Accountancy

Get your own house in order first

This week I received one of those spammy emails offering me accounts and tax services. As if the lack of research wasn’t bad enough the so-called accountant was nearly struck…

Accountancy

What does it mean to be a professional?

You may not know that I belong to two professional bodies. I’m a Fellow of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) and also a member of…

Accountancy

An unlimited market?

In accountancy there seem to be far more businesses than good accountants and it is possible to take on unlimited clients (assuming you had the resources). So why wouldn’t you?…

Accountancy

The ‘Icarus’ budget 

I set up my first business with the intention of doing a few sets of accounts from the kitchen table to fit around my kids. But my background BC (before…

Accountancy

Collaboration for the win

A while ago our local post master observed my kids spending their pocket money and reported back to me. Apparently they figured out that if they pooled their money they…

Accountancy

Courtesy calls, love them or hate them?

Personally, I hate them. The caller doesn’t know what I’m doing. In a business that often requires intense thinking that means that the phone usually interrupts my train of thought.…

Business

Is it your husband’s business?

When I set up my first business in 2009, I lost track of the number of times that I was asked whether it was my husband’s business or mine! Initially…

Business

Should I be a limited company?

There are all sorts of reasons for incorporating and most of these are unchanged but two things have changed or are about to change. 1.Corporation tax increases combined with National…

Business

What is a Clarity review?

We try to encourage all our business clients to have regular Clarity reviews. These can be monthly, quarterly or annually depending on the size of the business. We connect their…

Accountancy

10 questions business owners should ask their accountant

What was my turnover this month? How does it compare to previous months/years/budget? What are my main sources of income and how can I grow them? What is my gross…