conflict of interest?

Yes your relative or wife can register the business but your name should be on it also. As for conflict of interest, that is a possibility depending on what your new business is going to be and where you work now. For example if you worked at a bank as a investment rep, and decided to open your own investment firm that would be a conflict of interest. It is always best to speak with your HR department before starting up a business or getting a 2nd job.

Even if your wife is technically the owner of the business, if you are going to have any involvement at all with the new business, it is a conflict of interest. To be ethical, you should notify your current employer of your business plan and outline what specific actions you will take to ensure that you do not use their company knowledge, resources or contacts for the benefit of your new company. That may include moving to a dfferent job function where you may no longer have access to confidential information, or signing a non-compete contract that holds you legally bound to not trying to persuade the customers of your current employer to leave them and work with your new business.