Category

Financing

The financing channel looks at the different small business funding options available to start-up companies and established SME businesses looking to grow. Read a wealth of guides and tips to help manage your accounts and cash flow better, views on the future of business banking and where to source alternative finance.

Barclays launches largest ever loan cashback scheme for SMEs

The cashback scheme for term loans is part of a much larger fund launched by Barclays to help SMEs through and beyond Brexit.

Small Business Banking

Tax

Amazon warns small business will pay price for Digital Services Tax

Internet giant could pass cost of 2% digital tax imposed by Conservative government onto small business, just as it has done in France

Accounting

Small businesses spend hour and a half each day chasing late payments

UK SMEs are owed more than £50bn of late payments between them as big companies put off settling invoices

Tax

Making a tax return ahead of the end January deadline

The deadline for making a tax return is fast approaching so those needing to do so must act now before 31 January

Accounting

Freelancers call government 6-week review into IR35 ‘an insult’

Government confirms review into controversial IR35 tax changes, which will drag thousands of freelance contractors into PAYE

Business Loans

Secured vs unsecured business loans

Adam Parker explains the difference between loan types to help you decide which one is best for your small business.

Accounting

Microbusinesses spent 10 weeks handling financial admin in 2019

Financial admin is time-consuming for micro firms – and it's not helped by late payments. Here's how to protect your business against them.

Payroll

What is payroll giving and how does it help engage your staff?

Purpose is the new pay, says Klara Kozlov. Harness the power of payroll giving to engage your employees and give regularly to charities

Accounting

Microbusinesses spent 10 weeks handling financial admin in 2019

Financial admin is time-consuming for micro firms – and it's not helped by late payments. Here's how to protect your business against them.

Payroll

What is payroll giving and how does it help engage your staff?

Purpose is the new pay, says Klara Kozlov. Harness the power of payroll giving to engage your employees and give regularly to charities

Accounting

Over half of self-employed don’t even know what IR35 is

Nearly 60 per cent of self-employed are unaware of IR35 tax changes coming in April 2020, which could reduce a worker’s net income by up to 25 per cent

Accounting

Ex-small business commissioner blames Whitehall for pushing him out

Paul Uppal, who stepped down in October, says government ignored his office, which he says needs more resources to tackle scourge of late payments

Accounting

Reclaiming pre-trade expenses

I have a home-based business idea. I need a computer to write my business plan (to support business post launch). Can I claim this expense back against tax when I eventually set up my limited company?

Accounting

Accountants alarmed by schoolboy howler in Labour manifesto for SMEs

Labour doesn’t understand difference between turnover and profit, say accountants, as Labour argues for corporation tax to kick in for small business with turnover in excess of £300,000

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Employing & managing staff

The importance of vocational rehabilitation services for SMEs

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

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

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?