Closing the books for the year as a sole trader with several income streams can feel like juggling flaming torches while standing on a balance beam. I’ve helped many micro-business owners through this process, and the key is to break it down into manageable, repeatable steps. Below I share the...
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Software & Tools
I use Xero Projects every week to check which clients are profitable and which...
Software & Tools
I used to rely on gut feeling to decide whether my clients were about to hit a...
Tax Tips
I plan tax for my clients all year, not just in the run‑up to Self...
Bookkeeping
Keeping VAT, payroll and invoices under control doesn’t have to be a...
I plan tax for my clients all year, not just in the run‑up to Self Assessment. That’s because sensible, legal tax minimisation is mostly about timing, structure and making full use of allowances — not about clever (and risky) schemes. Below I...
Keeping VAT, payroll and invoices under control doesn’t have to be a quarterly scramble. Over the years I’ve seen too many small business owners treat bookkeeping as a fire‑fighting exercise — receipts in a shoebox, bank feeds ignored, VAT...
I still remember the first time a client walked into my kitchen-table office clutching an HMRC penalty notice. Their face said panic; their voice said embarrassment. I’ve seen this reaction enough times to know two things: penalties themselves are...
I work with a lot of small UK businesses—sole traders, micro‑teams and family‑run companies with fewer than ten staff—and one question comes up again and again: “Which bookkeeping tool will save me time, keep my bank transactions tidy and...
Hello — I’m writing from Muressaccounts Co (https://www.muressaccounts.co.uk), where I help UK micro‑businesses and SMEs get their bookkeeping and tax sorted without the panic. Over the years I’ve supported clients through HMRC compliance...
I work with a lot of small agencies and freelancers who operate through personal service companies (PSCs), and one question comes up more than any other: “Will IR35 affect me — and if so, how do I deal with it without losing sleep or all my...
I run a one‑person business and, like many solo entrepreneurs, I used to think internal controls were only for larger companies with finance teams. Over time I learned the hard way that even tiny operations can be vulnerable to simple mistakes...
Working weekends as a sole trader is often part of running a small business — especially in retail, creative services or hospitality. I regularly help clients reclaim the extra costs that come with weekend work, but I also see patterns that...
I’ve seen plenty of panicked messages from business owners who spot a VAT mistake after submitting a return — and before you stress, most errors can be corrected without triggering heavy penalties if you act promptly and sensibly. Below I’ll...
I often get asked by clients and readers: “Which home-office costs can I actually claim, and how do I work out the amounts?” Working from home has become commonplace, but the rules for claiming home-related business expenses — and the...