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Is it fair to assume that we all know what an umbrella company is and why people use them? Well – in a word; no. Although umbrella companies are not a new phenomenon and have been around for many years; it is only since the 2007 budget and the subsequent legislation that they have really come to the fore. 

Gone are the days of the composite company; basically a limited company that you would be placed in as a shareholder with perhaps another 20 people. You would then claim minimum wage, and the rest of your take home pay would be in the form of dividends. These ceased in 2003 when the government introduced a tax-free allowance of £10k for small businesses, and single person limited companies were born.

Really, these single person companies were to all intents and purposes, the same as composite ones except that a single person owned all of the shares. These single person companies were very popular during this period. In fact so much so that new legislation was introduced in the 2007 budget in order to shut them down. These new laws saw the end of wage payments as dividends and the start of more complicated payment methods – the most widely used of which was the umbrella company.

With an umbrella company you will still pay PAYE tax as well as National Insurance, however, you are able to claim all legitimate business expenses. The main difference between this new form of company and the old composite companies and single person companies is that the umbrella company does not pay wages or salaries in the form of dividends, to do so would be illegal under the new legislation.

Finally – we should bear in that there are many other advantages to using umbrella companies that go beyond the mere financial; for example, they negate the need to be involved with running a spreadsheet, VAT returns, payroll matters, company accounts, taxation and so on. This in itself is a good enough reason for the majority of companies or individuals to use them.

Becoming a Dental Assistant not only prepares you for a wonderful career working in the dental field, is also pays very well. Since this area of employment is anticipated to be one of the most in demand over the next six years, your chances of securing a great job with great pay and benefits is very likely. The Median hourly rate of pay for Dental Assistants is $13.62. This is well above the minimum wage established in most states. In addition to a great hourly wage, many Dental Assistants will receive bonuses if the dental office is doing well, health insurance, and discounted dental procedures. Almost all Dental Assistants receive paid vacation days, sick days, and paid Holidays. However, earning such a high hourly wage comes with a great level of responsibility. Dental Assistants perform duties relating to patient care, office sanitation, lab duties, and assisting the dentist and hygienist with a variety of procedures. Dental Assistants need to be alert, pay attention to detail, and have effective communication skills. They must also be able to provide patients with comfort measures both before and after procedures are completed.

Dental Assistants are easily confused with Dental Hygienists. Compared to hygienists, who have a median rate of pay of $23.65 per hour, a Dental Assistant is not making a very good hourly wage. However, they are very different professions. A Dental Assistant does just that, assists the dentist and hygienist with providing the best quality care for all patients. A hygienist takes care of cleaning teeth and generally has a steady stream of patients who come in every six months for routine cleaning procedures. The amount of pay a Dental Assistant earns depends on many factors. The cost of living in your area will be the greatest influence. The amount of revenue the dental office you work for generates will also be a deciding factor. New dentists might have to pay less than established dentists will clientele because they don’t have the traffic coming into the office. However, it is very possible your pay will increase as more patients are drawn to that dental office.

Your level of experience will also be a consideration. You may have to accept a position that pays less than average to get your foot in the door and gain some hands on experience. However, with the demand for Dental Assistants, you should have no problem securing employment. Many dental offices want to keep quality Dental Assistants. They may offer to start you at a lower entry level pay, with the understanding that your performance will be reviewed in 90 days or other time frame. Based on your performance, you pay will be adjusted at that time.  It is important to understand that certified and uncertified Dental Assistants complete the same types of tasks. However, those who are certified earn several dollars more per hour than those who aren’t certified. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to take the certification exam early on in your career as a Dental Assistant.

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