voluntary VAT

[mal magnum]

I want to set up a courier business as a sole trader.I have already got a van.The main expense will be fuel.The burning question is will I be better off with voluntary VAT registration,or is that a minefield of problems?.Anybody any ideas....Cheers

[buildersmate]

If most of your customers are businesses they don't care about you charging them VAT on your services - they just get it back. Reverse is true of domestic customers.
As you know, being VAT registered enables you to get back the VAT on the fuel - only you can work out what proprtion of your variable costs are fuel, and hence the saving.
I've been through the process of being VAT-registered early this year (for the first time). Found it relatively painless.