Our Services
We are a full service professional firm, providing compliance and advisory services to private clients and business owners. We are a small business ourselves so we understand the challenges that you face on a daily basis.
Compliance Services
We provide a range of compliance services to support all aspects of business administration. We can help you by making sure accounts are prepared in the correct format, statutory books and other company secretarial records are kept up-to-date and that all statutory returns are prepared and submitted to the necessary agencies within the given time constraints. We will relieve you of the regulatory burden and leave you more time to concentrate on other, more important aspects of your business, i.e. making money.
In short, we will make sure that everything is in the right format, in the right place and at the right time.
Our range of compliance services include;
- Annual Accounts.
- Company Secretarial Services & Advice.
- Payroll Procedures & Advice.
- Tax Returns.
Business Support Services
The combination of our business knowledge and support services will help your business grow and increase profitability.
Management Information - Regular management information is vital to the continued success of any business. We work closely with you to get to know your business so we can make suggestions to help improve profits or to develop and grow your business. We can prepare monthly or quarterly management accounts to ensure you always have reliable and accurate information on which to base your business decisions.
Payroll Bureau - Running a payroll system can be time consuming and complicated, diverting resources away from the core activities of your business. We can address this by installing a computerised payroll system and training your staff in its use. Alternatively, outsourcing this activity can help relieve the pressure and we can offer cost effective solutions to this end, no matter the size or complexity of your business.
Bookkeeping Bureau - We can help you with all your general bookkeeping requirements, either at your office or ours. You may require help to write up books or need us to add the finishing touches to information held on your existing bookkeeping systems in order to create your own management information. If you do not employ a bookkeeper then we can take up that role, or help you recruit the right person for your business.
Business Planning & Forecasts - Every business should plan ahead to ensure success but daily business pressures often conspire to delay the strategic planning process. Financial forecasts are a crucial part of any business plan and we will ensure that these are both meaningful and robust.
Liaising with Banks & Institutions - We offer support when liaising with banks and other financial institutions. Drawing on our wealth of experience we can support our clients through this often daunting experience.
Consultancy & IT Systems Advice
Your professional and personal goals are central to our consulting services; we take time to get to know you better so we can offer the best advice.
Management Consultancy - Our management consultancy service can review your credit control, stock control, budgeting and financial reporting systems and allow you to take full control of these key areas of your business. We can also help you address specific problem areas in your business such as gross profit, cost control and stock valuation.
Effective management information will allow you to seize opportunities when they arise or identify problems quickly so you can take effective corrective action.
Information Technology (IT) - Information Technology is one of the key resources available to every business to achieve its short and long term objectives. With our experience we can assist you in the following way;
- Hardware selection.
- Supply and Installation.
- Software selection.
- Training and implementation.
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If you are spending too much time writing up books, typing invoices and chasing debts, we can help you to take control by computerising your accounts system. We can help you to make the best use of your IT resources to produce financial information that is accurate and appropriate for running your business efficiently. With the correct accounting software you will save hours of repetitive work leaving you more time to deal with the more important areas of your business.
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In short whether you are investing in new technology, reviewing existing systems or have simply outgrown your current resources, we can help.
Business Start-Ups
Most people starting up in business do so because they have a good business proposition and the vision and commitment to see it through. However, they may not be experts in the legal as financial aspects of running a business and such matters often appear daunting. Fortunately you do not need to be an expert in these field to succeed in business, but you do need the support of tried and tested experts. We can help you, just bring us our business ideas and we will help you to make them a reality. We are able to assist in the following areas;
- Decide on a suitable structure for your business venture - sole trader partnership, limited liability partnership or limited company.
- Prepare a business plan, cash flow projection, budgets and trading forecasts.
- Assess your financial requirements, advise on the best sources of finance and draw up the necessary proposals.
- Establish a good working relationship with your bank.
- Comply with any registration procedures with HMRC and Companies House.
- Deal with all company secretarial issues.
- Setup an internal transaction recording system that suits you and your budget whilst complying fully with statutory requirements.
- Deciding what computer hardware to buy and help with the installation and implementation/training of bookkeeping software.
- Provide a bureau service for all your bookkeeping, payroll and other accounting needs as required.
- Help with all aspects of business compliance and administration.
Corporation Tax Services
As tax advisers, our objective is to work closely with you to ensure you pay the minimum tax required by law. We will help you understand the tax implication of your actions in order that you can plan ahead and conduct your affairs in a tax efficient manner.
Under Corporation Tax Self Assessment (CTA), the legal responsibility for correctly calculating the corporation tax liability falls on the business owners. We understand the issues facing owner-managed businesses and can prepare tax returns in a timely and efficient manner. We will also calculate your companies tax liability and assist with the calculation of any quarterly instalment payments.
With the increased reporting obligations and investigation policies on the part of the tax authorities including harsher penalties for non-compliance, this means that your time and resources can be taken up with tax administration. We will help to minimise corporation tax exposure and relieve the administrative burden of compliance with current tax legislation. Effective corporate tax planning can also result in significant improvements in business profitability.
Personal Tax (including sole traders & partnerships)
We are specialists in income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.
Self Assessment - We have the expertise and software to take the headache out of the form filling and compliance aspect of Self Assessment. We can provide you with practical advice on your personal tax position and the planning opportunities available to you. We can complete and electronically file tax returns, calculate any tax liabilities and advise you on exactly when to make payments and how much to pay.
Personal Tax Planning - Today, more and more emphasis is being put on taxpayers' individual responsibilities and everyone who is subject to taxation needs professional advice and support if they are to optimise their tax position and ensure they meet the compliance requirements. We can provide you with year-round advice on all aspects of personal taxation.
Estate Planning - Few of us like to think about dying, however the relevant legislation requires us to plan well in advance. This means making the necessary provisions now. There are many tax opportunities available and the earlier arrangements are made the greater the chance of taking full advantage of our complicated tax system. It is important when planning to transfer an estate that adequate provision is made and getting the right balance requires considerable skill and foresight - along with detailed knowledge of the current tax regime. We provide a discrete comprehensive estate planning service that includes;
- Help with planning and renewing a will.
- Making full use of exemptions and lower tax rates on lifetime transfers.
- Optimising lifetime transfers between family members.
- Transferring agricultural or business property.
- Transferring assets into trust.
- Arranging adequate life assurance to cover potential inheritance tax liabilities.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Ever changing regulations and the growing demands of HMRC mean VAT compliance can be a difficult administrative process. We can help to ensure that you comply with the regulations and that overpayments are not made. To help manage this complex area we provide and efficient, cost effective VAT service, which includes;
- Assistance with VAT registration.
- Advice on VAT planning and administration.
- Use of the most appropriate VAT Scheme.
- VAT control and reconciliation.
- Assistance with completion of VAT Returns.
- Planning to minimise future problems with HMRC.
- Negotiating with HMRC in disputes and representation at VAT Tribunals where necessary.
HMRC Investigations
Being the subject of a tax investigation by HMRC can be a stressful and worrying experience. With the onset of Personal and Corporate Self Assessment, HMRC staff can now review cases on a 'sample basis' which consequently means tax investigations have become more frequent.
We have a wealth of experience in dealing with HMRC investigations, whether they are enquiries into an individual's or corporate Tax Returns under the Self Assessment regime, employer related investigations into PAYE and P11D compliance or more detailed enquiries into other areas of your affairs.
If you are about to be the subject of an investigation we can provide expert help and support to you or your business.
Fee Protection Service
With the increased risk of tax investigations it may be worth considering protecting yourself and your business from unexpected costs. An investigation will undoubtedly result in additional accountancy work being undertaken. The amount of work will depend upon the complexity of the case but the cost could be substantial. For a small annual fee (usually around £50 - £75 per year), our Fee Protection Scheme will ensure that you are fully protected against such costs up to a limit of £75,000.
Please ask us for a copy of our leaflet giving more details on this service..
Currently this cover is arranged through Taxwise Services Limited (FSA No 304970) and underwritten by Irwell Insurance Company Limited (FSA No 202897) but is subject to change from time to time.
Investments & Pensions
In today's complicated and strictly regulated financial services market, providing independent advice requires specialist knowledge. We make use of our professional contacts to ensure that you have a suitable independent adviser and work with them to provide you with impartial advice in areas such as;
- Pension Schemes.
- Life Assurance.
- Critical Illness Cover.
- Private Medical Insurance & Care Plans.
- Individual Savings Accounts.
- Investments.
