Claiming Expenses: What You Can (and Can’t) Claim as a Small Business Owner (UK)

Running a small business means paying for all sorts of “necessary” costs from software to travel to marketing. The good news is many of these costs can reduce your taxable profit. The not-so-good news is that HMRC won’t allow everything. This…

Succession Planning: Securing the Future of Your Business

Running a business is full of big decisions and one of the most important is what happens when you’re no longer at the helm. Whether you're planning to retire, sell up or simply want to reduce your involvement in the day-to-day, succession…

The Real Cost of Materials: Are You Accidentally Working for Free?

If you’re a builder or trades business, you probably keep an eye on day rates and quote totals. There’s a quieter problem that destroys profit in the background: under-recovering materials and labour. When materials cost recovery isn’t…

Electric Cars and the 2025 Budget

What UK Small Businesses Really Need to Know There’s been a lot of chatter about electric cars, new taxes and whether the government has “gone off” EVs. If you’re running a small business, that noise isn’t very helpful. You just…

When Work Goes Quiet: 10 Cost-Free Marketing Ideas for Small Trades Businesses

(Electricians, plumbers, builders, decorators, roofers, gardeners, handymen; this one’s for you.) Introduction When the phone is ringing off the hook, it’s easy to believe work will keep turning up forever. When enquiries slow down,…

When Uncertainty Strikes: 10 Cost-Free Marketing Ideas for Small Trades & Local Businesses

When Uncertainty Strikes: 10 Cost-Free Marketing Ideas for Small Trades & Local Businesses Introduction When work is flowing in, you can afford to let word of mouth do most of the work. But when enquiries slow down and money feels…

🎄 Christmas Parties and Staff Gifts: What’s Tax-Deductible?

As the festive season approaches, many small businesses start planning staff celebrations and gifts to say thank you for a year of hard work. How much of your festive generosity is tax-deductible and what do you need to watch out for with…

Sole Trader or Limited Company? Choosing the Best Structure for Your Business

When starting or growing a business, one of the biggest early decisions is how to structure it. Should you be a sole trader or set up a limited company? Both have advantages and the right choice depends on your goals, income and how much…

Ipswich This Weekend (24–26 Oct): What’s On + How An Accounting Gem Can Help Next Week

Enjoy the local highlights, then start Monday fresh; our friendly team can sort your receipts, VAT and cash flow while you get back to business. 🎉🍂 Looking for plans in Ipswich this weekend? Here’s a simple, day-by-day round-up of…

Why Ipswich Is a Great Place to Start a Small Business

If you’re thinking about starting a small business, Ipswich might just be the perfect place to do it. With its strong community spirit, lower operating costs and growing local economy, this Suffolk town offers an excellent balance of opportunity…
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