Going Incorporated: The Big, Bold Step

Today marked a big step for B J Hampson. Today I’m no longer B J Hampson. I’m now B J Hampson LTD. 

Yes, LTD. A limited company. I could have had B J Hampson Limited; you actually have to choose between Limited or LTD., just another way for bureaucrats to complicate matters as far as I’m concerned. They both mean exactly the same thing, so I chose LTD. simply because it’s shorter to write on documents! 

I don't know why today is the big day to go incorporated either. It’s the official start of the new tax year, but why this begins on April 6th, I have no idea. No doubt that’s a blog for another time. 

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. 

It seems momentous in one way, that I now get to add to LTD. at the end of my name and call myself an actual company. But at the same time, it’s absolutely unremarkable. In all honesty nothing much changes, except more paperwork. 

And yet, it just feels like a big step. It almost makes things a whole lot more real. 

It’s a choice many small business owners grapple with - especially those who predominantly work on a freelance basis. Should you go incorporated or not? 

Should you bother with all the additional hassle, paperwork and costs associated with incorporation, just to get three little letters at the end of your business name? Or should you stick with being a sole trader and keep things simple and effective?

I’m writing a blog about going incorporated, because I’ve just done it. Obviously, I think it could be a worthy step for many freelancers and small businesses in my industry. 

Here are my reasons for incorporating, and what it means to me. 

Not just playing around anymore

The term corporation comes from the Latin word Corpus meaning body. (Think corpse if you have a dark mind or if you’re not feeling particularly optimistic about your business.) 

Effectively, incorporating means becoming a legal body. 

That carries some gravitas to it. I’m not just playing around anymore; not just dossing about and pretending to work from home, as many of my friends (and some family members no doubt) think I do. My business suddenly becomes legal and real - it’s not just a Mickey Mouse endeavour anymore, it’s all completely serious and official. 

It also means that no one else can steal the name B J Hampson. It’s now legally mine. (Apparently this happens more than you might imagine - it’s certainly one creative way to spite someone you don’t like!) 

In reality, nothing changes. Of course my business is real and serious; I wouldn’t be making money and living off it if it wasn’t. But still, it just feels ‘proper’ now, if you will.  

A personal suit of armour

Being a proper legal entity also offers me some personal protection too. The business is now separate from my personal affairs. Separate accounts, separate cards, separate laws. Basically it means I can raise finance independently of my personal circumstances, and if things go tits up, I won’t lose my house or personal possessions. 

It’s nice to know this protection is there, but it wasn’t really a reason for incorporating. I don’t need to raise any finance, and can’t really see a huge need to ever do so for my current business; it just doesn’t need it. That’s the beauty of being freelance.

I’d also like to think I don’t see a future where things go tits up either.  

More money in the bank 

More realistically for most people, myself included, was the potential tax savings to be made with being a limited company. I’d crunched the numbers with my accountant, and going incorporated would save me a bit of money. Only a little bit right now, but still, every penny counts. 

I’ve also gone VAT registered too. As I don’t have much expenditure, I’m on a Flat Rate VAT scheme, which means I can actually keep some VAT for myself, rather than paying the tax man. Yeah. I don’t really get it either. VAT is silly. No-one really loses apart from the average joe. More on this another time too. 

Of course, laws and regulations change all the time, as the recent budget showed. So whilst it might be more efficient now for me to be incorporated, there’s no guarantee of that in the future; it’s a risk you just have to take. 

Trusted and reputable

The legal standing associated with a limited company is actually most effective at boosting legitimacy, in my point of view. That’s probably the factor that swung it for me. For no real reason, a limited company just has more credibility, more kudos to it. 

I suppose it goes back to showing you’re well established and serious. It’s not something that any Joe Bloggs will do, even though it wasn’t actually that difficult to incorporate. 

But the connotations of being a limited company can go a long way. I know one person who had a company refuse to do business with him, because he wasn’t incorporated. Again, no reason why. 

Personally, I think it’s something to do with the word freelance. It’s not a dirty word, per say, but there is something about it. It’s not permanent, not long lasting, or so it sounds. It’s almost a bit basic. 

It’s like anyone can be freelance; like it’s something you do when you give up on proper work and just think ‘sod it, I’ll do it on my own, and just sit in my underpants all day’. 

Anyone who works freelance knows that this isn’t the case. It’s so much harder than a 9-to-5 job, in more ways than one. But still, freelancer has those connotations that can see some businesses taking you less seriously, and not trusting your reputability. 

It’s total rubbish of course; I wouldn’t be where I am if I couldn’t be trusted and didn’t have a good reputation for the work I do. But now there’s almost an unspoken legitimacy and trust that comes with those three little letters - LTD. I am still a freelance copywriter, but it’s like now I have a company to back me up. 

Don’t worry though, it’s still the same old me.

The downsides to incorporating

Obviously, there’s quite a bit to think about when going incorporated, and like yin to yang, there are always downsides. 

Firstly, there’s a lot more paperwork. Company numbers, VAT details (though you can be incorporated without being VAT registered), corporation tax references, share holder agreements etc. etc. They just seem to keep coming through the letter box. 

I’ve had to get serious about filing and organisation. 

In fairness, the actual incorporating was fairly easy. The government and Companies House website was simple enough to navigate, and it’s clearly geared to being as simple as possible for sole traders and small businesses to make the move to limited. Those share agreements and legal mumbo jumbo are provided as templates, and if you don’t want any complicated terms you can just use these - perfect for freelancers who will just become the sole director and shareholder. 

But after that, there’s a lot more annual paperwork to do - corporation tax submissions and annual company returns, on top of your personal tax returns each year. You also have to pay your self a wage too. 

That means a PAYE system, and all of this means paying more money to your accountant. It’s a good job I like the girls who do my books, over at Mossley Tax Shop! 

There’s also a lot more stringent regulations. As the company is an official legal entity, I can’t just dip into the bank accounts when I need some money. Everything has to be kept separate and done by the books, with accurate record keeping at every turn. 

So is it worth incorporating? 

After day one of trading as a limited company, nothing has changed. Nothing.

When I send my first invoice out as an incorporated business, it will probably just be more hassle, as I have to add extra details to the footer and make sure it’s clear there’s a new bank account. 

But, already it does feel like people take you more seriously. It’s a sign of growth. A sign B J Hampson means business, and is here to stay. 

It shows I’ve got plans for the future, and lets me make B J Hampson more than just me. It’s a company that can grow and develop beyond me, and continue in perpetuity. That does make it feel special. 

So for me, it is a big step going incorporated. It’s not huge, it’s still just a stepping stone in the business journey, but it feels like a step up (despite the fact that not much changes). 

Perhaps more importantly, it’s another kick up the bum to keeping driving forward and explore new opportunities and side projects. 

Let’s see where we end up.  

What are your thoughts about being a limited company? What do the letters LTD make you think? Let me know in the comments below. 

MAXI Nutrition Protein Shake Review

DISCLAIMER: As part of BzzAgent I was sent this product by MaxiNutrition to try for free. The review however is completely unbiased and honest.

Before trying out MaxiNutrition, I had to decide which product I wanted. I chose the Strawberry Pro Max Lean, because I wanted the leanest option possible - I watch my weight whilst training, and whilst I'm developing muscle, I don't want to bulk out. 

When the tub of protein arrived, the first step was to examine the packaging, and figure out exactly what I needed to do with it! 

The guidance and information

Firstly, there's a lot of information to take in on the side of the tub. Too much in fact. The whole thing is crammed full of notes, instructions, explanations and advice. I'm a big fan of good information, but because they'd tried to get everything it, there was actually minimum amounts of everything, rather than anything comprehensive about one thing. The MaxiNutrition brand was somewhat lost amongst all the writing, which had instructions on how to make the perfect shake (generalised, not specific to a workout goal) and basic scientific information on why protein is good for you. 

Good stuff, but I just didn't think it was executed well, and it became a bit confusing. I'd rather have had a simplified box, with an insert to explain things in more detail, or obvious instructions on a website to visit to find out everything you needed to know.  

The packaging itself 

Once I had figured out how much protein I thought I should be taking for my routine, I dug into the packaging. And actually, I did have to dig. When you take the lid off, there's a foil seal to keep the protein fresh and protected. But this foil seal didn't have any kind of tab to pull it off easily. I tried to pick around the edge, but had no luck. So, I had to stab the foil and then dig at it from all angles to pull it off. A minor gripe, with a simple solution.

With everything open, I could start making my shake. Here though, the packaging made things a little fiddly. The high rimmed tub means you have to squeeze your hand in and wiggle around with the small scoop. I didn't get why the tub was so big and tall, when the protein powder only filled it half way. 

The recommended serving was 1 and a half scoops. If this is the case, why can't they make a scoop that matches this serving, rather than having to mess around with a half? Thankfully, there is a helpful halfway line on the scoop. But because of the nature of the powder, it was hard to be precise. Sometimes it was too loose, and so you thought it was full but there were actually air gaps, and other times, it was really compacted and you might end up with too much. Just something to be aware of. 

From there, actually making the shake was really easy. I did make the mistake of putting the powder in first once, which made measuring the correct amount of water a little more difficult. Remember, water first. Adding ice was a good shout. 

One thing I didn't understand was the circular plastic filter that your slot onto the top. I guess it's to stop bits coming through, but surely those bits are part of the protein powder that you'd actually want? 

I also made one mistake of not screwing the lid on correctly. It screws on easily, but you just have to make sure you line it up properly, as it can go on slightly wonky. The result was protein shake dripping everywhere.  

The exercises and nutrition plan 

Supplied with the protein powder was a recommended exercise plan and some recipes. This was a good idea, but they weren't really suitable for my goals. The exercises were all about using the heavy weights and machines at the gym, whereas I'm into more functional and HIIT training. They looked a little useful, but again, lacked any real detail. 

The recipes looked good, but given the proliferation of free information and videos online, I think they'd be better placed there - again with more detail and personalisation options. 

The taste

Back to the protein shake, and once it was all shook up, I thought it tasted pretty good. I've tried a few, and found this was easily one of the best. I like strawberry flavourings, and this one stood up to the test. I've heard the chocolate one is fairly realistic too. 

Of course, it doesn't taste like a proper strawberry shake, but I could easily enjoy drinking it. I tried in once with milk, and that was just as good too. 

The effects

I didn't follow the "official" guidelines or recommended amounts because for my routines and personal goals, they seemed a little excessive. But I could have easily stomached two a day if I was looking to bulk up. 

I quickly got into the routine of having one after every workout I did, and I found it beneficial. Muscle fatigue the following day was greatly reduced, my weight was controlled, and I did feel my muscles beginning to tone. It wasn't a quick process though - you'd need to stick to it for a few months to definitely see real results. 

When we had a short break and I didn't take the MaxiNutrition protein with me, I noticed the difference. It was only a couple of days, but I did feel like I was missing it a little bit. 

Would I buy?

If I was going to commit to taking protein supplements, I would definitely, 100% try MaxiNutrition again. Of all those I've tried, it was one of the best, and had good reviews from those I have spoken to about it. As far as protein powders go, it was perfectly adequate and pretty tasty. 

But was it enough to convince me, a skeptic and not a serious trainer/body builder, about the importance and potential of protein supplements? No not really. I'd need to see more combined results and better information/education from the start. And definitely more personalise to my specific needs and goals! 

Overall, if you must have protein powder and prefer strawberry flavoured ones, it's one of the best - ESPECIALLY, with the added caffeine which is a good touch! 

L’Oreal Hydra Power Face Wash Review

Disclaimer: I was sent this product free as part of Bzz Agent. 

I think pretty much everyone I know uses face wash. There probably used to be a time when it wasn't cool for guys to admit they used it, but now, with all the metrosexuality around, the face wash industry is a big one. 

And why shouldn't it be; everyone wants their faces to look as healthy and spot free as possible. So receiving their new Hydra Power Refreshing Face Wash free from L'Oreal to try out was a big deal for me. 

And it didn't disappoint. 

Naturally, the first thing you do when you get a new washing product is to flick the top open and give it a good smell. It wasn't overpowering nor repulsive. In fact, there wasn't really much to say about the smell, it was fresh and subtle. Nothing bad about it, but it didn't make me go wow. 

Invigorating power 

The real power was in the actual gel. Trying if for the first time on my face, I was amazed at how it instantly felt invigorating and reviving. The gel was easy to squeeze out of the standard bottle shape, and it was obvious that you didn't need much, as it was thick, heavy and quickly worked up into a good lather.  

As soon as it hits your face, whatever ingredients are used seemingly get to work right away. It's almost like a light burning sensation, but it's pleasurable. You really can feel the gel targeting all the pores on your skin. And first thing in the morning, it’s highly effective at waking you up and helping you feel fresh for the day ahead, even if it's 6am! 

The menthol fragrance comes out once you're rubbing it into your skin and it has the duel effect of unblocking your nose and clearing out your sinus too - exactly what you need first thing in the morning. 

No sensitivities 

Using a new face wash could result in sensitivities emerging, but I had no such trouble with the L'Oreal Hydra Power. No outbreaks of acne, no post shower redness, just fresh looking skin.

I have quite greasy skin and am prone to spots every now and then.  Having used it for a couple of weeks now, I feel like it's cleared up most of the spots I had without causing them to burst up and out on the surface. It's kept them all at bay whilst clearing up the deeper layers of skin. Any blackheads I've had have all been brought to the surface and easily cleared away. 

The packaging says Anti-discomfot, deeply purifying, and ultra cooling. It gets three big ticks from me on those fronts, and 5 stars on everything overall. 

One to steal

Even if it hadn't had such a positive effect on my skin, I'd probably keep using the face wash simply because it's long lasting and just really invigorating and refreshing whenever I apply it. My only concern now is that my girlfriend keeps stealing it because she's also discovered how good it is! Hands Off! It says for men!  

Although clearly, it works and feels great for both sexes. 

To SeaWorld, Or Not To SeaWorld?

When I was younger, I was very fortunate to enjoy a few holidays in Orlando. And one of my favourite places to visit whilst there was SeaWorld.  

I grew up with The Clyde & Seamore Show, spent hours watching the dolphins and penguins, and was amazed by the feats of Shamu and his kin. To this day, I have incredibly fond memories of SeaWorld.  

Then along came Blackfish. And it brought to the surface thoughts and feelings that had probably already been there. Had I been young and naive and overlooked the inherent problems with SeaWorld?

We’re visiting Orlando again this year, and I’ve been meaning to write this blog for a while. With the announcement today that SeaWorld was ending its orca breeding programme, and the recent news that the track was complete on its newest ride Mako, it seemed like now was the perfect time for the big question:

Should we go to SeaWorld? 

As I said, I always loved SeaWorld. But Blackfish and all the subsequent news stories, as well getting older and benefitting from a more critical mind, has made me re-think things. 

I think that the park still has a lot to offer. Kirsty, who has always loved zoos and at one point was really excited about SeaWorld, now refuses to go. I just don’t know whether to go or not, and I want to hear what you think. 

For me, SeaWorld has some fantastic rides, which I love. Journey to Atlantis, Kraken and Manta have all been highly enjoyable. And it’s got a brand new one this year, which looks awesome. Selfishly, I’d love to be one of the first people to ride it, and would hate to miss out. 

I also always found SeaWorld incredibly educational. I learnt things I never would’ve known, saw animals I never would've seen, and was inspired by the work being done to save and protect a number of species. Genuinely, I always thought SeaWorld was one of the good guys.  

But the world is smaller now. Kids growing up today can watch David Attenborough documents all day long. Do they need a park to educate them? Given the proliferation of information and technology, and shorter & shorter attention spans, I think we’d all benefit from having this kind of education and insight in front of us for a full day, whilst we are enjoying ourselves so that we’re more likely to take it in. 

Did Blackfish say anything we didn’t already know, deep down? Some of its accusations were wrong, and have been proven so. Some though, were right. Like any documentary, it had an agenda and only really told one side of the story. (If you've watched Blackfish, you ought to also read SeaWorld's response, to get both sides of the story) But, it definitely hit a nerve and dramatically affected SeaWorld’s attendance figures, dropping by 84% between 2014 and 2015. 

Inherent cruelty versus a necessary evil?

So what is bad about SeaWorld? Plain and simply, it has animals in captivity. And this is inherently wrong; locking up any kind of animal, big or small, in any kind of cage, big or small, is wrong. It’s against nature. And there’s no denying this. 

But is there evidence of intentional cruelty, violent incidents, sadistic actions or forced neglect? I don’t think there is. SeaWorld hit back at these allegations, and Blackfish never really showed any concrete facts for their accusations. 

The parks are heavily controlled by national and international regulations, and have regular visits from inspectors. They are always under both media and visitor scrutiny - surely we’d see more stories of actual cruelty if it was actually taking place? 

There would also be more reports from all the staff and trainers who work there, the vast majority of whom clearly love their jobs. Why for example, are there some trainers who remain staunch defenders of SeaWorld and their work with whales, like the one in Blackfish who was pulled into the water on two separate occasions, and still works for the company?

The woman that was killed, and was the centre of the documentary is a case in point. Her family said on the record that she wouldn't have stayed at SeaWorld if she thought it was cruel. Her death was an accident. 

But is it one that shouldn’t have happened? Whales aren’t meant to be kept in tanks. No animals are. 

But is it, at present, a necessary evil?

If you watched Channel 4’s The Secret Life Of The Zoo, they explained on a number of occasions how yes, in an ideal world, there wouldn't be any need for zoos. But we don’t live in an ideal world. Zoos, aquariums and enclosures are necessary to save animals, protect species and look after the world.

The wild is a cruel place, and many animals wouldn’t survive. Words like torture should not be thrown around lightly at SeaWorld, because that just isn’t true. In the wild, with illegal poaching, hunting, pollution and development, wildlife is in great danger of real torture, real harm, and death. 

Funding conservation or condoning captivity?

Maybe that’s one of the reasons why there is a case for going to SeaWorld. It does fund massive conservation efforts. It partners with hundreds of wildlife protection organisations and has saved the lives of around 27,000 animals. It has spent more than $10 million in recent years to look after marine life around the world. 

It’s saved endangered species and turned opinions around. It’s largely responsible for the huge success story in the preservation of Manatees in Florida. Take a look at SeaWorld Cares for more information, and how the company answers any questions about its animals and operations. (Of course, this is in part a PR campaign to boost their reputation, so be wary). 

SeaWorld is part of a corporate company. It does need to make a profit. And it’s this profit that is necessary to look after the animals effectively. If everyone stopped going, what would happen to them? Would they just be released into the wild and left to die?

But that’s not a reason to keep going to the parks, that would be blackmail.

Things do need to change. 

That’s why this announcement is monumental. 

The power of a documentary 

Slowly, it looks like pressure has had an effect. SeaWorld has already said it will change the shows it puts on with orcas, shifting instead to a focus on natural orca environments and encounters, rather than theatrical performances for treats. 

This next announcement that no new orcas will be bred in captivity is massive. It’s a big step in the right direction, a huge step in fact. It shows the power a documentary can have; influencing public opinion and making change possible.

Of course, there is more work to do. These whales still need bigger places to live. They might not be able to survive in the wild, but they could live in wild-like coastal enclosures where they can roam the seas to an extent. And all the focus has been on orca whales - but what about the other whales and dolphins?

One step at a time. For a company to give up what was once its bread and butter, to listen to campaigners and to the general public, well it should be - not necessarily rewarded - but praised. This is a big step. 

Is it reason to visit SeaWorld?

It could be that now we go with a critical eye. When you’re a child, or you have children with you, it’s easy to get swept up in all the excitement and enjoyment of a theme park. With a more mature head on my shoulders, and images from Blackfish flashing in my head, I’d like to go back and look more closely at the operations, to see any evidence for myself.  

Arguably, there’s also a historic reason to go. It’s the last chance to see things as they were - before they change for the better, hopefully. And surely it’s better to have a seat at the table to influence change, rather than complaining from the outside?

In some respects, it’s not really about what has happened previously. It’s in the past, and whatever the intentions at the time, now, they are different. Twenty years ago, thoughts, opinions and knowledge were not what they are now. Science and understanding has advanced. What matters now is how SeaWorld deals with the future.

As the CEO Joel Manby said, its SeaWorld that ‘helped to inspire the changing attitudes that, in turn, inspired our company's changing policies.’

So, the big question. Should or shouldn’t we go to SeaWorld? I’ve laid out my thoughts, what do you think?

The Weird & Wonderful Welsh Language

Some things in life you either love or hate. And then there are some things which just make you go ‘Eh?’ ‘Really?’ 

The Welsh language is one of those things. 

Sometimes I think that even the Welsh don't really love their own language; I’ve spoken to many people there who freely acknowledge it’s absolutely mental. Who on Earth creates a language that has words without a single vowel in them? Or names that are impossible to read aloud, like Dwygyfylchi, Penrhyndeudraeth, or of course - Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch. 

Any readers who haven’t come across the Welsh language before, that is genuinely the name of a town in Anglesey, though you’ll be forgiven if you say Llanfair PG.

There are even places like Dolgarrog, which sound like they could be straight out of Lord Of The Rings.

The only words I really know are those you see when you drive into Wales:

• Cymru - Wales
• Heddlu - Police
• Araf - Slow
• Llath - Yards

 Try saying that last one. Go on, I dare you. 

How do you pronounce it?

 If you’ve haven’t sprayed spit everywhere, you’re probably nowhere near saying it correctly. 

I’m told the trick for those double L’s is to place your tongue behind your teeth. I was trying this in a pub in Llanbedrog, and it wasn’t going well. I was certain I was doing it right, but the sound coming out of my mouth most definitely wasn’t what it should be.  

Turns out my tongue was just under my front teeth, rather than behind it. 

Apparently, you should also note that a Y’s in Welsh are not pronounced as an ‘ee’ as you might expect (such as in Spanish). But rather, they’re more of an ‘ehye’. I think…

I half got it. I’ll probably just stick with something simple like Araf. Although I might just about be able to handle Diolch - thank you. 

Rude or welcoming?

My Grandad hates the Welsh. That’s primarily because he thinks they hate him too. There’s a certain stereotype that the Welsh don’t like the English, for a wide variety of reasons, many of which are historical. I’m sure there are some who don’t like that the English are still invading their country, albeit in the tourist sense.  

There’s a feeling that they think of us English as unwelcome foreigners, and purposefully talk in Welsh behind our backs. 

But we didn’t feel like that, not in the slightest. Yes, there were quite a few people speaking Welsh, and yes, they instantly knew we were tourists from England. But pretty much every one of them was friendly. 

As you read above, in one pub, the landlord was even trying to teach us to speak Welsh.  

I think if you respect their language, and show that you’re actually interested in learning about their heritage, then they will all be welcoming and accommodating.

Keeping it alive 

Because why shouldn’t they care about their own history and culture? The Welsh have thousands of years of experiences, trials and tribulations to celebrate and remember, so why shouldn’t they value their own heritage and their own language. 

I think it’s great that they keep Welsh alive by insisting on it being written everywhere in public, and by teaching it in schools. 

Any kid that learns two differently languages at school is always going to be at an advantage in my books, even if they don’t end up using that language afterwards. 

So they should keep it up. It’s definitely a strange and eclectic language, but it’s also fascinating. 

Without Welsh, how would you pass the time driving to the coast trying to say those crazy town names? 

Got a favourite Welsh word? Be sure to jot it in the comments below here!