Asset Finance: Essential Guide for SMEs

Asset finance can offer companies an affordable way to fund business-critical assets. In this guide, we look at how asset finance works in practice, from the different types of asset finance that are available to the factors to consider when deciding if asset finance is right for your business. What is asset finance? Asset finance […]

How to Start a Business: Step by Step!

Starting up a new business can be as daunting as it is exciting. With so much to consider and to do to turn your vision into reality, it pays to plan well to give your new business the best chance of success. What’s the big idea? Running your own business can bring many benefits: Achieving […]

How to Value a Business (SME Guide)

Whether you are looking to secure funding to help your business grow or thinking of selling up, this guide will explain how to value your business. Why value a business? Carrying out a valuation of your business is a great way to examine the financial health and moneymaking potential of your business. As well as […]

How to Find Investors For Your Business

If you are looking to start up or scale your business, you may be looking to find an investor. In addition to providing the much-needed capital, investors may also be offering to provide invaluable mentorship, guidance and access to their network and connections to help you get the most from the arrangement.   Choosing the […]

How to Get a Business Loan with Bad Credit

Bad credit is not necessarily a bar to securing a loan for your business. However, having a poor credit score can make this process more challenging and the terms of the loan can be less favourable. The following guide looks in detail at how to get business loans for bad credit, including what is meant […]

Prepare a Cash Flow Forecast For Your Business

A cash flow forecast offers valuable information about your business’ expected future performance. By understanding how much cash the business is likely to have over a set period of time, you can make informed commercial decisions about investments, expansion or even determining the future viability of your company. In this guide for business owners, we […]

Invoice Discounting Guide

Invoice discounting is a form of business funding that improves cashflow by leveraging unpaid invoices. Before making any decision as to the right form of financing for a business, it is essential to understand what invoice discounting is and how this process works in practice. In this guide, we outline the pros and cons of invoice […]

Invoice Factoring: Essential Guide

Invoice factoring is way for businesses to raise capital and resolve immediate cashflow problems. Invoice factoring can be ideal for businesses looking for a more flexible way to finance new opportunities, and for businesses with challenging circumstances or that do not qualify for a traditional-style loan, for example, due to poor credit or a short trading […]

Invoice Finance: How Does it Work?

If you’re considering using invoice finance, read our guide to understand how his type of funding could work for your business. Resolving cashflow problems can be a hurdle for any size or type of business, not least where a business works with other businesses on deferred payment terms. This is because extending credit terms, even […]

Company Car Tax 2023: Guide for Employers

Employees have to pay tax for private use of company cars. Calculating company car tax involves a range of factors, including the vehicle’s list price, fuel type and level of CO2 emissions. The following guide for employers looks at how the company car tax rules work in practice, including what has to be reported and […]

What Does Limited Liability Mean For Your Business?

When setting up a company, it’s important to understand how different types of business structure work. Factors such as the business owners’ exposure to financial risk and administrative obligations will require careful consideration when deciding which type of company structure is most suitable. In this guide, we focus on the limited liability structure. We explain […]

When & How to Dissolve a Company

There are many reasons why a company could be dissolved. There may be a dispute between the shareholders and directors, there may be succession issues following the death of the business owner, or the business may simply have run its course or perhaps never achieved the desired success. Whatever the reason, the process to close […]

What are Bearer Shares?

Bearer shares are unregistered securities in a company, which are wholly owned by the holder of the physical share certificate, the bearer, hence the term ‘bearer shares’. Although these types of shares have certain advantages, their use is declining worldwide because of the potential for misuse and are in fact only still recognised by a […]

Buying a House with a Personal Injury Trust

If you’ve been awarded compensation for personal injury, you may want to invest this money in a home for your family. However, if that money is currently held in a personal injury trust, or is likely to be placed in trust, you will need to know how you can access those funds to help make […]

Sources of Funding

Whether your business needs help with day-to-day cash flow, funding for a significant purchase, or money to fuel expansion plans, there are many different sources of funding available to businesses. The initial challenge will be to decide which finance option best suits your needs and eligibility. In this guide, we delve into some of the […]

Claim HMRC Self Employed Capital Allowances

If you are running your own business you may be able to reduce your tax bill by taking advantage of capital allowances. In this guide, we examine the basic principles relating to HMRC self-employed capital allowances and how these can help to minimise your tax liability.   What are HMRC self-employed capital allowances?   The […]

Corporation Tax Payment Deadline

Each year limited companies are required to pay corporation tax to HMRC on their profits and file a company tax return (CT600). It’s important to check when your corporation tax is due as late payment can lead to penalties from HMRC.   When is your corporation tax due?   The corporation tax payment deadline for […]

What are Capital Allowances?

Capital allowances are a tax relief designed to encourage business investment. When a business purchases certain qualifying assets, capital allowances can be claimed, thereby allowing the business to write off the cost of those assets against taxable income. Capital allowances are generally available to limited companies, property companies, the self-employed and partnerships. To benefit fully […]

Self-Employment Explained

While going into business to work for yourself is an exciting time, there will be a lot you will need to consider. Self-employment means you will be taking on many responsibilities in the course of running your business, including meeting your tax obligations.   What is self-employment status?   If you start to work for […]

Ultimate Guide To Allowable Expenses

Business owners and sole traders have a responsibility to calculate and file their total trading profits each year and to pay tax on that amount. A company’s tax liability can be reduced by deducting the cost of allowable expenses from your total trading profits.   What are allowable expenses? Allowable expenses are essential business costs necessary […]