Guides
Limited companies guides.
Everything we've written on limited companies — plain English, no jargon, written by Björgvin.
30 guides
Best payroll setup for UK SMEs (roles, controls, calendar), 2025/26
Best Payroll Setup for UK SMEs (2025/26): Roles, Controls & Calendar The practical UK SME payroll playbook: who does what, maker–checker controls that prevent errors, and a 2025/26 payroll calendar (RTI, PAYE, AE, P60/P11D). Includes a 52-week cashflow tie-in and when to switch from DIY to outsourced.
5 min readCashflow Forecasting for Payroll (UK 2025/26): keep salaries paid, on time, every time
Cashflow Forecasting for Payroll (UK 2025/26), 52-Week, HMRC & Pension-Aware Turn payroll dates into reliable cash. Map payday → HMRC (PAYE/NIC) → pension scheme in a rolling 52-week forecast, avoid 22nd-day surprises, and plan buffers.
6 min readWeekly vs Monthly Payroll (UK 2025/26): cashflow & admin trade-offs
Weekly vs Monthly Payroll (UK 2025/26): Cashflow & Admin Trade-offs Should you pay staff weekly or monthly? See real cash timelines (PAYE by the 22nd, pensions by 19/22), admin workload (FPS/EPS), worked examples, and how to model both in a 52-week forecast.
5 min readEmployer NIC Cost Impact (UK 2025/26): Worked Examples, Team Scenarios & One-Page Planner
Employer NIC Cost Impact (UK 2025/26): Worked Examples & Planner See how 2025/26 employer NIC rules affect your SME. Worked examples, team scenarios, Employment Allowance and a copy-paste NIC planner.
5 min readDividend Paperwork: Minutes & Vouchers (UK)
Dividend Paperwork (UK): Board Minutes & Dividend Vouchers [Templates]. How to document UK dividends correctly: board minutes, dividend vouchers, reserves checks, record-keeping (6–10 years), and pitfalls to avoid with copy-paste templates.
4 min readDividend Tax 2025/26 (UK): rates, allowance, bands, examples & planning
Dividend Tax 2025/26 (UK): Rates, £500 Allowance & Examples UK dividend tax 2025/26 explained: £500 allowance, 8.75%/33.75%/39.35% rates, band thresholds, examples, reporting rules and director-level planning.
8 min readDividend vs Bonus (Directors, 2025/26): Which pays more net?
Dividend vs Bonus (Directors, 2025/26): Which Pays More Net? | UK NIC & CT Modelling Clear 2025/26 comparison of dividends vs bonuses for UK directors—employer NI 15%, employee NI 8%/2%, dividend allowance £500, dividend tax rates, CT at 19%–25% (with marginal relief). Worked examples + rules of thumb.
5 min readHow to Pay Yourself as a Limited Company Director (UK 2025/26)
How to Pay Yourself as a Limited Company Director (UK 2025/26): Salary, Dividends & Total Tax Explained
4 min readIllegal Dividends (UK): How to Avoid & Fix
Illegal Dividends (UK): How to Avoid & Fix Reserves, Back-Dating, Director’s Loans UK guide to unlawful dividends: what triggers them, how to fix (reclassify to director’s loan, s455 at 33.75%), and how to avoid with proper minutes and vouchers. GOV.UK & Companies Act backed.
7 min readPayments on Account for Dividends (UK): how they work, when you’re hit, and how to plan cashflow
Payments on Account for Dividends (UK): Dates, Rules & How to Reduce. HMRC payments on account explained for dividend taxpayers: who pays, 31 Jan/31 Jul deadlines, £1,000/80% tests, first-year bill shock, SA303 reductions, interest/penalties.
7 min readReporting Dividends: Self Assessment (UK) what to file, when to register, and where to put the numbers
Reporting Dividends (UK): Self Assessment, £10k Rule & Deadlines. When and how to report UK dividends in Self Assessment: the £10,000 rule, register by 5 Oct, where to enter dividends (SA100), 30 Dec coding-out, 31 Jan/31 Jul payments.
7 min readDIY Bookkeeping Checklist (UK 2025/26): Minimum You Must Do to Stay Compliant
💬 Introduction One of the most common questions UK business owners ask is:“What bookkeeping tasks do I actually need to do and how often?” It’s a fair question. Between chasing invoices, logging expenses, and staying on top of VAT returns, it’s easy to feel unsure whether you’re doing enough. From April 2026, Making Tax Digital […]
7 min readHow Much Does an Accountant Cost in the UK (2025)?
Discover average accountant fees in the UK for limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, and property investors. Understand what drives costs — and how to save without cutting corners.
6 min readRolling Cashflow Forecasts: How to Stay Ahead of Surprises
Rolling Cashflow Forecasts (52-Week Guide for UK SMEs) Learn how to build a 52-week rolling cashflow forecast for your UK business. Spot cash gaps early, plan tax & payroll, and avoid nasty surprises.
5 min readWhy Management Accounts Matter for Growing UK SMEs (2025/26)
Introduction | If You’re Growing, Annual Accounts Aren’t Enough One of the biggest mistakes growing businesses make is relying on year-end accounts for insight. By the time you see those numbers, it’s too late to change anything. That’s where management accounts come in, monthly or quarterly reports designed for you, not HMRC. They show how […]
4 min readShould You Hold Property in an SPV or Your Own Name? (UK, 2025/26)
SPV vs Own Name for Buy-to-Let (UK 2025/26): The Clear, Number-First Answer. Section 24 vs SPV explained with a worked example, SDLT, CGT and dividend tax. See the numbers for your rent, costs, rate and tax band.
5 min readEmployment Allowance Explained (UK 2025/26): Eligibility, How to Claim, and Savings Tactics
Employment Allowance Explained (UK 2025/26): Eligibility, EPS Claim & £10,500 Savings. Cut employer NI by up to £10,500 in 2025/26. See who qualifies, how to claim EA via EPS/Basic PAYE Tools, and how to maximise cashflow under the 15% rate.
4 min readLimited Company Setup Checklist (UK 2025/26)
Everything you need to register, comply and stay on top of your new company explained in plain English. Thinking of setting up a limited company this year?Whether you’re a consultant, a small business owner, or a property investor, you’re probably asking: “How to set up a limited company in the UK” It’s a fair question. […]
7 min readNIC, PAYE & Pension Costs (UK 2025/26): What Employers Must Budget For
NIC, PAYE & Pension Costs (UK 2025/26): Employer Rates, Thresholds & Deadlines. See 2025/26 UK employer costs at a glance: Employer NIC 15%, ST £5,000, PAYE due by the 22nd, Class 1A/1B at 15%, auto-enrolment 3% on QE. With GOV.UK sources.
5 min readOutsourced Bookkeeping + Month‑End Review Plan (UK 2025/26)
Outsourced Bookkeeping + Month‑End Review Plan (UK 2025/26): What’s Included, Costs & Compliance A They Ask, You Answer guide for UK SMEs (5–30+ staff). See exactly what outsourced bookkeeping includes, how month‑end review works, what it costs, and the key GOV.UK deadlines you must hit.
7 min readPayroll Services UK (2025/26): What’s Included, Typical Costs & Key Compliance Dates
Payroll Services UK (2025/26): What’s Included, Costs & Key Dates. Outsourcing payroll in the UK for 2025/26? See what’s included, typical costs per payslip, PAYE/RTI deadlines, auto-enrolment duties, and how to stay compliant.
7 min readSetting Up a Ltd Company for Properties: Holding Company, Group Structure & SPV Explained
Setting Up a Ltd Company for Property (UK): SPV & Holding Company Explained When to use an SPV or a holding-company group, how to set it up, tax on rental profits, SDLT/CGT, lender requirements, and simple checklists you can follow.
10 min readQuarterly Tax-Planning Check-Ins: Employment Allowance & Benefits-in-Kind (UK 2025/26)
Quarterly Tax Planning UK 2025/26: EA & Payrolling Benefits Cut employer NIC with quarterly check-ins. Claim the £10,500 Employment Allowance, manage P11D/Class 1A (15%) dates, and prepare for mandatory payrolling in 2027.
6 min readCashflow Forecasting Services (UK 2025/26): Rolling 52-Week Forecasts That Stop Surprises
Cashflow Forecasting Services (UK 2025/26): Rolling 52-Week Forecasts That Stop Surprises. Lender-ready 52-week cashflow forecasting for UK SMEs (5–30 staff). Weekly cadence, HMRC dates baked in, scenario planning and dashboards, so you act early, not after the fact. (Includes 13-week lender extract.)
6 min readShould You Do Your Own Bookkeeping or Outsource It? (UK 2025/26)
DIY vs Outsourced Bookkeeping (UK 2025/26): Costs, Risks & When to Switch. Not sure whether to DIY or outsource your bookkeeping? Compare time cost, software, compliance risks and growth impact. Includes MTD, VAT, and PAYE rules (UK 2025/26) with GOV.UK sources.
6 min readOutsourced Cashflow Forecasting UK: Pros, Cons & Costs
Outsourced Cashflow Forecasting UK: Pros, Cons & Costs (2025/26) Compare DIY vs outsourced cashflow forecasting in the UK. Learn what it includes, realistic costs, and when it pays off plus download our free 52-Week Rolling Forecast Template.
6 min readWhy DIY Cash-Flow Forecasts Often Fail (and How to Fix Them)
DIY Cash-Flow Forecasts (UK): Why They Fail and How to Fix Them UK guide to reliable cash-flow forecasting: fix the 7 DIY failure modes, bake in VAT/PAYE dates, and run a 52-week rolling forecast with weekly updates.
5 min readCIS invoice anatomy: labour vs materials (UK 2025/26)
CIS Invoice Anatomy (UK 2025/26): Labour vs Materials, Reverse Charge & Worked Examples.
6 min readSubcontractor Verification (CIS): The 2025/26 Developer’s Guide
Subcontractor Verification (CIS) for Developers: Rates, DRC & Penalties [UK 2025/26]. Learn exactly when and how to verify subcontractors under CIS, apply 0%/20%/30% correctly, handle VAT DRC, avoid penalties, and streamline CIS returns in Xero/QuickBooks/Sage.
6 min readCIS vs VAT Domestic Reverse Charge: when both apply (decision flow + wording)
CIS vs VAT Domestic Reverse Charge (UK 2025/26): When Both Apply + Exact Invoice Wording. Clear decision flow for CIS and the VAT Domestic Reverse Charge on the same job. Know when DRC applies, how end-user letters switch it off, and how to invoice while calculating CIS on labour only backed by GOV.UK.
4 min read
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