Speaking to the Evening Standard’s business desk, Morriss said that while cross‑border growth can unlock new customers, talent and revenue streams, it also brings a host of operational complexities that many firms overlook until they become problems.
She highlighted that remote workers, frequent business travellers and employees who relocate can trigger unexpected tax liabilities, immigration requirements and legal obligations in the jurisdictions where they operate.
Morriss urged companies to regularly review where their staff are physically working and to assess whether those arrangements could expose the business to local tax registration or compliance duties.
According to her, the timing of expansion often slips because essential processes such as tax registrations, visa approvals, opening bank accounts, setting up payroll and implementing employee benefits each follow different schedules and can delay market entry.
One of the most common mistakes, she noted, is inadvertently creating a taxable presence in a new market before the firm is ready, which can arise from local activities, employee locations or decision‑making authority that the company did not anticipate.
Morriss stressed that payroll, pensions, tax management and employee benefits should be treated as core growth infrastructure rather than back‑office tasks, arguing that getting these foundations right early reduces risk, improves scalability and lets leadership focus on growth rather than firefighting.