Small businesses / 217 posts found
Going for Gold with TLA
As 17,000 athletes finally get to deliver their ultimate performances at the London Olympics, it occurred to me that there is a business parallel here. Like any business, athletes have to compete to succeed. But how many do you know, who would even consider competing without training and without a plan? It is perfectly possible, of course, to go for a run because you enjoy it and without the slightest intention of competing. But isn't that called jogging? So, here's a question you can ask yourself. "Is my business competing? Am I going for gold? Or am I just jogging [...]
Tax Planning
I don't expect Jimmy Carr saw the funny side when Prime Minister David Cameron denounced as immoral his use of a tax avoidance scheme that reportedly cut his tax bill to just 1%. He wasn't breaking the law and his use of the "K2" scheme had been fully disclosed to HMRC. But the tide of moral indignation swamped the cheeky chappy and forced him to admit a "terrible error of judgement." The scheme had been recommended by his financial advisor and that got me thinking about our role in advising clients on the best ways to manage their tax affairs. [...]
…and what not to do if your bank says “No!”
If your bank is still not saying "Yes", don't reach for the stocking mask and swag bag because it's now been statistically proven that bank robbery doesn't pay as well as you might think. Three leading economists from the Universities of Sussex and Surrey have shown that the average return on a bank heist in the UK is £12,706.60 per person per raid. To achieve a near-average income, you would have to rob two banks a year. But every additional robbery increases your chance of getting caught by a probability of 0.8. After four raids the odds are that you [...]
How to get your bank to say YES!
How much does it cost to get a bank to say "YES!" Sir Mervyn King's £140 billion scheme announced last week to lubricate the banking system and encourage a flow of funds to SMEs and prospective home buyers may not have resulted in an overnight about-turn on the part of the bankers, but there is no doubt now that the balance of probability has shifted in favour of businesses who are prepared to invest. Along with the Treasury, Sir Mervyn's plan involves two tranches of support for the banking system: £5 billion a month in cheap six-month loans to banks [...]
The rebranding blues
The rebranding blues It seems I have started something big. At the end of April I wrote to my clients with exciting news about our practice. I was giving up the old blue livery for the brand new claret and grey of TLA Business Services. I wasn't doing it to start a trend. I just wanted to expand the services we provide and make better use of our skills in business planning and metrics. And I wanted my new business to reflect that change. I really didn't have anything in particular against the colour blue. And I certainly didn't expect [...]
Autumn Statment Summary 2011
On 29th November 2011, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, announced the Autumn Statement which provides an update on the Government's plans for the economy, based on the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Small businesses across the UK have seen the devastating impact that excessive red tape and lack of funding have had, however some elements in this Autumn Statement offer chinks of light amongst the Chancellor's doom and gloom. Businesses in need of finance Guarantees - The Government is to back £20 billion of business loans under the National Loan Guarantee Scheme. The scheme will lower the [...]
Top Tips – August 2011
This is a round-up of questions that have been raised by clients over the past few weeks. They are being posted here for general information, but please see the disclaimer at the end!!! if you want to discuss how any of these issues – or other tax and related business matters – may affect your business please get in touch (email here or telephone 01905 21411) for a free, no-obligation discussion. To sign up for our monthly Newsletter for Small Business visit our webpage here. Reducing the reporting of expenses and benefits Q: I've recently submitted forms P11D and P11D(b) [...]
Tax Tips – July 2011
This is a round-up of questions that have been raised by clients over the past few weeks. They are being posted here for general information, but please see the disclaimer at the end!!! if you want to discuss how any of these issues – or other tax and related business matters – may affect your business please get in touch (email here or telephone 01905 21411) for a free, no-obligation discussion. To sign up for our monthly Newsletter for Small Business visit our webpage here. July 2011 Companies making donations Q: I am a director of a small limited company [...]
Tax Tips – June 2011
This is a round-up of questions that have been raised by clients over the past few weeks. They are being posted here for general information, but please see the disclaimer at the end!!! if you want to discuss how any of these issues – or other tax and related business matters – may affect your business please get in touch (email here or telephone 01905 21411) for a free, no-obligation discussion. To sign up for our monthly Newsletter for Small Business visit our webpage here. Can I use my loss? Q: I paint in my spare time and sometimes, my [...]
May 2011 Questions and Answers
This is a round-up of questions that have been raised by clients over the past few weeks. They are being posted here for general information, but please see the disclaimer at the end!!! if you want to discuss how any of these issues – or other tax and related business matters – may affect your business please get in touch (email here or telephone 01905 21411) for a free, no-obligation discussion. To sign up for our monthly Newsletter for Small Business visit our webpage here. Withdrawals from a company Q: My daughter has just found a house she'd like to [...]