What are the next steps you need to take?
- Decide on a business structure (There is another blog about business structure, which you can check out)
- Open a business bank account
- Record all your expenses and income
- Stay organised and pay your tax on time
- Write your Business Plan
1. Business bank account
You don't legally need a business bank account, but your life will be much easier if you get one. You will be able to have a look at your statement and see what receipts are missing. You won't have to go through a mountain of stuff that you can't claim.
Many banks let you open a bank account online, especially if you are banking with them already. Some give you 2 years of free banking as well. Shop around to get a good deal.
Another benefit of having a business bank account is seeing cash flow easily. You can see how much money is going in and out at a glance. You will also have a clearer view of your personal finances. Those are equally as important. You will have a much better idea of what's going in and out of your account and be able to budget better.
2. Expenses
Keeping track of expenses must be your priority. Keep ALL your receipts. Even if you didn't get registered yet, you might be able to claim them. You can always through them away. You will also need to be aware of expenses you are not allowed to claim. These are called disallowable expenses.
3. Be organised
Set time aside to do it regularly. You don't want to have to pay fines; life is stressful enough.
! Do yourself a favour and ditch the spreadsheet and use accounting software like
Xero
or
FreeAgent, or you could get me to do it!
Personally, I love spreadsheets, and yes, to me, it's like magic. You can make it pretty and colourful, and it can tell you a lot of things, but... There is a massive but.
1. It's prone to mistakes. You may miss typing a number or highlight the wrong columns, and you may end up with altogether the wrong figures as a result.
2.
Making digital tax for sole traders
is coming in 2025. I know it's a while yet, but if you start now, you will get more insight into your business and will be ready and won't have to stress about it.
3. If you start using software when you start your business, chances are there won't be as many transactions, and it will be easier to learn how to use it. If you understand your business from day one, you have more chances to build a successful business.
4. Did you know you can just snap and download the receipts on the go with your phone? No more finding all the receipts.
5. You can track your mileage easily; even recording it manually is dead easy.
Ask for help if you need it. I know money is a touchy subject, but don't worry about being judged. You won't be. We are all good at different things.
Doing your bookkeeping
Doing your bookkeeping monthly is simply a smart thing to do.
1. You will know how your business is doing and be able to save some money every month to pay your tax bill.
2. You can prepare and submit your tax return early, and you will still have till 31st January to pay.
3. You will keep your sanity and enjoy Christmas rather than struggle to find money, pay your tax bill, and worry about paying fines for a late tax return.
Who will be doing your bookkeeping? Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you want to do it or the person who will be doing it?
- Are you sure it will be done correctly, and you will be claiming everything you can?
- Do you or that person know all the deadlines?
- Will you know how much to put away every month to save for the tax, or will you have a nasty surprise at the end of the year.
Check out our
services
and see what we can help you with.