Top tips on what to look for when choosing an Umbrella Company

When choosing an umbrella company, please consider the following:

• Compliant with HMRC rules and regulations - but can they prove it? Of course everybody will say they are compliant but what awards/accreditation do they have to prove it.
• Solvent – no outstanding large scale debts
• Legal – no outstanding CCJs or other legal offences
• Management – who are the directors and how long have they been in place?
• Fixed fee structure - some Umbrella Companies charge a percentage of your invoices which can prove extremely expensive. 
• Account Manager for every contractor - if not you’ll be explaining who you are and what you do every time you call. 
• Guaranteed service levels - most Umbrella Companies will promise a variety of things but unless there is a money backed service guarantee, you have very little recourse 
• Online portal for timesheet and expenses - faxing over timesheets will soon get boring, plus you face the possibility of them getting ‘misplaced’. 
• Established company & part of a chartered firm of accountants - as the Umbrella Company will be receiving your funds first, you need to be sure they won’t disappear with it.