If you are curious about how UK companies use US affiliates to sell to the US market, we created this chart to help explain it:
At Bouwen, the vast majority of our clients are UK companies operating in the US through subsidiaries. In this arrangement, it is very common for the UK parent to provide services to the US subsidiary (or its customers), and vice-versa. The IRS has over 200 pages of...
Transfer pricing refers to the way that related companies, such as a parent and its subsidiary, charge each other for goods, services, or IP provided to each other. Transfer pricing is especially important when the transactions cross international borders. When...
One of the many significant differences between UK VAT and US sales tax is that US sales tax is intended to be collected only from the final purchaser of a good or service. Because US sales tax cannot be reclaimed, the danger exists that the sales tax can become a...
Increasingly, global suppliers are expected by downstream customers to comply with legal and ethical standards designed to ensure that their supply chains protect human rights, labor conditions, environmental sustainability, and other critical factors. How should...
We are often asked by our clients whether a US limited liability company or corporation will insulate its officers, directors, or shareholders from liability for company obligations. The short answer is that, as in the UK, a US LLC or corporation generally offers such...
The United States is a heterogeneous country of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. It is not surprising, therefore, that there are variations in business culture among regions. Although generalizations can be as misleading as they are informative, here are a...
Should your US employment agreement have a notice requirement? Employees in the UK are typically entitled to statutory and contractual notice prior to termination. Under Section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, once an employee has been in employment for a month...
A social security number (or “SSN”) is a nine-digit number issued to US citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. It is the primary identifier for individuals, used by government agencies, private enterprises, and financial institutions. Only...
When creating a US subsidiary or other affiliate, UK companies often include a geographic identifier in the name. Names like Acme USA Inc. or Acme US Inc. are common. Should you, however, include the word “America” in your US company name? The answer depends. To be...
Despite a 5 to 8-hour time difference, the US is the UK’s largest export market. No doubt this is largely attributable to the shear size of the US market. But it is also a function of a similar language and familiar business culture. Despite the similarities, there...