Creating a blog - Should I register a business name?

eoinagw

Hey,

I want to start a blog and use google adsense. I aim to have a little bit of income coming from the blog within a few months or maybe even a year or so. I'm just wondering would I need to register the blog's name with the CRO? Also would the name of the blog need to be exactly the same as the business name I register?

I'm already registered self employed, but would I need to register the blog's name? I was looking up a few blogs and websites and I put their names in to solocheck to check if there names have been registered. I've been surprised that many names didn't appear, including Waterford Whispers, which is (not massive) but a big enough site in Ireland.

So will I be okay not registering a business name?

Kind regards

Mrs OBumble

I have lots of blogs, and have not registered any of their names. I suspect I could trademark them, but am taking the (possibly simple-minded) view that because I control the domains, I have enough control.

I do plan to register a trading name (not a LTD) shortly, but only because I want to start selling an eBook

jimmii

Waterford Whispers is registered as Whispers Media. Unless you're planning a significant income from the blog and planning on building a brand around it then there probably isn't any reason to register it as a company. Just be sure to declare the additional income if it does generate any.

eoinagw

Thanks for the replies guys. I just want to state however I didn't mean register it as an LLC, I meant just register a business name. Correct me if I misunderstood that. I thought everyone has to register a business name if they start any business venture, including blogs. So do website and blogs fall out of that domain? Also what would constitute a significant amount of money in the eyes of revenue. Would it be like 35,000 euro or more like 250,000 euro?

Also best of luck with the Ebook Mrs OBumble.

Graham

You don't need to register anything with the CRO to get a .ie domain name for a blog.

Here's what you're looking for straight from the IE Domain Registry website:

I want to register a domain for my blog

You will also need to submit a document explaining that the domain is for a blog. If the domain name is descriptive of the blog (e.g. mynatureblog.ie), then an explanation of this must be included in the document. If the domain name does not appear to reflect the nature of the blog, then information explaining what the domain name reflects and how it relates to the blog is required. A link to an existing site where you currently blog under the desired domain name can also be accepted with your application.

You will need to provide a copy of your Irish passport, drivers licence or a recent utility bill.

Source: https://www.iedr.ie/register-a-domain/document-requirements/

If you're already self employed, you can put any income from your blog through the books with your other income. To be honest, the money you're likely to generate with Google adsense will just about cover the cost of the ink you use to write the income into your ledgers.

Mrs OBumble

Graham wrote: »

To be honest, the money you're likely to generate with Google adsense will just about cover the cost of the ink you use to write the income into your ledgers.

Some people would beg to differ. I'm still working a day job, and will be for the forseeable future. But the side income is enough to be worth having.




Back on topic, to be clear:

You can operate as a sole-trader, under your own name and the only registration you have to do is with Revenue for income tax.

If your income goes above the VAT threshold, you also have to register with Revenue for VAT.

If you want to trade (even as a sole trader) under a made up name, you need to register that name. And it is also a lot easier to get a .ie domain name if you do this. It's not essential, though, eg I have a .ie for a community group, without it - but they had letterhead, a committee etc. However if you want a blog, unless it's very Irish-specialised, a .ie is not essential and may even be a problem. You can easily get .com, .net etc without company registration.

If you want to protect a name to stop other people using it, you have to trademark it.

If you want LLC protection, then you have to set up a company.

Graham

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Some people would beg to differ. I'm still working a day job, and will be for the forseeable future. But the side income is enough to be worth having.

I don't doubt you for a second Mrs OB but I can guarantee you're the exception rather than the norm.

To start with the OP is probably better off concentrating on getting a site off the ground before investing time/money in corporate structures and tax efficiencies.

Putting together the necessary paperwork for what used to be called a discretionary domain name is not difficult or cumbersome. I don't think it's ever taken me more than 10 minutes max.

OP, put the outline of your website together on a temporary subdomain supplied by your hosting company. Give the website the title of the domain name you'd like to register. Write a quick covering letter explaining the site is going to be your blog about XXX and you'd like to register the domain YYY.ie. Include the link to your temporary site.

eoinagw

I have no intention of setting up a .ie. I want a .com. I know I can get a .com without registering with the CRO. I just thought if I have any luck and start making a little bit of money from the blog, then I would need to register the name of the blog with the CRO e.g if I call it eoinblog.com, then I will register the name eoinblog with the CRO. Say if I get extremely lucky with the blog, like one in a thousand chance and make 40,000 euro or even 60,000 a year. Would it be wise to then register with the CRO?
I know it probably seems ridiculous to ask, it's just I like to understand how this all works. I suppose what I'm really trying to ask is does setting up a blog (and receiving advertising revenue from it) not count as trading under a different name?

Thanks for all the insight so far by the way.

Graham

Personally, I wouldn't consider a blog with no revenue a business.

HOWEVER

I am absolutely not giving you legal advice. Talk to your accountant and/or solicitor.

mneylon

You don't need to register a website or blog with the CRO.

If (and it's an "if") you were making enough money from your online ventures AND were "trading" under a name other than your own then you'd want to register with the CRO

eg. Your name is John Murphy - as long as you don't trade as "Irish Blog Media" then you don't need to register anything

How you handle the income etc., is something an accountant can advise on.

Mrs OBumble

eoinagw wrote: »

I suppose what I'm really trying to ask is does setting up a blog (and receiving advertising revenue from it) not count as trading under a different name?

Ahh.

I have an AdSense account under my own name - because they have a rule that accounts must belong to a flesh-and-blood person, and that each person can have only one.

Because of that, it's me, not the blog, that is trading.

If I did any direct advertising sales, my understanding is that the invoice would also have to have my own name on it. At least until I register a trading name with CRO ... mmm, and maybe even after that, I probably need an accountant-chat sooner or later, too.

eoinagw

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Ahh.

I have an AdSense account under my own name - because they have a rule that accounts must belong to a flesh-and-blood person, and that each person can have only one.

Yeah, then it shouldn't matter if I register CRO, because Google would be paying me directly.

Blacknight wrote: »

You don't need to register a website or blog with the CRO.

If (and it's an "if") you were making enough money from your online ventures AND were "trading" under a name other than your own then you'd want to register with the CRO

I really need to find an accountant and ask how much money is 'enough' before I register with CRO, since the blog will not be under my name. Thanks