Just because you’re great at what you do, doesn’t mean you’re automatically great at building a profitable, successful business around what you do. It’s OK not to know how to run a successful business, and it’s OK to ask for help. In fact, that’s exactly what I did when I met a local builder...
This quick guide to capital gains tax covers rates and allowances, along with calculating your bill and when to pay it. Capital gains tax rates for 2021-22 and 2020-21 There are two different rates of CGT – one for property and one for other assets. How much you pay will depend on the asset...
As the furlough payments and a summer of extreme weather come to an end, businesses are facing an autumn of decisions. Now is the time to reflect upon recent trading and to consider the bigger picture. I’m often asked: should I carry on as I am, or cease trading in my business? But rarely...
Recently a lot of clients have been asking me about the tax benefits of electric vehicles. Replacing your company vehicle with an electric vehicle offers several tax benefits that can not only reduce your costs but also help protect the environment. As electric cars become ever more accessible and the Government is offering several...
What’s worse: no strategic plan at all, or an outdated and ineffective one? Strategic planning is an essential component for your business’ growth plan. Taking the time to look ahead will help you overcome unique challenges, leverage emerging opportunities, grow steadily and build a foundation for success. Without a strategic plan, you’ll struggle to...
It’s that time again when we need to select the best way of paying ourselves as directors and shareholders of our own company. This quick guide is to make sure you get things set up correctly and don’t end up losing out. Please note this advice is for the 2021/22 tax year. Although individual...
A quick IR35 definition – and why IR35 exists IR35 is another name for the off payroll working rules. It’s designed to assess whether a contractor is a genuine contractor rather than a ‘disguised’ employee, for the purposes of paying tax. Contractors who work through their limited company enjoy a level of tax efficiency....
HMRC’s new domestic reverse charge for construction services came into force on 1 March 2021. There are lots of rules surrounding this which I have tried to summarise as simply as possible, however you must familiarise yourself with the full rules if they apply to you. Any errors will have a significant impact on...
So you want to know why and how to set up a limited company? Well in this video I’m going to break it all down for you....
How many times have you sat with your head in your hands worrying about cash flows? Lots of work, preparation, calculations, adjustments…and damn it, figures just do not add up! It’s very frustrating and creates headaches. You might find making cash flow statements one of the most challenging issues but it’s only a statement prepared...
What is Self Assessment? Self Assessment, put simply, is the tax return process for self-employed people. Whereas HMRC collects tax from employees directly through the PAYE system, the self-employed need to work out their income and expenses and then pay their bill each January. You might even need to complete a Self Assessment return...
Know your VAT VAT is a common area where business owners are losing out. Are you paying the right amount? Have you looked at the Flat Rate Scheme? Many businesses are unaware of the Flat Rate VAT scheme, but for the right business it can be an unexpected source of profit. In a nutshell,...
STEP 1 – don’t panic When we fail, we often look back and try and figure out the reasons why. But what if we took a more proactive approach? I’m lucky enough to work with a range of businesses at every stage of their journey. And every business is different in their own unique...
Most people dream of being their own boss, to ditch their day to day jobs and go it alone. And whilst the prospect of earning more money and the ability to work in a more flexible manner are all strong motivators, it is often the financial fears and the processing of paperwork that is...
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A spot of post lockdown shopping… I spent this afternoon shopping. “So?” you say? After being in lockdown for 14 weeks it was really strange to be able to wander in and out of shops. Okay I had a face mask on but it was still weird! I couldn’t help thinking about the little...
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While we miss our loved ones, we’re actually seeing more of our immediate family than ever before. Have you taken the time to reflect? Perhaps you’ve been thinking about the times you missed meals at home because you were working for small margins. Or all those weekends you worked; missing out on time with...
Making profit is key to building and running any successful business. My latest video, which was filmed pre-lock-down, is all about profit. It may seem a little strange to talk about profit during times like these but turning a profit is more important than ever right now. Wouldn’t you agree? Make the time...
The soundtrack to self-isolation goes something like this: A series of endless pings and beeps. Alert after alert… Indications that someone, somewhere in the world wants, NEEDS, to chat. Zoom, Face Time, a text exchange, a game, a quiz, a group get-together, a meeting, an exercise class.. …it goes on and on. ...
You might have noticed that I’ve been publishing quite a few videos recently. I started recording my new video series a few months ago, right before COVID-19 was any sort of threat to the UK in terms of health and the economy. When I recorded my latest video about systems and finance, who...
Now more than ever, as a small business owner you need to know the key numbers to focus on and how to improve them. Understanding cash flow in your business means you can form a plan to work towards in the short-term, which will get you through to the long-term. The first rule you...
Since the UK government announced the necessary lock-down measures on Monday 23 April 2020, to support prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus, many of us are now working from our own homes. I went self-employed about 5 years ago and I learned quickly that there were things I could put into place...
It is true -when you start out in business, money is very much on your mind.Very often you will have started your business because you were keen to be self-employed, keen to be the key decision maker in the company you work for, keen to try something new and most likely, passionate about...
In November 2014 I left full-time employment and, unbeknown to me at the time, embarked on a self-employment journey. My initial intention upon leaving my job was to find other employment. I mean, how hard can it be for an accountant to find work? BUT I forgot how fussy I am. I didn’t want...
January is a long month! It seems an age since you got paid in December and it seems an age till you get paid in January. And if you’re self-employed and not an accountant, January can be a s-l-o-w month. So it’s no wonder we start dreaming of holidays somewhere warm. Looking back...
December, where has the time gone? Maybe to the same place that your odd socks seem to disappear to. I’m convinced that washing machines eat them. Winter is here – time for a review It’s winter already and I know that because I’ve started to wear socks, odd ones granted, but I have...
SJC+0 Accountants is in its fourth year and true to my own advice, I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Not that this journey hasn’t been tricky and messy where I’ve had to refuel, rethink and head straight back out into the arena of business. And I’m not...
Knowing what makes your business different from others is something I understand. This post is all about finding your Unique Selling Point for your business......
Some of you may have already been on holiday and some of you, like me, have holidays to look forward to. Either way, I’m wondering: how do you get ready? Are you the type of person that starts a month in advance, writing down a list of what you have to do… “Buy,...
I had spoken in my last blog about taking back time. A simple concept and one I wanted to implement in, what I thought at the time, was going to be a quiet month. How wrong was I – what did Burns say ‘the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley’...
My goal at the beginning of this year was to write a blog once a month based on what was relevant that month. So, Jan, Feb and March all progressed well then April happened. I’ve been trying to figure out trends in my company since I started four years ago and I’m sorry but...
So it’s official or at least it should be? The slumber is over and it’s time for the first signs of spring – if only someone had told the weather! Time to rise and shine, stretch and start looking forward to lighter nights, blossom on the trees (ok that may be a step too...
So now its really cold, the Christmas credit card has landed (please tell me why did we think it was fine to spend that much money on one day) and we now have to pay/have paid our taxes. January was a long cold month, the pubs were quiet, everyone was talking about kale, kick...
A new year is coming around and you just know that 2018 will be your year! In January gyms are full and grocery trolleys are healthy as we make our New Year’s resolutions. We all know how this goes: “This year, I will lose weight/be more productive/eat healthy”. But why don’t we also include some...
A new year is coming around and you just know that 2018 will be your year! In January gyms are full and grocery trolleys are healthy as we make our New Year’s resolutions. We all know how this goes: “This year, I will lose weight/be more productive/eat healthy”. But why don’t we also include some...
Money worries can affect every small business owner, whether it’s fretting over keeping clients on board or feeling uncertain about your cashflow. If you find these things playing on your mind then you’re not alone. So I’ve complied a list of what I believe is keeping you awake at night and I’ve called it...
Those of you that know me will know I’ve had a dodgy knee, torn cartridge, which has settled down but for 6-9 months give me a lot of pain and made it virtually impossible for me to walk any distance. Now considering my only form of exercise is walking then that wasn’t good....
It’s been just over a year since I set up my business, SJC+0 Accountants, and I can honestly say it has been a year of challenges but also fun. Originally I decided that working from home was going to be a stop gap till my business got busy enough for me to rent my...
Crowdfunding like any funding method has its pros and cons but it can be an ideal way to not only pay for a new venture but also to test the market and see what response you get. It’s a simple method to get funding but don’t under estimate that it’ll be a quick...
The Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT) will come into effect on April 6th 2016 and, depending on the rate at which it is set, it could have a real impact on whether Scotland becomes more or less attractive as a place to work. So will you be a Scottish taxpayer and do you want...
For many years now business owners with Ltd Companies have been able to extract profits from the company using dividends rather than additional salary. This has proved to be very tax efficient to date. However from April 2016 these tax breaks are due to come to an end. The income tax on dividends...
Cliche it may well be, but experience suggests that there aren’t many businesses today where the maxim “time is money” isn’t true somewhere along the line. Faced with the pressure of seemingly rising overheads, etc., most of our clients are in search of ways of lowering costs. Of course, just like you, they...
Genius, someone once said, is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. One sometimes wonders if he or she had been talking to a certain breed of bank manager. Now to be fair, there are some very imaginative, open-minded, and fair bank mangers out there. But to give any of them the opportunity to demonstrate...
Be honest, there are times for most businesses. No matter how long established or well run, when all is not well. There can be a hundred different reasons, many outside your direct control. (you know the sort of thing, the Chancellor announces a new tax on small businesses, which directly affects you –...
Wishing all our friends, family and clients the very best....
Christmas parties – who pays is always the great debate, before the party is even planned, and then we’ve all reveled in the aftermath of one where someone has too much to drink!! As employers we don’t want to appear stingy and we do want to reward our staff for all the hard...
“Too expensive.” Some people tend to think that dealing with any professional is far from cost effective. Horror stories abound, usually in conversations over lunch about how so and so was overcharged by: a) an accountant b) a solicitor c) an advertising agency/design consultant. Alright, we admit it, we’ve probably even had a...
Remember when you first thought of starting your own business, everything seemed pretty simple? (So what happened?) If you’re anything like most people, then you probably discovered pretty quickly that business life can often be more complicated than a spreadsheet alone can convey. Which is where we come in. By taking the time...
People often tell us that talking to certain accountants can seem a little , um, daunting. (Ever had the feeling you’d get the advice you needed if only you could guess what the right question was?) So whose fault is this? Well, to be honest there’s no simple answer to that. (We all...
Most people who end up in business for themselves are realistic enough to know that it’s unlikely to be particularly relaxing, especially at first. Rewarding, yes. Stressful, probably. Easy? Probably not. But it can be a lot easier with a little professional help. Which is where we come in. Because by taking the...