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Tax for creatives – company structures, R&D relief and IR35

If we’re honest, tax and accountancy are about as far from the business of creativity as it’s possible to get. And the thrill of completing a self-assessment tax return or wading through corporation tax guidance on the HMRC website certainly isn’t why most people study design or video production at university. In fact, our two ...

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Bookkeeping for Small Business

Bookkeeping isn’t exactly known for its glamour. Indeed, many accountants see it as low value work;

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Business expenses for photographers

Whether you operate your photography business as a sole trader or through a limited company, it's important to make sure you're claiming all the tax relief on business expenses you're entitled to.

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Cashflow for photographers

Photography, more so than many other businesses, can have real peaks and troughs in the flow of work. For wedding photographers, for example, summer is usually hectic with more clients than can be handled, while winter can be a dead zone. Those who depend on pitching for photoshoots for corporate clients will be aware of.

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Guide to Corporation Tax

Corporation Tax is the tax charged on the profits made by a corporate entity (a limited company).

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IR35 explained: the guide

IR35 is the most important, and controversial, piece of legislation to affect limited company contractors.

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Business expenses explained: the guide

Generally, there are two tax considerations when making a claim for expenses:

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VAT explained: the guide

Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax which is levied on the sale of good and services by VAT registered businesses in the UK.

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A personal guide to going self-employed and setting up your own business

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Can I invest funds from my limited company in the stock market?

This is a question that I am often asked by clients seeking higher returns on their cash than they would otherwise achieve from a bank...

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IR35 reform to the Private Sector

IR35 is an anti-avoidance tax that has been around since the turn of the century. It’s objective is to prevent individuals that would otherwise be an employee from engaging via a limited company and receiving the tax benefits associated with being in business. Since its introduction, IR35 has caused controversy with those in the supply ...

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Can I employ a family member?

As with claiming a tax deduction for any business expense, a salary must be paid on a commercial basis, wholly and exclusively for the purposes of business. It follows that if you employ a family member to carry out a function of the business; firstly, they must actually be working within the business; and secondly ...

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Incorporating a Limited Company

For a lot of people, the formation of a limited company represents the first steps towards being your own boss. The formation of a company is a relatively straight-forward process. All companies require a name, shareholders, directors, a registered office and articles of association. Here we discuss the meaning of each and offer some practical ...

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How to pay yourself

So, you’ve taken the jump into self-employment. You’ve won your first client and done the work. Now how do you get paid? Quite simply, you must issue an invoice to your customer and provide with them with the means of making a payment. What an invoice must contain Firstly, the document that you produce must ...

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Choosing an Accountant: Key Factors to Consider

Discover essential tips for choosing an accountant to safeguard your business finances and ensure professional support. Get expert insights today!

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What is the future of accounting?

The accounting profession has recently started to undergo a major shift. The ‘traditional’ desktop hosted accounting packages, spreadsheets and paper-based record keeping are swiftly moving towards cloud based systems. Accounting looks to follow many other industries where cloud-technologies are disrupting the status quo. This evolution has been brought about by advances in technology and changes ...

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How to make your creative business work for you

Taking a strategic approach can go a long way to getting the things you want out of your creative business.

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Employees or Freelancers? What’s better for your creative business?

Has hiring freelancers seemed like the best option for scaling your business or do you wonder if it’d be more cost effective to employ people in-house?

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How much do you need to save for corporation tax?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as money in/money out, so it’s worth explaining the difference in how we manage this tax.

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What to do if you’re close to hitting the VAT threshold

If your creative business is making a good turnover, at some point you’ll need to think about registering for VAT.

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Why DIY accounting costs more in the long run

When you're handling every aspect of your business, getting your creative venture off the ground is no easy feat. If you add DIY accounting to the mix, it will ultimately sap more time and money from your business compared to outsourcing the job to an expert accountant.

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Mobile Phone Expenses: A Tax Guide for Creative Business Owners

Discover how creative business owners and freelancers can claim mobile phone expenses tax-efficiently. Learn about HMRC rules, tax-free company phones, business use of personal phones, and common pitfalls to avoid.

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Business Clothing Tax Deductions: UK Creative Industries Guide

HMRC’s rules on work clothing: uniforms and protective gear are deductible, but ordinary attire isn’t. Learn how to stay compliant and avoid benefit-in-kind issues.

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Financial forecasting for agencies – plan for growth with confidence

Predict revenue fluctuations and scale your agency with confidence. Learn practical financial forecasting techniques to simplify cash flow planning and make smarter decisions.

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