Our Services

Our services to businesses fall into several natural headings: the categories on the right hand side of this page will provide you with further details.

Before you start in business

We can help you check the viability of the business, using in particular:

  • Break even analysis
  • Cash flow forecasts
  • Business plans
  • Business experience

How to form a Limited company

  • The information that you need to have ready
  • Timescales
  • Choosing a company name

Starting up a business

We will guide you through the following areas:

  • Is it best to trade as a sole trader or Limited company?
  • Pros and cons of each – in particular:
  1. Tax implications
  2. Commercial risk
  3. Status and appearance

VAT

  • Is it best to register for VAT straight away?
  • Practicalities of getting VAT registered
  • How to comply with VAT requirements and not fall into the elephant traps
  • Would special schemes benefit you?
  • Flat rate scheme
  • Cash accounting
  • Annual accounting
  • Retail schemes

Getting set up with HMRC

  • Sole traders
  • Partnerships
  • Limited companies
  • PAYE schemes
  • Contractors and subcontractors

Accounting

  • Manual records v. computerised records
  • What software package?
  • How to keep your accounting records up to date
  • Minimising the hassle of accounting

Profits

  • Taking the profits out efficiently
  • Dividends
  • Salary
  • Pension contributions

Running a business effectively

  • Running a business effectively
  • Systematising your business
  • Working on it, not in it
  • Using IT effectively
  • Understanding your financial model
  • How to increase profits
  • How to manage working capital requirements
  • Meeting your various statutory obligations

Meeting your various statutory obligations

What you have to do and when in respect of:

  • Annual accounts
  • Audit
  • Personal tax returns
  • Company tax returns
  • VAT returns
  • Companies House requirements
  • PAYE

Financial Planning

Financial planning is

  • bringing in the future into the present, so that you can change it
  • understanding what your financial circumstances are likely to be in retirement
  • arranging your personal finances to minimise tax, place your money in appropriate investments for the timescale for which you are investing, and achieving an informed and acceptable balance between risk and financial return
  • getting your personal finances organised
  • understanding the potential impact of the “catastrophe” scenarios and ensuring that your family are fully provided for in the event of death or serious long-term illness of either partner.

We offer pure financial planning services – we do not arrange or sell any products and therefore do not receive any commissions.

For clients not in business

We may well be able to assist you in the following areas:

  • Preparation of income-tax returns and calculation of tax liabilities
  • tax planning opportunities
  • understanding benefits in kind and tax codes
  • tax implications of owning property, including buy to let properties
  • calculating capital gains tax liabilities
  • calculating and minimising inheritance tax liabilities