Accounting

The accounts section, brought to you in partnership with Sage, features in-depth guides and features for UK small businesses and start-ups needing advice on how to manage company accounts, including topics such as cash flow management, late payment, bad debts and bookkeeping.

Tips on saving tax for small business owners

No one likes paying tax, least of all small business owners, so here are some tips for ways to reduce your tax bill or claim back tax already paid.

Accounting

Guide to wages records

Legally, you must keep proper records of all wages paid to employees and this guide will show you exactly what information to record.

Accounting

How start-ups are taxed

Many people starting their own businesses like to start up part-time initially while still remaining in full time employment in order to test their idea or even to run their venture on a permanently part-time basis.

Accounting

Give credit only where it’s due

More than two-fifths of small businesses are offering credit to new customers without checking their creditworthiness, leaving themselves open to bad debts.

Accounting

Guide to pre-trading expenditure

If you have expenses in respect of your self-employment in the seven years before you commenced trading, you may be able to claim these items against your profits.

Accounting

PAYE when working full time and with a ‘side gig’

One of our readers has posed the following question related to PAYE when working a full time job and also a 'side gig' job.

Accounting

Catering and VAT

HM Customs and Excise (HMCE) says that the supply of most food and drink of a kind used for human consumption is zero-rated, but there are exceptions; catering being one of them.

Accounting

A beginner’s guide to VAT

Registration for VAT is compulsory in certain situations, but also available on a voluntary basis subject to specific criteria.

Accounting

Catering and VAT

HM Customs and Excise (HMCE) says that the supply of most food and drink of a kind used for human consumption is zero-rated, but there are exceptions; catering being one of them.

Accounting

A beginner’s guide to VAT

Registration for VAT is compulsory in certain situations, but also available on a voluntary basis subject to specific criteria.

Accounting

Company Director’s Pay – Dividends or Salary

There are numerous ways in which company directors can pay themselves in a tax-effective manner. However, the most topical debate raging at the moment concerns the notion of taking a high proportion of your earnings as a dividend rather than via a salary.

Accounting

The best type of company for you

The legal form of your business is an important decision to make. If you are setting up a business with others, you can choose between partnership, limited company, limited liability partnership or co-operative.

Accounting

New rules for businesses to get paid on time

With the European Directive on late payments coming into effect in less than three months, the Forum of Private Business is advising small businesses to revise their terms of trade now to reap the benefits.

Accounting