Financing

The financing channel looks at the different small business funding options available to start-up companies and established SME businesses looking to grow. Read a wealth of guides and tips to help manage your accounts and cash flow better, views on the future of business banking and where to source alternative finance.

Treasury small business loans could be permanent

Treasury in talks with banks about making Government-backed loans to SMEs to help them grow a permanent offer.

Small Business Banking

Accounting

What happens when your business is subjected to a PAYE audit

Ercan Demiralay, partner at Wellers, offers his advice on what businesses need to know when the taxman visits to inspect your payroll records

Tax

How to reduce the impact of the 1.25% National Insurance rise

Nick Bustin and Dinesh Pancholi explain how to reduce the impact of the National Insurance rise coming in April

Tax

Five small business taxes you need to know about

Here, FreeAgent's Emily Coltman presents five small business taxes that you need to know about.

Tax

Sunak eyes reining in small business R&D tax credits

Chancellor frustrated at the lack of investment by small businesses, despite offering what he says is one of the most generous tax regimes for R&D investment in the world

Alternative finance

Borrowing money to pay for stock: inventory finance, credit cards, loans and more

We explore the options that are available to help you cover the costs of your stock as well as the pros and cons.

Tax

IR35: How the controversial tax changes have left self-employment on the ropes

Have last year's IR35 changes been any good for the UK's self-employed? Absolutely not, says Andy Chamberlain, director of policy at IPSE

Tax

Freelancers could avoid tax because of IR35 loophole

Employers who wrongly classify self-employed as being outside IR35 will have to cover their PAYE and National Insurance, says HMRC, meaning tens of thousands of freelancers could avoid paying any tax at all

Tax

IR35: How the controversial tax changes have left self-employment on the ropes

Have last year's IR35 changes been any good for the UK's self-employed? Absolutely not, says Andy Chamberlain, director of policy at IPSE

Tax

Freelancers could avoid tax because of IR35 loophole

Small Business Banking

5 benefits of using a business bank account over a personal account

In this article, we take a look at five reasons you should be using a business bank account over a personal account

Government Grants

Councils sitting on £1bn of unspent Covid grants

Local authorities still have £850m worth of Covid grants worth up to £6,000 owing to hospitality pre-Omicron to distribute plus another £350m unspent from previous pandemic financial support

News

Businesses struggling to repay £20bn of Covid loans

Accountancy firm Azets says businesses struggling to repay Covid-19 debt may default on £20bn of Covid loans, on top of the £4bn worth of fraud the Government already predicts

Funding your small business