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.

Personal guarantees for loans stifling growth, say business owners

Small business lobbyist calls out banks’ use of harsh personal guarantees, which can force small business owners to put their homes on the line

Business Loans

Business Loans

How to get a business loan in 5 steps

Follow this 5-step plan if you want to secure a loan for your small business. There is a wealth of high-street banks and alternative SME lenders to choose from.

Accounting

How to manage your accounts and bookkeeping as a sole trader

Accounting

Self-employed allowable expenses you can claim

This guide is designed to help small business owners discover the allowable expenses they can claim to reduce their Self Assessment tax bill

Accounting

Is it worth hiring an accountant as a small business?

Accounting

What is payment on account and how do I pay it?

Accounting

Mileage allowance in the UK – what is it and how does it work?

You can claim back hours spent on the road for your small business, whether you’re an employee or self-employed. What are the rules around mileage allowance?

Tax

Self-employed hit with interest rate hike on overdue tax bills

HMRC imposes 7.5% interest rate on overdue self-employed tax bills from Monday, July 31

Accounting

Mileage allowance in the UK – what is it and how does it work?

You can claim back hours spent on the road for your small business, whether you’re an employee or self-employed. What are the rules around mileage allowance?

Tax

Self-employed hit with interest rate hike on overdue tax bills

HMRC imposes 7.5% interest rate on overdue self-employed tax bills from Monday, July 31

Business Loans

What is a working capital loan for your business?

A working capital loan can cover your short-term operational needs, whether that’s payroll, rent and any debt repayments. They are especially useful for seasonal businesses.

Employing & managing staff

Pensions auto enrolment guide for employers

Pensions auto enrolment rules mean all employers must provide a pension for their staff and automatically enrol them into it. James Brown of Chase de Vere offers a guide to all the considerations employers must make to comply with pensions legislation

Small Business Banking

Most banks not allowing small businesses to open bank accounts

Most high-street banks were closed to small firms wanting to open business bank accounts during the height of the pandemic. Are they back?

Small Business Banking

Do you need a business bank account? Which one is right for you?

Do you need a business bank account and what are the right questions to ask when choosing one?

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?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

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