Starting a company or business

[Sabeine]

Here's a long story made (possibly) shorter. I have a regular job working at a clothing store that is not the most enjoyable.

However, on the side I have been doing translation work for Sundbyberg Kommun, which is where we live, and Anders works for the kommun. His boss needed tourist brochures, and overhead slides to lure new business's as well as their website translated into English. It was originally supposed to be a few pages, but has quickly turned into over a 100 since the boss was pleased with the work.

Last weekend I was at my cousins 50 b-day here in Sweden. Her husband is knowledgable in business tactics and suggested that I set myself up as a registered company doing translations. Sort of a one woman show. He is currently out of town for a month so the questions I have he won't be able to answer right now. I wondered if anyone here knew how to go about this? I got a website that listed possible options such as "Limited Partnership, AB, Sole Properitor etc..." The AB form is not an option for me. That requries a heavy investing capital that I do not have, plus I would be required to have employess.

Does anyone here have experience in this, and is this a good idea? The boss at Sundbyberg's kommun, said it would be easier if I did this. For their tax purposes it is easier to pay a business than a private citizen. It certainly would require less of an explanations to the accounting dept.

Now to the fun stuff... ;D
What should I name my company?
I will do translations, from Swedish to English, that's the base of the business.

[Carolyn]

Anna,

When I get back, even though I will be working for an American company, since I am a permanent Swedish resident, I will be setting myself up in business too and will register as a sole proprietership. I think it costs about 1,000 SEK to get set up, and god knows, I don't look forward to paying the Swedish taxes, BUT it will get me into the system and give me credibility in Sweden.

As to names, I haven't even thought that far ahead yet.

[Linda]

Wow!
CONGRATULATIONS to you both !!

Some great ideas and opportunities. Though I know there will probably be some interesting times ahead before getting to where you want to be -- in business for yourselves -- I commend you both for your abilities and entrepreneurial spirits !

Keep us up to date on how things progress. It's something I have thought of from afar. It's worth documenting !

(Sorry I don't have an idea for a name right now)

[Newroo]

Wow sounds wonderful ladies...!!! inspiration to the rest if anything!!
Before you get excited about names, i would check out the different costs between names for companies, i think back in Australia it was cheaper to have a business in your own name than a made up name...dont know how it goes here.....Arbetsformedling...government employment agency is supposed to help us 'invandrare' set up in business if thats where we are heading for employment...
ciao!

[Sabeine]

I will need to check into the name and costs. I looked at some of the forms that they have online and they included the owners name, as well as the business name. It just stated that there was a filing fee/application fee but didn't mention if a name was longer or different that it could cost more. Of course they can't answer every question on their website. I have lots going on this week, so I will call next week and see what they say.

For me, the idea of setting up myself as a business came from my swedish cousin who said that it is easier for companies to pay another company rather than a private citizen. I will essentially be the company, I'll be doing translations. I already have a client, Sundbybergs Kommun, but they are paying me as a private citizen and would like me as well to be a company. I'd really like this business to take off. I have another fulltime job that I don't enjoy at all, I would love to quit it knowing that I have something better, my business.

[Cake Guru]

hej Sabeine!

if you have a Sole Proprietership (enskild firma), you DO NOT have to register a name at PRV (patent/registrationsverket).

I never registered my café name, mainly because it was Café Rooseum, which was in a contemporary art center/museum which is called Rooseum. I would have been denied had I tried to register, because the Rooseum had already registered the name Rooseum. I didn't care, though, since no one else was about to *steal* the name, and when I said what the café was called everyone knew exactly where it was.

I recently registered my other company name at PRV (I do have an enskild firma), and it cost me 800 SEK (deductable).

What you need to do first is contact Skattemyndigheten and register yourself there as an Enskild Firma.

In your situation I would think it would be unecessary to register a company name at PRV right now, as it is an additional expense. You can always wait and see how it goes and if you think you'll need a company name in the future!

Good luck!