Blog
Insights for small business owners.
VAT Returns Made Simple: A Guide to Your First VAT Return
When your first VAT return is due, what goes in each of the 9 boxes, filing under Making Tax Digital and the mistakes first-time filers make.
Read more ↗Payroll for Small Employers: When You Need to Run a PAYE Scheme
HMRC's £96 a week test, why a sole director still registers, the monthly payroll deadlines and the 2026/27 figures.
Read more ↗Bookkeeping for Small Businesses: What Records to Keep and Why
The records sole traders and limited companies each need, the extra VAT and payroll records, and how long HMRC expects you to keep them.
Read more ↗Dividends vs Salary: What's the Most Tax-Efficient Way to Pay Yourself?
How salary and dividends are taxed in 2026/27, why a £12,570 salary plus dividends usually wins, and when the answer changes.
Read more ↗How Much Does a Small Business Accountant Cost in London?
Typical London fees for tax returns, company accounts, VAT and payroll, what pushes the price up, and how to compare quotes.
Read more ↗When Do I Need to Register for VAT in 2026?
The £90,000 threshold, the 12-month and 30-day tests, the HMRC deadlines, and what registering late costs.
Read more ↗Sole Trader vs Limited Company: Which Is Right for Your UK Business?
How each is taxed in 2026/27, why a company can cost more if you draw all the profit, and when incorporating starts to pay.
Read more ↗Do I Need to File a Tax Return If I'm Employed and Self-Employed?
When PAYE doesn't cover it, how the £1,000 trading allowance works, and what changes once both income sources are combined.
Read more ↗How to Prepare Your First Self Assessment (Checklist Included)
A step-by-step checklist for your first return: registering with HMRC, getting your UTR, and gathering the right records.
Read more ↗What Expenses Can I Claim as a Sole Trader?
A plain-English guide to allowable expenses: office costs, mileage, working from home, and the £1,000 trading allowance.
Read more ↗Self Assessment Tax Return Deadline 2026/27: What You Need to Know
Key dates for the 2025/26 tax year, what happens if you miss the 31 January deadline, and how to be ready before it's urgent.
Read more ↗Small Business Guide: Where to Find Accountancy Support Near Catford
A practical guide to where to look, what to check, and how to tell a good match from just the nearest search result.
Read more ↗Accountant vs Online Software: What's Better for South East London Sole Traders?
A balanced look at what online accounting software does well, where it falls short alone, and what an accountant actually adds.
Read more ↗Why Catford Businesses Choose a Local Accountant
Why more Catford business owners are choosing a local accountant over a national chain, and what to check before you pick one nearby.
Read more ↗More articles on the way. Ask us a question directly if you can't find what you're after.