Running a business in recent times has been a lesson in resilience. Costs continue to increase and customers are cautious. Cash is proving tight for many businesses and credit control is a core discipline for keeping a business afloat in such times. When businesses get into financial trouble, it is…
What to think about now to grow later Starting a business is often driven by an idea, a skill, or a gap in the market. But turning that starting point into a sustainable, growing business requires more than enthusiasm. Early decisions – sometimes made quickly or informally – tend to…
What Apple’s CEO Handover Tells Business Owners About Succession Planning Apple announced last week that Tim Cook will step aside as chief executive on 1 September 2026, and hand the role to the current head of hardware engineering, John Ternus. Cook will remain closely involved as executive chairman. If you…
What Buyers Look for and What You Can Do About It If you are thinking about selling your business, whether that is in six months or six years, one of the first questions you will probably ask yourself is ‘what’s it worth?’. While there are formulas designed to calculate the…
If you have been running a business for a while, maybe as a sole trader or in a partnership, you may have heard someone say, “You should incorporate”. Sometimes that is well-meaning advice, but is it true that incorporation is the smart move for all business owners? Let’s look at…
What’s the Difference for Your Company? The Insolvency Service has reported on an investigation it made into a company that was serving as a front to enable unlicensed insolvency activities previously carried out by another firm. The investigation resulted in the Insolvency Service winding up the company in the public…
Deadline Approaching for Business Rates Valuation Checks Enterprises that pay business rates are being encouraged to check their current property valuation and make sure the details held by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are correct. If you believe your valuation is wrong, you have until 31 March 2026 to request…
Why Thinking Like a CFO Can Help You Shape Your Business For many small and medium-sized business owners, bookkeeping, payroll and VAT returns are seen as a necessary part of their routine. These tasks are essential, but in terms of shaping your business, they can only tell you what has…
How to Save on Childcare Costs with the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme Running your own business often means juggling a lot – and for many, that includes childcare. With autumn school breaks rapidly approaching, HMRC is reminding working families that the Tax-Free Childcare scheme can be a good way to make…
Preparing for Recovery as Well As Defence Cyber incidents continue to feature in the news headlines, with airports now joining large UK retailers and manufacturers in experiencing serious disruption to supply chains and services. While small businesses are unlikely to grab the same headlines, the risks are just as real.…