How to switch accounting software with minimal disruption to invoicing and payroll

Getting your payroll ready for its first PAYE submission can feel like standing at the edge of a cliff — one small slip and HMRC will certainly let you know. I’ve run payroll setups for dozens of small businesses, and the difference between a smooth first Full Payment Submission (FPS) and a stressful scramble usually comes down to a few practical checks. Below I share the exact items I always run through before clicking “send”. Use this...

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I work with a lot of small, seasonal businesses — market stalls, tourist accommodation, pop‑up cafés, Christmas shops and online sellers whose turnover spikes for a few months and trickles for the rest of the year. VAT is one of the most common sources of cashflow shocks for them: a busy season produces a VAT bill you weren’t expecting, or a low season leaves you short of reclaimed VAT because you paid suppliers earlier in the year. In...

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VAT inspections are stressful for many small business owners — I’ve been there with clients who suddenly get a letter from HMRC asking for records. The good news is that most inspections are straightforward if your bookkeeping is tidy and you know where your records live. Below I give a practical, hands-on checklist I use with my clients to prepare accounts for a VAT inspection. Follow it step by step and you’ll reduce anxiety, save time...

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I run into this situation a lot when I advise one-person shop owners: you’re brilliant at your product and customer service, but bookkeeping feels like a jumble of receipts, tills and end-of-day cash. If your retail shop is a sole trader or single director limited company with under £50k turnover, you don’t need an elaborate accounting department — but you do need a tidy, reliable system that saves time, keeps you tax-compliant and gives...

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Summer can be a double-edged sword for small businesses. While tourists swell footfall for some, others — particularly B2B service providers and seasonal retailers — see revenue thin out. Over the years I’ve helped clients survive (and sometimes thrive) through slow months by building cashflow forecasts that are realistic, flexible and actually used. Here’s the practical, no-nonsense approach I use and teach so you can build a forecast...

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Getting a letter from HMRC saying they’re opening an enquiry is one of those moments every small business owner dreads. I’ve supported many clients through this exact situation, and while it’s stressful, it’s usually manageable if you act calmly and methodically. Below I walk through the first steps I take (and that I recommend my clients take) when HMRC contacts them, what to expect, and practical actions to protect your business and...

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I’m often asked how to reconcile bank feeds in Xero quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Over the years I’ve seen business owners spend hours in the reconciliation screen, getting frustrated by duplicates, bank fees and transfers that don’t quite match. In this post I’ll share the practical, no-nonsense approach I use with clients so reconciling becomes a reliable, even routine, task rather than a weekly stress point.Why bank feeds...

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