I used to dread bank reconciliation. I’d sit with a cuppa and a growing list of unmatched transactions, wondering how I’d ever stay on top of month‑end without spending hours chasing receipts and coding similar transactions one by one. Then I leaned into Xero bank rules, and the time I spend...
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Tax Tips
When a sole trader incorporates, one of the first and most impactful decisions...
Tax Tips
I’ve helped dozens of small businesses recover VAT repayments stuck in...
Tax Tips
Hiring your spouse or partner can be a smart way for a microbusiness to stay...
Bookkeeping
Closing the books for the year as a sole trader with several income streams can...
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...
I made the switch from spreadsheet bookkeeping to QuickBooks for one of my clients last year and it instantly changed how we spent our week. What used to be a few hours every Friday reconciling bank transactions and chasing down invoices became a...
I’ve helped dozens of small business owners prepare for lending conversations, and one thing becomes clear fast: lenders don’t approve loans based on hope or good intentions. They read your accounts like a detective — and they’re looking for...
Running payroll as a micro‑employer can feel like juggling while walking a tightrope — one missed deadline and HMRC will let you know about it. Over the years I’ve helped dozens of sole‑traders and tiny teams get payroll right without...
Reconciliation used to be the part of the month I dreaded most. Three hours staring at bank lines, looking for missing receipts and trying to remember which card purchase relates to which client — sound familiar? Over the years I built a workflow...
Seasonal income can feel like riding a rollercoaster: big highs, long quiet periods and the constant worry that one slow month will sink you. Over the years working with UK micro‑businesses and sole traders, I’ve helped many owners turn that...
If you’ve ever handed me a random folder of receipts or emailed a jumble of spreadsheets with “final” in the filename, you know how much time I spend digging for clarity. An organised self‑assessment pack doesn’t just save your accountant...