Founder guides

Tax, paperwork, liability, privacy, and when to switch. Worked examples at three profit levels.

Step-by-step Companies House registration: name rules, registered office, directors, shares, SIC codes, PSC register, and costs.

A practical 30-day checklist for new directors: HMRC, banking, VAT, insurance, Self Assessment.

What to compare, high street vs digital, FSCS protection, switching, and the common pitfalls.

Which trades need one, where to apply, and the licences most small businesses miss.

What HMRC's wholly-and-exclusively rule means in practice, and where new founders most often miss out.

Director rules, the BIK trap, capital allowances, and what HMRC accepts. Worked examples throughout.

Optimum salary, the new 2026 dividend rates, and worked examples at three profit levels.

Registration, deadlines, what to gather, and how to file without panic.

Who's affected, what changes, what software, and how to get ready before 6 April 2026.

Thresholds, deadlines, schemes, MTD, and what to do after registration.

What benefits in kind to report, the 6 July deadline, the 15% Class 1A NIC, and the pitfalls.

Take-home comparison, IR35 explained, admin trade-offs, and when to choose each structure.

What you can do yourself, when DIY breaks down, typical costs, and how to find a good accountant.

What to confirm, how to file online, the £50 fee, and what happens if you miss the deadline.

Filing options, deadlines, micro-entity vs small accounts, and how to avoid the late-filing penalty.

What you legally need, the ICO fee, lawful basis, and the practical steps that actually matter.

Sole trader, Ltd, VAT, PAYE — what you must keep, for how long, and what HMRC accepts digitally.

Why profit isn't cash, the patterns that catch founders out, and a simple monthly rhythm.

Building a 13-week rolling forecast, scenario planning, and the assumptions that bite you.

When they make sense, FSCS protection, what to compare, and how Ltds should hold cash.

The 5-stage escalation ladder, statutory interest under the Late Payment Act, and when to involve a solicitor.

Where they actually come from, what works in the first 90 days, and what to ignore.

Day rates vs fixed fees vs value-based pricing, market benchmarks, and the mistakes that under-price you.

The structure, the pricing approach, the follow-up, and the mistakes that lose deals.

The clauses that protect you, IR35 considerations, and a usable template structure.

The first 30 days, the documents you need, and how to set the relationship up to keep them happy.

The one-page structure that works, the metrics that matter, and a 12-month rolling rhythm.

The basics that actually move rankings, what to ignore, local SEO, and a 90-day plan.

The audience reality, what works, what doesn't, and a 30-day starter plan.

Where they go, how to ask, and the legal lines you must not cross.

Legal requirements, employment contract essentials, the real costs, and the first 30 days as an employer.

Registration, payroll software, RTI, and the first month of running payroll without errors.

Who qualifies, who doesn't, how to claim £10,500, and the rules that catch single-director companies out.

The tests HMRC actually uses, what gets businesses caught out, and the consequences of getting it wrong.