Ask HN: Use own name or form a company for development freelancing/consultancy?
Would you favor using your own name if you're offering software development as a consultant or on a freelance basis, or form a company under a different name?
I'm torn between using my own name:
- Feels more 'personal'.
- Gets my real name 'out there'.
- People may be put off using a single person and rather deal with the company with xx employees that can answer the phone 24/7... and have some redundancy if one of their employees were hit by a bus.
And forming a company:
- Feels like people would assume I'm more than a single developer.
- May (or may not - IANAL) be beneficial for liability concerns.
- More paperwork.
Or option C, form a company with my real name.
Which route did others take that are in the same situation? What are your experiences/how did it work out for you? I'm in the UK.
I'm torn between using my own name:
- Feels more 'personal'.
- Gets my real name 'out there'.
- People may be put off using a single person and rather deal with the company with xx employees that can answer the phone 24/7... and have some redundancy if one of their employees were hit by a bus.
And forming a company:
- Feels like people would assume I'm more than a single developer.
- May (or may not - IANAL) be beneficial for liability concerns.
- More paperwork.
Or option C, form a company with my real name.
Which route did others take that are in the same situation? What are your experiences/how did it work out for you? I'm in the UK.