I was born on the Wirral just after World War II when living in the countryside contributed to my imaginings ...

Navigating the intricate landscape of taxation compliance is a daunting challenge businesses face annually ...

So how does this diversity contribute tangible added value to an organisation’s decision-making process?

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, especially when coupled with the complexities of managing an estate ...

It's November 1990 and I am a fresh-faced salesman working in the flagship Dixons store at the Clarendon Centre in Oxford ...

So you have set up as a bookkeeping business and you are now out there looking for clients ...

Since the general election last year, the conversation around economic growth in the UK has taken centre stage ...

Time is every small business owner's most valuable resource. But the hours can slip away fast without the right tools ...

As a property owner, it's essential to stay informed about tax, particularly concerning your income from property ...

The recent announcement of pensions and Inheritance Tax has significant implications for your financial planning ...

I had an early lesson in time management when I was a student nurse in the RAF that I suspect lots of us had with our first jobs ...

Did you know that emails can be intercepted and the contents manipulated? Sounds frightening, doesn't it?

As you read this, you’re likely aware that the clock is ticking down to the 26th of February, 2025 ...

It's crucial to grasp the implications of the revised National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates ...

Running a small business is a juggling act, where every missed follow-up could mean a lost sale or a weakened relationship ...

As the Spring Statement approaches, many businesses are left wondering if the Chancellor will u-turn this spring?

As a consultant leaving employment and setting up on your own, you will have a vision of how you can make a difference ...

HMRC knows that navigating the complexities of taxation concerning the Loan Charge can feel overwhelming ...

The final words from my last blog post led me to determine a business network's commonest point of failure ...

Navigating the year-end processes for Xero Payroll can seem daunting, especially with the multitude of deadlines ...

As we prepare for the anticipated compliance activity from HMRC in 2025, taxpayers must stay vigilant ...

As a small business owner in the UK, you need a reliable client database that can help you grow your business ...

If you import from the EU, you'll need to be aware that changes are coming into effect on the 31st of January 2025 ...

Gifting cash for a property purchase is a common way parents support their offspring in securing a home ...

Brand new consultants are often told not to define a target market. Just get out there and sell, sell, sell ...

The theme for this year is Artificial Intelligence or, as we humans refer to it, AI. But what is AI and how can it help us?

If you have a problem with your computer and need help, be really careful who you call for IT support ...

As the filing deadline approaches, HMRC shares the absurdity of some taxpayers' excuses for late submissions ...

You know every opportunity counts. Yet with the constant demands of running your business, it can be challenging to keep up ...

As you work, it's not uncommon to incur expenses. Whether that's for travel, tools, or work clothing, costs can add up ...

The fiscal landscape continues to shift under the new government, and HMRC will ramp up its investigations in 2025 ...

I well remember one of the other attendees at my first sales training course when I was preparing my own transition ...

As a business, there is a 99% chance that the phones you have are PSTN/ISDN based on Openreach's legacy copper network ...

You may have already done the difficult part of starting your own bookkeeping business; you've found clients ...

Filing your Self Assessment Tax Return can be stressful, but missing the deadline comes at a cost ...

As the economy contracts and we face the challenges of a potential recession, small business owners are feeling the pinch ...

When Labour swept into power last July, their ambitious promise to make the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7 ...

''I've got a great new contract so I'm going to be off the scene for at least 6 months.'' I often hear this, so here's a warning ...

There are concerns about inaccuracies with R&D tax relief claims, so HMRC has launched a new disclosure service ...

It was inevitable that one day I would be caught out on the very thing I always preach to my clients: data backup ...

A question I often see asked in bookkeeping groups and forums is where can I find customers or gain experience?

Every year, as the festive spirit envelops the UK, a surprising number of individuals file their Self Assessment tax returns ...

The ongoing discussions surrounding VAT Reform in the UK have never been more pertinent ...

One of the phrases I use with clients is how to build their business by using collaboration rather than competition ...

During separation, one financial aspect that often goes overlooked is the High-Income Child Benefit Charge ...

Did you know that small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99.9% of the businesses in the UK?

Starting a business in 2025 presents both exciting opportunities and daunting challenges. The landscape is evolving ...

If you have any doubts about doing your bookkeeping there are several ways you can get support from me ...

Every group of young people I meet, I say this to them: do something you like doing and do it to the best of your ability ...

It's been another fantastic year of blogging here at Silicon Bullet. In fact, the whole year has been great ...

Companies must ensure that their generosity doesn’t unintentionally flout the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010 ...

With most of us finishing for the holidays this week, I thought I'd join the festivities and let you have some tax trivia ...

Giving is the heart of the Christmas message and all over TV and social media with ideas on how to help the needy ...

Hackers are constantly evolving their tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in business networks so we all need to be prepared ...

In September, Xero transformed its subscription plans into the Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive, and Ultimate tiers ...

A perfect storm of rising costs, regulatory shifts, and market volatility has left many business leaders feeling anxious ...

In the festive spirit of giving, many businesses give gifts and vouchers to their employees and customers ...

Referral marketing is about getting others to pass your message on to your ideal clients. I often liken it to a relay race ...

HMRC's new data sharing initiative has been met with mixed reactions from online sellers ...

Let me start by saying that I love technology. I have sold consumer electronics since the early 1990s ...

Despite a promising start to 2024, global uncertainties and domestic pressures cast a shadow over our economic outlook ...

I attended a seminar about Sage 50 Accounts v31 and I thought I'd summarise some of the new features ...

On the 14th of October 2024, HMRC introduced new evidence requirements for employment expenses ...

Do you remember how it felt when you first fell in love? I always think of it as being on a big pink fluffy cloud ...

The increase in employers' national insurance contributions means it is crucial to explore salary sacrifice ...

The internet, the net, the information superhighway, the web, www, the virtual world, cyberspace. What is it really?

Sage has now released Sage 50 Accounts v31 and will be rolling it out and prompting you to upgrade over the next few weeks ...

To provide clarity for businesses, the government has published its plans for Corporation Tax for the next five years ...

In the wake of fluctuating economic conditions, HMRC has made significant cuts to its interest rates for tax ...

Winter is coming. You may be like me and one of the things you love to do is wrap up warm and sit at a cafe people-watching ...

Double cab pickups have long been a popular choice for many businesses, especially in farming and construction ...

I believe that 'people buy from people', yet we seem to be in a world where people are pressured into buying technology ...

As a bookkeeper who chooses not to be a member of a professional body, you need to register to be supervised by HMRC ...

The Labour government's recent hike in National Insurance has sparked major discontent among businesses ...

In recent years, the UK government has quietly garnered a substantial revenue stream from a little-known stealth tax ...

In a recent advisory, HMRC emphasised the importance of compliance for landlords with unpaid tax ...

There are many common networking fears but there is one that stands out above all others. Not knowing how to give back ...

Businesses are increasingly using smart devices within the workplace and do not consider the security aspects ...

The UK economy is a topic of significant concern as it barely grows amidst rising fears surrounding the recent Budget ...

I attended an event last week called Xero Refresh, which was for their bookkeepers and accountants community ...

The Budget emphasises HMRC's commitment to addressing non-compliance and enhancing accuracy ...

I'm sure you've noticed that nearly all business writing is about change and doing things differently ...

We hear about incidents daily, so let me try to summarise some of how businesses have had major financial losses ....

The Budget established a new landscape for Inheritance Tax, leaving many to navigate these changes ...

If you feel like there is no-one you can go to for support, then your Bookkeeping Buddy is here to help ...

On the heels of the recent Budget, employers across the country are bracing themselves for NI changes ...

I was talking to a new client who admitted that standing up and presenting for 60 seconds filled her with dread ...

The changes in CGT rates, as announced in Labour's first Budget, demand attention from business owners ...

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is a platform where you can list and manage almost any type of mobile phone ...

Rachel Reeves' first Budget has sent ripples through the financial landscape, marking a significant turning point ...

Full, disclosure, this wasn't my idea though I was able to help one of my bookkeeping mentor clients with her calculations ...

Budget 2024 is a defining moment for both the new Labour government and the country as a whole ...

The R&D tax relief scheme encourages innovation and supports businesses that undertake qualifying activities ...

The new Labour government's first budget presents a formidable challenge: the search for £40bn ...

To ensure that no employee is underpaid, HMRC has ramped up its enforcement actions against non-compliance ...

''I hate networking, it's so artificial and superficial.'' I do wonder why they are there if they dislike it so much ...

The case of Shine Business Limited serves as a cautionary tale for those seeking Multiple Dwellings Relief ...

The government has announced that certain investment schemes have been extended until April 2035 ...

Sage has significantly increased its annual developer fees meaning Adept has had to review its own pricing ...

As the country bids farewell to coal power, many business owners may wonder what this means for their operations ...

Let's be honest, in most things we do, we cherry-pick. Whether that's good or bad depends on our definition of the term ...

Significant discussions have emerged around a potential hike in employers' National Insurance contributions ...

There are lots of use cases to show the benefits of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to perform mundane and repetitive tasks ...

What do you do if you need a service or help you have not needed before? It's time to read some customer reviews ...

Recently, the landscape of business confidence has exhibited noticeable shifts, particularly in the last quarter ...

The housing market is seeing landlords rush to sell their properties, driven by anxiety over changes to capital gains tax ...

Often when I meet people and get talking about networking they will tell me a story about the networking group they joined ...

Individuals have just six months to address any missing NI contributions that affect their State Pension ...

The roots of technology, especially in the telecommunications industry, go back to 1837 with the start of the morse-code telegraph ...

In discussions surrounding the UK's fiscal policy, the subject of tax breaks has emerged as a contentious yet vital issue ...

Xero has acquired Syft, a prominent cloud-based platform known for its robust analytics and visualisation features ...

The economy is currently navigating a landscape fraught with complexity ahead of the government's first Budget ...

It's a common reason given by people who dislike networking because they see the banality of talking about nothing ...

As the upcoming Budget approaches, attention is shifting towards the potential impacts on employee costs ...

The UK's tax system is a complex and ever-changing landscape, with numerous laws, regulations, and policies in place ...

The Government has been monitoring and regulating R&D activities to ensure compliance with legislation ...

An essential part of giving and receiving referrals is building enough trust between you and those you network with ...

Did you know that you may be entitled to a state pension increase? This increase is available for carers ...

Wouldn't a bookkeeper make your life a whole lot easier? Having a clear picture of your finances at any given time is a must ...

Autumn Budget 2024 has people worried as the Labour Government has already removed key benefits ...