Small Business Advice
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Domestic Reverse Charge VAT for Construction: When Does It Apply?
The domestic reverse charge can change who accounts for VAT on a construction invoice. It often causes confusion because the work may look like an ordinary VATable job, yet the supplier’s invoice and the customer’s VAT…
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Landlord Repairs or Improvements? Why the Difference Matters for Tax
A landlord may spend a substantial amount between tenancies, but not every property cost is treated in the same way for tax. Repairing what is already there can be different from improving or adding to the property.…
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Business Vehicle Costs: Buying, Leasing and Mileage Explained
A vehicle decision has several moving parts: purchase price, finance, running costs, business use and tax treatment. The cheapest monthly payment is not necessarily the lowest overall cost. Before you buy or lease,…
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VAT Cash Accounting: Could It Suit Your Business?
For a business that gives customers time to pay, a VAT bill can arrive before the customer settles the invoice. The VAT Cash Accounting Scheme may help with that timing. It changes when eligible businesses account for…
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Late Paying Customers: A Practical Guide for Small Businesses
An unpaid invoice affects more than the balance on a customer account. It can delay wages, supplier payments and the next job. The most useful response is a consistent process that starts before the invoice becomes…
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Retail Stock and Cash Flow: How Much Money Is Sitting on Your Shelves?
A shop can look well stocked while cash is tight. Every product bought but not yet sold represents money that cannot be used for rent, wages or the next supplier bill. Stock decisions therefore deserve the same…
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How to Price a Job Properly: Labour, Materials, Overheads and Profit
A full diary does not guarantee that every job is worthwhile. For tradespeople and service businesses, the price must cover the direct cost of doing the work, a fair share of running costs and a return for the risk and…
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Sole Trader or Limited Company? Questions to Ask as Your Business Grows
Choosing a business structure affects more than the tax return you file. It changes how you take money from the business, the records you keep and the responsibilities you accept. There is no single turnover figure at…
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What to Do If You Cannot Pay Your Tax Bill on Time
A tax bill you cannot pay in full is stressful, but avoiding it can make the position harder to manage. The first useful step is to establish exactly what is due, when it is due and what you can realistically pay. That…
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Dormant Companies: What Must You Still File?
A company that has stopped trading does not simply disappear from the Companies House register. It may be dormant, but some duties continue. The word “dormant” also has different meanings for Companies House and HMRC,…