Sole trader, partnership or limited company: how to choose
The three structures work very differently once you look past the paperwork. A plain-English look at liability, tax and administration, to help you make an informed choice.
Read article →Guides
Practical guides for running your business.
Straightforward, plain-English guides on tax, business structure, VAT, payroll, compliance and funding. We review them regularly to keep the information accurate and useful. For the latest tax and business news, visit Insights.
VAT registration: do you need to, and when
VAT registration becomes compulsory once your taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months — but there are reasons to register earlier, and traps in leaving it too late.
Read article →Payroll and auto-enrolment for first-time employers
Taking on your first member of staff brings PAYE registration, Real Time Information reporting and automatic enrolment duties, all with their own deadlines.
Read article →What's included in a monthly bookkeeping service
"Bookkeeping" can mean very different things depending on who's doing it. Here's what our monthly service actually covers, and why it usually pays for itself.
Read article →What records to send us for your year-end accounts
The single biggest cause of a slow year-end is missing information. Gathering a handful of documents up front, rather than sending them in instalments, is what actually saves time.
Read article →Confirmation statements explained
Every UK company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The digital filing fee rose to £50 from 1 February 2026 — here's what's actually being confirmed.
Read article →What actually happens when you change accountant
Switching accountant sounds more disruptive than it is; most of the work happens between the two firms, not through you. Here's what we handle, and the two things you need to do.
Read article →Building a cash-flow forecast lenders and investors will trust
A forecast that looks optimistic rather than realistic is usually the first thing a lender questions. What a credible cash-flow forecast actually needs.
Read article →Scottish Income Tax versus the rest of the UK
Working in Scotland doesn't make you a Scottish taxpayer — where you live does. How the bands compare, and what it means in pounds and pence.
Read article →Payrolling benefits in kind: what employers need to do
Mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind phases in from April 2027, starting with company cars, fuel, vans and medical cover. How to get payroll ready.
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