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Pensions remain one of the last remaining significant tax breaks available to contractors, freelancers and business owners. And with the sweeping changes to the flexibility surrounding how you access your pension, there has never been a better time to invest. There are a variety of pensions for directors of limited company and contractors available.
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The best way to streamline a small business is to have reliable resources to ensure information is protected adequately and is easily accessible to the right people.

Suzy Pelta is the latest entrepreneur to feature in one of our success stories. Suzy from SuzyPeltaBakes is a business woman, a recipe book writer and demo chef. After winning Lorraine’s Cake Club, Suzy transformed her life and took advantage of opportunities that came her way. She discusses juggling being a parent and being a business owner as well as the importance of social media.
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Chantelle Flynn, one of the creators of Tiipii bed takes part in our recent success story. She discusses the method of making a niche product an international success. TiiPii Beds are luxury floating hammock beds that create a unique relaxing space to be enjoyed indoors or outdoors.
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The pandemic has thrown out a variety of new challenges for entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses. While raising funds has always been a complex process, the impact of COVID-19 has presented several new challenges. Accordingly, preparation for an investment exercise has never been more important in maximising the chances of a successful outcome.

Readers questions:  My year-end is 31st January, I have two companies, can I pay dividends out of one? We have made £160k profit so far this year.

Optimum pay group are an award-winning business that offer a range of financial services including Umbrella payroll.

‘Long COVID’ also known as ‘post-COVID-19 Syndrome’ is when the COVID-19 symptoms last weeks or months after the infection has gone. Being able to spot the signs and symptoms of Long Covid amongst employees will be vital over the coming months for UK companies. Psychotherapist Noel McDermott offers the following advice to employers on how to detect whether a member of staff could be suffering from Long Covid, signs to look out for and how to fully support them.

Socialising with colleagues feels good, but it also has benefits for the business. Working face-to-face with colleagues can both help maintain a good working culture and boost collaboration. But a year of working from and/or furlough has seen many workers coping with social isolation.

If you have started a business or are thinking about starting one, then you will need to decide on a business structure. You can choose to create a limited company, work as a sole trader or a partnership. Each business structure varies, especially when it comes to accounts and the bookkeeping. Sole trader owners are classed as self-employed, therefore they have their own set of tax rules and regulations to adhere to.

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Reader’s question: If I worked for a number of companies, each with their own individual name accounts and account number, would I be issued with a p60 for each one or could each income from each company be all on the one p60?

The average workplace is now made up of four generations, with millennials and Gen Zs accounting for most of the global workforce. Whilst these two generations are the youngest, with Millennials born from 1981 to 1996 and Gen Z’s born between 1997 and 2012, they don’t necessarily have a great deal in common. 

When you’re not there to oversee things, standards start to slip and the overall health of your business can start to decline. The pandemic has given the vast majority of us experience of working from home. Initially, it takes some getting used to, but we’ve been able to adapt and thrive.

As a start-up, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed. With so many things to consider, software might be the last thing on your mind. But the right software can make day-to-day processes run more smoothly, helping you to focus on what’s most important. Stay organised and keep your business on track with these software recommendations.

If you want to legally incorporate your business as a company in the UK, you’ve got to register as a limited company through Companies House. Here is a complete guide provided by company formation specialists 1^st Formations

One of the questions we are most frequently asked at Company Bug is “how many limited companies are there in the UK”, or similar questions relating to the business population as a whole

Salary benchmarking has become one of the most important tools for businesses seeking talent. If you’re struggling to find the best and you’re offering the average wage, it’s tempting to up your offering and see who takes the bait. But what if you don’t have the budget – or the inclination – to inflate the market? Are there more important things to job seekers than money? What are the options open to your business?

Reader’s question:  I am interested in setting up a company and would like to associate it with a particular name.  When searching companies house I found that the name I was interested in had been registered in the past but the status was showing as ‘DEAD’.  Would you be able to advise what this means and whether I would be able to use this name?

If you’re thinking of selling your business, it is important to keep tax considerations in mind. One way to do this is with an Employee ownership trust, which enables you to sell your business without tax (tax free).