'Getting Started' Guides

It can be very daunting when you decide to start your own business; you will be confident in your own knowledge and ability to make your business succeed, but many people wonder where to start with regards to keeping records, who to contact, paying taxes, etc.

The following information is designed to ease your worries, by providing you with essential knowledge.

The Guides

Click on a link below, to view each subject on the right-hand side.

Once you're under way, you can think about the type of help you may require from us. Browse through our list of services, from the tab above, for more information and email us for a quote.

Quotation Details

We do not have a tariff of fixed charges, nor base the quote on your level of turnover. Our fees will be tailored to your needs, so you will only be quoted for the volume of work involved for your particular circumstances.

As a result, we will require some information from you before we can provide you with a quotation:

General Information

  • Your name, address and email address.
  • Your business name and address.
  • Your business structure - soletrader, partnership or limited company.
  • A brief description of your trade.

Bookkeeping

  • The frequency you would like the work to be carried out.
  • Whether or not you use a separate bank account for the business transactions.
  • A rough idea of the number of transactions to be processed each month (ie number of: sales invoices raised; purchase invoices/receipts received; payments going out of, and receipts coming into, the business bank account).

Payroll

  • Whether or not your business is already registered as an Employer with HMRC.
  • How many staff you employ.
  • What frequency you pay your staff.
  • Whether your staff are currently enrolled in a workplace pension.

Accounts / Tax Returns

  • Whether or not you are already Registered for Self-Assessment with HMRC.
  • If your business is not a sole trader, how many partners / directors there are.
  • What bookkeeping records are being kept (if not being prepared by us). Providing an example would be useful.
  • Whether or not you use a separate bank account for the business transactions.
  • Other types of income you receive; employment, bank interest, dividend, pension income, etc.
  • Whether you would like an annual meeting to discuss the figures, or whether email/postal correspondence will be sufficient for you.

VAT Returns

  • Whether or not your business is already registered with HMRC for VAT.
  • What bookkeeping records are being kept (if not being prepared by us). Providing an example would be useful.
  • What frequency you currently file VAT returns.
  • What (if any) VAT schemes you use.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information, or a quotation.