Accounting

Give credit only where it’s due

More than two-fifths of small businesses are offering credit to new customers without checking their creditworthiness, leaving themselves open to bad debts.

Accounting

Guide to pre-trading expenditure

If you have expenses in respect of your self-employment in the seven years before you commenced trading, you may be able to claim these items against your profits.

News

Transport trauma costs small firms millions

Transport woes are costing small businesses an extraordinary £755 million in profits and lost productivity, according to recent research.

Tax

Partnerships and VAT

Determining whether a partnership exists, particularly in respect of VAT, can sometimes be a difficult task.

Finding and selling to customers

Setting up a mail order business

If you are looking to set up a mail order business, there are several issues you need to be aware of, such as legislation that applies to distance selling, delivery of goods and returns and data protection.

News

Beating the business cheats

February is scam awareness month, a campaign launched by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to raise the public consciousness on the issues of fraud and con artists.

Business management

Five ways to win government contracts

The Government recently announced the launch of an online portal to enable businesses to easily view and bid for contracts advertised by Government buyers at both local and national levels.

Accounting

PAYE when working full time and with a ‘side gig’

One of our readers has posed the following question related to PAYE when working a full time job and also a 'side gig' job.

Legal advice

Business Partnership with friends? You’ll need a shareholders agreement

If you are looking to set up a business in partnership with friends, then it's imperative to get professional advice and draw up a shareholders agreement, says Nigel Lander, specialist finance adviser at Business Link for London.

Buying and selling a company

Valuing a business to buy

If you are looking to buy a business, there are several factors that can influence the price you will pay.

Tax

VAT and imported products

If you are importing some VAT-rated products in from the EU, but your turnover is less than VAT registration level, find out whether you have to pay duty.

Business management

Improve your forecasting skills

Forecasting is one of the cornerstones on which your business is built, and as such, should not be a task that is hurried or completed without due care and attention.