September 21, 2026
Running Payroll for a Single Director: The Minimum-Fuss Guide
Do sole directors need payroll? Yes, if you take a salary. The annual scheme option, its hidden penalty risk, and why a £5,000 salary…
Read articleUK tax and accounting guides for business owners
Plain-English guides to company accounts, Corporation Tax, VAT, Self Assessment, MTD and payroll.
September 21, 2026
How to Set Up PAYE and Run Payroll for Your First Employee
Register before the first payday and no more than 2 months early. The full sequence: right to work, starter details, the first FPS, payslips…
Read articleSeptember 20, 2026
Payroll Outsourcing Cost UK: Per-Payslip Pricing Explained
Per-employee-per-month or per-payslip? The two UK payroll pricing models compared, the add-ons that are never in the headline rate, and what DIY really costs.
Read articleSeptember 20, 2026
Business Records: What to Keep and for How Long (HMRC Rules)
Company records 6 years, VAT 6 (10 with OSS), self-employed 5 years after 31 January, payroll 3. Full HMRC retention rules, what to keep,…
Read articleSeptember 20, 2026
Bookkeeping for Small Businesses: How to Set Up From Day One
Six setup decisions that make bookkeeping an hour a month instead of a year-end panic. Bank account, software, chart of accounts, receipts, reconciliation, rhythm.
Read articleSeptember 20, 2026
What Is Bookkeeping? A Plain-English Guide for Business Owners
Bookkeeping is the day-to-day record of every pound in and out of your business. What it covers, how it differs from accounting, and what…
Read articleSeptember 19, 2026
Sole Trader Bookkeeping: A Simple System That Survives MTD
A sole trader bookkeeping system that meets MTD digital record rules: what a digital record must contain, the 7 Aug/Nov/Feb/May rhythm, and retention periods.
Read articleSeptember 19, 2026
When to Switch from Sole Trader to Limited Company
Incorporating pays when you retain profit, not at a magic turnover. The 2026/27 break-even, the non-tax triggers, and the incorporation mechanics step by step.
Read articleSeptember 19, 2026
Allowable Expenses for the Self-Employed: The Complete List
Every allowable expense category for sole traders in 2026/27, the 55p mileage rate, simplified expenses flat rates, capital allowances at 14%, and what you…
Read articleSeptember 19, 2026
How to Register as a Sole Trader with HMRC
Register as a sole trader on form CWF1 by 5 October. Covers the Class 2 double-registration trap, GOV.UK One Login, UTR timings and what…
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