I want to share a practical way I help clients catch “disappearing cash” before it becomes a surprise overdraft: combine Xero bank rules with open banking-powered balance checks and simple alerts. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of the best low-effort ways to keep a small business solvent and avoid nasty bank fees.Why this mattersSmall businesses live or die by cashflow. Even when your...
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I often get asked by small business owners whether they can reclaim VAT on client lunches, dinners or hospitality. The...
Deciding when to convert from a sole trader to a limited company is one of the most common crossroads I help small...
I run into the same cashflow squeeze scenarios with clients again and again: sales are steady, but supplier bills land...
Running payroll feels straightforward until an RTI submission bounces back with a cryptic error code. I’ve spent years helping small businesses wrestle with payroll software, HMRC quirks and those afternoons when PAYE and National Insurance totals refuse to reconcile. In this guide I walk you...
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When you run an owner‑managed SME, one of the most common—and frustrating—questions is: how much should I pay myself as salary, and how much as dividends? I see this with almost every client: founders want to take a sensible income, minimise tax and National Insurance, keep the company...
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Running a freelance consultancy is rewarding — and chaotic. Early on I learned the hard way that tidy bookkeeping isn't just about compliance; it’s what lets you see where your business is going, price services correctly and avoid last-minute panics at tax time. Below I share the practical,...
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I often tell clients that management accounts are like a torch in a dark room — they don’t have to be perfect or beautiful, but they must show you where the furniture is so you don’t trip over it. A simple, well-structured management accounts pack gives you the essential information to make...
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I rely on accounting software every day to keep tabs on cashflow, and one thing I see time and again is that the earlier you spot slow payers, the easier (and cheaper) it is to fix the problem. QuickBooks is a common choice, but the principles below apply to Xero, Sage and other cloud packages....
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I remember the first time a new client asked me to recommend a bookkeeper. They were overwhelmed—but also relieved to hand over day-to-day bookkeeping. What many small business owners don’t realise is that finding someone who’s technically capable is only part of the job. The other...
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I work with a lot of businesses that rely on machinery, vehicles or specialist kit — cafés with espresso machines, small manufacturers with CNCs, builders with vans and diggers. One question I get asked more than any other is: how can I plan capital purchases so I don’t pay more tax than I...
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I’ve spent years helping retail shops, cafés and small restaurants tidy up their books, and one lesson keeps repeating: small bookkeeping errors quietly eat into profit until a sudden review reveals a worrying hole. In this post I’ll walk you through the most common, sneaky mistakes I see in...
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Running a small business means living with a certain amount of uncertainty — seasonal demand, late-paying customers, sudden repairs, or an unexpected tax bill can all knock your cashflow off balance. I always recommend building an emergency cash reserve: a dedicated pot of money that keeps you...
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Running a café means cash moves fast — cups of coffee, sandwiches, stock deliveries and wages all need to be tracked closely. I often recommend a simple, free spreadsheet as the first line of defence for weekly cashflow management. It’s flexible, quick to set up and gives immediate visibility...
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