Accountants for Small Service Businesses, Oxfordshire

Businesses with around 5 or more members of staff have quite different needs to smaller enterprises. By focusing on one size of client, we give better quality of service.

Our clients cover a wide range of sectors. What binds them is they primarily sell their time rather than physical products.

We can help with a wide range of issues including:

• Accounting procedures & systems
• Cash flow and collection
• Business partners and investment
• Tax implications of staff and benefits
• Business sales and acquisition

One of the most rewarding things we do is helping a business transition from a ‘spare bedroom’ enterprise into a fully fledged business in its own right. We help make sure it’s done profitably with the risks of growth well managed. 

The web has changed hugely since 2003 and its been challenging but rewarding to help clients evolve their business and develop new strategies to cope.

We have clients with many online business activities including advertising and referral models, domain name sales, hosting and more recently Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency miners.  By the time we add in software design, hosting and various e-commerce activities we have covered most areas.

This means can be sensitive to the sorts of challenges you are facing and know how to tackle problems in an integrated modern way.

Our digital services include:

• Full cloud accounting
• Integration help between accounting, billing and website
• Application for R&D tax credits
• Generally digital awareness and knowledge

James says: “This is an area of personal interest. Had the pull of business not led me to train as an accountant, I would have studied computing at university.”

Whether one is the optimum size, or you are looking to grow, we can help.

For those with a limited company, our dedicated contractors pages should give you a good idea about our services which apply equally to traditional contractors and those who have slightly different arrangements, such as writers, creatives, consultants and other sellers of intellectual capital. If you are a sole trader, then the self assessment section will be relevant. 

• Your current plans, and and any suggestions we can make to improve them
• Helping you decide between Limited Company and Sole Trader structures
• If and when to register for VAT
• How to keep basic records, we have free Excel templates you can use.
• Giving you a list of dates and action points with HMRC

New businesses often only engage professional help when the tax returns are due, and therefore miss planning opportunities.   The reason for the delay? Worries about a large bills out of modest start up funds.  We therefore offer free or low cost assistance upfront, right when you need it most.

Ongoing we offer:

• “Get you started” service for new limited companies
• Fixed fees tax returns service
• Generous levels of free phone and email support
• Set-up and training for cloud software such as Xero
• Someone you can talk to about your business

If you have a new startup, feel free to get into contact with us.

A cheap option for basic advice is James’s book “Keeping it Simple” published by Tax Cafe.  This covers many of the issues a start up faces in terms of bookkeeping, VAT, PAYE and general business topics.  It was specifically written to assist clients too small for an accountant, and to give cost effective background material.