With the UK in full election mode and the main political parties putting environmental issues front and centre of their campaigns, issues which would otherwise be the focus for fringe parties, and this week the Queen boycotting fur, how can small business do its part to help save the planet?

As the inspirational climate activist Greta Thunberg says, ” no-one is too small to make a difference”. As a small business owner you have the power to make a difference and do your part to help save the planet. Here are 5 processes that we employ ourselves at Southside Accounting which you can incorporate into your small business straight away, if you are not doing so already.

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“I use a cloud based bookkeeping software and it has been a revelation for my business efficiency, but how do I know if I am using it correctly?“

The advent of cloud accounting 5 or so years ago revolutionised the way small businesses now work. The business efficiencies cloud accounting brings to day to day business activities, whilst allowing for real time view of your cash flow, any place, any time. As a result, the path to success and growth for small businesses is becoming a reality rather than a pipe dream.

With low cost subscriptions and several well evolved cloud accounting software packages now available on the market and geared to start-ups and small business, such as QuickBooks and Xero, small businesses can now go out there in the trading world and feel more in control of their finances, especially important in those first few years of growth where cash is king.

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Have you made the positive move to partner with an accountant who better suits your needs?

If so, you may be thinking, what next? How quickly will the move of accountants take and how long will it take for my new accountant to get up-to-speed with my financial affairs?

Switching accountants may seem like a daunting and long-winded process, especially if you have been with your existing accountant for a long time. The good news is that the process of switching accountants is very easy and requires very little work by you. Read on to learn how to take that all important next step.

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Starting a small business is a lot like raising a child. You nurture it, spend sleepless nights taking care of it and giving your all with all the energy and love you can physically and mentally muster. Slowly but surely, you start to reap the benefits of all your hard work and begin to get something back.

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A recent survey by Hampshire Trust Bank (HSB) shows that small business owners have increased their cash holding by 78 percent in their business current accounts in the past two years, in anticipation of another credit crunch brought on by Brexit.  

UK manufacturing businesses, both large and small, have already been stockpiling raw materials ahead of the original Brexit deadline back in March this year and have started doing so again, with the new Brexit deadline coming up fast at the end of October.

The need for surplus cash to buy supplies for stockpiling was the main contribution for the increase in current account balances, according to the HSB research.

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The UK government is preparing for a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. What does this mean for your small business and how can you best prepare? Here we share survival strategies for small businesses in the increasingly likely scenario of a no-deal Brexit.

If you are trading between the UK and the EU you could be bracing yourself for disruption in October and perhaps with little idea of what to expect when Brexit finally takes hold.

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The importance of budgeting in your small business cannot be underestimated.  Not only does budgeting provide a benchmark against your peers, it also allows for variance analysis and performance assessment, leading to improved sales.  Are you actively budgeting in your small business? Read on to learn more on budgeting processes that can help your small business.

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If you are planning on selling your small business, the two main options available to you are selling your company shares, which normally includes all the assets and liabilities of the company with no remaining connections to with the company. Or you can sell the business with its assets, name and goodwill usually referred to as an “asset sale”.

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