Where to start business. I am planning to move countries - can my business when started relocate easily?

I currently live in South Africa, but I am an Australian citizen. I am planning to relocate to the UK for 2 years and then Ireland indefinitely. I am building an online business to market a product that I create that I expect to be sold to customers world wide. However I am struggling with where the business should be registered. The business will hopefully be my source of income whilst in the UK, but not sure if i should register it there or Ireland where I will definitely be moving. What are the things to consider? and if I move at a later date - how easy is it for the business to move across borders with me?

Thanks

Des

Some things you should be considering:

1. Where will your customers be, and what are the implications for them of any given location (sales tax, for instance, and their perception of your business)?
2. Do you anticipate working with other people as employees, partners and associates? If so, where do you expect them to be located?
3. Where are you happiest to deal with your accountant, bank and so on?
4. Assuming you are successful in your venture before you move to Ireland, would you rather sell it as a going concern or continue with the business after that (second) relocation?
5. Can you obtain any assistance (financial or otherwise) locating in any particular country or region?

You should certainly consider the UK and Ireland. Then depending on the nature of your goods and services you may want to look at the Channel Islands (for instance, Jersey sits outside the EU but is treated as part of the European Community for the purposes of free trade in goods, and has established itself in a number of online-related businesses).

It's probably worth making contact with UKTI and Enterprise Ireland to get an idea of what might be available to you by way of assistance. And you should definitely seek specialist advice regarding tax.

Register in Ireland. Easiest. UK / Ireland are not that far away for the regular going there trip. Plus it saves you all the hassles later. Moving the business legally is the smaller part - moving accounts etc. is harder.