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Don’t let your accounts frighten you with Rosemary Bookkeeping UK

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How Rosemary Bookkeeping takes the fright out of your bookkeeping

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we know that your bookkeeping can be scary.

There’s the pressure to avoid mistakes, coupled with anxiety around your technical know-how, plus frequently changing or appearing legislation that feels like it’s out to trick you.

As experts in bookkeeping for over 20 years, we provide expert bookkeeping services to small businesses across the UK so they can focus on what matters to them and not their books.

This Halloween, we’re here with one piece of guidance: your bookkeeping doesn’t have to be frightening.

How a bookkeeper can help you

Bookkeepers like Rosemary Bookkeeping can help with all aspects of your bookkeeping and finances.

This includes:
  • Taking the hassle out of sorting all your invoices, receipts and bank statements
  • Having your VAT return prepared for you in good time
  • Liaising directly with your accountant
  • Having reports and figures every month that help you make decisions on your business growth
  • 121 bookkeeping support

Maximising your time by outsourcing

Most business owners don’t maximise the impact of their time.

Consider what activities you do that generate the most revenue.

It’s probably not the bookkeeping.

Although it is vital to keep track of cash flow and understand where the most profitable parts (or not) of your business are.

Outsourcing your bookkeeping to us means it is in safe hands.

We focus on your books while you focus on your business.

The benefits of the Rosemary System

There are many benefits to choosing to work with your local Rosemary Bookkeeper.

Transparency

Our charging system is transparent, so you always know exactly what you are paying for.

Standardised Paperwork

We standardise the paperwork, ensuring you and your accountant receive the paperwork in the same way.

Safeguarding

Safeguard your business using our Rosemary System®, which delivers systemised efficient processing – this means ANY of our bookkeepers can complete your bookkeeping should your usual bookkeeper be ill or on holiday.

Local knowledge, national brand

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we operate as part of a nationwide franchise network, with our business owners working locally.

This means you benefit from a winning formula of local knowledge combined with the expertise and experience of a national brand and nationwide systems and processes for success.

Contact us

Take the hassle out of your business and give yourself the time to focus on what matters by finding your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or calling 0345 862 0072 to see how we can help you today.

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How bookkeepers create great value for accountants

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The great value a bookkeeper can bring to an accountant.

While there is overlap in their work, meaning the two often get confused, bookkeepers and accountants have distinct roles and responsibilities.

They often work well together, as the work of a bookkeeper plays a part in supporting the work of an accountant.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we are experts in bookkeeping, supporting clients across the UK, from small businesses to accountants with bookkeeping and finances.

But what can a bookkeeper do for an accountant?

How bookkeepers help accountants

Bespoke client support

The work of a bookkeeper is to understand the needs of their clients.

Our work is personal and bespoke as we tailor our services to work around what you need.

The relationships we build with our clients can also help us to be the bridge between the small businesses we serve and accountants.

Support with existing clients and workload

It’s not just new clients that a bookkeeper can support accountants with.

A bookkeeper can also help accountants with their existing clients.

If accountants recommend their ‘troubled’ or tricky customers to a bookkeeper like Rosemary Bookkeeping, we can support them with their accounts.

Furthermore, during busy periods like the new tax year, we can support accountants and help with capacity.

Streamlined and easy processes

Bookkeepers also work to tight deadlines and work with accuracy, minimising the back and forth to get things done correctly ahead of deadlines.

Rosemary bookkeepers can do all the monthly and quarterly chasing to ensure the experience is stress-free and smooth for everyone involved.

All Rosemary reports and documents are uniformly formatted, making life a breeze for accountants.

See how a Rosemary Bookkeeper can help you

These are just some ways a bookkeeper can help an accountant derive a higher value from their time and services.

Whether you’re an accountant or a small business, a bookkeeper can help streamline your financial processes.

By contacting the professionals at Rosemary Bookkeeping, you receive personal and expert support on all aspects of bookkeeping.

Find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can support you today.

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Bookkeeper vs Accountant – What’s the difference?

How is a bookkeeper different to an accountant?

Often bookkeeping and accounting are considered to be the same profession.

Although they seem to have very similar roles and work there are some major differences between the two.

The real value of any business is achieved when both work closely together.

What is the difference between Accounting and Bookkeeping?

Bookkeeping is the day-to-day process of accumulating, categorizing, and recording financial transactions.

Bookkeeping is a foundation of your finances, providing vital information for reports, financial statements and tax returns.

The main objective of bookkeeping is to keep all financial transaction records up to date in a proper and systematic manner.

Bookkeepers are often responsible for:
  • Data entry
  • Balancing bank ledgers
  • Preparing bank reconciliations
  • Tracking income and expenses
  • VAT returns
  • Maintaining the general ledger
  • Completing payroll
  • Producing monthly financial statements and reports (e.g. profit and loss reports)
Accounting is the process of:
  • Recording
  • Measuring
  • Classifying
  • Verifying
  • Summarising
  • Analysing
  • Interpreting

And communicating financial information compiled during the bookkeeping process.

Accounting produces:
  • Conclusions
  • Reports
  • Forecasts
  • Financial statements
  • Tax returns

Strategies and models that can be used by business managers to make key business decisions.

As a result, it provides a picture of the actual profitability, trends, cash flow and other key financial indicators.

Put simply: Bookkeepers produce the data, while accountants review and interpret reports, providing insights into the business.

Similarities

  • Bookkeepers and accountants both work with financial data.
  • Working with small businesses bookkeepers’ and accountants’ roles sometimes overlap, as bookkeepers can generate financial reports through bookkeeping software.
  • Both are tax-compliant.
  • Both share a goal of improving your business’s financial health.

Differences

Bookkeeper:

  • Records and classifies all financial transactions
  • Processes receipts, payments and other financial transactions
  • Processes sales and purchase invoices
  • Maintains and balances subsidiaries, general ledger and historical accounts
  • Reconciles bank statements
  • Track income and expenses for the tax periods
  • Prepares initial financial statements
  • Manages accounts receivable and accounts payable
  • Prepares and files VAT returns
  • Can also facilitate payroll

Accountant:

  • Analyses/interprets, and provides subjective advice based on data from the bookkeeper
  • Adjusts entries
  • Generates financial statements and reports
  • Files income tax returns
  • Submits annual accounts
  • Advises on tax strategy and tax planning
  • Prepares financial forecasts
  • Analyses business performance
  • Prepares budgets, business plans and cash flow forecasts
  • Provides financial management advice
  • Audits

A bookkeeper’s and accountant’s work can overlap.

But in general, a bookkeeper’s priority is to record transactions and keep them organised whilst accountants provide consultation and analysis, and often are more qualified to advise on tax matters.

When deciding if you need a bookkeeper you’ll need to review the benefits, as it might be more beneficial for you to concentrate on your business and hire a bookkeeper to look after your day-to-day finances.

A bookkeeper can also liaise with the accountant for you to allow you to focus even more on your business.

In summary, bookkeeping is the completing of day-to-day financial tasks and accounting is the analysing and summarising of information produced by a bookkeeper.

Both have a big role to play in the business and together bookkeepers and accountants can help you better understand your business and take it to the next level.

Find out more

Ensure your business is in safe hands by leaving your bookkeeping to your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert.

Whether you want a helping hand and advice or to outsource your books, your local professional can help.

To learn more about how we can help you manage your finances and avoid bookkeeping woes, call 0345 862 0072 today.

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Tips and Tricks: A beginner’s guide for easy bookkeeping

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Our 10 tips to bookkeeping like a pro.

Bookkeeping can be confusing.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we know that better than anyone.

So, sometimes you might need a helping hand.

Here are some top bookkeeping tips from our experts that’ll make your bookkeeping a breeze.

  1. Procrastinating is a no-no

Are you a procrastinator who leaves everything until the last minute?

Well, with bookkeeping, you can’t be!

It can quickly get out of hand and pile up on your desk.

As a small business, it is imperative that you keep to financial deadlines like Making Tax Digital (MTD).

If you don’t have time to do your bookkeeping while running your business, it might be time to outsource to help your capacity.

  1. Avoid bad filing systems

You must keep your old receipts and file them correctly alongside relevant paperwork.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Oh dear, I don’t keep my receipts,” – don’t worry.

There are plenty of business owners like this around the UK. Trust us!

Here’s a good habit to get yourself into:

When you get in the office every morning, pop your receipts in a folder.

Even if this is being filed correctly later that day, at least you’ve made a start.

Are all of your invoices and bills in sequential order?

If they aren’t, then they should be!

This will make life much easier when dealing with deadlines, audits etc.

  1. Don’t mix business and personal expenses

If you’re bookkeeping for yourself while mixing your business and personal expenses, you’re making your bookkeeping a lot harder.

You would have to sit and sift through hundreds of receipts and separate them into business and personal.

Keeping these expenses separate will spare you this headache and give you time to do other things.

When the tax return deadline comes around, if you’re organised and have split your business and personal expenses, you’re more likely to pay the right amount of tax for your business.

  1. Be consistent

Set a monthly date to sit down for a few hours to get your bookkeeping and accounts for the last calendar month.

If you feel like you’re bogged down with too many other tasks, you can always contact Rosemary Bookkeeping to take over the bookkeeping side of your business.

  1. Pay electronically

An easier way to keep an eye on and make your bookkeeping easier is to ensure all business transactions are paid on your business card and not with cash.

This is obviously, because of the information your bank would provide on a statement; amount, date and the recipients/company name.

  1. Have distinct employee classifications

Many businesses have different classifications of employees.

Be they full-time employees, part-time employees and independent contractors.

Keeping these separate and correctly classified is vital to avoid overpaying taxes or misfiling.

  1. Backup, backup, backup!

We all know what technology is like.

It can turn off or have an inconvenient error at any time.

This is why backing up your data securely on a cloud-based platform is extremely important.

You must ensure this is a secure platform that complies with GDPR to guarantee the safety of your data.

  1. Concentrate on a bit of light reading

You would be surprised how many business owners don’t read financial statements and add them to their procrastination pile.

There are plenty of reasons why financial statements can help with your business and avoid a financial breakdown.

Here are a few:

  • See current/upcoming financial trends within your business sector
  • Gain insight into maximising your tax deductions for the year
  • Share with existing/potential investors how your business is performing
  • Stay in control of all of your cash flow

  1. Choose the right bookkeeping software

It’s vital to choose the right bookkeeping software for your business.

There are many different types, from cashbook-only software to that that covers everything from ledgers to foreign currency transactions.

Here is our recent comparison of some of the different bookkeeping software.

  1. Outsource your bookkeeping

If you, the business owner, are also doubling as the office administrator/bookkeeper, you won’t have time to do the most crucial thing, grow your business.

That’s why outsourcing your bookkeeping can benefit you and your business.

Outsourcing is also cost-effective and more accurate.

You’ll only need to pay for the hours worked on your accounts rather than paying a monthly wage for an in-house bookkeeper.

You will also get the necessary work done on your accounts professionally, so you can be confident they are consistently correct.

If you are confused by the bookkeeping side of your business or don’t have time to dedicate to bookkeeping, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert to see how we can help you today.

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Understanding Cash Flow: A Guide to Managing Your Business’s Finances

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Rosemary Bookkeeping’s guide to understanding cash flow and how it relates to your business.

Cash flow is a crucial aspect of managing a successful business.

It refers to the amount of money coming in and going out of a business over a specific period.

It can be positive or negative.

A positive flow means a business generates more money than it spends.

A negative flow means it spends more than it earns.

In this blog post, we discuss the importance of cash flow, how to manage it effectively, and provide tips for forecasting and improving it.

Importance

Cash flow is vital.

It impacts your ability to pay bills, invest in new projects, and meet financial obligations.

A positive flow is good.

It allows a business to expand, invest in new ventures, and pay its creditors.

On the other hand, a negative flow can spell trouble.

It can lead to missed payments, bad credit scores, and even bankruptcy.

Therefore, understanding and managing it is essential for every business owner.

And to understand cash flow, you should know how to forecast it.

Forecasting

Forecasting cash flow involves estimating the amount of cash coming in and going out of a business over a specific period.

This can help businesses plan for future expenses, investments, and cash shortages.

So, how do you do it?

To forecast, create a cash flow statement.

A good statement should outline your expected cash inflows and outflows.

This should include:

  • Projected sales
  • Expenses
  • Any outstanding debts or receivables.

Monitoring

Monitoring involves regularly reviewing business inflows and outflows to ensure they stay positive.

This can be done using specialist software or a simple spreadsheet.

By monitoring the flow of cash in your business, you can identify potential shortages and take appropriate action to address them.

Regular monitoring can also help identify areas where a business can improve its cash flow.

How?

Improvements

This involves increasing the amount of cash coming into a business while reducing the amount going out.

There are several ways to improve cash flow, including:

  1. Reducing expenses: This can be done by negotiating better rates with suppliers, lowering overhead costs, and cutting unnecessary expenses.
  2. Improving payment terms: Offering incentives for early payments, setting up automatic payments, and sending out regular reminders can help businesses receive payments faster.
  3. Increasing sales: This can be achieved by expanding the customer base, increasing marketing efforts, and introducing new products or services.
  4. Managing inventory: Controlling inventory levels and reducing excess inventory can help businesses save money and improve cash flow.

By forecasting, monitoring, and improving cash flow, business owners can ensure that their business remains financially healthy and can meet its financial obligations.

As a business owner, it’s vital to understand its importance and take steps to manage it effectively.

Need help with your finances?

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, our local experts are expertly placed to provide professional bookkeeping services, from support and guidance on legislation to outsourcing.

Our experts will liaise with you at your discretion to ensure you feel in control of your finances without worrying about doing the work yourself.

They can help you at every step, from creating statements to monitoring your inflows and outflows.

Whatever you need: we do the books, you do the business.

To see how we can help you, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or call 0345 862 0072 today.

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The importance of accurate record-keeping for small businesses in the UK

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Why keeping accurate financial records is essential for your small business, and how to do it.

As a small business owner in the UK, you know that managing your finances carefully is crucial for the success of your business.

However, many small business owners overlook the importance of accurate record-keeping.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK and offer tips on how you can improve your record-keeping practices.

Accurate record-keeping means keeping detailed and organised records of your business’s financial transactions.

This includes things like sales, expenses, invoices, and receipts. But why is this so important for small businesses in the UK?

Legal Compliance

Accurate record-keeping is essential for complying with UK tax laws.

As a small business owner, you must keep accurate records of your financial transactions for at least six years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) may ask to see these records if they audit your business or review your tax returns.

Tax Benefits

Accurate record-keeping can also help you claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to.

By keeping detailed records of your expenses, you can claim tax deductions that can reduce your taxable income and save you money.

However, if you don’t keep accurate records, you may miss out on some deductions or reliefs.

Informed business decisions

Accurate record-keeping can help you make informed business decisions.

By regularly recording your income and expenses, you can accurately track how your business performs over time.

This information can help inform decisions about pricing, marketing, and other essential aspects of business.

How can you improve your record-keeping practices?

  • Use accounting software: Many affordable accounting software options are specifically designed for small businesses in the UK. These software options can help you manage your finances and keep accurate records.
  • Keep receipts organised: Categorise your expenses. (E.g. by office supplies, travel expenses), And keep them in a secure location.
  • Record transactions promptly: Ensure you record your income and expenses as soon as possible to avoid errors and ensure accuracy.
  • Reconcile accounts regularly: Reconciling your bank and credit card statements regularly can help you catch errors and ensure accuracy.

So, what’s the best way to keep accurate records?

Accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK.

By keeping detailed and organised records of your financial transactions, you can comply with UK tax laws, claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to, and make informed business decisions.

By following these tips, you can improve your record-keeping practices and ensure the accuracy of your financial records.

However, the best way to ensure you keep up-to-date and accurate records of your accounts and transactions is by enlisting the help of a qualified expert.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, our local experts are expertly placed to provide professional booking services informed by your local market and community, backed by a national brand.

Whether you need regular support or to outsource your books to the expert, you can liaise with our experts at your discretion to ensure you feel in control of your finances without worrying about doing the work yourself.

To see how we can help you, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or call 0345 862 0072 today.

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The benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping as a small business owner

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Six ways outsourcing your bookkeeping can help your small business to flourish.

Small business owners wear many hats and take on multiple responsibilities.

This often includes doing your own bookkeeping above and beyond any sales, marketing and operational activities you do daily.

This can be time-consuming and complicated, taking away time and resources better spent on growing your business.

Outsourcing your bookkeeping means hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm to handle your financial records and transactions.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we deliver local bookkeeping services backed by the expertise of a national brand.

You benefit from the support of someone who knows your area and community, bolstered by a UK-wide network of bookkeeping experts.

In this blog post, we’re discussing the benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business.

  1. Saving you time

Outsourcing bookkeeping frees up your time so you can focus on running your business.

You needn’t worry about managing financial records or performing time-consuming tasks like data entry, reconciling bank statements or generating reports.

  1. Access to expertise

Professional bookkeepers have know-how and experience that are uncommon for the average person.

They are familiar with financial statements, tax laws and regulations like MTD and can offer valuable financial advice from a place of understanding and expertise.

  1. Cost saving

Outsourcing bookkeeping can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house bookkeeper or accounting team.

You can save money on salaries, benefits, and training costs.

As such, outsourcing generally saves between 30% and 75% of your current costs.

  1. Scalability

Outsourced bookkeeping services can scale to meet the needs of your growing business.

You can adjust the level of service you need as your business expands.

  1. Accuracy

Professional bookkeepers are less likely to make errors compared to non-professional bookkeepers.

This can help you avoid costly mistakes and penalties.

  1. Security

Outsourced bookkeeping services can offer greater security for your financial data.

They use secure online portals to share financial information and have security measures to prevent data breaches.

Outsource your books with Rosemary Bookkeeping

Outsourcing bookkeeping is an excellent option for small business owners who want to save time and money while ensuring accurate financial records.

By hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm, you can benefit from their expertise, reduce costs, and scale services as needed.

When outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business, choose a reputable provider with a proven track record of success, like Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert can eliminate the stress and hassle of managing your books.

Through meetings scheduled at your discretion, receive 1-to-1 advice from a qualified professional who understands you, your business, and your community.

Take the hassle out of your business and give yourself the time to focus on what matters with Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Call 0345 862 0072 to see how we can help you today.

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Easily-made bookkeeping mistakes and how to avoid them

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How to sidestep common bookkeeping pitfalls.

Bookkeeping is an essential part of running a small business.

It involves keeping accurate records of financial transactions and ensuring that all financial reports are up-to-date.

However, many small business owners make common bookkeeping mistakes that can lead to financial and legal problems.

Bookkeeping may not come naturally for many small business owners. At Rosemary Bookkeeping, it’s what we do.

Our network of experienced industry professionals provides localised and professional bookkeeping services across the UK, backed by the knowledge and support of a nationally recognised brand.

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common bookkeeping mistakes small businesses often make and provide tips for avoiding them.

1.   Poor Data Entry

One of the most common bookkeeping mistakes is inaccurate data entry.

This can lead to incorrect financial statements, which can have grave consequences for a business.

To avoid this mistake, take your time entering financial data and double-check all entries for accuracy.

It’s also a good idea to use bookkeeping software that can help with data entry and automatically check for errors.

2.   Failure to Reconcile Accounts

Another common mistake is failing to reconcile accounts regularly.

Reconciliation involves comparing financial records to bank statements to ensure all transactions are recorded correctly.

Failing to reconcile accounts can lead to errors in financial reporting, missed transactions, and fraud.

To avoid this mistake, business owners should reconcile accounts at least once a month and ensure that all transactions are recorded accurately.

3.   Mixing Personal and Business Finances

Many small business owners make the mistake of mixing their personal and business finances.

This can lead to confusion when it comes to record-keeping and tax reporting.

To avoid this mistake, open a new bank account to ensure all business and personal transactions are separated.

This will make tracking business expenses and income easier and ensure accurate tax reporting.

4.   Poor Financial Reporting

Another common mistake is poor financial reporting.

This can include failing to produce financial reports regularly or inaccurate or incomplete fee reports.

Poor financial reporting can make it difficult for business owners to make informed financial decisions.

To avoid this mistake, business owners should ensure that financial reports are produced regularly and are accurate and complete.

Working with a professional bookkeeper or accountant is also a good idea to ensure that financial reporting is done correctly.

5.   Doing it alone

Bookkeeping mistakes can have severe consequences for small businesses, including financial problems and legal issues.

By avoiding these common mistakes, business owners can ensure that their financial records are accurate and up-to-date, making it easier to manage their finances and make informed decisions about their business.

By getting bookkeeping right, small business owners can set themselves up for success and avoid costly mistakes.

Ensure your business is in safe hands by leaving your bookkeeping to your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert.

Whether you want a helping hand and advice or to outsource your books, your local professional can help.

To learn more about how we can help you manage your finances and avoid bookkeeping woes, call 0345 862 0072 today.

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How do I budget effectively as a small business?

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Budgeting 101: A simple guide for small businesses.

There are many tools that small businesses need in their arsenal if they’re going to be a success.

One of the most vital is effective budgeting.

But it can also be one of the hardest to get right. At least, without help, that is

In this blog post, the bookkeeping experts at Rosemary Bookkeeping have compiled an essential guide for budgeting as a small business to help you budget like a pro.

Covered in this guide:

  • What is a budget?
  • How to set your budget
  • How to track your expenses
  • Adjusting your budget
  • Helpful budgeting tools

What is a budget?

A budget is a financial plan that helps businesses track expenses and revenue, set goals, and make informed financial decisions.

Having a budget:

  • Helps you set-long term financial goals – allowing for a clearer picture of your business’s future.
  • Keeps your spending in check and stop overspending
  • Stop you from getting into bad spending habits
  • Gives you an overview of your spending

How to set your budget

The first step in effective budgeting is setting a budget.

To do this, you should determine your expected revenue and expenses for the upcoming period, typically a month or a year.

You should then create a budget that allocates their expected revenue to cover your expected expenses.

It’s essential to be realistic when setting a budget and to consider unexpected expenses that may arise.

How to track your expenses

Once a budget is set, ensure you track expenses to stay within it.

As a business owner, you should keep detailed records of all expenses and regularly review them to ensure they stay on track.

This can be done through bookkeeping software or manually, but it’s vital to ensure that all expenses are recorded accurately.

Adjusting your budget

As a business grows and changes, its budget must adjust accordingly.

It’s imperative to review your budget regularly and adjust it as needed.

For example, if expenses are consistently higher than expected, your budget may need to be adjusted to allocate more funds to cover them.

Similarly, if revenue is higher than expected, the budget may need to be changed to allocate more funds to growth initiatives.

Helpful budgeting tools

There are many tools available to small businesses to help with budgeting.

These can include bookkeeping software, spreadsheets, and budgeting apps.

When deciding what to use to help your business, choose a tool that works best for your business.

And, importantly, ensure that all data is backed up regularly.

Need help making informed financial decisions?

By budgeting, you set your small business up for financial success.

Effective budgeting is essential for small businesses to track expenses, revenue, set goals, and make informed financial decisions.

By setting a budget, tracking expenses, and adjusting the budget as needed, business owners can ensure they are on track to achieve their financial goals.

With many budgeting tools available, choose what works for your business.

To set your business up for financial success, contact your local expert.

Whether you need advice from a trusted expert on setting your budget or someone to handle your bookkeeping, your local Rosemary bookkeeper is here to help.

We’ll do the books so you can do business.

For a free, no-obligation quotation on budgeting, software, and more, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper today.

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How to manage the cost of living crisis as a small business

The cost of living crisis is affecting small businesses nationwide. We’re here to help.

Unfortunately, not only have small businesses had to recently combat working during COVID-19 but at the end of last year, there was a new looming threat: rising inflation rates. By the time we reached the new financial year in April 2022, inflation had reached a record high of 9%, the highest in 40 years. And now, business owners are also having to deal with the cost of living crisis.

We work closely with small businesses across the UK to help them manage their books, and there is one thing for certain: this is a difficult and scary time for many. But there is still hope. Our experts have put their heads together and compiled a list of resources and strategies to help small businesses manage the cost of living crisis.

What are the key issues being faced by small businesses?

A big factor in all of the issues being raised are rising prices across the board, from energy to fuel, to council tax, everything is going up.

This also impacts customers and their spending, giving your less business. But also, material costs are on the rise, and many businesses are finding it hard to recruit new staff to fill essential job roles in a tight labour market.

All this also has a physical and mental impact on business owners too, as the stress and worry of weathering this storm take their toll on the body and psyche. According to a survey by Newspage, 14% of the surveyed small business and charity owners said that the cost of living crisis has been having “a very negative effect” on their mental health.

Who can help?

One of the avenues you can go down for help and support is the government. During the more recent spring budget, the government announced that it will be increasing Employment Allowance from £4’000 to £5’000 to tackle the growing rise in inflation. For smaller businesses, this means you will therefore be able to claim up to £5,000 off of your employer’s National Insurance Contributions (NICs) bills, which has seen an increase of just above one per cent back in April.

There were other small changes made by the government as well, as fuel duty was also cut by 5p per litre as a way to help combat the rise in petrol prices.

However, many small business owners feel that this was too small a change or gesture for the size of the crisis they are facing, and still feel the need to make other changes to their business.

What changes can you make?

As many already have, small business owners may have to make changes to adapt to the growing difficulties. Here are some viable options for changes to save money:

Use accounting software

A great way to save money whilst you are getting an idea of your current financial situation is by using accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks to help you keep track of your finances. Making the transition can be tricky, but due to the government’s ongoing plan for MTD (Making Tax Digital), it is becoming a necessary one.

And there are ways to get support on using them. Your local Rosemary Bookkeeper can offer discounts on accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks, help you use it, if you need it, and also provide tutorials on operations, like how to create an invoice on Xero.

Remote working

If you are not already due to COVID-19, moving to remote work is a good option to save money during the cost of living crisis due to saving the cost of running an office space. And if you don’t want to lose out on your office space, there are flexible office space providers who offer hybrid solutions to providing a workspace. This all means you’re also not having to shell out further for extra running costs like office cleaners and are therefore offered a lot more financial flexibility.

Audit staff

Unfortunately, the rise in National Insurance rates and the national minimum wage may mean that keeping your current staff rates is not feasible. This does not mean that you have to make the undesirable choice to make redundancies, but you may be required to reduce staff hours or carry out reviews to better optimise productivity with your current staff levels.

Consider adjusting your prices

You may be able to make changes to things like your supply chain to make sure that you are saving money on the cost of your product orders for example. Or, rather than raise prices, you could apply optional service charges where you had not had one before. You may even choose to swap the products you use for cheaper alternatives.

Be more conservative by scaling back plans for growth

It is more viable in the current situation to be less optimistic about what may have been your prior growth plans for the year. By momentarily halting growth plans, you can conserve cash and increase your cash flow for when you need it.

In summary, this is going to continue to be a difficult time for many across the UK, and you may need to act to give yourself that little extra support.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we are experienced in supporting small businesses through thick and thin, and our financial experts can help offer you help when you need it most. Whether this is through helping you manage your books, or by giving you a helping hand in running online software, we are here for you.

To get in touch, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today, or give us a call on 0345 862 0072.

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Important dates tax year 2021/22

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Don’t miss these important deadlines the 2021/22 tax season, ensure you’ve got all of your bookkeeping organised for the year.

MAY 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st July 2020

3rd – Deadline for submitting P46 for employees whose car/fuel benefits changed during the quarter to 5th April 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st March 2021

14th – Due date for Corporation Tax quarterly instalment for large companies with February, May, August or November Year Ends

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 31st May 2020 as year end

JUNE 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st August 2020

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 30th April 2021

14th – Due date for Corporation Tax quarterly instalment for large companies with March, June, September or December Year Ends

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

30th – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 30th June 2020 as year end

JULY 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 30th September 2020

5th – Deadline for reaching PAYE Settlement Agreement for 2020/21

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st May 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Second Payment on Account 2020/21 due

31st – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 31st July 2020 as year-end

AUGUST 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st October 2020

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 30th June 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 31st August 2020 as year end

SEPTEMBER 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 30th November 2020

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st July 2021

14th – Due date for Corporation Tax quarterly instalment for large companies with year end 31st March 2022

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

30th – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 30th September 2020 as year end

OCTOBER 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st December 2020

5th – Deadline for Self Assessment registration to notify HMRC of Income/Capital Gains Tax for 2020/2021

7th – Deadline for VAT returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st August 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 31st October 2020 as year-end

31st – Deadline for postal submission of Self Assessment Tax Returns for tax year ended 5th April 2021 to be received by HMRC

NOVEMBER 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st January 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 30th September 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

30th – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 30th November 2020 as year-end

DECEMBER 2021

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 28th February 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st October 2021

14th – Due date for Corporation Tax quarterly instalment for large companies with year-end 31st March 2022

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Due date to file Corporation Tax for companies with 31st December 2020 year-end

JANUARY 2022

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st March 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 30th November 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Deadline for filing Self Assessment Tax Returns for tax year ended 5th April 2021 and 2020/2021 Capital Gains Tax

31st – Balancing payment of tax due for 2019-2020 and first Payment on Account for Income Tax for 2021/2022

31st – Due date to file Corporation Tax for companies with 31st January 2021 year-end

FEBRUARY 2022

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 30th April 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st December 2021

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

28th – Due date to file Corporation Tax for companies with 28th February 2021 year-end

MARCH 2022

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 31st May 2021

7th – Deadline for VAT Returns and payments of Accounting Quarter period ending 31st January 2022

14th – Due date for Corporation Tax quarterly instalment for large companies with year-end 31st March 2022 and 31st December 2022

19th – Monthly deadline for postal payments of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

22nd – Monthly deadline for electronic remittance of CIS, NICs and PAYE to HMRC

31st – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 31st March 2021 as year-end

APRIL 2022

1st – Due date for payment of Corporation Tax for period ended 30th June 2021

5th – 2021/2022 Tax Year Ends

6th – 2022/2023 Tax Year Begins

6th – IR35 in the private sector comes into force

30th – Corporation Tax Returns filed by companies with 30th April 2021 as year-end

 

We can help with your bookkeeping needs, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper here for more information on our services.

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Why doing the bookkeeping yourself is not the best thing for your business!

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Like many business owners, you probably went into business for yourself because you either a) have a passion for what you do, b) wanted to make more money than if working for someone else or c) wanted a better work life balance. You have probably discovered that there is more to running a successful business than just doing the thing you love. Not every task is going to be what you want to or should be doing and unless you chose to be a bookkeeper or accountant, it’s also likely that numbers are not your thing.

However, keeping on top of your bookkeeping is one of the most important things you can do for your business. Tracking what comes in and what goes out of your business means you are in a much better position to work out what is working and what isn’t, plus very importantly, where you might need to make some changes.

An accountant is only as good as the information provided, if there are gaps in your numbers, how can they make accurate recommendations or give you complete advice?

Yes, there are lots of software providers to try and make things easier for business owners but good bookkeeping is much more than putting numbers in boxes. Do you know if or how much VAT to claim on your Jaffa Cakes for the staff meeting or your steel toe cap boots? Do you know what nominal code you should be using for meeting room hire?

Getting these things wrong can impact the finances of your business. As a successful business owner, you need to understand your business’ true cost of sales and the fixed costs so you can measure profitability of your business properly.

So, why should you use a bookkeeper?

Well, everyone has their own reason for going in to business for themselves but nobody goes into business to run it badly. You likely chose something you could do well and thought you were good at. Your business will do best while you focus your time and effort doing the things you are good at and passionate about, so allow yourself time for the actual business side of things.

Having a professional bookkeeper means you don’t have to spend your time working out what nominal code to use or what VAT amount should apply. It means you have someone who knows these things, doing all of the bookkeeping for you. Having the bookkeeping expertly done ensures your access to regular and accurate reports, so that you can meet tax deadlines, avoid penalties and eliminate stress. Sound bookkeeping makes it is easier for you to make informed decisions about your business with the provision of accurate and up- to-date information, allowing you to maximise the potential of your business.

Can’t afford a bookkeeper?

As a small business owner, you may be thinking that you can’t afford to hire a bookkeeper, that taking someone on means holiday pay, sick pay and an hourly rate / salary.

Let’s put it another way, how long are you spending on your bookkeeping and what is that time worth to you?

How many hours are you spending in your working day/week/month sorting your books? How much do you charge an hour? What else could you be doing that can probably make money for your business?

Maybe you are doing the bookkeeping in the evening or at weekends? Are you getting the work/life balance that you planned on? Are you spending your free time doing things you wish you didn’t need to? What really is the value of that time to you? It’s probably worth more than what it would cost to outsource to a good bookkeeper.

Then we need to consider the benefit of using a professional; you are a professional at what you do and can work efficiently, well, it’s the same for bookkeeping. A professional bookkeeper will likely take a shorter amount of time to get through the same work, meaning their time is more cost effective. I know it would take me a lot longer than James to build the wall in my back garden next week, that’s why (well, one of the reasons why) I am paying him to do it.

The benefit of outsourcing

Anyway, back to bookkeeping. Having a professional bookkeeper doesn’t mean you need to hire someone on fixed hours for every week of the year. Outsourcing your bookkeeping is a very effective and efficient option. An outsourced bookkeeper will work closely with your accountant and liaise directly with them if you wish. They will also be able to work on the bookkeeping and accounting software either you or your accountant prefer to use, meaning less work and effort on your part.

An outsourced bookkeeper will usually work remotely so you don’t have to provide equipment or office/desk space, so no upfront overheads will be required and you just pay for the work you get.

At Rosemary bookkeeping we work with our clients and accountants to provide a service that best fits their needs. Rosemary Bookkeeping provide regular reports so our clients and their accountants can see what is going on financially within a business when they need to. Rosemary Bookkeeping focus on the bookkeeping, leaving the accounting to the accountants and running the business to the business owner. With clear and transparent pricing Rosemary Bookkeeping clients always know they are paying only for the work completed.

If you’ve realised that doing the bookkeeping yourself isn’t for you then get in touch with your local Rosemary bookkeeper today to ask how they can help.

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New business owner brings bookkeeping services to Stratford

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In light of what’s happening in the world, it’s always nice to hear some positive news, and we’ve got some to share for the local businesses of Stratford. A new bookkeeper is in town, Mohammad Hossain has started his own business in the Stratford area and he looks forward to helping businesses to get back on their feet in the coming months through help with their bookkeeping requirements.

“I decided on a Rosemary Bookkeeping business because I wanted to do my part in helping local businesses with their bookkeeping during and after the pandemic”, said Mohammad.

Mohammad has spent most of his professional working time as a Chartered Certified Accountant and also as a Bookkeeper for a number of Accounting and Audit Firms in London covering various small and medium corporations and in 2020 he decided it was time for a change. He decided to look into owning his own Bookkeeping business because this is the aspect of enthusiasm for his previous roles he most enjoyed. That’s why he came across the Rosemary Bookkeeping and thought it would be a great opportunity to join a national network of bookkeepers to have the help needed from the brand and other business owners.

All of the bookkeepers in the Rosemary Bookkeeping network thrive on helping businesses with their bookkeeping in order to give them more time to grow their business, and Mohammad is no different.

“I’m really pleased to welcome Mohammad to our Rosemary Bookkeeping Network. With all the experience, fantastic attitude and strive to develop his business Mohammad is a great addition to our network of bookkeepers and will be a great support and asset for local Stratford companies. I’m very excited to work with Mohammad and follow his journey to thrive.”, said Nina Ostasz, Rosemary Bookkeeping Brand Manager.

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Choosing the Right Accounting Software for your Business

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For any small business owner, keeping track of your incomings & outgoings is one of the most important tasks. Recording payments, tracking expenses, invoicing customers and reconciling transactions means you can make informed and profitable decisions about your business.

Luckily, there are now a wide range of software options available to make it easier for you to keep on top of your finances. Some have been heavily advertising of late, you’ve probably seen more than one.

But, with so many options out there, picking the right accounting software for you and your business isn’t an easy task.

Below, we list important factors you should consider when selecting your accounting software.

Costs

The prices can vary considerably. There are packages at the lower end of the price range but these will often be a more basic package. Think about your business requirements now and in the future. Will a basic package be enough or will you need more features further down the line?

Usability

The size and structure of your business will affect how many users there will be accessing your accounting software. Do more users mean more cost? Is it scalable if needed later?

Do you want your accounting software to be installed on a particular desktop? This might limit the number of users so you may prefer a cloud-based system that you can access anywhere.

Features

Work out what you really need from the accounting software and what you need it to do. Do you need both accounts receivable and accounts payable tools? Which reports do you need it to generate? Do you need it to track inventory? Do you need it to include ancillary services, like time tracking, project management and payroll?

Which to choose?

Of course, as bookkeepers ourselves, we have our preferences when it comes to software. We work with all sorts of platforms and packages but there are a few we see time and time again:

Xero: Widely acknowledged as one of the top pieces of cloud based accounting and bookkeeping software – especially if you’re working on a Mac. Xero is great if you’re just starting out or if you need your accounting to be simple and straightforward. Another tick for Xero, it is designed to grow as your business does. We like that it’s affordable, easy to use, offers a ton of add-on features and integrates with hundreds of third-party business solutions, many of which you probably already use. There is also a 24-hour email and live chat support function, meaning there’s always someone there to help you.

FreeAgent: Unlike a lot of bookkeeping and accounting software products which limit your transactions unless you purchase a more expensive package, FreeAgent supports unlimited users, clients, invoices and transactions for one monthly price. It’s a cloud-based piece of software and comes with a built-in project management feature. These features make it ideal for keeping track of billable hours and expenses. As a FreeAgent partner, we recommend it for freelancers, consultants and other project-based businesses.

QuickBooks: One of the most popular accounting software packages out there (and for good reason). QuickBooks works for all types of small businesses. With three different small business plans to choose from, plus a separate plan for the self-employed, freelancers and contractors, it’s got something for everyone. Both new start-up businesses and bigger, established businesses have benefitted from its’ range of features, which cover basic bookkeeping to advanced accounting and business analytics.

Sage: Sage is one of the bigger brands, and it’s been around a lot longer than most. Sage Business Cloud Accounting has two plans for small business owners, starting with invoicing, expense management and reporting, building up to the creation of quotes, estimates, tracking and inventory management. It’s most popular with retail based businesses due to its ability to integrate with POS systems. Sage also appeals to businesses with large finance departments thanks to its’ support for multiple users and payroll systems.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we work with small and medium sized businesses to take the pain out of your bookkeeping. From helping you choose the right software to use, software supply, training and data migration, to a complete outsourced bookkeeping service – we can help. If you’re just starting out or you’re looking to hire a bookkeeper to support you as you grow, we’d love to help. Contact your local Rosemary Bookkeeper for your free consultation.

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VAT Updates for 2021

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The UK exited the EU VAT regime, Customs Union and Single Market from 1 January 2021. This means the loss of a range of compliance simplifications and the imposition of customs declarations, goods regulations, services and import VAT.

In this article HERE you can find an outline of the major changes affecting VAT treatment after the UK leaving the EU.

Here you can find the most recent guidance from the government; Import goods into the UK: step by step

If you import goods into Great Britain from outside the UK or from outside the EU to Northern Ireland you may have to pay import VAT on goods. For supplies of services from outside the UK you must account for VAT under the reverse charge procedure.

Guidance on Paying VAT on imports from outside the UK to Great Britain and from outside the EU to Northern Ireland

Export goods from the UK: step by step
Guidance on how and when you can apply zero-rated VAT to exported goods – Goods exported from the UK from 1 January 2021

TOMS – Tour Operators Margin Scheme 

If you supply digital services to private consumers you can read the guidance here – VAT rules for supplies of digital services to consumers 

CIS VAT changes

If you’re in the construction sector changes on VAT are coming on 1st March 2021.

VAT reverse charge technical guide HERE.

VAT is due when a VAT invoice is issued, or payment is received, whichever is earlier.

For invoices issued for specified supplies that become liable to the reverse charge, the VAT treatment for invoices with a tax point:

  • before 1 March 2021 – the normal VAT rules will apply and you should charge VAT at the appropriate rate on your supplies
  • on or after 1 March 2021 – the domestic reverse charge will apply
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Information on Allowable Expenses

When it comes to carrying out your self-assessment, it’s hard to know what can and can’t be included as allowable expenses. Contrary to popular belief, the government want you to succeed in business so will allow you to spend on certain items in your business without having to pay the tax for them.

In general, tax-deductible items will come under the following categories;

  • Travel
  • Office
  • Stock
  • Marketing
  • Legal & Financial

Travel Costs

fuel expenses

Any business-related car or van use may be allowed. Things such as;

  • Vehicle insurance
  • Fuel
  • Hire charges
  • Repairs
  • Servicing and breakdown cover

You are not able to claim these charges for general use such as driving to and from work but if your vehicle is genuinely used for work purposes, these allowances may be available for you.

It can be difficult to calculate your use if your vehicle is used for both personal and business. In this case, refer to the “simplified vehicle expenses” form on the government website where you will find a flat rate for each circumstance.

Under travel, you may also be able to claim for;

  • Train
  • Bus
  • Plane
  • Taxi
  • Hotel rooms
  • Evening meal during a business trip.

If you are taking a trip but it’s for a combination of personal and business, you will need to calculate how much is used for business and only submit that amount as allowable expenses.

Office Costs

postage expenses

There are many items that can be listed under allowable expenses whether you work from premises or your own home. It’s a little more complicated when you work from home which I will explain later.

The type of things you can possibly include are;

  • Stationary
  • Printing costs (including ink)
  • Postage

You can claim for equipment such as computers, printers and software but this may have to be claimed under your capital allowance if you don’t use cash basis accounting.

With regards to your premises, the following may be allowed;

  • Rent
  • Maintenance & repair
  • Utility bills
  • Property insurance & security.

If you work from home, you may be able to claim for a proportion of your utility bills, but you will need to work out what proportion is used for business and what is used personally.

Stock Costs

stock expenses

Your allowable expenses for your stock may include;

  • Stock held
  • Raw materials
  • Costs incurred from producing goods

Marketing Costs

marketing expenses

Most businesses need to budget for marketing costs and this is taken in to account when it comes to allowable expenses. They may cover the following;

  • Newspaper adverts
  • Directory listings
  • Mailshots
  • Free samples
  • Website

You may also be able to claim for certain subscriptions. An example of these would be;

  • Membership to trade bodies or professional membership organisations
  • Subscriptions to trade or professional journals

Legal & Financial Costs

legal expenses

There are some fees that are essential in business and they may be covered under allowable expenses. For example;

  • Accountancy fees
  • Solicitor fees
  • Bank, overdraft and credit card charges (If used for business)
  • Interest on business loans
  • HP interest and leasing payments
  • Business insurance such as Public Liability Insurance

Other items that may be covered are;

  • Uniform or PPI
  • Staffs salaries
  • Bonuses
  • Pension contributions
  • Benefits
  • Agency Fees
  • Employer NI contributions.

This is just a guide and more information can be found on the gov.uk website. The most important thing to remember is that you will always need to prove these expenses so remember to keep a record of all receipts and invoices.

Outsourcing is actually a very realistic option for business owners so don’t be scared. If you’re still not sure, Rosemary Bookkeeping are more than happy to come and do a 1-2-1 health check with you and give you the opportunity to decide for yourself if you think you could benefit with no obligation, contact your local Rosemary Bookkeeper today.

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Going digital is vital for survival

The world as we know it has changed and is transforming in front of our eyes. We’ve been tested in different ways every day trying to adapt to new working and learning routines.

It’s essential that small businesses across the globe get through the pandemic because they are vital to every nation’s economy.

The current crisis is accelerating the digital world, but also has the potential to accelerate a digital divide. At present, there are many technology-oriented solutions that can help your businesses to survive this crisis. Digital technologies can be essential not just to survive, but to thrive and have continued success after the pandemic.

New digital solutions are key to helping your business

At present, any business focused on providing the exchange of goods and ideas between people without in-person interaction should be able to survive. An example this kind of company is Zoom, which by now everyone has heard of by now as they’ve provided video chat and conferencing services to the world during 2020.

Online retailers such as Amazon are seen massive growth, as much as a 44% increase in stock price since a low on March 12. You can argue that there are some big and well-positioned businesses that are managing to survive and even see growth, but many big manufacturers are struggling to survive.

On the other hand, some small local companies are flourishing, for example, some local restaurants have reinvented themselves and are now focusing on delivery with Deliveroo, Uber Eats etc.

The common characteristics amongst businesses that are experiencing success during the pandemic:
– The ability to adapt to the new customers’ requirements
– A willingness to embrace technology in order to improve production and services.

To overcome this crisis, companies need to be receptive and responsive, and there are many digital solutions that can help them not just to carry out their normal activities, but also enhance business processes as well.

Here are a few examples about how technology can help businesses to go through this pandemic:

Digitalisation

Going digital during the pandemic is not just something you can choose to do, it’s now a vital part of the day to day work life in every business around the world.

The first step to go digital is to update your company website where prospective clients/customers can check and order your products and services online. Then, you can start promoting your business on search engines such as Google or Bing, as well as social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram.

Digital transformation is not just about having a digital presence; it is the integration of digital technology into every aspect of a business.

It’s not just a cosmetic change; it is a cultural change that requires organisations to continually challenge all state of affairs, experiment. Remember, don’t be scared of failure, we all learn from our mistakes.

Digital applications

Many companies and services have continued to remain open during COVID-19 by implementing new physical distancing rules and technology to keep their business running and their employees safe. However, due to increased lockdown measures, technology has become as important, if not more important to all businesses again.

During the pandemic, there has been an influx in the usage of online services such as digital signature or digital IDs not just to buy products and services; also, to connect with social organisations and hospitals etc.

It’s become essential to provide personalised and digital services during the pandemic. Before COVID-19, these types of digital applications were nice to have, but are now a necessity.  For many organisations, these apps and digital software can help them with providing a good quality service whilst reducing/completely stopping in-branch visits.

Perfecting the remote working model

Companies across the world have had to shift to a work-from-home model due to the coronavirus outbreak. As a consequence of that, employers have needed to adapt and find the right tools to make the employee’s work day easier, and to be able to monitor their workers’ progress.

For many employers, time tracking is critical to figure out how productive employees are when working remotely whist other prefer to focus on productivity. Nevertheless, data should be available to both manager and employee in order to get optimal results and with the right technology and software in place. Businesses can maximise their employee’s ability to work remotely, and be more efficient

Information and communications technology (ICT)

During the pandemic, technology has allowed people to communicate virtually, regardless of location—making it essential for businesses that need to remain open and working.

Having the proper technology implemented within your organisation allows affective virtual communication when social distancing or lockdowns are compulsory by government officials.

Improved relationships

Do you need to conclude a distance contract or communicate with other offices without physical presence?

Digital solutions such an electronic contract can improve relationships between clients, suppliers, workers and all those involved in the different economic sectors. In addition to being able to remotely carry out any of the above processes and solve the hiring needs in the best way with the most advanced technology, no matter the sector in question, these tools will lower operating costs as there is less travel involved within the UK and other countries. Therefore, reducing wasted tine and dedicate more hours to more important and demanding tasks.

Hyper-connectivity

This term was created by social scientists and refers to; “The use of multiple means of communication, such as email, instant messaging, telephone, face-to-face contact and a wide range of information and communication services.”

This concept when applied to business is the total connection between all the areas involved such as employees, customers, suppliers and any other stakeholders. Hyper-connectivity makes information more easily accessible and available on any device, which can be easily shared amongst any of the stakeholders associated with your business. Hyper-connectivity helps organisations to become more agile as any new team members have instant access to the platform at any time, anywhere.

Improving workflow efficiency

Learning to improve all work processes is necessary to improve overall business performance. Technology now offers workflow software that enables businesses to restructure their way of working, like work order processing or accounts payable procedures amongst others, instead of having to use the old-fashioned pen and paper. These tools provide you with the ability to maintain normal operations, as online data backups and recovery systems can help in something like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enhanced productivity

Technology also helps us to improve productivity by eliminating all those unnecessary time-consuming tasks. File management software removes the need for data entry, filing and manual file retrieval. There are plenty of useful technology and software options out there to improve workflow.

For example; bookkeeping and accounting software that can automate most of the processes that used to take precious time to complete.

Improved data management

The volume of data we create on the internet is always expanding, in fact, at the moment over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created every single day. Every time a consumer conducts a search, completes a purchase, visits your website or comments on one of your social posts, you will add to that vast expanse of information.

As we all know, this information can be a valuable asset, but only if we know how to tap into and extract the bits that are relevant to business success. In the last few years, the volume of data has increased far faster than we have the ability to process it, but technology can help you to keep your information organised and indexed correctly.

There are a number of apps out there to help you organise and process relevant data, which can help us to make informed decisions from further analysis and research. Without data collection and analysis, companies would be using outdated practices and data to make decisions.

These are very challenging times; however, there are some tools available that can help you minimise the impact on your business. Many of those technologies already exist, you just have to know where to search, learn how to use them effectively and take advantage of their benefits.

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What if you’re a tradesperson and not a bookkeeper?

As a tradesperson, your business has probably seen ups and downs over the last few months but with more people working from home, there has been a noticeable increase in demand across the industry.

Like many other tradespeople, you may have been doing your bookkeeping and accounts on your own and possibly spending evenings and weekends trying to balance your books. Maybe you have roped a member of your family in to help?

This is where hiring a bookkeeper can help you. You know yourself, you provide your service to your client/customer because you do a better job of it than they could, it’s your trade/you skill/your expertise. Utilising a professional bookkeeper means your books are being looked after by someone with the trade/skill/expertise they need.

So, what are the benefits?

1. Fix problems

One of the most common reasons our clients come to us in the first place is because they have been trying to do the bookkeeping themselves, and struggle, can’t keep up or get in a mess.

They may struggle from the start or they may be ok from the start but get busier and busier with their business and not be able to keep up. As a new business owner, it is common to work as cost-effectively as possible so outsourcing might be considered an additional expense but; as your business grows, it’s important to focus your efforts on what brings growth to your business. Let the professional take care of your bookkeeping so you can take care of what you do best.

2. Save time

Saving time is one of the key reasons’ businesses look to hiring a bookkeeper to look after their books; giving you more time to run your business will help in achieving business goals.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we’ve seen it all, businesses producing accounts on pieces of paper, on a disorganised spreadsheet and in some circumstances… in their head. These are not reliable methods of keeping track of the incomings and outgoings of your business.

3. Cost-effectiveness

At Rosemary Bookkeeping you know what you are paying for, our pricing is clear, affordable and value for money. Using a professional bookkeeper, you aren’t paying for them to check and research and work out what bill goes in what category or has what VAT, they know the ins and outs meaning they can do your bookkeeping more efficiently.

4. Compliance

Depending on your business there may be more than one requirement for you to keep legitimate, from Making Tax Digital to CIS submission, using a professional and experienced bookkeeper can help keep you compliant.

5. Answers

Rosemary Bookkeeping understands that your trade is different from that of a bookkeeper and you may have questions about your bookkeeping. We’re always available on the phone or email and we’ll get back to you with an answer as soon as we can. You don’t have to go it alone with Rosemary.

6. Keep track of where your money goes

You may be working hard day and night as well as over the weekend, but if you don’t properly account for incomings & outgoings regularly, it makes it much harder to keep on track of where the businesses money is going.

Using a reputable bookkeeper means you get regular reports and access to your well-kept books and you will be able to see where your money is and where it isn’t. So, you can make informed business decisions.

7. Keeping it simple

If you are a small business with 1-5 staff, you likely have simple needs, at Rosemary, we work with you from the outset to assess your bookkeeping needs and make sure you get the most suitable service to help you manage your books. For larger organisations, we have plenty of scopes to meet your requirements too.

Whatever the size of your business we can liaise directly with your accountant, send you regular reports and help you make the most of your business.

 

Find your nearest bookkeeping professional here.

 

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Do I really need a Bookkeeper?

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Do I need a bookkeeper? Well, for me at this moment in time, I personally do not, why? Because as I am employed full time and have no other income that I need to account for. But; once upon a time my situation was different. Before I worked where I work now, I like about 5.7 million other people every year made the decision that starting my own business was my next step.

Do I really need a Bookkeeper

I know from experience that starting a business from scratch is not easy, from the practicalities of where do I run my business from? What business bank account should I get or do I even need a business bank account? To, should I be a Limited business? How do I register as a Limited business? And where is my registered address going to be? There is so much to work out, it can be overwhelming for some and possibly ignored by others.

Like many other new business owners I found my feet, made a list and worked my way through all of the things I thought I needed to get my business up and running. I decided I wanted to have a limited business to make sure I kept business and private lives separate. I found three local accountants, did some research and had appointments with them all before deciding which one was best for me, this is important, it is likely that you are going to have a very long relationship with them. I used the accountants address as my registered address because I wanted to keep my business and private life separate, then registered with Companies House… everything was coming together well.

My business got off the ground, we gained clients (the most important part) and the business grew nicely but let’s face it, running a business is a learning curve, we all know (or think we know) what we are good at, taking that to running a business doing it is quite different. There are so many things you find out that you need to be doing, and because you are a micro, small or start-up business we all try to keep costs down to a minimum. Like many other start-up’s and small business owners, I did most if the admin and back office stuff (I am going to call it stuff because well, I am great at what I am great at, it doesn’t make me great at ‘stuff’) myself because that is what I thought was the most cost effective option. – We all like to save money right?

Anyway; my business was growing well and we had our happy clients but after a number of years, I made the decision that I didn’t want to work for myself any longer and one of the main reasons was that I had found myself spending most of my time doing jobs that I didn’t actually want to do, jobs that were not part of what I wanted to do as ‘my’ business. I am pleased to say that my company is still growing nicely and in safe hands with a family member as Managing Director but, I am pleased I stepped away to spend more of my time focussed on doing the jobs that I love.

As part of my current ‘Job’, I work with lots of small and medium sized businesses and have also worked with Rosemary Bookkeeping; as someone that has had a small business, I realise how valuable their services would have been to me as a business owner. I knew I needed an accountant, as was a priority but I did not understand how beneficial it would have been to have someone doing my bookkeeping for me. It never occurred to me that outsourcing some of the admin and day to day ‘stuff’ would have been such a huge benefit to me as a business owner, I just thought I was doing the most cost effective things. If I had known, I would have spent less time doing my bookkeeping and more time on what I love and maybe, just maybe I would have chosen to stay in my business?

The Bookkeeping isn’t the only service that as small business owners we find ourselves tied up doing, there are lots of other things too. Is it time to evaluate how effective and efficient your time is? Would your time be better spent doing something else, like talking to customers, selling your services, creating a bit of artwork or doing whatever it is that you are great. Why not consider outsourcing the rest of it to someone great at it?

So; Do I really need a Bookkeeper? No, I am still employed full time and have no other income that I need to account for, what about you?

What to see how a Rosemary Bookkeeper can help? Have a look here

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Top 10 Excuses For Missing Tax Deadlines

There is no excuse for missing any tax deadlines and unfortunately, HMRC does not accept excuses! However, some of them are quite funny, here is our list of favourite excuses:

Tax Excuses

“I failed to submit my tax return because…”

    1. “My bad back means I can’t go upstairs and that’s where my tax return is!”🚶
    2. “I had a run-in with a cow!”🐮
    3. “I’ve been cruising around the world in my yacht and only picking up post when I’m on dry land!”🛥️
    4. “My tax papers were left in my shed and a rat ate them!”🐀
    5. “My boiler had broken and my fingers were too cold to type!”❄️
    6. “After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I couldn’t concentrate on anything else!”🌋
    7. “A pirate stole all of my accounts!”🏴‍☠️
    8. “I was up a mountain in Wales, and I couldn’t find a postbox or get any signal!”🌄
    9. “My dog ate all of the tax returns and all of the reminders!”🐶
    10. “I had an argument with my wife and went to Italy for five years!”🇮🇹

Now for a bonus one, this has got to be our favourite excuse of all time…

“I couldn’t file on time as my partner’s being seeing aliens and won’t allow me to enter the house!”👽

If you find yourselves making up excuses contact us today to help with any tax returns you may have outstanding. Remember excuses like this the HMRC will not take to them kindly at all!

Important Tax Dates

31 January

This is the final deadline for online tax returns unless the notice to make an online tax return was issued by HMRC after 31 October 2019, in which case you have three months from the date of issue. This is also the deadline to pay any tax due for paper and online filers.

1 February

It’s important to be aware that filing your tax return late, or failing to pay the tax you owe on time, will probably mean you face extra penalty fees and interest charges, starting from the very next day!

5 April

This is the end of the tax year and shortly after this date, anyone who is required to file a tax return will receive a notice advising that you must file a tax return for the tax year just ended.

6 April

This is the start of the tax year. Why? Well, that’s a story dating back to 1582, read all about it here!

31 July

This is the deadline for additional payments if you make advanced payments on your account (known as ‘payments on account’) but you don’t want to miss this one – there are penalties if you do!

31 October

This is the deadline for filing a paper tax return, whether you choose to work out how much tax your owe yourself or want HMRC to do it. However, if you receive notice that you must file a tax return after 31 July 2017, you’ll need to send back the completed form within three months of the notice’s date of issue.

 

For all of your bookkeeping needs find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper and contact them today.

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Top 5 Small Business Management Tips

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SMEs (Small and medium-sized enterprises with 0-249 employees) make up 99.9% of UK businesses, meaning they’re the heart of the UK economy, so we’ve put together some small business management tips to help all succeed.

1. Invest in Marketing

The world we live in is a competitive one, with the internet making it easier to build a business.

As a rule of thumb, you should keep 10% of your revenue aside for marketing if you’re a startup SME and want to push your way into the crowded market place. If you’re an established SME then 5% of your revenue is sufficient enough.

Don’t ever think that because you’re established in the market you don’t need to spend any money on marketing, your market share will reduce dramatically.

Always have a marketing plan.

Here are a few marketing channels your company can invest in:

  • Facebook/Instagram Ads
  • PPC ads using Google
  • Online content marketing
  • Renting a stand at an exhibition
  • Network marketing and referrals

Use these channels from day one to build brand attention. loyalty and anticipation.

2. Invest in Employee Training

New employees are going to need to learn the ins and outs of the business quickly yet efficiently and investing in employee training will assist with this.

As well as new employees, make sure your existing ones have exactly the same training, even if they’ve been with you for a good few years.

Put together a training plan for all of your employees, you can find one specific for new employees on inc.com.

Sufficient staff training can benefit your business massively, here are a few benefits:

  • Improved employee performance
  • Improved employee satisfaction and morale
  • Being able to address weaknesses and accommodate these accordingly
  • Increase productivity
  • Reduce employee turnover
  • Gives you the ability to delegate certain tasks

There are many more reasons why employee training is vital to your business and you can find out more here.

3. Separate Personal and Business Finances

If you’re completing all of your bookkeeping yourself and mixing your personal and business expenses together then you’re making things a lot harder.

You would have to sit and sift through hundreds of receipts and separate them into business and personal, we can guarantee you haven’t got time for that.

If you initially keep them separate, then this is something you won’t need to do and will give you time to do other important tasks.

When the tax return deadline comes around, if you’re organised and have split your business and personal expenses, then you’re more likely to pay the right amount of tax for your business.

4. Schedule Meetings With Yourself

This may sound a bit crazy but you should schedule meetings with yourself to set time aside to make important business decisions and plan for future growth.

Remember, you’re the one responsible for the success or failure of your business, you’re the one your employees will come to for guidance, and if you don’t run a tight, well-organised ship, then your business will sink.

So every week book a meeting room for 30 minutes to an hour to take yourself away from your office. A different environment will take you out of your routine, help with creative thinking and productivity.

5. Get Professional Help

Don’t be scared to ask for help with certain tasks like your bookkeeping or maybe even marketing for your business there are always other SMEs out there willing to help.

One of the most time-consuming tasks in business is your bookkeeping and this can take you away from growing your business.

Remember, no one is an expert at everything, therefore, don’t try to be and ask for help with certain tasks.

 

Why do your bookkeeping yourself when you can pass this task on to a professional bookkeeping service like Rosemary Bookkeeping?

For more details on our bookkeeping services for your SMEs, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business and we’ll be able to assist with any queries.

 

 

 

 

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Checklist

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We’ve put together a bookkeeping checklist for you to follow and make sure you’ve got your books together.

Have a read to learn what is involved for your bookkeeping 👇👇

Bookkeeping Checklist

Bookkeeping Checklist by Rosemary Bookkeeping

Do you want to download the checklist to print it out to stick on your wall? Click here – Download

  1. Enter sales invoices
  2. Enter purchase invoices
  3. Enter cheque payments
  4. Enter bank receipts
  5. Enter petty cash receipts
  6. Reconcile bank accounts
  7. Reconcile credit card accounts
  8. Enter prepayments and accruals journals
  9. Enter depreciation journals
  10. Enter payroll journals (if required)
  11. Enter stock journals (if required)
  12. Run VAT return (if required)
  13. Run aged debtor and aged creditor reports
  14. Run Profit & Loss statement
  15. Run Balance Sheet
  16. Check all reports for accuracy

Confused over this Checklist?

If you’re not confident in your bookkeeping ability then this checklist may just look like a lot of words and not make any sense.

There is no need to worry, that is what we do on a daily basis and we’re always here to help in any way we can.

 

Find your local bookkeeping expert here

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Why Hiring A Bookkeeper Is Better For Your Business

Having your bookkeeping up to date is a vital part of your company’s long-term success in your business market.

With many new small businesses nowadays the owners feel like they have to do everything themselves, which includes bookkeeping.

Don’t ever feel like as a small business owner you are on your own, there are always companies willing to help with growing your business.

business

Organised Books Can Help With Business Growth

Being disorganised with your bookkeeping can make the job of maintaining positive cash flow and turning over a profit a lot more difficult.

Obviously, as a small business owner, you will want to make your life easier and not harder, so hiring a bookkeeper can sometimes be the best thing for your business.

One of the best things you can do in the current world is to start using digital tools, outsourcing to a professional, or both, which together can assist in managing tax deadlines and keeping up to date with any new government regulations, such as Making Tax Digital.

Accurate bookkeeping records lead to more in-depth and better informed financial projection and strategies, so this is definitely something that needs to be adopted for success.

Don’t Neglect Your Books

Your business’s bookkeeping is on your to-do list next month, great!

However, the majority of business owners will postpone their bookkeeping for a later date, this is a big no-no as you could miss important deadlines.

If you haven’t got long until a tax deadline and you rush your bookkeeping, mistakes will be made! This can result in incorrect tax submission, and potentially some kind of fine.

That is why hiring a bookkeeper like Rosemary Bookkeeping to keep your books on track will result in more time to grow your business.

Accurate Financial Information

An outsourced bookkeeper will always be able to provide you with efficient, accurate and up to date financial information when it’s needed for important times like quarterly board meetings or new investor meetings etc.

Another great reason for hiring an external bookkeeper is that you can save your company a bit of money!

Instead of hiring a full-time employee to complete your bookkeeping for you, an outsourced company like Rosemary Bookkeeping can be hired on a part-time basis when needed.

 

Rosemary Bookkeeping delivers an intelligent bookkeeping service to SME’s, Accountants and Franchisors ensuring a consistency of delivery and high-quality work.  Our practical, down to earth and friendly approach provides clients with information that enables them to understand and make decisions on their business, provides peace of mind that HMRC will be happy, with fair and reasonable charges.

Find your nearest Rosemary bookkeeper here.

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New bookkeeping business opens in Wyre Forest

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Having worked in finance for 15 years and a CIMA qualified accountant, Fiona Perks decided to take the leap into running her own bookkeeping business, which with the help from Rosemary Bookkeeping, became a reality.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest

“I can’t wait to get started and help local business to get their books organised,” said Fiona.

One of the main reasons that Fiona wanted a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise was because she wanted a better work-life balance, especially with a young family at home.

Fiona is motivated and very keen to grow her business and hopes to be able to offer flexible working options in the Wyre Forest area.

“I received nothing but positivity when in talks with Rosemary Bookkeeping at the start and everything just naturally fell into place”.

Sujay Patel, Rosemary Bookkeeping Network Support Manager added;

“I’m excited to see Fiona kicking off her Rosemary journey with a potential client already in the pipeline.”

If you’re looking for a bookkeeping specialist in the Wyre Forest area, contact Fiona Perks today at fionaperks@rosemarybooks.co.uk.

Find your local Rosemary bookkeeper here.

ServiceMaster has over 300 franchisees operating in close to 700 licensed areas under its brands, including Merry Maids, ServiceMaster Clean, Rosemary Bookkeeping, TruGreen Professional LawnCare and Furniture Medic.  Rosemary Bookkeeping has been recognised as a leading franchise opportunity in the Elite Franchise Top 100 franchises in the United Kingdom.

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8 Bookkeeping Tips for Small Businesses

There is one thing that most small business owners loath to do and that is bookkeeping.

We understand, there are a lot more riveting things you could be doing with your day! However, it is a legal requirement, so it needs to be done.

Good bookkeeping and accurate records are important in keeping your company running and financially healthy.

Here are 8 top tips for small business on how to improve your bookkeeping:

1.  Procrastinating is a no-no

Are you a procrastinator who leaves everything until the last minute?

Well, with bookkeeping, you can’t be! It can quickly get out of hand and pile up on your desk.

It is important that you keep on top of financial deadlines, for example Making Tax Digital on 1st April 2019.

MTD is a requirement for VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold to use the MTD service to keep records digitally and use software to submit their VAT returns.

If you feel like you don’t have time to do your bookkeeping and run other parts of your business as well, you can give Rosemary Bookkeeping a call to help with all of your bookkeeping needs.

2.  Bad filing systems

You need to make sure, as a business owner that you are keeping all of your old receipts and filing them correctly with accompanying paperwork.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “oh dear I don’t keep my receipts”, don’t worry there are plenty of business owners like this around the UK.

Get into a habit of when you get in the office every morning to pop your receipts in a folder. Even if this is being filed correctly later that day, at least you have made a start.

Are all of your invoices and bills in sequential order? If they aren’t, then they should be! This will make life a lot easier when it comes to any deadlines, or audits etc.

A quick tip is to start using cloud-based software. This software is very useful and saves you a lot of time when it comes to filing. It can scan your receipts, input important information about your business cash flow and also generate invoices.

3.  Mixing business with personal expenses

If you’re doing all of your bookkeeping yourself, and mixing your business and personal expenses then you’re making your bookkeeping a lot harder.

You would have to sit and sift through hundreds of receipts and separate them into business and personal.

If you initially keep them separate, then this is something you will not need to do and will give you time to do other important tasks.

When the tax return deadline comes around, if you’re organised and have split your business and personal expenses, then you’re more likely to pay the right amount of tax for your business.

4.  Being consistent with your accounts

If you can, set the same date every month to sit down for a good few hours to do get your bookkeeping and accounts in order for the last calendar month.

If you feel like you’re bogged down with too many other tasks, then you can always contact Rosemary Bookkeeping to take over the bookkeeping side of your business.

5.  Pay electronically

An easier way to keep an eye on and make your bookkeeping easier is to make sure all business transactions are paid on your business card and not with cash.

This is obviously, because of the information your bank would provide on a statement; amount, date and the recipients/company name.

6.  Employee classification

Many businesses have different classifications of employees, be it full-time employees, part-time employees and independent contractors.

Keeping these separate and correctly classified is important to avoid such things like any overpayment of taxes or misfiling.

7.  Backup, Backup, Backup!

We all know what technology is like, it can decide to turn off or have some kind of error at any time.

This is why backing up your data securely on a cloud-based platform is extremely important!

You need to make sure this is a secure platform that works in conjunction with GDPR to ensure the safety of your data.

8.  A light bit of reading

You would be surprised at how many business owners don’t read financial statements and just add them to their procrastination pile.

There are plenty of reasons why financial statements can help with your business and avoid a financial breakdown. Here are a few reasons:

  • See current/upcoming financial trends within your business sector
  • Gain insight into maximising your tax deductions for the year
  • Share with existing/potential investors as to how your business is performing
  • Stay in control of all of your cash flow

Those are but a few reasons why financial statements can help you run a business and keep your bookkeepers happy!

 

If you feel like you don’t understand the bookkeeping side of your business, or just don’t have time to do it, you can always contact your local Rosemary Bookkeeping office here.

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