what you create and licence it to the company.

 

[Brachio]

Thank you so much for the reply, Bill. Several things I had not considered there. So a, social enterprise', is it registered at companies house, like a Ltd Co? Is it a company? Could it get charitable status? Would this interfere with getting sponsorship or applying for grants? Could there be multiple directors, including overseas and would signatures be needed? IP? Independent propriatory or something, like trademark? How does this work and get registered to the company?

Thank you in anticipation to you, Bill or anyone else.

 

[Scalloway]

There is a guide to social enterprise here

https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=b5514bc0-5a3b-4c4e-afe1-d8aaec3ebb19

 

[billmccallum1957]

Thank you so much for the reply, Bill. Several things I had not considered there. So a, social enterprise', is it registered at companies house, like a Ltd Co?

Is it a company? YES. A company limited by guarantee without shares.
Could it get charitable status? YES
Would this interfere with getting sponsorship or applying for grants? NO
Could there be multiple directors, including overseas and would signatures be needed? YES

IP? Independent propriatory or something, like trademark? Intellectual Property

How does this work and get registered to the company? Get legal advice

Thank you in anticipation to you, Bill or anyone else.

 

[Brachio]

Thank you, Scalloway and Bill.

I feel bad just sucking information from you guys/this site, when I have nothing to give back, unless becoming a paid member would perhaps be a consolation. I still have more general questions to narrow it down, having looked at social enterprise sites. I realise that detailed advice on IP and maybe tax and other stuff requires specialist/paid for advice. Shall I keep posting here for the more general? I am willing to pay for correct advice. Anyway, these are all my questions:

The primary source of income will not (for a while at least) be trade, but sponsorship, donation, grants and/or other funding, possibly from nominal university subscription (which makes me wonder if social enterprise is right for this).

There will be income from sales of products and services, though this is likely to take time to generate in any significant way. All income will go into the project (Business? Organisation? Enterprise? Programme? Resource?).

Money is required for some staff, software, monthly subscriptions, accountancy work and other relatively minor expenses.

It will be .org rather than .com based, to reflect that we are not a business aiming to make profits.

We do easily fit into social enterprise categories (except generating funds mainly from trade).

We certainly qualify for charity status, but I imagine this is paperwork heavy and/or can be done later?

We aim to bring/attract the latest research developments to us, (as we aim to be the primary source for such information) to enable a one stop research location for all, and whilst it is academic and peer reviewed, is available, exciting and useable for schools/the pubic too.

It is based on evolution and we will do outreach to teach, explain and simplify, as well as raise important related issues on conservation.

So, whilst an on-line resource/programme, it is largely updated by volunteers, manned and maintained by paid staff and used by everyone and has features that go outside of the internet, such as presentations, school visits, an on-line shop with products and services, conferences, media calls, and perhaps a museum later on.

Key project leaders are from the US/UK (and maybe elsewhere). I want the setup to be acceptable/recognisable to at least UK/USA. Would this mean any directors would need to submit passports and provide signatures? Is this an issue in logistics? Can people be added later? Is therea minimum number of, say Directors? For charitable/tax purposes, is there a significant difference in using the UK over the US or vice versa? Are there any other advantages in using one or the other country to set this up?

If any of this is long winded or time consuming to setup, is there a temporary way to register in order to receive donations?

 

[Scalloway]

I would suggest setting up a company limited by guarantee. This is simple to do by registering with Companies House. You would need to open a bank account in the company name.

Have you read the document Bill provided the link for?

 

[Brachio]

Hi Scalloway.

I didn't see one. I only saw (and read) yours. Can you post it? But it sounds like a good start, to register a Ltd Co by guarantee. Will I need more than just me as a Director? Can I add to later?, Do all Directors need to provide identity/sign?

 

[Scalloway]

It was me that posted the link. Oops.

You can be the only director and add more later. You need to provide ID when you open the bank account. Don't be tempted to use a personal bank account. There are tax consequences if you do.

 

[billmccallum1957]

It's important to remember that a charity cannot trade, so whichever route you decide to take, if there is trading involved you will need a company structure to undertake the trading element of your plan.

 

[Brachio]

I cannot seem to register a Ltd Co by guarantee, Companies house only seem to have options to do a shares one. I see that only one director is needed and I can add to later.

Trade. In charity shops I go to, I give them money and they give me goods. I also intend to sell products and services (aspects of the organisation, like zoos sell key fobs and cuddly toys and charge for presentations) for money. But the money will all go back into the company. I can always set up other companies if there are different branches which act differently, but for starting out with the key idea, I like the Ltd by guarantee idea. Perhap you mean by trade, profit? In which case, no, I'm not dpoung that.

 

[Scalloway]

You need to register a company limited by guarantee by post. The form is here.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...loads/attachment_data/file/534915/IN01_V7.pdf

Charity shops are generally limited companies owned by the charity.

 

[Brachio]

Thank you AGAIN, Scalloway. I will crack on with that ASAP.

So a charity can only take donations for nothing, not in exchange for, even in-house products and services? If so, thart's still fine, and a company can be set up for that. Thank you.

 

[Scalloway]

There is more information on charities and trading here

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charities-and-trading

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Lets get back to basics

How as a individual are you going to obtain the information in the first place and how will your small contribution to to web be any better than existing academic services or giants like Wikipedia, which whilst it does have errors like nearly all data is massive on nearly all subjects you can think of.

The chances of getting donations I would imagine are slim until you had grown to a size that would require massive online storage and associated expenses

Have you made a business plan

 

[Brachio]

Hi Chris.

This project has been going for years, behind the scenes. I have hundreds of voluntary staff from around the world. It surpasses wikipedia in its specific area (and is peer reviewed) and, as mentioned earlier, information comes in many forms - this being unique. It has interest and support from significant people and will be doing the rounds of related conventions soon. Lots of other aspects are in place, but (probably surprisingly) not this registering aspect for which I'm here.

 

[Brachio]

I did win a business award some years ago, and I was the person behind quite a big, succesful project (but I can't say what, yet I'm afraid). You are right to raise such concerns and pour cold water to highlight the pitfalls and many things you rightly raised that cn go wrong or get in the wsy or be missed. This response (and certainly my lack of knowledge on company issues) may not strike hope in many, but I have been, 'there' to an extent. I'm fine on the building side of the plan, it's just getting the right setup. So thanks for your valued and expert feedback.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

In that case then you will need to hire a expert sales person who can close on your companies as many will say its a great idea but few will jump at actually putting up the dosh, just like all on the internet using free software without making a small contribution often only about £10 ask for

 

[Brachio]

Yes. Sales and marketting are specific areas that I shall be specifically investing money in, if I can't locate a volunteer in this field who might consider some form of symbiosis.