differences in business ownership between US, UK, Germany, other EU and AUS

[ShawnRussell]

I would like to find out more about the differences in business ownership between establishing a business in the US, UK, Germany, other EU countries, and Australia.
I would like to know about this for computer consulting but I figure I can draw equal parallels from a woodworking or remodeling perspective.
1. How difficult is the paperwork and what are the fee structures like?
2. What difficulties do you face as a non-citizen of the host country?
3. Are you required to join local trade unions, and if yes, what are the pros and cons of being associated with trade unions in your host country?
4. Doing what you do now, if you had to start over would you be a business owner or wage employee and why?
5. Should I expect a language barrier being an English only speaker?
6. What should I learn about local culture to ensure I do not make any sales mistakes?
7. Where should I expect red tape?

Thanks

 

[tjbnwi]

I would like to find out more about the differences in business ownership between establishing a business in the US, UK, Germany, other EU countries, and Australia.
I would like to know about this for computer consulting but I figure I can draw equal parallels from a woodworking or remodeling perspective.
1. How difficult is the paperwork and what are the fee structures like?
2. What difficulties do you face as a non-citizen of the host country?
3. Are you required to join local trade unions, and if yes, what are the pros and cons of being associated with trade unions in your host country?
4. Doing what you do now, if you had to start over would you be a business owner or wage employee and why?
5. Should I expect a language barrier being an English only speaker?
6. What should I learn about local culture to ensure I do not make any sales mistakes?
7. Where should I expect red tape?

Thanks

1) Depends on the AHJ, some it is registration with proof of insurance, some insurance and bond. A few are actual licensing where you have to pass a test and then submit insurance and bond. My registrations and licenses between all the disciplines and AHJ's was $8500.00 last year. Insurance and bonds were anther $15,000.00.

2) My difficulty is from AHJ to AHJ, each wants money to work in their community. Walking across the street can be a new municipality for me.

3) I was a member of IBEW 134, no longer a member, not as critical in residential as it is in commercial work.

4) Been both. Employee is easier in most ways.

5) I have not run into that problem.

6) When you figure that out, let me know.

7) Anywhere there is a government involved.

Tom

 

[TheTassieBFG]

Not a business owner and someone more experienced could chime in with more valid info for the Australian Perspective

1. Check out www.ATO.gov.au which is the Australian Taxation Office website which has a lot of the nitty gritty such as business/company type and associated info.
2. Unsure - are you planning on doing business here while based overseas or moving? May be info on the above site if you dig around
3. Unionism in Australia is voluntary and is more often associated with employees rather than the business owner. There are professional bodies that you could probably join - these often help in showing that you are not a fly by night company, that you know what you are doing and that you follow a code of practice - or you are accredited. Depending on what services you are providing it would be worth investigating if there are any that cover your planned business.
4. Can't talk to that one as I have only ever been an employee
5. Australia is a melting pot and depending where you do business there could be many nationalities present, that said our language is English and the majority of people use English. 
6. From a customers perspective generally be open and honest, and not too full of yourself. Australians are pretty laid back and don't necessarily focus on hierarchy - for example years ago I saw the then Premier of Tasmania (not sure where you are from or your political structure but here that is the highest office in elected politics) come into a coffee shop and get a couple of coffees.. one for him and one for his driver - and no it was not election time 
7. as mentioned wherever Gov't is involved, in setting up your business initially, depending on cash flow (i believe over AU$75 000per annum) you will also need to be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) which needs to be reported monthly/quarterly/ annually depending on business type and cashflow. there will be state based and federal level hoops to jump as well as the taxation based ones.

have fun checking it all out and hope you get the answers you need.

 

[GarryMartin]

As your specific interest is Computer Consulting, in the UK you need to be aware of IR35 which allows HMRC (tax office) to tax some contractors as though they are employees of their clients.

Consultants operating as one-man-bands in the UK often therefore join an "umbrella" organisation to conveniently side-step this legislation.

Start here http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/limited_company_umbrella_differences.aspx

That site explains the different ways of operating and the implications, and through links in the text, provides access to a wealth of information relative to your desired field.