Clear, practical guidance on the things that matter most to UK business owners, from tax and compliance to cash flow and growth. Written in plain English by the LN Accountants team.
Fixed fee accounting means one agreed price, no surprise invoices, and no clock running when you pick up the phone. But "fixed fee" doesn't mean the same thing at every firm. Here's what a fixed fee accountant should include, what it typically costs, and what to ask before you sign.
Read moreUnhappy with your accountant but worried that moving will be a hassle? Switching is simpler than most people think. Here's how to change accountant step by step, when to do it, and what your new accountant will take care of for you.
Read moreYear-end accounts can feel like a black box: you send off your records, and a few weeks later a set of accounts comes back to sign. Here's what actually happens during year-end accounts preparation, what your accountant needs from you, and the deadlines that apply.
Read moreAn outsourced finance director gives a growing business senior financial leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. Here's what an outsourced FD actually does, how it differs from your accountant, and the signs it's time to bring one in.
Read moreRunning a limited company brings legal responsibilities that a sole trader never has to think about. Here's a plain-English guide to a director's accounts, tax and filing duties, the key deadlines, and the mistakes that most often lead to penalties.
Read moreMost limited company directors pay themselves through a mix of salary and dividends. With dividend tax rates rising from April 2026, it's worth revisiting how you take money out of your company. Here's how salary and dividends are taxed in 2026/27, and what to consider when choosing the mix.
Read moreIf you are self-employed or have income HMRC hasn't already taxed, you probably need to file a Self Assessment tax return. Here is who needs to file, the 2025/26 deadlines, how to do it, and how to avoid the penalties for getting it wrong.
Read moreSince 18 November 2025, verifying your identity with Companies House is a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control. Here is what it means, how to do it, and the deadlines you cannot afford to miss.
Read moreGood bookkeeping is the foundation of everything else: accurate tax returns, reliable cash flow and a painless year end. Here's what records you need to keep, the habits that keep your books in order, and how to decide what to do yourself and what to outsource.
Read moreEmployer National Insurance is up and the threshold is down, the minimum wage has risen again, but the Employment Allowance has more than doubled. Here is what employing staff really costs in 2026, and how small businesses can plan for it.
Read moreCrossing the VAT threshold is a milestone for any growing business, but it brings new responsibilities. Here's when you must register for VAT, how VAT returns and deadlines work, and the VAT schemes that can make life simpler.
Read moreTaking on your first employee is a big moment, and it comes with a checklist. Here's how to register as an employer, set up PAYE and payroll, meet your reporting deadlines and get your workplace pension in place, using the 2026/27 rates and thresholds.
Read moreDepreciation is one of the most common accounting terms, and one of the most misunderstood. Here's a simple definition, how the main depreciation methods work, and why depreciation in your accounts isn't the same as the tax relief you get on your assets.
Read moreMany small business owners know they should probably have an accountant, but aren't sure what one would actually do for them. Here's what a small business accountant does, how the work differs for sole traders and limited companies, and how to tell when it's time to get one.
Read moreA round-up of the big changes affecting UK businesses and employers in 2026/27: Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, the rise in HMRC mileage rates to 55p, new National Minimum and Living Wage rates, and the statutory sick and family pay reforms, including day-one sick pay.
Read moreCompanies House is overhauling how company accounts are filed. From April 2028, all accounts must be filed using commercial software, small companies and micro-entities will have to file profit and loss accounts, and web and paper filing will close. Here is what it means for your business and how to prepare.
Read moreWhat Making Tax Digital means for sole traders and limited companies, the deadlines that matter, and how to get your records ready without the stress.
Read morePractical, repeatable habits, from invoicing discipline to building a reserve, that protect your business through quieter months and busy ones alike.
Read moreShould you trade as a sole trader or set up a limited company? We compare liability, tax, National Insurance, admin, costs and privacy side by side, with worked examples at £30,000, £50,000 and £80,000 of profit using 2026/27 rates, plus when to incorporate and how to switch.
Read moreA clear, step-by-step checklist to pull your records together before year end so filing is fast, accurate, and stress-free.
Read moreHow corporation tax is calculated, the allowances and reliefs you may be missing, and simple ways to plan ahead and reduce what you owe.
Read moreA plain-English walkthrough of the UK sponsor licence: who needs one, what the Home Office expects, and how to stay compliant once approved.
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Our team is always happy to talk through your situation. Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction, no obligation, no jargon.