Practical, plain-English guides to running the money side of a UK small business, from starting up to getting paid.
Turning an idea into a registered business is mostly a series of practical steps. This checklist walks you through them, from choosing a structure to opening a business bank account.
Read guide →Starting & structureThe structure you choose shapes your tax, admin and personal risk. This guide compares sole trader and limited company in plain English so you can decide what fits.
Read guide →Starting & structureIf you work for yourself, you need to tell HMRC. This guide explains when and how to register for Self Assessment, and what you will need.
Read guide →Starting & structureThe right software saves hours and keeps you compliant. This guide covers what to look for, from Making Tax Digital support to bank feeds and ease of use.
Read guide →VAT registration becomes compulsory once you cross the threshold, but you can also register voluntarily. This guide explains the £90,000 rule, how to register, and what changes afterwards.
Read guide →Tax, VAT & MTDSelf Assessment is how the self-employed report income and pay tax. This guide covers who needs to file, the deadlines, payments on account, and how to avoid a nasty surprise in January.
Read guide →Tax, VAT & MTDMaking Tax Digital changes how you keep records and file with HMRC. This guide explains where it already applies, the income thresholds for MTD for Income Tax, and how to get ready.
Read guide →Tax, VAT & MTDClaiming the right expenses lowers your tax bill legitimately. This guide explains HMRC's 'wholly and exclusively' test, common allowable costs, and what you cannot claim.
Read guide →Bookkeeping is simply keeping an accurate record of money in and out. This guide covers the core ideas, income, expenses, categories and reconciliation, without the jargon.
Read guide →Bookkeeping basicsBank reconciliation makes sure your books match reality. This guide walks through the process step by step and shows how a bank feed makes it painless.
Read guide →Bookkeeping basicsA clear invoice gets you paid faster. This guide covers what an invoice must include, the extra rules for VAT, and simple ways to reduce late payment.
Read guide →Bookkeeping basicsGood records protect you at tax time and beyond. This guide explains what to keep, how long to keep it, and why digital records are now the norm.
Read guide →Profit is not the same as cash, and cash is what keeps the lights on. This guide covers practical ways to see, forecast and protect your cash flow.
Read guide →Cash flow & getting paidLate payment is one of the biggest cash-flow headaches for small businesses. This guide gives you a calm, systematic way to get paid without damaging relationships.
Read guide →Cash flow & getting paidPrice too low and you work for nothing; too high and you lose sales. This guide covers cost-based and value-based pricing, margins, and how to test a price.
Read guide →Cash flow & getting paidMargins tell you how much of each sale you actually keep. This guide explains gross and net margin, how to calculate them, and what healthy looks like.
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