Much ado
My blog seems to have become quite popular for people interested in my new direction. It was just for me to help stay focused and part-therapy to keep my brain positive. But I am glad I now have a loyal reader base following my ‘how to rebound’ story.
I must remember to spell check. So quick update.
- I registed my first company yesterday. Went with Liddysoft Ltd, for 2 reasons
- 1. I wanted something bigger than just my name
- 2. My Irish mother’s maiden name, Liddy. I need the luck of the Irish
- Registering is straightforward. but somes notes…
- For the UK you need to nominate a secretary if you start a Ltd
- It used to be (apparently) you could use your accountant. Not so
- Decided to go with Paul Amery, Founder. CEO with no staff sounds pretentious I think
- www.liddysoft.com is also registered, but I will make it a bit different to www.paulamery.com - focusing more on my services, testimonials and clients etc
- Logo and biz cards. Do you see what is happening here? Getting contracts should be priority number 1, and there I am pissing about with cute logos. Jeez…
- Contracts. Talking to my good friend Eleanora about how to set up contracts, rates etc. Do you go with the client travel expense policy or yours?
I have noticed one interesting behavioural change in myself. I’ve been up to 2am some days working on my business strategy, company registration etc. I need more sleep, but yet I feel really energised. Why? Simple… I am now raking my own lawn. It’s all about self investment 
December 16th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hiya Paul - only just found out about your departure from Skype and your entry into the brave new world of self-employment/consulting/never having a proper job again.
Best of luck, it’s a roller coaster. Don’t go too nuts with the 2am finishes right now, you’ll need to conserve your energy for all the client work that’ll come pouring in.
And don’t worry about spending time futzing with the biz cards, generating work is all about the contacts and networking. It’s time well spent. You probably won’t have a spare second to think about it again for a couple of years.
If you want any advice - when I say advice, I mean stories about what not to do - just shout. Good luck.
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 am
Two comments, based on 11 years’ experience:
1. I just make business cards in Word using standard business card stock available at Staples and the like.
2. Tell your clients you’ll go along with their travel policy, if they have a formal one. It’s one less complication in completing a contract because then you fit in with what they are already familiar with when you submit expenses. Just make sure they agree to individual expenses in writing (by “individual” I mean agree to a trip or agree to pay so much per km for auto, etc.)
January 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
1. Although I agree with Jim about making your bz-cards in word - I will recommend first getting a good print designer to look at what you have done to make it more professional as I did. This guy was able to enhance/redesign my design&logo that is now used on my business cards, letter headings and invoices. I now have the template on CD to reproduce at home when I am out of stock.
2.Expenses and all other financial stuff, if you have never done this kind of thing before you will need a good accountant/book keeper who would direct you in what to claim as expenses. My accountant is the best in the world, they manage all my finances, from my corporate account to pension to stocks. There are 360 accounting firm - Check them out!
3. And spell my name correct Paul its Eleonora and not Eleanora-haaa
4. Finally impossibility should not be in your vocabulary - it is not in mine. ‘The sky is our limit - even that:)