Starting up also...need advice!

[fluffsta]

:| Am entering into a partnership and we are looking to start a hospitality / travel based company from scratch.

I have so far come across two issues that I would really appreciate some advice on;

In undertaking my research I have noticed that the market seems to be fairly flooded with similar companies of varying size and success but of a similar nature. I had identified 3 "unique" selling points but see that only one of them is really unique now because our competitors got there first!

Would you see it as essential to have unique selling points or do you think you could just start with an even playing field (providing the same service as other) and just intend to provide a better service?

Secondly, we are hoping to register the company at my parents address which is a house they recently inherited but im not sure if the couple they inherited it from had any credit problems - will this affect our registration?

All advice greatly appreciated! :|

 

[mariajonessecretarial]

Hi Fluffsta

Welcome to UKBF.

I used to work in Sales for a very large 4 Star Hotel in Birmingham and worked with hundreds of hospitality companies. I would not worry too much about USP's, and maybe concentrate more on the level of service you offer.

If you need any assistance just give me a shout.

Kind Regards

 

[carolb]

Hi

Welcome to UKBF

Not sure what you mean by hospitality/travel based company -do you mean providing hospitality services and travel management to corporate companies? would need a bit more info to give my view

as far as the address is concerned - it depends what you want to do with that address - if you are giving that address to obtain credit, when credit checks are done they are linked to the person not the property, so although the previous owners would show up as having a link to that property the search would be done on your name and the address you give as living at, or have previously lived at during the last 3 years

 

[fluffsta]

Thanks for your advice! Thats cheered me up as i thought we might have to go abck to the drawing board!!

We have a fair amount of relevant businesses in the local area that can advertise our servcies for us so hopefully, we can start locally and work out from there!

 

[fluffsta]

Hi

Welcome to UKBF

Not sure what you mean by hospitality/travel based company -do you mean providing hospitality services and travel management to corporate companies? would need a bit more info to give my view

as far as the address is concerned - it depends what you want to do with that address - if you are giving that address to obtain credit, when credit checks are done they are linked to the person not the property, so although the previous owners would show up as having a link to that property the search would be done on your name and the address you give as living at, or have previously lived at during the last 3 years

HI thanks Carol,

I just want to register our Ltd company there. We wont be obtaining Credit as we will be using a private investor but was concerned that any debt problems they had might affect out ability to actually get registered there??
Also, should the business get in any difficulties in the future, will this have any affect on my mum as the owner of the property???

Thanks again!

 

[carolb]

I don't think you will have a problem registering yoru Ltd company there but I would get legal advice on what would happen if you got into difficulties. I do know that if a company becomes insolvent then the director can lose control over the companies' assets and property so probably best to get this checked out. I'm not qualified in that area to advise any further so don't want to mislead you

 

[Stephen Berry]

Re. USP's.
my definition of USP's ..... "the reason someone will choose you rather than someone else"
If you have a reason - go for it

 

[Mark Nagurski]

Would you see it as essential to have unique selling points or do you think you could just start with an even playing field (providing the same service as other) and just intend to provide a better service?

Along the lines of Stephen's point above I think every business must have a USP - the good news is that every business has one and usually quite a few. The trick is in identifying it, promoting it and whether or not it is relevant to a big enough market to make your business viable.

For instance you mentioned service - service can be an excellent, and very unique, selling point. In fact I know quite a few businesses that 'look like' they shouldn't be successful but are purely because of the personality of the owner and staff. They sell the same things as the shop across the street but people buy from them because of the personal relationships they've fostered.

Today I met with the head of a large Irish coffee chain. Their coffee is much the same as you'd find in many places but they've won awards for the level of their staff training - service and knowledge have become their USP in a way the coffee or cafe themselves never could have.