Two (2) stupid questions about invoicing

[lucysnowe]

I was thinking of setting myself up under my maiden name, as most of my contacts know me that way. But then I realised that the invoices would be in my married name, as I changed my banking details when I got married. Would that cause a problem for clients or the taxman?

Also ? how do all of you get paid? . I am looking at work outside the UK, for which paypal is probably best. But inside the UK do you just get sent cheques from accounts payable or something?

Thankyou! I?ll get the hang of this eventually!

I have set up a separate business bank account and am 'Mrs Jane Bloggs trading as Jane Smith'. Cheques can be written to me in either my maiden name or my married name.

Perhaps you could discuss this with your small business person at your bank.

I can't help with your other question sorry (not sure i helped with the first tbh ).

my clients all get paid by direct bank transfer, they put their bank details at the bottom of the invoices. Check what currency you put your quotes an invoices in, as that will affect whether you or your client pays bank charges, and also make sure you stay aware fo exchange rate changes (one client was caught out badly by that).
I get paid by monthy Standing Orders as I don't invoice as such.
Re bank accounts, if you set up a seperate business accoutn, it's much easier to sort out your accounts (bookkeeper hat on) as things match up, and you don't need to wade through domestic expenditure to get to the business items.

What the others said:

• Set up separate business bank account

• develop invoice template, and include at the bottom something like this:

Make all cheques payable to Jane Smith

Payment may be made by BACS transfer into the following account:
Bank name: Abbey National Plc
Sort Code: 02 04 06
Account No: 12345678

Invoice in Sterling

I think for international clients they may need your 'SWIFT CODE' and/ or IBAN code which are basically just like international Bank/ Sort/ Accoutn codes (ask your bank fro them).

Other advice - always invoice ASAP (50% up front if possible, on starting a project) as many companies will take 30-60 days from receipt of invoice

Avoid Paypal. I don't think it's as secure, and the fees for receving money are very high compared to banking. I'd be surprised if many companies wanted to pay you via Paypal to be honest?

HTH

I would get paid via Paypal if I were you - firstly it looks amateurish and unprofessional and secondly it's not particularly safe.

for trading on Ebay, buying a pair of tights online etc it's fine - but not for controlling your income. Twice I've had people access my Paypal account and believe me they don't want to know when things go wrong!

correction - that should be would NOT get paid via Paypal...!

Thanks! I have got a new account so can add its details to my invoices when and if I am ever paid for anything! I shall keep my maiden name for the mo, it is quite unusual so maybe that is something in my favour as well. I keep on wondering though if I should properly be ?Bloggs Translation and Editing Services? rather than ?Jane Bloggs, editor and translator blah blah blah?. Do you all have official business names?

Re paypal ? thanks for the advice. On the pro-z translation forums some people were advocating it for small transglobal payments ? perhaps because the client paid earlier that way? but did warn that the recipient might get hit with all the charges. I suppose it is best to ask the client in the first instance.