Whatever stage you’re at in the business journey, having an injection of additional working capital is always welcome. Being able to borrow money and take on managed debt in the business is what allows you to fund the next stage in your growth. But how does your credit profile affect your ability to borrow as a business? And what types of debt financing will help you expand, grow and scale up the company? Let’s explore the impact of your risk rating and the types of finance that may be available  Your credit profile: and how it impacts your ability to borrow Your credit profile is a measurement of your risk as a borrower. It’s how banks and specialist business lenders assess whether you’re a good business to lend to. Lenders want to know you have the revenue and cashflow needed to repay a loan. This will generally be assessed based on your business credit score and your overall financial health and forecasted business performance. With a good business credit score, your application for a loan is more likely to be accepted. With a poor credit profile, those doors to potential lending are more likely to be closed.

Having proper control of your business finances is a big advantage. It helps you make well-informed business decisions and keeps your organisation profitable. With so many digital tools for managing your bookkeeping, accounting and management reporting, it's never been easier to manage, track and forecast your financial position. But what are the main tools you need? And how do you set up your financial systems, apps, processes and reporting to put yourself back in the finance driving seat?

Have you ever wondered about the best ways to protect you and your business? In this series, we’ll look at the key ways to use trusts, insurance and risk-management techniques to protect both your personal assets and the future of the company. In this article, we’ll look at how you can use a trust to shelter your assets.

On 7 August 2025, the Bank of England cut the UK’s interest rate by quarter of a percent, down from 4.25% to 4.00%. The impact of this drop in the inflation rate can be both positive and negative for your small business, so it’s worth understanding the effect that interest rate changes can have.  Let’s take a look at how a drop in interest rates may affect your finances. Reduced cost of borrowing Lower interest rates on loans. This directly translates to lower interest payments on your existing loans and potentially more favourable interest rates on any new loans you take out. Increased access to credit: With lower borrowing costs, you may find it easier to secure financing for expansion, investment in new equipment, or to overcome and present challenges. Improved cashflow Reduced debt service: Having lower interest payments frees up cashflow. This can be used to reinvest in the business, used for marketing, or distributed to shareholders. Increased consumer spending: Lower interest rates help to stimulate consumer spending. This can mean increased demand for goods and services, higher sales and boosted revenues. Better opportunities for investment Lower cost of capital: With cheaper borrowing costs, you can invest in growth, including research and development, technology upgrades or hiring new staff. Increased confidence: Lower interest rates can boost investor confidence. This makes it easier for you to find investors and raise capital through equity financing. Economic growth Stimulate the economy: Lower interest rates can boost economic growth by encouraging borrowing, investment and consumer spending. This creates a more favourable environment for your businesses to thrive in. A stronger economy = a more stable future. Investing in the future of your business is a vital step. With interest rates currently lower, now’s the time to think about borrowing and putting your 2025 strategy into action. Talk to our team about your growth plans and how these interest rate changes may impact your business. We’re here to help you reinvest, grow and keep on evolving.

LEGISLATION DAY 2025 - WHAT WAS PUBLISHED? On ‘Legislation Day’ (21 July 2025), HM Treasury released a range of draft legislation and tax documents. The key measures to be implemented by the new legislation can be categorised into the following areas: CLOSING THE TAX GAP Several measures are proposed that will target tax avoidance. In addition, tax agents will be required to register with HMRC in order to deal with HMRC on their customers’ behalf. One of HMRC’s main reasons for introducing Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax is that it will supposedly reduce errors. MTD is covered in more detail in the article below. PUTTING THE TAX SYSTEM ON A FAIRER, MORE SUSTAINABLE FOOTING Key measures in this category include: The controversial restrictions on the amounts of inheritance tax relief available for agricultural and business property from April 2026 (see below); Proposals to include inherited pension pots in a deceased person’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from April 2027; and Proposals to bring Employee Car Ownership Schemes into scope of the benefit in kind rules as company cars. MAINTAINING THE TAX SYSTEM Key measures in this category include: A proposal to introduce an easement that will help to mitigate the significant increase in benefit in kind (BiK) for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) following a potential introduction of the new Euro 6e standard. If the standard is introduced in Great Britain, it would significantly increase the BiK tax due on PHEV company cars, which is linked to CO2 emissions. Technical guidance that aims to provide clarity on the tax implications of PISCES. PISCES stands for “Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System”, which is a new type of stock market that will allow private companies to have their shares traded intermittently.

In a world where evolving political events can change the market in an instant, and economic instability is still the norm, finding certainty in your business strategy is a rarity. Business plans and your overriding strategy are no longer written in stone. This means being flexible about your next steps and regularly reviewing your business strategy. Let’s see how frequent strategic business reviews can help you reduce the uncertainty.

You’ve spent years growing your business and adding value to the company. Now it’s time to sell up, get a good deal and liquidise the equity you’ve had locked up in the business. In this series, we’ll give you all the advice you need to plan your exit, add value to the business, negotiate a great deal and define your new pathway once the business is sold. Let’s look at some important ways to achieve the best possible deal for your business sale. Selling your business is generally the end step in a much longer journey. If you’ve put together a detailed exit strategy, you’ll have been planning this sale for some time. The important thing at this point is to make sure you get a great deal and realise the best possible sale price – giving you the return you deserve for all your hard work. To put yourself in the optimum position when looking for a buyer, here are a few tips: 

I’m sure you’ve heard about the need to work ‘on’ your business as well as working ‘in’ your business. But have you ever stopped to think what exactly you should be doing? First some practical distinctions to compare working ‘on’ and working ‘in’.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) is being introduced from 6 April 2026. If you’re a sole trader or landlord, this will mean complying with the new rules around keeping digital records and submitting quarterly digital updates to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). However, there are potential exemptions to the new MTD for IT rules. So, it may be that you can, for the moment, escape the mandatory move to digital tax returns. Let’s see who will have to use MTD for IT, and who won’t be required to sign up.