Wanted: Domain Appraisal Appraisal: TaxForum.co.uk

[.co.uk]

TaxForum.co.uk

Sadly, I don't know much about tax! :-?

So, is it worth creating a forum or should I just sell it on?

Thanks,

.co.uk
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[netserve]

nah, it's not worth anything, I'd just delete it.

(Make sure you send me an SMS the second you do though :razz: )

Tax forum wouldn't be easy though, complicated topic to set up properly if you don't know anything about tax and there are some good forums already out there.

 

[.co.uk]

nah, it's not worth anything, I'd just delete it.

(Make sure you send me an SMS the second you do though :razz: )

Tax forum wouldn't be easy though, complicated topic to set up properly if you don't know anything about tax and there are some good forums already out there.

Hi netserve, thanks for replying!

(1st post! Welcome! :razz: )

I agree, I can't really be a moderator if I don't know tax!

Think I'll just try and flog it off to some of the already existing ones!

Thanks,

.co.uk
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[bb99]

On a lot of the small business forums there are always queries about tax... "I'm selling XXX over the internet, do I need to tell the revenue", "I'm paying my friend to work for me in cash and not paying tax, that's ok isn't it", etc.

There is potentially an opportunity to link up with a small accountancy practice on this - they can provide (some of) the advice and expertise to answer straightforward questions.

They could then charge for the more advanced stuff, and you could take a commission when they do stuff like tax returns, accounts, etc.

As ever, the key would be getting the taxforum name promoted about as a good source of quality advice.

I'm actually a Chartered Accountant myself, but tax is not my area!

Good luck with it

 

[.co.uk]

Very nice idea bb99!
I will look into this.
Do you think I'd need to connect with more than one business to make this viable, or would it just complicate matters?

.co.uk
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[storebuilder]

I would think with a name like this it's well worthwhile installing Vbulletin on the domain or phpbb if you don't want the expense.

You can easily browse some of the other tax forums to see which categories you need to set up to start with.

I think this makes the domain much more attractive to a potential buyer and you can command a better fee for the domain.

As Keys said yesterday, and this is a general point, if you want to maximise the revenue from good names like this then you need to identify the niche (easy in this case) and do some window dressing.

Someone interested in running a tax forum would gladly shell out the extra for not having to install the software.

Think about getting a hosting reseller account with Fantastico so that you can do a "one click install" of all popular open source products so that you don't have to muck about with coding and keep a spreadsheet with all of the mysql database usernames and passwords.

 

[.co.uk]

Thanks too, Store Builder!

I know html but not mysql.
Is keeping a spreadsheet with the usernames and passwords WYSIWYG?
Or is it a lot to learn.
I know for example a forum owner would need a back up in case of hackers etc. but is there anywhere I could get more info on running a forum ,maintenance etc?

Thanks again,

.co.uk
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[storebuilder]

Maybe I didn't make myself clear:

If you use Fantastico to install software on domains then, if you have a lot of domains, you will need to keep a record of all of the database information for each domain.

This is so you don't forget the admin info etc for each domain that you setup.

 

[.co.uk]

Maybe I didn't make myself clear:

If you use Fantastico to install software on domains then, if you have a lot of domains, you will need to keep a record of all of the database information for each domain.

This is so you don't forget the admin info etc for each domain that you setup.

O.K.

I'll look into fantastico.
PHPbb has some very nice skins but VB is probably best, don't you think?

 

[.co.uk]

If you have never run a forum be prepared for a lot of hard work and late nights!

Go with VB from the outset if you want to develop the site or put PHPBB on it if you just want a shop window to attract domain buyers. We started with ProBoards (free board with free hosting, you just configure it), then went to PHPBB (difficult to mod but not bad for a free product, admin options very limited) and now VB - great for users and Admins alike, well worth the money if you are serious about running a forum.

We knew nothing about forums or MySql either only HTML when we started. There are plenty of instructions on the web that you can follow but if you are really not sure, pay an expert like Storebuilder to set it all up for you.

Admin

Thanks Admin,

What would you say is the main source of work you get when running a forum?
Do you mean like forum updates,replies etc?

 

[storebuilder]

Thanks for the compliment Admin but I'm not an expert - I learnt the same way as you guys ;-)

 

[.co.uk]

Thanks for the compliment Admin but I'm not an expert - I learnt the same way as you guys ;-)

And there was me ready to pay you £500 to set my forum up!....

 

[Admin]

oops deleted this by mistake

If you have never run a forum be prepared for a lot of hard work and late nights!

Go with VB from the outset if you want to develop the site or put PHPBB on it if you just want a shop window to attract domain buyers. We started with ProBoards (free board with free hosting, you just configure it), then went to PHPBB (difficult to mod but not bad for a free product, admin options very limited) and now VB - great for users and Admins alike, well worth the money if you are serious about running a forum.

We knew nothing about forums or MySql either only HTML when we started. There are plenty of instructions on the web that you can follow but if you are really not sure, pay an expert like Storebuilder to set it all up for you.

Admin

Inital setup and applying mod-rewrites takes a lot of time as if you get the slightest bit of code wrong the forum may not work correctly which will put off users.

Once you have it all working then it is just promotion and moderating every post. This is easier on a subject you know and can provide input to, which is not the case for you with Tax as your forum subject.

I would also be worried about an implications of giving tax advice, is it governed by any authority like mortgage advice is nowadays? I would check that carefully first.

 

[.co.uk]

I'd never give advice.
I'd also have a disclaimer.
I'd try to have resident tax experts who used it as an avenue to get business.

A lot to consider, though!

 

[storebuilder]

What I can do is set you up an account complete with Fantastico and all of the gubbins so that you don't have to muck about learning installation routines. You'll be up and running in seconds.

Drop me a PM if you want one. You'll need to change the nameserver for the domain to ns1.trafficmonster.co.uk, ns2.trafficmonster.co.uk.

How's that.

 

[bb99]

Very nice idea bb99!
I will look into this.
Do you think I'd need to connect with more than one business to make this viable, or would it just complicate matters?

.co.uk
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Good question. It's a double edged sword.

It'd be good to have a few because:
- There would be some "competition" for business
- The burden of replying to inane queries for free wouldn't fall on one person
- Accountants generally like to hang around in "packs" and like the sound of their own voices :grin:

But:
- If there's competition it's less viable for each firm/person involved


What you need to find is a small firm (maybe even a sole practitioner) that's internet savvy, can handle a lot of small clients and isn't bothered about giving a bit of free advice here and there.

It's not essential to have a local accountant - a lot of people manage it all through the post/phone/internet without having to ever meet the pin stripe dude with the calculator.


Having said all that, you could take it in a completely different direction whereby it's a tax forum for existing accountants and tax professionals. So they pay a membership fee to mix with their own kind and discuss issues of the day.

So much to do, and so little time!

Good luck with it

 

[.co.uk]

What I can do is set you up an account complete with Fantastico and all of the gubbins so that you don't have to muck about learning installation routines. You'll be up and running in seconds.

Drop me a PM if you want one. You'll need to change the nameserver for the domain to ns1.trafficmonster.co.uk, ns2.trafficmonster.co.uk.

How's that.

Thanks Storebuilder,
I'm gonna think this idea through first.
Don't want to set it up without a bit of research/planning.
I'll get VB.

And thanks for the offer! :razz:

.co.uk
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[.co.uk]

Good question. It's a double edged sword.

It'd be good to have a few because:
- There would be some "competition" for business
- The burden of replying to inane queries for free wouldn't fall on one person
- Accountants generally like to hang around in "packs" and like the sound of their own voices :grin:

But:
- If there's competition it's less viable for each firm/person involved


What you need to find is a small firm (maybe even a sole practitioner) that's internet savvy, can handle a lot of small clients and isn't bothered about giving a bit of free advice here and there.

It's not essential to have a local accountant - a lot of people manage it all through the post/phone/internet without having to ever meet the pin stripe dude with the calculator.


Having said all that, you could take it in a completely different direction whereby it's a tax forum for existing accountants and tax professionals. So they pay a membership fee to mix with their own kind and discuss issues of the day.

So much to do, and so little time!

Good luck with it

I'll definitely look into this.
Maybe I'd need to set it up (roughly) to show any would be tax advisor/advertiser. Do you think this is the best course of action?

I think your second option might be a bit over my head.
Again I'd probably need an in-house accountant to advise me on what's best for the forum.
Being a CA yourself, do you think there'd be a demand for such a forum?

Thanks

.co.uk
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[bb99]

On balance, I think there's more demand for the first one (ie where non-accountants can get advice on tax and related stuff). As with law, there's a massive gap in terms of making all this stuff accessible and providing a low cost means of getting answers to straightforward questions.

A lot of accountants put out free or low cost ebooks/guides/etc for people in classic situations. Things like "do i need to register for VAT?", "what records do i need to keep?", "what are the implications of taking on a buy to let property", or "do i need to tell the revenue about xxx?", etc etc

With a lot of it, you can just link to guidance given out by HMC&E or the Inland Revenue or Business Link... But if you can find an accountant that does these sorts of things on a website in more detail, you could offer them on the site as well - maybe have some free, some at low cost (for commission of course), and any detailed advice can be got from the accountant him/herself (again, at a commission or referral fee).

I think the best place to start would be to find an accountant who offers that kind of thing online already because that indicates they're internet savvy and are commercially aware that you've got to give a few things away in the short term to get business in the long term.

The only drawback that I can think of is that some accountants won't want to touch it from a liability perspective. Let's say I go on the forum and ask a question. Someone answers and I follow their advice... This turns out to be incorrect, or they made an assumption that they shouldn't have made, and I end up getting nailed with a huge tax bill. Is the person giving advice professionally liable? It would need some careful T&Cs!

Let me know if you want to discuss further - happy to give advice where I can.

 

[.co.uk]

Thanks bb99,

(I should be paying YOU for this advice!) :mrgreen:

Certainly a lot to think of.
Could be good if it works though.
I'll look around some tax,advice forums.
www.taxationweb.co.uk is one I remember going to myself a while back.

Keep you posted!

.co.uk
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