Bizstartup.ie - Ask an Expert

• ASK AN EXPERT

  Advice from our onboard experts in all areas of business

Browse by topic

Meet The Experts

• 
  Ruth Kearney
  
• 
  Gareth Dunlop
  
• 
  Joan Mulvihill
  
• 
  Tom Trainor
  
• 
  Tom Shanahan
  
• 
  Peter O' Neill
  
• 
  Mark Barrett
  
• 
  John McGuinness
  
• 
  Krishna De
  
• 
  John Crawley FCCA
  
• 
  Tom Mc Govern
  
• 
  Hazel Tunney
  
• 
  Carol Ann Casey
  
• 
  David Brophy
  
• 
  Nick Linnane
  
• 
  Damien McLoughlin
  
• 
  John Reid
  
• 
  Kieran Sheahan
  

Questions

• Mark Barrett Tax & Accounts

  I have started a small business supplying timber flooring and I am not registered for VAT – what are the implications of being VAT registered? Would my products be dearer to the customer if I was registered? Is it better for me to be VAT registered?

• John Crawley FCCA Raising Finance

  I am working on a business plan to submit for funding with my business partner. I am finding it difficult to communicate how I would be integral to the business. The company is technical, but my expertise is in social science and the arts. Any advice?

• Nick Linnane Tax & Accounts

  As an ex-employee, now working as a self-employed person, if my business fails will I qualify again for social welfare?

• Damien McLoughlin Sales & Marketing

  I have started my own mediation company and I find it very hard to secure clients. My main competitors are solicitors. I have a law degree and am an accredited mediator, my fees are set at 70pc of that of solicitors. How can I get a bigger audience?

• Joan Mulvihill IT & New Media

  I want to educate people about trading US stock markets online, and provide a stock-alert system. I don't want to be classified as a financial adviser, so must fall outside the scope of the Financial Regulator. Any advice on this, and web development?

• Joan Mulvihill IT & New Media

  I started an online directory and consumer guide for an interiors-related market and am finding it very slow to take off. I think it could be as big as Weddingsonline.ie for my market but any advice on how to get it to that level?

• Tom Trainor Sales & Marketing

  I am launching a new business in Cork and am wondering whether to invest in direct advertising or PR. Our budget is limited so we need to get the best value possible?

• David Brophy Business Formation

  I have a business idea that combines existing technologies and uses them in a new and novel way to provide a service that is not currently available. What chance do I have in gaining intellectual property protection?

• Peter O' Neill Legal Issues

  Some of our customers are in the UK and some of the work we do is in the UK. I am wondering whether Irish/English law has priority or whether we have to adhere to UK law at all with our overseas customers.

• John Crawley FCCA Tax & Accounts

  I am the principal shareholder (80pc) in a new start-up and I have applied for a new bank account. Is it necessary that the minority non-executive director (20pc) also provides all his personal details?

• Peter O' Neill Business Formation

  We have a shareholder with 20pc of our company’s shares who has never put money into the company. Can the two directors dilute out his shareholding by simply issuing more shares?