Business Insurance Explained

Posted on 10th September 2018 at 08:00

When starting out on your contracting or small business journey, you need to put the right insurance in place. Having the right insurance in place helps protect you, your business and your clients. Of course, this may all be new to you, so here I have covered the most common business insurances and what they are for.

VAT - The Basics

Posted on 4th September 2018 at 08:36

VAT is a tax that all of us pay regularly, as it is added to most day-to-day goods, but it is only when you are in business do you need to know more about this Value Added Tax. Here we cover the basics for you.

Business Clothing – Can you claim?

Posted on 21st August 2018 at 09:01

One of the recurring topics I discuss with clients is business clothing – what can you claim, what can’t you claim and why. As a business owner, contractor or freelancer, it is of course important to be smartly dressed and give a great impression to your clients and customers – but unfortunately that doesn’t mean it can be claimed as a business expense.

Paying dividends to family members

Posted on 17th August 2018 at 09:42

I am often asked by clients if they can add their wife, husband, partner, mother, father (even aunt or uncle) as a director to pay them dividends from their limited company. As ever, the answer is….it depends!

The New Disguised Remuneration Loan Charge

Posted on 14th August 2018 at 09:28

I wrote recently about Tax Avoidance Schemes to remind you of the basics. Now to appraise you of the developments this year, including the new legislation giving HMRC more power to tackle this tax avoidance.

Tax Avoidance Schemes – What you NEED to know!

Posted on 9th August 2018 at 09:30

HMRC is always keen to tackle tax avoidance and for the past 1-2 years it has focused its attention on “tax avoidance schemes”. Contractors are the most common target for such schemes whilst claims of 90-95% take-home pay may sound appealing, they are a honey-trap that you need to avoid!

What are trivial benefits and when are they tax free?

Posted on 2nd August 2018 at 07:30

A small gesture of thanks can have a big impact on employee satisfaction, morale, and productivity. For employers, so called trivial benefits can make a big difference in the daily operations of a company and the good news is that many can be classed as tax free and don’t require legal paperwork. And yes, this can apply for directors of small companies too! Don’t miss out!

The 3 GDPR basics that every small business needs to know

Posted on 24th July 2018 at 18:25

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25 May 2018 – 2 months ago now. Many small businesses I work with have mentioned to me that they have an awareness of the regulation, but do you really understand what it means and how it affects their operations? Don’t worry, we’ve got the basics covered.

The step-by-step guide for becoming an employer

Posted on 20th July 2018 at 16:30

The UK is one of the easiest places in the world to set-up a business and start hiring the talent you need. Whether you’ve been operating as a sole trader for a while and are now ready to expand or you’re starting from scratch, we’ve got the step-by-step guide you need to follow to take on your very first employee.

Does your accountant outsource?

Posted on 13th July 2018 at 07:40

In recent years, increasing numbers of accountants are outsourcing clients accounts, tax returns and payrolls to contracted service providers in the UK and overseas. What does this mean for clients? And does it matter to you?

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