Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
The accounts section, brought to you in partnership with Sage, features in-depth guides and features for UK small businesses and start-ups needing advice on how to manage company accounts, including topics such as cashflow management, late payment, bad debts and bookkeeping.
Get more time back to build your business with Sage’s one solution for all your business needs. Get accounting and payroll with HR features you can access from anywhere, all with award-winning support and unrivalled business advice.
I'm just starting a party plan business for women's clothing, lingerie and adult products. I've just graduated from university and know nothing about the legal side of businesses. What are the most important legal details I need and where can I get detailed advice on VAT and record keeping? I have already registered as a limited company, what next?
Accounting
Accounting
When starting a business, there are a myriad of VAT, National Insurance, income tax and cash flow issues to consider. Clive Lewis of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales offers this introduction to what to expect.
Accounting
When starting a business accountants can provide a wide range of services. You can talk over the records that you need to keep for the business and whether you need to register for VAT.
Accounting
When you run a business, you are legally required to keep certain financial records, like tax returns and VAT details. You might decide to do some of this yourself, but you need to weigh up the cost of a professional accountant against the time and potential headaches it could cause you.
Accounting
Red tape is a necessary evil in all businesses, so you need to make sure you're on top of it.
Accounting
If operating as a sole trader, profits (or losses) will be taxed under Income Tax rules and you can continue working in employment under PAYE (Pay As You Earn).
Accounting
As shown by a recent Smallbusiness.co.uk poll Christmas can be a difficult time for small businesses as sales fall away over the festive period causing cash flow problems. Follow these ten golden rules to avoid financial headaches over Christmas and into the new year.
Accounting
Is commission charged to our company vatable?
Accounting
As shown by a recent Smallbusiness.co.uk poll Christmas can be a difficult time for small businesses as sales fall away over the festive period causing cash flow problems. Follow these ten golden rules to avoid financial headaches over Christmas and into the new year.
Accounting
Is commission charged to our company vatable?
Accounting
Is your business ready for the Christmas rush? You have a great opportunity to make the most of the annual surge in consumer spending, however, you also need to avoid seasonal excesses. Overtrading is one of these risks, where your business takes on orders and tries to fulfil them at a level that cannot be supported by working capital or current assets.
Accounting
Studies show that one of the main causes of business problems is lack of one specific type of planning: financial forecasting. Don't miss this advice out how to look into the future.
Accounting
If your business accepts face-to-face credit or debit card transactions, you need to ensure that the system you have in place is secure and that the risk of fraud is minimised.
Accounting
No one likes paying tax, least of all small business owners, so here are some tips for ways to reduce your tax bill or claim back tax already paid.
Employing & managing staff
In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?
Partner content
Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade
Partner content
As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?
Business Technology
Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings