National insurance contributions (NICs) are set aside to pay the state pension and other benefits, but due to the UK’s ageing population the National Insurance Fund is under increasing strain, […]
Around 1.4 million businesses in the UK employed members of staff in 2018, and all of them shared one thing in common: the legal requirement to run payroll. This task […]
Individuals set to benefit from an increase to the higher-rate threshold in 2019 will only see half of the tax reduction expected, as a result of a Budget measure not […]
The annual investment allowance is set to temporarily increase from £200,000 to £1 million, allowing businesses to gain more tax relief on their investments. This will take effect from 1 […]
Most people don’t like to think about their own mortality, but planning for the future is important to ensure your property, money and possessions are distributed the way you intend. […]
These days VAT thresholds are the subject of much speculation, with the Government concerned that many business owners deliberately choose to stay below the VAT-registration threshold. Limiting your ambition in […]
As communities around the UK geared up to take part in Mitzvah Day 2018 – the country’ s biggest multi faith day of social action – here at Sobell Rhodes […]
Britain is a nation of fearless entrepreneurs, but the likes of Richard Branson and James Dyson didn’t go from rags to riches instantly. Branson needed a £300 loan to get […]
People run businesses for a variety of reasons from passion to pride, but making a living is high up the list for most people. How do you go about drawing […]
Introduction Going into Budget 2018, between leaks and political instability, few expected Chancellor Philip Hammond would have surprises left to spring. How wrong we were. Under pressure to support No […]
Personal allowance The personal allowance increases from £11,850 to £12,500 from 6 April 2019. The allowance will also remain at this level for the 2020/21 tax year. Basic-rate band The […]
Corporation tax The main rate of corporation tax remains at 19% for 2019/20. The intention to cut the rate of corporation tax to 17% in 2020/21 was reiterated. Annual investment […]
As traditional loans fall out of favour with increasing numbers of business owners, you may be looking for an alternative route for financing – and your pension could be the […]
If there’s one thing that keeps us awake at night it’s the thought of how many British businesses are failing to claim capital allowances to which they are entitled – […]
On 21st September 2018 we came into the office wearing our Jeans in order to raise money and awareness for Genetic Disorders UK. We are proud to have been able […]
First-time buyers in England, Northern Ireland – and for a short time in Wales – were the biggest winners in the most recent shake-up to affect property taxes in Autumn […]
Whether you’re a buy-to-let landlord, a shareholder, an art dealer or you fall somewhere in between, the chances are you will be familiar with paying capital gains tax (CGT). CGT […]
Millions of married couples and civil partners in the UK are eligible for the marriage allowance, but take-up has remained subdued since the tax break came into force on 6 […]
Although the Making Tax Digital (MTD) regime has suffered several setbacks and delays, MTD for VAT remains on course to take effect from its planned implementation date of 1 April […]
You’ve built your business from the ground up and decided it’s time to start planning your departure, but how can you guarantee that you pass it on to the right […]
Smaller employers may require more support in operating workplace pension schemes through auto-enrolment, statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions show. Both small employers (defined as those with 5 […]
After years of hard work and careful saving, you might be looking forward to spending the wealth you’ve built up on a comfortable, relaxing retirement. On the other hand, you […]
Most employers are currently getting their houses in order when it comes to reporting employee benefits and expenses ahead of the 6 July 2018 deadline. At the end of the […]
Many employees need to travel as part of their job for various reasons, whether it’s acquiring new customers, working with current ones or attending conferences and events. The system of […]
A number of selected small businesses have begun submitting tax returns under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) pilot scheme. The Revenue asked for businesses to step forward and trial the […]
Despite year-on-year tax rises, company cars remain a popular benefit. While the tax cost of expensive high-emission cars can be eye-watering, by choosing carefully it’s possible to enjoy the convenience […]
Nobody wants the taxman to take more than his fair share, and planning your finances early on can ensure you adopt the most tax-efficient strategy for the months and years […]
Companies can fail for several reasons and, for the most part, these aren’t the result of wrongdoing by the directors. For this reason, it’s perfectly legal to start a new […]
With a new tax year almost upon us, many sole traders will be reviewing their business structure and considering whether it’s worth switching to a limited company. There’s no denying […]
Most employers choose to recognise the ongoing commitment made by their members of staff by providing various benefits and rewards. Whether that’s in the form of the Christmas party or […]
A total of 745,588 people run the risk of being fined by HMRC after missing the deadline to submit their self-assessment tax return. About one in 15 taxpayers failed to […]
Vulnerable and elderly people are being told they owe large amounts of tax which they can only pay off through digital vouchers and gift cards. HMRC has issued a warning […]
The overwhelming majority of business owners and landlords remain in the dark over making tax digital (MTD), government research shows. Ipsos Mori polled 2,900 small businesses and landlords on behalf […]
Anyone whose business comes under the Revenue’s microscope is usually in for a roller-coaster ride. HMRC has upped its game in recent years when it comes to probing businesses or […]
Incorporating charitable giving into your tax planning strategy can be a useful way to reduce both your income tax and the inheritance tax (IHT) that will eventually become payable on […]
Audits may be a thing of the past, but certain annual reports still apply. If you’re a business owner, you may be familiar with the process of submitting your accounts […]
What is a forensic accountant’s role in divorce proceedings? A forensic accountant has a number of functions. If they are the single joint expert (SJE) in the context of […]
For self-employed people, company directors and those receiving other sources of income, it’s the time of the year to send your self-assessment tax return. Self-assessment is the process used by […]
As communities around the UK geared up to take part in Mitzvah Day 2017 – the country’s biggest multi faith day of social action – here at Sobell Rhodes we […]
As the owner and director of your own company, you can choose how and when to extract funds from your company. As almost all the funds you take out will […]
Most employers provide a range of benefits in kind to their employees. You may be able to choose which benefits to take up, so you should be aware of the […]
Do you spend a lot of time travelling or have little time to oversee your company’s management accounts? If your answer to these questions is “yes” we would recommend that […]
Trusts are a legal arrangement whereby assets are placed into the care of an individual who manages them for the benefit of someone else. For the person placing the assets […]
Starting a business is rarely glamourous. Many of the globe-straddling behemoths of the business world had low key beginnings. Both Apple and Hewlett-Packard were famously started in their founder’s garages […]
Whether you own one or 50 let properties, you need to be aware of the tax changes that have already started to take effect – and which will accelerate over […]
Most businesses don’t do this (believe it or not) but the information obtained can be really helpful in keeping you out in front. Obtain your competitors’ brochures and promotional materials […]
What your customers say about you is infinitely more persuasive to a prospect than anything you could possibly say about yourself, hence the popularity of websites such as tripadvisor.co.uk and […]
Social media utilises the internet to maximise contact with your current network. It also helps you to grow your group of connections at an exponential rate. LinkedIn allows you to […]
Your business may benefit from convening a focus group. This will require you to gather a group of customers together in order to discuss your business. Here’s how it works: […]
Referrals are the lifeblood of a successful business – there’s no better way of building sales than by increasing referrals. They are not only the number one source of new business; […]
Stephen Covey, who wrote one of the bestselling business books of all time “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” said that all success starts in one place:- your mind. He calls […]
Historical precedents within a particular industry force customers to make compromises or concessions. Why, for example: • Do most hotels prohibit you from checking in before 3pm? [Hotel maids generally start […]
Technology is a major driver of business profits. Here is a list of innovations you may want to implement in your business: Document management systems (going paperless) Electronic workflow Multiple monitors Portals […]
Planning is a key element to running a successful business. To get where you want to go, you’ll need a business plan. Most businesses don’t have any kind of plan. […]
The Bank of Mum and Dad (BoMaD) is set to lend £6.5 billion in 2017, up from £5 billion in 2016, to help their grown-up children get on the property […]
If your business does not have a steady stream of money flowing into it, you will be unlikely to be a going concern in 12 months. On the other hand, […]
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is a Government directive which signals the biggest change to accounting and tax procedures in decades for businesses and landlords. It requires: • The submission of […]
As part of your business planning process, conduct a SWOT analysis to help you identify your company’s: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Use this to set actions for improvement. […]
Around 63% of homeowners favour downsizing their property to fund their retirement, according to research by Now: Pensions. Of the 2,000 people surveyed, nearly 39% think that unlocking housing wealth […]
We are delighted to have been chosen to appear in this month’s edition of Economia Magazine, in which Andrew Rhodes discusses the Sobell Rhodes many pronged approach. To read the full […]
Many business owners I work with say to me “There’s not enough time in the day for everything I need to do” and “I need to spend more time focusing […]
No business can exist without sales. Regardless of your industry, the one thing you have to do above everything else is sell your products and services. So, if you don’t […]
Getting the right people is one of the most important things you can do to support the long-term success of your business. Yet, so many business owners approach recruiting the […]
Customers care about price. But it is certainly not the only thing they care about- and your entire business and marketing strategy should reflect that fact. In other words, you […]
Just think for a minute about a hundred of the most useful or favourite things you buy on a regular basis, how many would you stop buying if the price […]
Price is unquestionably the most powerful growth driver. You absolutely must get this one right. The wrong price is the single biggest reason why UK businesses struggle or even fail. […]
Before you design your logo or write a clever slogan, you need to identify your USP. This is what gives you an advantage over your competitors as it differentiates you […]
Research shows that for the average UK business, about 1 in 5 customers don’t come back. Why do these customers leave? 4% die or move out of your geographical reach […]
If you want to get the best possible results, you’ve got to create a system, whether it be a script for a hairdresser to encourage their clients to get their […]
Most businesses spend most of their time working out how to find new customers. But the real power behind business growth lies in the customers you already have. The easiest […]
How do you get more customers without having to get any more sales leads? You can do this by converting more of your existing leads into sales. Many retailers have […]
Customer’s perception of value, based on their perception of benefits vs. cost, is influenced by factors such as: How we package, position and explain what we do The track record […]
Many business owners wanting to grow their business start with “I need more customers”. As you will discover it’s not always the most effective way, but is what many businesses […]
Last week we welcomed MP Bob Blackman and his wife Nicola Blackman to cut the red ribbon as we ‘officially’ opened our grand offices at Centennial Park, Elstree. Bob Blackman […]
Over the last few decades we have all benefited from the business research and behavioural science that shows us that the most successful people have two very common attributes. Firstly, […]
It’s one of life’s truisms, that when we stand still, we tend to go backwards; not because we are moving in reverse, but because others such as our competitors and […]
Success is a sensitive concept and therefore an emotive word. Many people assume it means the same for everyone, but in my experience, it most definitely does not. It’s actually […]
You may own your own business and if so, this is something of which to be proud. It no doubt took; vision, belief, courage and determination to develop or start […]
For most business owners this statement, or if you prefer, affirmation, is quite frankly stating the obvious. Cash is indeed king, but you also need the ‘Queen’ and the rest […]
Customers make most of their judgments about you and your business within the first few minutes of meeting you or your business representative. Dress Team members should always be properly […]
Referrals are the lifeblood of a successful business – there’s no better way of building sales than by increasing referrals. They are not only the number one source of new business; […]
Historical precedents within a particular industry force customers to make compromises or concessions. Why, for example: Do most hotels prohibit you from checking in before 3pm? (Hotel maids generally start […]
Technology is a major driver of business profits. Here is a list of innovations you may want to implement in your business: Document management systems (going paperless) Electronic workflow Multiple […]
We Brits are a polite nation, who likes to tiptoe and tread extremely carefully around difficult topics. Competitor analysis falls into that rather taboo category – an uncomfortable topic that’s […]
Target Before starting any market research it’s important you accurately identify your target market – whether it’s yummy mummies or fitness fanatics, be as specific as possible in identifying an […]
Innovative start-ups with earth-shattering, game-changing products and services have marketing handed to them on a golden platter. But, most of us don’t have these differentials. This makes creating your UVP […]
Participants The most important part of any customer focus group is the makeup of the participants. It needs to be representative of the customers to whom you sell your products […]
Basic marketing materials include a company brochure and, depending on your business, various booklets or specification sheets promoting your products, services or the industries that you serve. It’s nice to […]
What your customers say about you is infinitely more persuasive to a prospect than anything you could possibly say about yourself, hence the popularity of websites such as tripadvisor.co.uk and […]
BT has today bought EE, the UK’s largest mobile network, which currently holds roughly 40% market share in the mobile operators’ sector. The move by BT, which cost them £12.5 […]
Amid recent news that the UK economy grew by 2.6% last year, there is a growing debate whether the UK economy has finally emerged from the deepest economic crisis in […]
A ‘freebie’ kit is a useful tool for enticing prospective clients to your business, as well as reminding your existing clients what makes your company different. I hear you ask, […]
In this business environment, you need to collect and manage a lot of information about your customers, prospects and referral sources. To do this, you need a robust contact management […]
Our last blog post focused on the notion that there was no second chance to make a first impression personally; the same is true of your office space, and in […]
People instinctively will always make a value judgment about you and your business within a few minutes of meeting either yourself or someone from your organisation. Recent studies at the […]
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