company formation and bank account - chicken / egg

Dear Dave

What your doing sounds exciting and you have the next step already planned. With the greatest of respect you have answered your own question, you need an accountant, not any accountant, but one who is familiar with what you are trying to do. Expect to pay at least £150.00 + VAT per hour, (you are seeking advice in a different league).

Please, I urge you, slow down, the rather fast frightens me somewhat, it can be done fast, however, perfect planning prevents pathetic performance.

Kind regards

Harry R Smith

You can run both your contracting work and your start up idea through the same limited company. No problems with that. The one thing that might, might might (but not very likely of course) cause a problem is if you get sued over your contracting because you have done an outrageously crap job (see - not very likely) and then that might make your startup suffer because they will be part of the same legal entity.
Otherwise I can't see a problem, and I only see this one if I am being really paranoid.
You do the company paperwork first, and open the bank account after. The bank needs your certificate of incorporation. If you are seeing an accountant for advise anyway he or she can do the Ltd paperwork for you. Generally also you can get a first consultation for free (although youwould still get charged for the actual work of doing the Ltd)

Anna
Moderator, flyingstartups.com