Building a Business

Yesterday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt presented his second Autumn Statement, but with a very different tone to the gloomy announcements made this time last year. The Chancellor announced initiatives with a massive focus on pushing growth in the economy. The main question you’ll all no doubt have is… “how does it affect me?”, let’s take a look…

We examine how inspiring, encouraging and enabling the dreams of your team drives success in your business.

We all think it won’t happen to us, but unfortunately sometimes people die while they are still running their business. We’ve seen some horror stories of what happens when an untimely death occurs with no preparations in place. In this Hallowe’en themed blog we examine what could go wrong and how it could be fixed.

In this blog, we cover the different tax aspects of purchasing a company vehicle and the potential implications if you get it wrong!

Updates for October 2023 including: The importance of accurate forecasting and utilising cloud accounting software. Associated companies and quarterly corporation tax payments. The upcoming budget report and rumours surrounding IHT.

With constant scaremongering in the mainstream media about a recession coming we have been talking to our clients and assessing the market so we can be prepared to help our clients however hard times get. In this blog Andrew Grant gives his views and shares his findings.

Updates for September 2023 including: Tax Free childcare, the effect of high earnings on child benefit entitlement, Merger of R&D Tax schemes, Income tax on Inherited Pension Funds, HMRC requiring more information from tax payers and advisory fuel rates for company cars from 1st September 2023.

Next in the series of less common company purchases we look at the implications of purchasing artwork through your company and what tax relief or tax charges this brings.

Supporting National Payroll Week 2023: Keeping the UK Paid. We look at the importance of strong payroll function and what this does for your business.

What's the difference between a hybrid car and a tax efficient hybrid car? Turns out much more than you think! We explore identifying the most tax efficient hybrid cars for your next company car.

Have you been put off the idea of taking a holiday or a longer sabbatical due to the demands of your business? In our latest article Mark Friend reflects on his recent sabbatical. Mark highlights the benefits of taking a break from your business and how important this is to business owners to drive growth and future success.

Protection insurance is key to protecting your future. Are you aware of the options available to you and are you certain there are no loopholes of gaps in your cover? We explore the differences between Life Cover, Critical illness cover and income protection and the benefits of seeking guidance from an independent financial advisor can help you to ensure you have sufficient cover.

Our June 2023 Newsletter with tax updates including Employment Related Securities, HMRC Interest rate rising and company car fuel rates.

As a property investor, ensuring you have your property tax affairs structured in the most tax efficient way is vital. Ill-thought-out structuring and negligent planning can be very costly down the line. We recognise that everyone has unique situations and goals when it comes to their property affairs, so we’ve decided to take a 360 all-inclusive approach to tax planning to help you realise your goals.

Registering for VAT isn’t always a black & white option, here we go through scenarios where VAT registration may or may not be beneficial to your business.

Property investors are often keen to understand the options for structuring their portfolio. Is a limited company the best option? We look at some of the advantages of using a limited company or a special purpose vehicle for your investment portfolio.

Part 2 of a 2 part series of blogs looking at the challenges of finding great people for your business. We explore how having defined core values can greatly increase your success in attracting and retaining the right people.

Part 1 of a 2 part series of blogs looking at the challenges of finding great people for your business. We explore how having a clear vision of growth can greatly increase your success in recruitment.

Sometimes the rules regarding VAT are not quite what you expect! Here we go into detail on 5 VAT rules that you may not have known existed.

With a range of changes in the world of tax coming into effect from April 2023, discover two simple ways to reduce your corporation tax burden and save your company money!

Frustrated with your business growth? Knowing what needs to be done and getting it done are two very different things. If you are an ambitious business owner striving for success find out how we can help you to build your business.

Many businesses are unsuccessful because the owners do not spend time creating a business plan and monitoring their progress. We give some tips that could help your business succeed.

The death or terminal illness of a shareholder can be a greatly distressing time. Find out how you can ensure protection is in place for both your business and loved ones when tragedy strikes.

Selling, renting or leasing a commercial property or land can be a tricky subject when it comes to VAT. We take a look at what you can do when it comes to land and property and how the option to tax can affect this.

What does it take to build a successful business? We look at one of the most fundamental requirements- the right mindset.

There are many challenges to running your own business. Find out which ones we’ve come across and how we’ve overcome them.

We look at how effective invoicing and how automated systems can help you to get paid faster by your customers.

In business it’s important to remember that you can only control the things you can control. Your mindset being one of them! We look at 11 business mindset actions you can take in your business for a positive 2023.

Business inspiration can come from many sources. Books are an obvious source but how about a champagne tasting trip in France!

Are you building your own business or looking to climb the corporate ladder? How many hours should you work? Is a four hour work week possible? If not what is realistic for success?

During our more than 30 years trading as Chartered Accountants and Business and Tax advisers we have frequently been asked whether we could provide financial advice of one sort or another. Previously the response has been no, but we built up a strong network of third-party financial advisors who have helped our clients with all kinds of financial advice such as investments, pensions, protection and mortgages. In recent times, however, we have seen the number of independent financial advisors (financial advisors who go to the whole market rather than a few selected providers) decline and we now find that most financial advisors are tied.

Are you planning on, or in the process of, developing a video game? Have you considered one of HMRC’s creative industry tax reliefs, Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR) – you could be missing out on additional tax relief of up to 20% of qualifying development costs!

Free money!! Every company director loves a tax rebate, particularly when you have incurred expenditure on a project and someone tells you that not only is this expenditure tax deductible but for the same money spent you can get additional tax relief of 130% on the expenditure and either get a lovely big tax rebate by trading in losses at 14.5% or reduce your tax liabilities down significantly.

I’ll start this with the same thoughts that many of us all had back in early 2020, a vision of the world going just a little bit crazier every day. For me it initially evoked an emotion of fear, of the anxiety of the unknown and what might happen, the day-to-day monitoring of numbers of infections, the responsibility to keep a team safe, the tenuous and treacherous emotional reliance I placed on the preparation of our government to guide us through the virus and the emerging clarity that came with half-baked solutions and a gaping chasm of guidance that came from the ‘solutions’ offered.

In order to make big profits you need to know what are the key numbers in your business. Well it’s not the cashflow, budget, profit and loss or bank balance……we are talking about non-financial figures that help the business to grow…...CONVERSION RATES!

Having run an accountancy practice for almost 30 years I have had the good fortune to meet literally thousands of business owners. Many have created great companies but many others have unfortunately failed. Reasons given for failure are numerous. Many are genuine such as Covid or an unforeseen bad debt resulting in severe cashflow problems. Most however are due to a basic misunderstanding of what is required to create a successful business.

The pandemic has had a dramatic effect on all our lives over the last two years. Businesses have had to adapt quickly to a changing environment. One area that may have been overlooked is the need to review your health and safety compliance.

There was a time when what salary you paid a team member was the only reward a business owner or company director had to think about when remunerating their team. However those days have long gone and most small business owners now have to view the whole package in order to attract and keep their best team members.

As a small business owner for almost 30 years I have first hand experience of falling into what is probably the biggest trap for growing a business- taking on anything and everything! It was very much a scatter gun approach with the hope of catching something. Anything in fact! As long as they paid!!!

Over 80% of business owners run businesses which provides them with a level of earnings which in honesty they could get or exceed if they were employed. Of the remainder the majority are earning good profits but still working long hours and invariably feel trapped in their businesses. Only a few business owners have created what I would call the dream business.

The trials and tribulations of the last year or so have been never ending for many business owners. The stop start due to COVID restrictions, increased cost of COVID compliance, homeworking, restricted working, continual rule changes, loss of staff due to illness and self-isolation, the re-evaluation of people’s lives, the impact on the bottom line...

Having been in business myself now for almost 30 years I have seen the common traits of those business people who are successful and those who aren’t. It isn’t about having an extraordinary new idea which no one has thought about or tapping into new markets, although this is great if you can. It is more about doing the right things and doing them well.

This is a really good question, and the simple answer is that it depends, but in many cases it is not nearly enough!!!! In general it depends on what the business owner wants and how big and complex the business is.

The new super deduction will run for two years from 1 April 2021 and is a radical new “super-deduction” of 130% for investment in new plant.

This is the second in a two part series of blogs on wealth creation. In the first blog I looked at how wealth is perceived in society and how you can measure your own wealth. In this blog I will share with you my top ten tips on how to create and maintain your own wealth.

This is the first of a two part series of blogs on the topic of wealth creation. In this first blog I will be looking at how wealth is perceived in society and how you can measure your own wealth.

2021 started with another lockdown for UK businesses, which means that most consumers will continue shopping and searching for services online. If your target audience is the public you will know how important it is to promote your business online. But how do you know if your website and social media channels are optimised to appeal to and convert your target audience, your customers?

In today’s fast pace business world the need for growth is essential. However doing it on your own is incredibly difficult. Having a strong team around you is key but this can only be created and sustained through strong leadership.

Good leadership principles are there for everyone to take and have been for a long time but even so few leaders fail to implement them. We examine what common errors business owners make and how they can improve their leadership techniques.

Going into business is an exciting experience; doing so with a business partner even more so, but what happens when things go wrong? Would you have any protection in place to secure your future and that of the business?

If building a business was so simple then why do almost half of businesses which set up fail within the first 5 years? Construction is even worse with 2 out of every 3 startups failing in the first 5 years! It isn’t the lack of cash but this is often the nail in the coffin. It all started on day 1 with the failure of the business owner to understand what is really involved in becoming a successful business owner.

Have you ever felt frustrated because despite earning more money your savings never seem to increase? If so then you are not alone as the vast majority of people in the UK experience this same phenomenon. In fact it was first articulated in 1955 by Cyril Northcote Parkinson in an essay in the Economist to describe time.

Automation can prove beneficial for businesses, but what’s involved and where do you start?

Looking to give shares away in your company to secure an investor, business partner or lock in an employee? Beware the pitfalls. In this blog we look at why company owners are prepared to sell or giveaway shares in their companies. We look at the problems, the tax issues, some of the solutions and recommendations we would make to ensure that if you do sale or give away part of your company that you secure your financial position.

Being your own boss is risky at the best of times. If anything unexpected happened would your family be protected?

Need finance to cope with your business growth? Have you considered factoring? If not then please read our article which looks at what is factoring and 8 key points to consider when choosing a factor.

There are many ways to grow your business. Moments of truth is a simple strategy which when adopted can transform any business. It involves breaking down processes into bite size bits or interactions and ensuring that each interaction becomes a positive experience.

The mastermind principle is a well established business strategy that has been around for many years. Napoleon Hill discussed the mastermind principle in his book “The Law of Success” written way back in 1925. The mastermind principle was the second of 16 principles which Napoleon Hill believes must be followed in order to become successful.

Cash is king! In bad times there isn’t the luxury of being slack with extending credit to customers. For many businesses poor cash collection is the difference between life and death. Here are 15 easy steps to building a better credit control system and improving cashflow management.

Everything has changed. For many businesses the coming months will be a real challenge. With the removal of lockdown and a deep recession many businesses will not survive. If you have been adversely impacted by Covid 19 here is our 10 point plan to not only survive but more importantly thrive.

We understand that the majority of businesses are operating differently. Our virtual approach to providing you with support and training on cloud accounting solutions means that your finance function does not have to stop.

The current crisis has highlighted to many business owners how precarious business really is. Many businesses have suffered. Now is the time to start rebuilding and one of the first things to do is determine your break even point.

This is war! Not only are we battling as a nation to preserve real lives, we (as business owners) are battling to preserve our way of life - our businesses. So as a leader here are three key actions you need to take to get your team through this period.

The word innovation can conjure up images of disruptive developments such as online streaming services or companies like Uber. Fortunately, innovation doesn’t have to happen on a grand scale to make an impact in your business.

Cash flow is king in any business. Yet cash flow is one of the areas that many businesses struggle to manage. We explain ways in which you can use systems to help chase your debts more efficiently.

The Government has introduced a number of tax incentives and measures to encourage more people to use zero emission vehicles, and there are rumours that the planned ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles, as well as hybrids, could start as early as 2032.

Poor book-keeping alone doesn’t usually bring a business down. Usually the accountant will step in to clean the books up and calculate the company’s tax liabilities with time to spare. But it’s different for construction, primarily due to CIS.

There is no doubt that the setting up of your own tech business is extremely appealing to many people. Who wouldn’t want to be the next Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs?

Most of us are familiar with the term “first mover advantage” but sometimes the “fast follower” is the winner.

Office space is expensive. Do you really need to have a dedicated desk for each and every employee?

Making the Most of Alumni Networks. Whether it’s your University classmates or the colleagues you trained with at your first firm, we all have an alumni network.

Over the past 30 years we’ve worked with countless small and medium sized building and construction businesses. Many have flourished but unfortunately some have failed…. And cash flow is one issue which comes up time and time again.

Unfortunately failures in construction are common place. In 2018 Carillion went down owing £7bn, bringing down countless other businesses. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid the collapse of a business.But there's actions you can take to reduce the risk

We're often asked this question by our fast growing clients. Losing a key team member could have a major impact on your business. One solution we love is the Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme.

Stress related workplace burnout is now recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an official medical diagnosis. Here are some tips to help to avoid burnout.

The Friend & Grant Top Ten Best Business Books for 2019. Whether you read, listen or watch we have some super suggestions for you….

Side hustles are here to stay and they’re a good thing for employers. Employees with side hustles generally are more innovative, proactive and organised, but….

It’s a simple word, but one that far too many of us have trouble saying. The problem is that always saying “yes” usually means that another project is delayed or fails. Worse still the project you have just said yes to doesn’t even align with your goals!!!!

If you need funding for your business and want to attract investors, why not look at SEIS and EIS? They're tax schemes authorised by HMRC and provide generous tax incentives to the investor.

Thinking about getting an electric or hybrid car for your company? The government has announced that there will be a zero P11D benefit for the drivers of electric cars from 2020/21. This is instead of the 2% scale charge that was originally included in Finance Act 2017 to apply for 2020/21.

Whatever you think you are- an early bird or late owl- does the question matter as a business owner? I think it does matter- find out why your performance and that of your team could improve by asking the question and making changes to work routines.

Mark Devaney & Laura Wills, directors of e-commerce site, Hardcloud.com share their ‘do’s and don’ts’ about launching an e-commerce business. Whether you are starting out or already have an e-commerce; these are great tips.

Will your business be prepared if we leave the EU on 31 October without a deal?

All businesses within the EU, from sole traders upwards, need an EORI number when importing or exporting any commercial cargo from or to the rest of the world (i.e. outside of the EU).

Being a boss is easy. Being a leader is more problematical. Here are a few of my favourite leadership tips to help you build a great team.

You meet with your accountant and they tell you you've made a profit of £150,000. You look confused and think "I don't understand this. How am I doing so well yet there is no money in the bank account? Where has my cash gone?"

Why do some companies launch brilliant marketing campaigns and have spectacular success, but other companies spend lots of money and generate very little?

Every successful businesses has a special formula; they’re obsessed with innovation - it's in their DNA. There are several great tax breaks for companies that innovate.

There’s lots of ways to grow a business: organic growth, acquisition or a merger. Don’t fancy those options then perhaps collaboration or strategic partnerships might be a better option.

Everyone needs a holiday to recharge their internal battery and to strengthen those vital family bonds. However getting away from the business is a problem in itself. Here’s some ideas!

One thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes. If we are all spending time making mistakes, it makes sense to learn from them.

For those business owners seeking success there is nothing more frustrating than finding that key person only for them to leave you. So how do you lock in key members of your team?

If you are building a business you must have an end goal. For most entrepreneurs that end goal is the wish for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hopefully we will all get there and all the effort will be worthwhile. Unfortunately someone else hopes you’ll get there too, it’s not a naughty leprechaun but someone equally as annoying, the tax man!

Good corporate governance is as crucial for SME’s as it is for large listed companies. Corporate governance refers to a set of internal policies, rules, and procedures that a company follows on a regular basis to make sure it operates in a fair, equitable, and appropriate manner.

It’s amazing how things become clearer when there is no noise. It has enabled me to complete the first draft of my business plan for the next financial year, review our newsletter, think further about how to improve our service offering and write this blog!

The backbone of a high performing business is a resilient workforce. You need to build a team that is highly motivated, high performing and consists of people who look forward to coming to work every day because they feel they are a part of the company and the bigger picture.

Our website is our shop window; our sales pitch, information hub, it shows our credentials and tells people how they can get in touch. If it’s not working properly it has a big impact on the practice. Here are a few of the important factors for SEO on securing top search rankings

Business travel can be a real nuisance and unless you’re driving it should be really productive time. Here are our tips on How to Stay Productive when Travelling

We waste so much time writing & reading long expansive sentences when a bullet point would be just as effective! Here is Winston Churchill’s memo to the War Cabinet about brevity.

Every business needs a marketing machine to help drive the growth. But you need to build the marketing action plan to help you. Here is our 7 step Guide to Building Your Marketing Machine

When employees know what they have to do, why, how and when, everything runs smoothly in your business. But if the most common statement uttered in your office is ‘That’s Not My Job’ or ‘It’s Not My Problem’ then the business descends into chaos.

For all startups knowing when to register for VAT is fundamental. Get it right and you could save £’000s in tax, get it wrong and there could be penalties and additional costs. The rules are fairly straightforward but unfortunately many businesses still fail to register on time.

Sales is all about the ‘ask’; you have to ask for the business. Asking doesn’t come naturally to everyone so, here is a checklist to help you get back into asking mode. Make sales, build a business and make more money.

We are delighted to tell you that we have appointed AHR Consultants as our HR support supplier and partner. Here are some emerging HR trends that all businesses should be aware of.

Your balance sheet is important and shouldn’t be ignored. It’s visible to everyone if you’re a company so people can assess whether to do business with you or for a potential buyer to value the business.

Most business failures could be avoided with a little care and attention. No one has the right to credit so don’t give it away unless clients have earned it. Read our tips and make sure your cash flow and your business doesn’t suffer.

There’s never enough time to do anything! Here are my top ten tips for saving time and getting things done.

You know you should delegate but you don’t. Here are 3 ways to overcome the excuses as to why you don’t delegate.

We believe these are the seven ways to build a business. But thinking big, offering excellent customer experience and building real value in the business will help grow a small business into a great business.

Building a Business without cash means developing creative ways to promote a business. A lack of cash resulted in lots of creative way to build the businesses. From startups, through growing businesses to established businesses, there's example after example.

Friend & Grant Meet Dragon’s Den Star Peter Jones We have all watched Dragons Den and are in awe of the big chap that sits quietly at the end of the row with his fancy socks. So when our Andrew Grant had an invitation for a fireside chat with Peter Jones, he jumped at the...