All Knowledge Base Articles
Browse all 124 articles organised by category. For search and filtering, visit the Knowledge Base.
Bookkeeping
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Changing Spreadsheets
This article helps if you do need to amend the set data on the spreadsheets
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Advertising Home Bookkeeping Services In The UK
Internet and local media advertising are useful sources to start up and promote home bookkeeping services
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Bookkeeping Software And Bookkeeping Services
All small businesses have to choose between keeping manual records of financial transactions and the benefits, advantages and disadvantages of utilising bookkeeping software and or employing bookkeepi
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Getting Started with the Company Limited Package
This article will help you get started using the Company Limited Package
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How Bookkeepers Can Network To Grow Bookkeeping Services Business
Networking by personal contact with prospective clients is undoubtedly the best way for bookkeepers to start up and promote home bookkeeping services
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Lower Tax Bills Small Business Bookkeeping
Tax authorities are often relaxed about the need for small business to prepare and produce formal accounting records
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Small Business Accounting Software Is Simple Bookkeeping Spreadsheets
There is a major difference between sophisticated accounting software used by larger businesses for financial control purposes than is required for small business where a simple bookkeeping spreadshee
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Small Business Accounting Software Selection Improves Financial Control
Maintaining accounting records can be difficult for any business, especially self employed and small business organisations where a lack of accounting knowledge can be prohibitive
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Software Spreadsheets Are Essential Small Business Accounting Tools
Accurate financial records must be kept by every business and bookkeeping software spreadsheets can satisfy this requirement
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Solve Business Problems Before They Become Critical With Accounting Software
Running a business and ignoring or having inadequate accounting software is like building a house on top of a bonfire and not bothering to fit a fire alarm
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Solve Business Problems Before They Become Critical With Accounting Software
Running a business and ignoring or having inadequate accounting software is like building a house on top of a bonfire and not bothering to fit a fire alarm
Sole Trader
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Accounting Period Over 12 Months
This article is information on how you would record an accounting period of over 12 months
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Accounting Periods And Basis Periods For Self Employed Business
Self employed business can use its own accounting period but the tax position can become more complex if the accounts use a basis period rather than the standard financial tax year
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Using Tax Accounting Software To Produce Self employed Tax Returns
Tax accounting software has its basics in each of the three elements of the title
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Accounting Periods And Basis Periods For Self Employed Business
Self employed business can use its own accounting period the tax position can become more complex if the accounts use a basis period rather than the standard financial tax year
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Basic Sole Trader Last Year Figures Brought Forward
This article explains how you record last year's figures in this current year's Basic Sole Trader package
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Financial Control Using Self Employed Single Entry Bookkeeping System
Single entry bookkeeping is an accounting practise that can be employed by small business and in particular self employed business where a balance sheet is not required for financial control or tax pu
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Income Tax Rates Calculator In Accounts Ledger
Incorporating a UK tax calculator into the accounts ledger with the income tax rates can simplify the tax calculation when submitting the 2008 tax return
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Registering and Advantages Filing Self Assessment Tax Return Online
Every self employed business is required to register the business with HMRC within three months of commencing trading
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Self Assessment Tax Return Profit Loss Account
Applicable for the self assessment tax return up to financial tax year 2006-07
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Self Employed Accounting and the Self Assessment Tax Return
Accounting Software for the self employed businessman in the UK does not have to be complex
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Self Employed And Small Business Tax Question And Answers
What is Business Turnover?
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Self Employed Registration Tax Return Form
There is no strict definition of self employment as opposed to not being self employed however the basic rule is if you have income other than is taxed under the paye system then you may be self emplo
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Self Employed Status Rules
The employment status of a worker can be a veritable minefield for an employer if the wrong decision is made
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Self Employed Tax Return Form Capital Tax Allowances
While a potential difficult area for the non accountant capital allowances reduce the net tax payable
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Self Employed Tax Tips
Being Self Employed in the UK carries with it responsibility to sort out your own tax affairs which requires good records of the business income and expenses to minimise tax liability
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Sole trader basic accounts income and expenditure basic tax
A sole trader in the UK can operate a very basic accounting system
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Sole Trader Self Employed Tax Return
Anyone in business in the UK who is a sole trader or self employed and not incorporated into a limited company must complete a tax return of their financial affairs each year
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Starting Basic Accounts Bookkeeping At Home Saves Assessment Tax
The financial benefits of preparing basic accounts bookkeeping records and producing the self assessment tax return can be overlooked
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Starting Basic Accounts Bookkeeping At Home Saves Assessment Tax
The financial benefits of preparing basic accounts bookkeeping records and producing the self assessment tax return can be overlooked
Company Accounts
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Cash Accounting Scheme
This article explains how to use the Cash Accounting Scheme rather than the Double Entry Scheme
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CIS vs Corporation Tax
This article explains how to record CIS deductions and income received
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Common Accounting Questions for a New Business Owner
Starting you own business brings in a lot of new concepts and terms
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Finding Your Month End For Company Accounts
How to find your Month End for a UK Limited Company using the Companies House Website
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Accountants Choose Double Entry Bookkeeping For Accuracy
Double entry bookkeeping is the technique employed by accounting software to accurately record financial transactions stretching back hundreds of years Double entry bookkeeping means every financial t
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Accounting And Audit Exemptions For Small Companies
Small and medium sized companies in the UK can take advantage of supplying abbreviated year end accounts to Companies House which have not been audited by independent accountants
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Accounts Audit
This article helps you audit your accounts to help find any errors
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Balance Sheet Financial Statement Of Assets And Liabilities
A balance sheet is the financial statement of company accounts showing fixed and current assets, long term and current liabilities at a specified date
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Basic Bookkeeping For Small Business Can Save Money
Every business is required to keep a set of financial records to enable those accounts to be submitted and the tax payable calculated
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CT600Corporation Tax Return Software
Corporation Tax Records
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Dividend Tax Credit, Dividends Tax Rate and Income Tax on Dividends
Procedures in declaring dividends and calculating the dividend tax credit and understanding the position with regard to income tax on dividends
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Double Entry Bookkeeping May Be The Only Option
The bookkeeping system adopted by a business is based upon double entry bookkeeping principles for all limited companies but self employed businesses may use a single entry bookkeeping system if a sta
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How Do I Input a Transaction for Corporation Tax Refunds
This article explains how to input a transaction for Corporation Tax Refunds
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How Do I Use A Double Entry Bookkeeping Accounts System?
This article explains Double Entry Bookkeeping Accounts
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Software Can Be Sophisticated Or Simple Bookkeeping But Rarely Both
Many types of accounting software exist to record the financial transactions of business and provide the management with financial control to achieve the profit and loss performance required
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Which Expenses are Non Allowable for Corporation Tax Relief?
This article helps explain Non Allowable Expenses for Corporation Tax
Company Formation
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How Do I Process Directors Loans & Dividends?
This article gives information on Directors Loans & Dividends
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Annual Return And Accounting Rules For A UK Dormant Company
Rules apply to dormant companies in the UK with regard to accounting documents and submission of information to companies house that needs attention even if the company has not traded during its finan
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Articles of Association during company formation
The Articles of Association of a limited liability company are an essential element of any limited company formation since the Articles of Association set out the rules and regulations by which the in
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Benefits of Limited Liability Company Formation
The essentials ingredients required for company formation of a new limited liability company in the UK
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Essentials of a Memorandum of Association
Every company registered in the UK must have a Memorandum of Association that defines the scope, powers and objects of the limited liability company
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Free limited company directors report for year end accounts report
Sample directors report required when the company director submits the company year end accounts to HMRC requiring a limited company directors report
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Introducing Share Capital
This article explains how to introduce Share Capital in your accounts
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Limited Liability Company Formation Made Simple
Registration of a limited company in the UK is not complex
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Name A Company Using The Company Name Search
Choosing a name for company during formation is not difficult but there are rules which have to be adhered to regarding the choice of company name
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What Happens Next After A UK Limited Liability Company Formation
After forming a company in the UK the directors have a number of immediate responsibilities in regard to the newly registered company
VAT
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Accounting For VAT With Making Tax Digital
Self employed business can use its own accounting period but the tax position can become more complex if the accounts use a basis period rather than the standard financial tax year
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Company Accounts VAT Inspection
The first step to keeping out of trouble is to understand the basics of the paperwork required
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Example Making Tax Digital Article
This article includes steps by step instructions and an example of an actual Making Tax Digital (MTD) submission
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Introduction VAT Registration
When the sales turnover of a business reaches the VAT threshold, currently £90,000 per annum (from April 2024), then registration for VAT is compulsory
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Sole traders starting your own new sole trader business set up
Information for sole traders starting your own new sole trader business set up including how to start up business, basic accounts and easy accounting
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Tax Accounting Software and Company Corporation Tax Return
Tax accounting software for a private limited company in the UK includes the prime elements of using accounting software to produce the required quarterly vat returns and annual net profit with the ta
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UK Accounting Reference Dates For Private Limited Companies
All companies and self employed businesses including dormant non trading companies have a legal requirement to keep a set of annual financial accounts for tax purposes
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VA Tregisteredcompaniesclaiming VA Tregistration
When a business registers for VAT the VAT rate should be added to all sales from the date of registration
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VAT Registration Schemes Thresholds
VAT Registration
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How to Submit Your VAT Return Using Making Tax Digital
A step-by-step guide to submitting VAT returns through Making Tax Digital (MTD), including who must comply, software requirements, and how to use DIY Accounting's free submission service
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MTD VAT Return Deadlines and Penalty Points System
Understand the new points-based penalty system for late VAT returns introduced in January 2023, including deadlines for monthly, quarterly and annual returns, and late payment interest rules
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VAT Flat Rate Scheme: How It Works for Small Businesses
A guide to the VAT Flat Rate Scheme for small businesses, including eligibility, flat rate percentages, limited cost trader rules, and how the scheme works with Making Tax Digital
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Free MTD VAT Bridging Software for Spreadsheet Users
Learn what MTD VAT bridging software is, why spreadsheet users need it, and how DIY Accounting provides a free bridging service to submit VAT returns directly to HMRC
Expenses & Allowances
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Business Expenses Reduce Tax Bills
Allowable costs for tax purposes include the cost of goods bought for resale including the cost of raw materials and all costs of production after adjusting the cost of sales for changes to the openin
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Business Tax Reform In The UK Introduces Annual Investment Allowance
From 1st April 2008 for small limited companies and 6th April for unincorporated self employed businesses in the UK the previous capital allowance structure of first year allowances and writing down a
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Capital Allowances
This article explains how Capital Allowances are calculated within the accounts
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Claiming Mileage Allowance Expenses
First examine the facts as they exist in the current financial year 2007-08
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Disallowed Business Expenses
The costs of goods, materials or services purchased by a business which are for private use are not allowable for tax purposes
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Subsistence Travel Expenses Tax Allowances and Car Mileage Rates
Business journeys incur travelling expenses that can be deducted from net taxable profit as tax allowances for car mileage rates, meal allowances and travel and subsistence allowance expenses
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Written Down Book Value and Tax Value
This article explains how to use the Written Down Book Value and Written Down Tax Value columns within the Fixed Assets spread sheet
Payroll & PAYE
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Directors Wages
How do I Input Directors Wages into my Accounts?
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Basic Sole Trader Income Tax Calculation
This article explains the use of the Income Tax sheet within the Basic Sole Trader package
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Benefits Outsourcing Payroll Against Payroll Software
Every business that employs people is responsible for using a payroll system and the alternatives are for the business to arrange for outsourcing payroll, use a payroll software package or produce the
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Choosing A Small Business Payroll Software Package
Running a successful small business presupposes the proprietor is Jack of all Trades when in reality the truth is they are Master of One
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DIY Accounting Limited Company Accounting Software
DIY Accounting Software for UK limited liability companies is a series of bookkeeping templates on excel spreadsheets, suitable for any small limited company producing an automated monthly profit and
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DIY Accounting Small Business Accounting Software UK
DIY Accounting small business accounting software UK package is a series of templates written on excel spreadsheets, suitable for any self-employed business whether vat registered or not producing an
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DIY Accounting UK Income Tax Paye Employers Payroll Software Solution
DIY Accounting Paye payroll software using a paye calculator to calculate income tax and national insurance, payroll system prints payslips and produce the paye 2008 revenue forms for a complete paye
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Inland revenue Paye returns tax pay national insurance scheme
Pay as you earn administration and maintaining payroll records is time consuming and all small businesses require a tax pay national insurance scheme
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Pay As You Earn Wages And Salaries Tax Scheme Explained
The PAYE system is a payroll administration system whereby employers deduct on a weekly or monthly basis income tax and national insurance contributions from employees wages and salaries
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Paye P45 review new employees pay tax & lost national insurance no
A new employer needs to register with HMRC as an employer and operate a PAYE scheme and make important checks on each new employee recruited and complete the initial paperwork to set up the employees
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Payroll Essentials for New Employers
An employee is anyone who works on a full time, part time or casual basis for the business and includes company directors
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Review DIY Accounting Small Business Paye Administration and Payroll Software
DIY Accounting Payroll Software is unusually written on a series of excel accounting spreadsheet templates
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Top Paye Questions Answered
Employers and particularly new employers ask a variety of questions in administering the PAYE scheme
Taxi Driver
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Taxi Drivers Miss Out on Capital Tax Allowances
Taxi drivers who employ a taxi accountant to prepare their taxi accounts may or may not be at risk of under claiming capital tax allowances
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Capital Tax Allowance Tax Rules For Taxi Accounts
Capital tax allowances are allowances on fixed assets a business may claim as a deduction from net profit to arrive at the net taxable profit
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DIY Accounting Cabsmart Taxi Driver Accounts
The majority of taxi drivers have little accounting or bookkeeping knowledge and the DIY Accounting Cabsmart package for taxi drivers reviewed here requires no previous accountancy experience from the
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Easy Taxi Driver Accounting
Taxi drivers must fill in a self employed tax return if they have worked as a taxi driver at anytime during the financial year
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Small Business Tax Investigations
The essential first step to be taken by a small business un regard to a tax inspection happens long before that small business is advised a tax enquiry is about to take place
Financial Planning
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How Do I Work out the Cost of a Sale for Net Profit?
This article explains how to work out the Cost of Sale for Net Profit
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A Revenue Budget Is An Essential Management Information Tool
The revenue budget is an essential business management accounting tool monitoring actual financial performance against financial targets
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Accounting For Profit With Marginal Costing
Marginal costing is an accounting term in which costs and expenses are identified by their variability according to the volume of goods bought or produced
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Beat the Credit Squeeze With Flexible Business Finance
Five proactive steps a business can take to beat the credit squeeze including business finance, planning and taking a positive approach to meeting and solving the problems that might arise
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Bookkeeping Records On Cash Or Accrual Accounting Basis
Every business is required by the tax authority to keep bookkeeping records to enable the net taxable profit or loss to be calculated
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Business Accounting Software Can Improve Financial Performance
A talented entrepreneur may have all the skills in the world but only achieves the desired level of financial performance by paying acute attention to the profitability of the business
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Cash Flow by Managing Stock Levels To See Off The Credit Crunch
When times get hard and 2008 has all the hallmarks of being a difficult financial year control over cash flow is critical
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Cash Flow Early Warning Signs Are Crucial When The Credit Crunch Bites
Preparing a cash flow forecast can be an effective business tool in identifying adverse liquidity trends within a business at the earliest stages
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Cash Flow Management Issues Relating To Business Finance In A Credit Crunch
Business finance and cash flow management is a critical business area every business must get right to survive
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Cash Flow Management of Debtors And Creditors In A Credit Crunch
Cash flow management is a critical of business finance that every business must get right to survive
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Cost Accounting For Profit With Accounting Software
Small business often accepts business expenses as inevitable and while some effort is usually made to keep expenses down it is often done without reference to the accounts
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Getting Paid On Time And Debt Recovery When The Credit Crunch Bites
Making sure customers pay on time within the terms and conditions of the business is a serious issue and critical in days of a credit crunch, Late payments and bad debts cause liquidity and cash flow
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Increase Small Business Profits Through Business Review And Planning
There are several ways a business can improve profitability
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Introducing Cash
This article explains how you would show cash being introduced into your accounts
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Personal Qualities Required To Be An Entrepreneur And Start Your Own Business
The success of every small business and especially a new start up business is dependent upon the personal qualities and abilities of the small business owner
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Preparing The Financial Section Of Business Plan To Start A New Business
Guessing is not an option
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Producing A Successful Business Plan To Start A New Business
Every new business start up has a business plan that varies in sophistication from a few brief thoughts, an idea or aspiration to a formal written document setting out all major elements
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Sales Accounting For Profit With Accounting Software
Many small businesses concentrate on the job in hand and treat bookkeeping as an administrative burden
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The Credit Crunch Is Fuelled By Fuel Prices With Demand Increasing Faster Than Supply
Much of the financial crisis in the world is caused by a lack of confidence between banks and financial institutions and their clients which are symptoms of the credit crunch not the root cause
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Use Accounting Software To Make Business More Profitable
Big business uses the financial function and accounting software to analyse and improve financial performance through financial control and the exploitation of opportunities
Tax
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CIS Deductions
This article explains how to input the transactions for CIS deductions
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Time to Pay
This article explains what to do if you cannot pay your tax bill on time
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Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (ITSA)
An overview of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA), including who will need to comply from April 2026, what changes to expect, and how to prepare
General
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Help on: paying without a PayPal account
You can pay using your credit card but without using a PayPal Account
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How do I Show Loan Payments in the Current Account?
This small article gives information on showing Loan Payments within the package
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How To Set A Sales Price For Your Product Or Service
Setting the price at which a business sells its products or services is one of the most crucial decisions a business must make
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Showing Overdraft figure in Current Account
This small article gives information on showing Overdraft figures within the package
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Taxrelief Work Vehicle
It is common practise for a UK employer to pay an employee expenses when that employee uses his own vehicle for business journeys
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Two Tier Affiliate Program
Affiliate programs offer an excellent opportunity to make money online with two tier affiliate programs potentially the most lucrative of all providing a viral network for the affiliate marketing prog
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Using Our Packages On A Mac
This article will inform you how to use our DIY packages on a Mac