fact sheets
Marketing, Accounting and other Business Fact Sheets from The Company Merchant Limited and its partner companies
- Budget 2009 - A Brief Summary
Thanks to the wonderful Smith Emmerson Accountants, who we recommend for your new small business accountancy services, they have provided a brief overview of the main points of the 2009 Budget from Wednesday 22nd April 2009. Budget 2009 - Summary (https://www.thecompanymerchant.co.uk/download/April_2009_Budget_Summary.pdf) Tony Byng The Company Merchant Limited - An Introduction to PAYE
Whether an individual is an employee or self-employed in a particular situation is a question of fact depending on the terms under which he or she works. When you engage someone to do work for you, you have to decide whether or not to apply the PAYE rules. It is up to you to get it right or - Company Car Tax
The system for taxing those who use company cars has remained fundamentally unchanged for some years, save for stepped changes in the emissions thresholds. The basis of the charge is to tax a figure calculated by multiplying the car’s list price by an - Keeping an eye on your cashflow
Cash is the lifeblood of a business, but with so much emphasis usually put on profitability, it can be easy to overlook this fact. Of course, the bottom line is important, but poor cash flow management can drive a growing and/or profitable company out of business. - The Company Secretary
Private companies are no longer required to have a company secretary, although they may continue to have one if they wish. You must give notice of the appointment, resignation or changes of any particulars of a company secretary to the Registrar of Companies. In the case of a company without a secretary anything required or authorised to be done by - How to present a request for finance to your bank
It is important to appreciate the following criteria used by banks when considering providing finance for a client: The client Does the bank know you? How long have you been in business? Do they know your trade? What past record do you have in the business? What past record do you have with the bank? - How to increase your profit
In business, your profits are your reward for your endeavours. In fact, profitability is one of the essential measures of a business’ success. Profits are the very lifeblood of a business. They fuel growth, support the owners, provide for the well being of the staff, and ultimately determine the success or failure of the business. So how can you increase - Buy, HP or Lease ?
The decision to buy, hire purchase, or lease an asset will generally depend on the financing available to your business. There are different treatments for tax and accounting purposes, depending on the type of finance contract entered into, and these will need to be considered together with the VAT treatment. Buy This section covers outright purchase for cash or - Insuring your business
Although most businesspeople understand the need for insurance, a surprising number of businesses are uninsured, under-insured, or insured with out-of date-policies. Experts usually advise that your planning should centre on insuring for a catastrophe. You should therefore check that your insurance for fire, loss of profits, employers liability, public liability, and product liability is correctly arranged with suitable sums insured - How long should you keep books and records ?
There is no simple answer to this question because different types of record are covered by different types of legislation, as shown by the following summary: Value added tax By law, VAT records have to be kept for six years unless HM Revenue & Customs allows a shorter period. Any request you make to keep records for a shorter - VAT Cash Accounting Scheme
What is cash accounting? Cash accounting enables you to account for VAT on the basis of payments received and made instead of on tax invoices issued and received. The VAT payable or repayable for each accounting period will be the difference between the total amount of VAT included in payments received - VAT Flat Rate Scheme
VAT Flat Rate Scheme This scheme is designed to reduce the cost of complying with VAT obligations by simplifying the way small businesses calculate their VAT. It is available to businesses who expect their VAT exclusive turnover in the next 12 months to be: - Changes to VAT December 2008
Changes to the standard rate of VAT – December 2008 In his Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008, Chancellor Alistair Darling announced a temporary reduction in the standard rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) - Insuring Your Business
Although most business people understand the need for insurance, a surprising number of businesses are uninsured, under-insured, or insured with out-of date-policies. Experts usually advise that your planning should centre on insuring for a catastrophe. You should therefore check that your insurance for fire, loss of profits, employers liability, public liability, and product liability is correctly arranged with suitable