Company Finance

In our latest interview we chat with George Bevis – founder of Tide, a business current account launched at the beginning of last year and counting 30,000+ members already – making it the fastest growing new B2B fintech in the UK ever.

Yesterday’s Budget was particularly relevant for the small business world. Here we break down the key points that you need to be aware of:

Firstly, congratulations. You are now at a stage where your business idea is ready to become a reality. The next step is registering a company with Companies House, the question is; what is the best way to go about doing this? You can of course go straight through Companies House, but what if you want […]

James Crowther owns one of Europe’s 20 million SMEs. Utilising his background in finance and fleet management, James’ vehicle brokerage business, Trade Vehicles Direct, finds clients the best deals on cars by sourcing direct from suppliers. His negotiation skills and industry relationships are key to his success and have allowed him to grow fast in […]

As a business owner it is important to know about wider issues – which may indirectly affect not just your venture but the business landscape in which you operate in. As a small business one of the most important skills that you will need to have is adaptability. Circumstances may never be totally ideal so […]

After last week’s hiatus – looking at the VW crisis – The Week in Startups returns for your usual fix of all the latest news in the SME world. In another boost for small businesses a large European bank has agreed to invest in a very popular peer-to-peer platform. At MadeSimple we believe in the importance of our […]

All of our company formation packages come with the option to open a Barclays Business Bank Account. On top of this, once an account has been successfully opened we’ll give you £50 cash back. How to form your company and arrange your meeting with Barclays 1. Search for your proposed company name and choose your […]

First, let’s look at what we mean by paid for. Paid for indicates that the value of the shares in a limited company have been paid into the company’s bank account (or other fund such as petty cash). A company can have both paid shares and unpaid shares; it’s not a case of all or […]

Emily Coltman FCA, Chief Accountant to FreeAgent – who provide an award-winning online accounting system for small businesses – explains what companies must send to HMRC and when. Registering the company HMRC are automatically notified when a company is formed at Companies House, so about three weeks after registering your new company, you will receive […]

There is mass confusion surrounding the annual accounts and the annual returns. Some people mistake one for the other; some people recognise one but fail to recognise the other and some people completely ignore them both. 

To form a Limited Liability Partnership you require at least two designated members. So what’s the difference between a designated member and a member? Designated members and members have the same rights to the company. However, designated members have more responsibilities than a regular member. They are responsible for (taken from Companies House): • appointing […]

Not sure what a limited company term means? Take a look at our handy jargon buster. Accounting Reference Date: The period that annual accounts must cover up to. Annual Accounts: A report delivered to Companies House that details financial information about a company. Annual Returns: A report delivered to Companies House that comprises of up […]

If you are appointing a corporate director (making another company a director) we require some extra information about the company being appointed. This includes whether the company is based in an EEA (European Economic Area) country or a Non-EEA country.

A short and sharp one today. If a company has made enough profit it is able to pay its shareholders a dividend. The dividend is the payment. Important Notes • A company should not pay dividends in excess of its available profits from the current and previous financial years • Dividends do not count as […]

No. Once you have formed a limited company you can leave the company dormant for as long as you wish. You don’t need to trade until you’re ready. Just ensure that: • HMRC are notified of your trading intentions • Annual returns are filed on time annually • Dormant company accounts are filed on time […]

Moving shares in a company from one person to another is a two-step process: 1. The person who is losing the shares must complete and sign a Stock Transfer Form (a template is available to download from the “Statutory Forms” area of your account). This details how many shares are being transferred and who they’re […]

Anyone who purchases one of our company formation packages immediately qualifies for a free consultation with a TaxAssist Accountant local to them. How do your claim your free consultation? Easy. 1. Visit our dedicated TaxAssist Page 2. Enter your email address, name, phone number, post code and company name 3. Enter the CAPTCHA and select […]

Once a limited company has been formed, Companies House will notify HMRC of the company’s incorporation. Roughly three weeks after the formation HMRC will mail a letter to the registered office explaining what the company needs to do next, in this letter you will find the “Unique Tax Reference” or “UTR”. If you do not […]

Sorry, we can longer offer HSBC Business Bank Accounts. All of our company formation packages include a Barclays and HSBC banking option. To select which banking option you would like to utilise (if any): • When purchasing your company formation package be sure to leave the banking option in the basket (you can remove it […]

There are a number of options available when it comes to funding a business. These can be split into two categories; debt financing sources and equity financing sources.

As long as you have at least one human director in your company, Companies House will allow you to appoint another company as a director. To appoint another company as a director you require the following information (for the company being appointed): • Company name • Name of an authorising person (normally a director) • […]

All limited companies set up via our company formation system are automatically allocated a Companies House webfiling authentication code. This means that if you form your company with us you can login to both our system and the Companies House webfiling system and make changes to the company. Changes include: • Director appointments, resignations and […]

Unfortunately our system only allows a company to be stored on one account at a time. Therefore if you wish for multiple people to have access to the company via the company admin portal you need to signup with an email address that multiple people have access to. Obviously you will then need to share […]

If you are signed up to our free Company Secretarial (or Cosec) system there are a number of options available to you that are not available to normal account holders. One of which is the ability to “Export to CSV” basic company information such as company due dates. This allows you save the file (and […]

Our company admin portal allows you to manage numerous limited companies without having to login to the Companies House system. To ensure that our portal has exactly the same information as Companies House we have a “Sync Data with Companies House” facility. This option, located towards the top of the portal, refreshes the page so […]

If a company files accounts with Companies House after the due date it is liable to pay a penalty fee, the size of which depends on how late the accounts were filed. 

A limited company’s total aggregate value is the number of shares in the company multiplied by the value of each share. For example, a company with 10 shares worth £2 each would have a total aggregate value of £20. If the company has more than one share type, simply work out the total value of […]

Last Updated: 16/12/2014 A UK limited company has various filing obligations with both Companies House and HMRC. The Companies House obligations (annual returns and accounts) are easy to keep on top of as the due dates can be easily viewed from the Companies House webcheck (and our company admin portal). HMRC obligations are not so […]

Our company admin portal has a field for your company’s “Nature of Business”. This field displays the company’s SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) code.

The authorised share capital was abolished as part of the Companies Act 2006. However that’s not stopped us from being asked what this was. So here you go: Before the Companies Act 2006 a limited company could be formed without allocating all of its shares. So a company could be formed with an authorised share […]

Shows such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den have shoved entrepreneurship into the media spotlight over the last ten years. Although it’s not easy and there are undoubtedly many lessons along the way, the rewards of being your own boss are numerous and exciting (Necker Island, anyone?). Here are our top 5 success stories of […]

In this series of blog posts we are going to look at the different business structures available to the budding entrepreneur. And what better place to start than private companies limited by shares? Forming a private company limited by shares is often considered to add credibility to a business. Registration is processed by Companies House, […]

The accounting reference date is the date that a UK limited company’s accounts must be made up to. The date is automatically allocated upon formation and normally falls on the month-end of the company’s incorporation month. For example, if a company were formed on 03/08/2012, the accounting reference date would be 31/08. The first set […]

We’re absolutely delighted to announce the launch of our brand new white label service. So… What is the White Label Service? It’s the kit to become a company formation agent. Ideal for accountants and other professionals who wish to earn money by electronically forming limited companies for their clients. Once signed up (it’s free!) you […]

The subscriber is the person (or company) who was shareholder at the time of company incorporation. The reason for this terminology is so that Companies House know who the original shareholders were. Even if an original shareholder were to transfer their shares elsewhere, they would always remain a subscriber. This post was brought to you […]

We provide share certificates for existing and new shareholders alike. For existing shareholders simply login to your account, access “My Companies” and select your company name. Scroll down to the “Shareholders” section and select “Download”, you will either be presented with an online version of the certificate straight away or you will have to enter […]

All limited companies formed online with Companies House (either directly with Companies House or via a formation agent such as us) are automatically allocated a Companies House webfiling authentication code (click here for more information on the code). Once the code has been received you are free to change it to something memorable. To do […]

In order to form a UK limited company you only require a Director and a Shareholder (who can be the same person). The Secretary appointment is completely optional. If you would like a Secretary it’s worth noting that this can be the same person as the Director and Shareholder. This post was brought to you […]

A company’s share capital is the total value of shares that it has issued to its shareholders. So, if a company has issued one share worth £1, the share capital would be £1. If a company has issued three shares worth £2 the share capital would be £6. The number of shareholders is irrelevant. Number […]

From project management, time tracking and invoicing to file sharing, there are numerous apps on the market that can help entrepreneurs and small businesses run more efficiently. With an increase in mobile and tablet accessibility, it’s never been easier to take your business digital and portable. Here’s a list of apps which we believe can […]

All of our company formation packages include a Barclays business bank account service. So how does it work? Just before you start the company formation process, we request that you fill out a quick online document with your contact details. Once the company has been formed Barclays will be in touch to arrange a meeting […]

If you purchase any of our company formation packages you may notice that our prices plus VAT don’t appear to add up. For example, our Basic package (£16.99 plus VAT) totals £17.79 at the checkout; however the conventional method would see it total £20.38. So what are we doing? We’re not adding VAT to the Companies […]

This is the most common mistake that we come across; the mixing up of annual returns and annual accounts. We’re on a mission to make sure that no one ever confuses the two filing obligations again. So in this, part one of said mission, we’re going to define exactly what each one is and what […]

On Friday we posted a piece entitled “Limited and Ltd: What suffix to use?” What the post didn’t touch on was what the term “Limited” actually means (in a company sense). So what better time than now to explore the definition? Here goes. In a limited company the liability of the shareholders is, you guessed […]

First up, let’s define what a dormant company is. In the words of Companies House: “A company is dormant if it has had no “significant accounting transactions” during the accounting period. A “significant accounting transaction” is one which the company should enter in its accounting records. The amount paid for shares on the formation of […]

To add new shares to a limited company you need to file the “SHO1-Return of allotment of shares” document with Companies House (this can be filed via paper of via our online admin portal). Companies House do not request the name/s of who is to receive these shares at this stage (shares can be given […]

All our company formation packages include a FREE Business Start Up Guide. Once the formation packages have been purchased, the link to download the guide is sent in the purchase confirmation email. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. Subscribe to […]

Yes, another post about filing obligations! Once a UK limited company is formed, it has two filing obligations with Companies House: • Annual Returns: A snapshot of the company’s current appointment, address and share situation. “What if the company is dormant”? It doesn’t matter; if you wish to keep the company going a return is […]

Did you know that you can import limited companies onto our system even if they were not formed by us? It’s completely free to do and allows you to take advantage of the fantastic benefits that our company admin system offers. To import a company onto our system all you need is the company number […]

Anyone who forms a limited company with us is provided with their very own “Company Administration Page”; a hub for your limited company. Unsurprisingly this page contains a lot of information, that’s why we’ve created the “Anatomy of a page” area. The “Anatomy of a page” explains every little detail of your Company Administration page. […]

Anyone who has an account with Companies Made Simple has access to an array of useful forms and templates, one such template is the Share Certificate. To download the Share Certificate template: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Select “Statutory Forms” • Select “Share Certificate Template” This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you have a service with us that requires a renewal, here’s the page to do it: Renewal Fees From here you can renew the following services: • Registered Office • Privacy Package • Comprehensive / Ultimate Package • Annual Return • Nominee Secretary • Nominee Shareholder • Service Address • Company Maintenance Subscription […]

Not really. The annual return for a trading company would be almost exactly the same as a return for a dormant company. The only differences could be: • A trading company could not use sic code 99999 (dormant company code) • A dormant company must answer “No” to the “Traded On Regulated Market” question, a […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you have our registered office service we will forward on the following mail to any given address free of charge: • HMRC • Companies House • Government Gateway • Department of Work and Pensions • Inland Revenue • Intellectual Property Office • Office for National Statistics • Any other government mail […]

We have added a new selection of “ shelf” companies for customers who do not wish to form a brand new limited company but would rather take over an existing one. For more information on our shelf companies click here: “Our Shelf Companies: Some Information” To buy a company click here: Shelf Companies This post was brought to […]

From small seeds grow great things and that’s certainly the thinking behind The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The scheme, brought in place by the Finance Act 2012, shall provide tax breaks for investors in new companies therefore encouraging investment in UK business. Under SEIS investors can receive 50 per cent tax relief, a huge […]

When you visit Companies Made Simple a pop-up box may appear asking “Why do you want to register a limited company?” to which your possible answers are: • Reserve a company name • Incorporate an existing business • Starting a new business • Registering on behalf of a client • Other We’re constantly looking at […]

Companies House say that there is no limit in regards to the amount of shares that you can allocate in your limited company. On top of this, there is also no limit upon the value of these shares. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company […]

Whilst our online admin portal allows you to update director and secretary information, it does not allow you to change shareholder information. This is because the only way to update shareholder information with Companies House is to file an annual return. Once a return has been filed with the new shareholder information, the shareholder information […]

Despite the fact that the UK economy is still struggling to emerge from recession, Ecommerce is one sector that is booming and any retailer lacking an online presence will inevitably lose business to competitors that do. If you are considering setting up an online business but don’t know how to go about it, these tips […]

Yes! It does not matter where your directors, secretaries or shareholders live, they can be based anywhere in the world. But remember, the company’s Registered Office must be based in the UK! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. […]

In fact it’s very simple! To change your accounting reference date (ARD) via our online admin portal: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Click the “My Companies” button • Select the company for whom you wish to change the ARD for • Next to “Accounting Reference Date” select “Change Date” • Select the accounting […]

The Companies House online system now allows us to file Dormant Company Accounts (DCA’s) for limited companies with multiple share classes. Previously we could only offer our DCA service to companies with one share class. For more information on our DCA service click here: Dormant Company Accounts This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

If you are browsing Companies Made Simple and have any questions regarding any of our services, simply click the orange speech bubble on the bottom-right of the screen. From here you can start a dialogue with one of our advisors completely online. It’s fast, efficient and simple! This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Our Online Admin Portal allows you to add new shares to your limited company with Companies House. To file a “Return of Allotment of Shares” (the necessary document for increasing the shares”): • Login • Select “My Companies” • Click on the correct company • Select “Return of Allotment of Shares” located next to “Share […]

Another day, another post about Annual Returns and Annual Accounts. We really must stress that Annual Returns and Annual Accounts are two completely different things that are both necessary filing obligations. If these are not filed then the company will eventually be dissolved and in the case of the Annual Accounts, if these are filed […]

When we inform our customers of impending due dates for their limited company, this is the response we’re often met with. Unfortunately it is a misleading statement. If HMRC have said (or written) that nothing is required of a dormant company it is simply to do with HMRC filing obligations and not Companies House filing […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 If you have any question regarding forming or running a limited company, take a look at the Knowledgebase. We’re confident that you will find the answer. The Knowledgebase is a hub of limited company information that we’ve collected over the years taken primarily from the different questions we are asked by our […]

Despite the current economic climate there are still plenty of opportunities to help new businesses thrive. There are also schemes to help encourage and develop new businesses, one of which is StartUp Loans. A collaboration between StartUp Britain and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, StartUp Loans is a government backed project aimed at […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Once you have filed your Annual Return with us, don’t forget to download the new digital Share Certificate (if the shareholding has changed). To download the new Share Certificate: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Click on your company name • Next to “Shareholder” select “Download” – you may be prompted […]

The age old question just got a lot simpler to answer with our Sole Trader v Limited Company Calculator and our Tax Saver UK App. Simply enter in your estimated profits and our site, or app, will tell you what’s best for your situation (includes a detailed breakdown). Try it now: • Sole Trader v […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Did you know that dormant limited companies still have to file company accounts? That’s where our Dormant Company Accounts service comes in. Once you purchase the service we send an automated email asking if the shares in your company are paid or unpaid, simply respond to this email and, provided we already […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 If you sign up (it’s free!) to our ICAEW Accredited Company Secretarial (Cosec) System, we will colour code your annual account and annual return due dates so that you know when a filing obligation is nearing or overdue. Once signed up simply click on “My Companies” and you’ll notice that due dates […]

Our Live Chat facility means that you can ask a question regarding any of our services and get the answer in a speedy and efficient manner. The Live Chat box now appears on the bottom right of most pages on the site, so if you’ve a query, simply click in this box and type your […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 None of our company formation packages include filing of company accounts. Our Comprehensive and Ultimate packages include our annual return service but this is not to be confused with company accounts. If a company is, and always has been dormant, we do offer a dormant company accounts service but if a company is not […]

We’re delighted to announce that our Company Formation Packages page has had a fresh new redesign. The new, improved packages page provides much more information in regards to what’s included with our packages as well as being much clearer. We also think it looks a lot better! To view the new page simply enter your […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 All of our company formation packages include the £13 Companies House incorporation fee in the quoted price. We do not charge VAT on this £13. This is why the VAT on our company formation packages may appear to be incorrect, when in fact it is totally correct: Company Formation Package + VAT […]

In keeping with our dedication to helping start-ups, we offer numerous business guides, packs and resources: • Tax and Financial Strategies Guide • Business Start Up Guide • How To Make A Profit Guide • 100 Ways To Save Time With Microsoft Office • Business Forms Pack For more information or to buy any of […]

The Business Show is now just 4 weeks away and a must-attend event if you are starting or growing a business. Running from the 17th to 18th of May at London’s ExCeL Centre, the show will host the UK’s biggest collection of educational seminars from business leaders and experts, including Amazon, Saatchi and Saatchi, James […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 We offer four different services based around limited company shares: • Transfer of Shares (£49.99) • Share Certificates (£9.99) • Issue of Shares (£49.99) • Confirmation of Shareholding at Incorporation (£9.99) For more information or to purchase any of these services, click here: Limited Company Share Services This post was brought to […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 We’re often asked if dormant companies still have to file annual returns. The answer is yes, they do! Annual Returns do not deal with the financial side of a limited company, therefore being dormant is irrelevant. The only way being dormant could impact upon the return is if the company chose to […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If your UK Limited Company has never traded, you still have to file a version of company accounts called dormant company accounts. If your company falls into this category we do offer a dormant company accounts service whereby we’ll file the accounts on your behalf. To do this all we require (once […]

Some of our services require action on your part after the purchase has been made. Take our company formation or DIY annual return services for example. When you buy either of these services you are required to login and complete the formation and annual return (respectively). If you’ve lost track of what is required on […]

If you have our Registered Office Service, or are thinking of purchasing the Registered Office Service, it’s important that you know what mail we will forward onto you. 

Our Knowledgebase facility is an ever-growing database designed to help you with any questions you may have to do with forming and running a UK limited company. The Knowledgebase comprises of the most common questions that we receive and the best possible answers to them. The database currently covers topics such as “Limited Companies”, “Manage […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 There still appears to be some confusion over the filing obligations of a dormant company. So, here’s what’s required of a dormant UK company limited by shares: Companies House Obligations Annual Returns on an annual basis Company Accounts on an annual basis (Dormant Company Accounts) HMRC Obligations A few weeks after the […]

When you purchase a service (or even just start an account!) with us we provide you with a wealth of free statutory forms and templates. Simply login and from the dashboard click “Statutory Forms”, you’ll then have access to forms/templates such as: • J30 Stock Transfer Form • First Board Meeting Minutes • Automatic Board […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  1. From Companies Made Simple, search for your company name and choose your formation package. 2. When at the Order Summary be sure to leave the “Barclays Bank Account” in your basket (it’s free!). 3. Make payment. 4. Just before you start the formation process you will automatically be directed to the […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If you file Annual Accounts after their due date then Companies House will issue a fine (the fine total depends on how late the accounts were filed, for more information click here). But the fine only comes in place once accounts are filed, therefore some people would rather not file accounts and […]

After forming a UK Limited Company the logical next step is to open up a business bank account. Whilst it isn’t a legal obligation for Limited Companies to have a bank account (after all some Limited Companies are dormant) not having a business bank account for a trading company is simply a non-starter. Without a […]

Yes, yes, we’re always banging on about Annual Returns and Annual Accounts, but for good reason. Missing your Annual Return due date will result in threatening letters from Companies House which may result in a fine and ultimately being struck off whilst filing your Annual Accounts late will definitely result in a fine.

Many people are confusing their accounting reference date with their accounts due date or assuming that they are the same thing. They’re not! The Accounting Reference Date: The date which accounts must be made up to. Annual Accounts Due Date: The date that accounts must be delivered by (Companies House will issue a fine for […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If you form a Limited Company with us and then open a Barclays Business Bank Account we will give you £50 cash back. That’s right, £50! To take advantage of this fantastic offer, simply leave the “Barclays Bank Account” service (it’s free) in your basket just before payment. We’ll then request contact […]

Last month we posted about the common misconception that dormant companies don’t have to file annual returns. Today we’re posting about another similar and just as common misconception; that dormant companies are not required to file annual accounts with Companies House. Dormant companies have the same filing obligations with Companies House as trading companies (annual […]

If you are forming a Private Company Limited By Shares with us, the company must end in the prefix Limited or Ltd. There’s absolutely no difference between Limited and Ltd, it is purely aesthetic. When searching to see if your proposed name is available from our homepage you don’t have to enter Limited or Ltd, […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  We know that forming a company, whilst extremely simple (when using us!), is a big step. That’s why we have pages dedicated to providing you with answers to any questions or concerns you have about starting a limited company. • The Facts A one-stop-shop for all things UK limited company. If you […]

When forming a limited company with us we give you the option to use our default Memorandum and Articles or to upload a version of your own Memorandum and Articles. To upload your own version during the company formation process: • Enter the required information (Registered Office, Director Details, Shareholder Details, Optional Secretary Details) until […]

If you administer numerous UK limited companies, then our free ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) accredited company secretarial system is ideal. The system allows you to carry out numerous admin tasks for your limited companies, one of which is changing the accounting reference date with Companies House. To do this […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  This is one of the most common statements that we hear; “My company is not trading so I don’t have to file Annual Returns”. Unfortunately it is incorrect. Dormant companies have exactly the same Companies House filing obligations as trading companies. Annual Returns and Annual Accounts (in the case of a dormant […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If a company that has been dissolved has the company name you want, you can form your company using that name. Your company will have a different company number and will not be related to the dissolved company in any way. However one thing you may wish to consider is the reputation […]

With the New Year fast approaching you may want to focus on some key areas of your business to hit the ground running for 2012. Planning: review how successful 2011 was for your business. And if it wasn’t, where can you make improvements to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Social media: still not on […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 Adding new shares to your UK Limited Company post company formation can be done through our online admin portal and what’s more, it’s very simple. To do this: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Companies” • Click on the relevant company name • Next to “Share Capital” select “Return […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 It’s not just UK Limited Companies that we form. We also provide a number of Offshore Company Formation Services. We can arrange to have companies formed in the following locations: • Anguila • Belize • Seychelles For more information on our offshore services click here: Offshore Company Formations This post was brought […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 As posted last week, we can now form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) online as one of our online company formation services. To form an LLP (once the service has been purchased): • From “My Companies” click on “Change your LLP company name” • Click “change company name” and enter your chosen company […]

Our Limited Company Director infographic draws a profile of company directors appointed between January 2009 and September 2011: You can also view the infographic on visual.ly and as a pdf. If you would like to view the report from which we created the infographic click here. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

With us now in the midst of the festive season and a New Year approaching, we thought it a great time to catch up with our Small Business of the Year 2010 winner, SweetBar Ltd. SweetBar specialise in providing pic’n’mix sweets at special occasions and events with their traditional sweet cart. And with all the […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 When you login to your cosec account, the dashboard is the first page you will see. From here, you have a number of actions you can take. 1)    Your Action is Required Under this header, you will see any companies that have outstanding actions. This includes companies that are not yet formed […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 It is so simple to make these changes and the details are updated in as little as 3 hours. Here’s how: Your first step is to login to your account here. Select the company you wish to administer from the ‘My Companies’ list. 1) To Edit Director / Secretary Details: This is […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If details for one of your limited company directors changes post company formation, don’t worry, it’s very easy to update with Companies House via our company admin portal. Simply login at Companies Made Simple, access “My Companies”, click on the relevant company and then next to the directors whose details you wish […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 As the New Year approaches, it’s out with the old and in with the new at Companies Made Simple. We‘re delighted to announce that we can now form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s) online in just three working hours. This is opposed to the old paper forms that were both time consuming and […]

Every month we send out a newswire via email that includes news, company formation information, other service information and much, much more. We store all of these newswires on the Newswire & Competition Winners Page, so if you’ve missed an edition, don’t worry, you can visit the page and read them all! The Newswire & […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We have a number of limited companies set up for the sole purpose of selling on at a later date. We call these our “Shelf Companies”. When you buy one of our Shelf Companies we will: • Resign the current appointments • Appoint your requested appointments • Update the Registered Office to your requested […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you completed the company formation process with us then you have access to our online company admin portal. As well as being able to carry out limited company admin duties such as officer appointments, address updates and annual returns (to mention but a few) you can also view basic company information […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you’ve got a question regarding company formations or anything related to formations take a look at our new Knowledgebase. The page is a fantastic resource designed to assist you with any questions you have in regards to Companies Made Simple and the different services that we offer. From the Knowledgebase you […]

Our FREE to use ICAEW Accredited Cosec System offers a number of facilities designed to assist anyone who administers numerous limited companies. One such facility is the Dividend section. We’ve now updated this area of the Company Secretarial system so that it’s even more efficient. We know it can be quite time consuming to enter […]

This month we are focusing on the offshore market for companies. With world economies being in apparent meltdown, there are still many reasons why individuals and entities from many countries choose a particular jurisdiction to locate their commercial operations. One country that has particularly suffered from the Eurozone crisis, but is still a highly attractive […]

Start Ups is one of the busiest online hubs for people either considering starting a business or those in business looking for business advice. You’ll find a rich variety of business information and advice… so do explore. Howard Graham, CEO and Founder of Made Simple Group was also recently on the Start Ups panel of […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you have formed a Limited Company with the intention of keeping the company dormant, there are a few steps you need to adhere to in order to ensure dormant status (other than not trade of course).

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 This is one of our customer’s most common concerns, but it needn’t be. The Companies House status “Active” does not mean that the limited company is trading; it just means that the company is “live” and not in liquidation or being struck off. Tomorrow we shall look at how to let Companies […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 You can now download a copy of the J30 Stock Transfer Form from your dashboard on our site. Simply login at Companies Made Simple!

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If your company is dormant and the due date for your annual accounts is nearing, don’t panic, we can help! With our Dormant Company Accounts Service we will file the accounts with Companies House on your behalf. All we need is a valid Webfiling Authentication Code (if we formed your company we’ll […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 Once you have formed your Limited Company with us, we will automatically set your company up on our free Online Admin Portal. From here you can carry out various admin duties on your Limited Company such as: • Appoint Directors • Resign Directors • Appoint Secretaries • Resign Secretaries • Update Director […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We’ve just added some new companies to our Shelf Companies List! The new companies are: JASMINE DECOR HOUSE LTD LEATHER AND STUDS LIMITED SWEET ADDICTION CLOTHING LTD LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS LIMITED GREYHOUND WORKWEAR LIMITED GREEN VALLEY COMMUNICATIONS LTD BAREFOOT ADVENTURES LIMITED BIOTEC HEALTHCARE SERVICES LIMITED MEDITERRANEAN BAKERS LTD LEGEND BIOTECH LTD For more information, […]

We’ve just uploaded the latest in our “All you need to know” video series to our YouTube channel. This video sees me explain exactly how our Dormant Company Accounts service works. Watch the video here: All you need to know about… Our Dormant Company Accounts Service This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

We’ve some exciting news (well to us at least) regarding limited company share certificates and our online admin portal. Our system now automatically creates share certificates when a shareholder change has taken place (via the annual return). Even if your company wasn’t formed by us but has been imported onto our system, we’ll still create […]

When selecting the name for your Limited Company, there are some words that require extra permissions in order to have them included in your company name. These are called sensitive words. Some of the most common sensitive words are: • Board • Group • Holding(s) • Federation • Foundation • International • King • Queen […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Once your limited company has been formed it’s totally normal for the share situation in your company to change. That’s why we offer a number of different share services: • Confirmation of Shareholding at Incorporation (£9.99) A letter-headed document confirming the shareholding situation at the time of incorporation • Issue of Shares […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Our existing customers and regular blog readers will already know that it’s not just limited company formations we can help with, we also offer a number of services useful to limited companies. One area where we offer help is company tax registration. We know that some people find all things tax related […]

It comes down to that age old saying: ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ So are you prepared to face any disruption that could potentially harm your business? If there is one thing that many businesses will have learnt from last month’s riots in London and across the UK, an effective recovery […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Amongst many other things, our ICAEW accredited cosec (Company Secretarial) system allows you to form Limited Companies. To purchase one of our cosec formation packages: 1. Login 2. Select the “Form a Company” tab 3. Enter the proposed company name 4. Choose a formation package 5. Make payment (or pay on account) […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 A Limited Company is said to be in “Good Standing” if all filing obligations with Companies House have been met and there are no inconsistencies with the information held at Companies House. If this is the case then the company qualifies for a Certificate of Good Standing. The certificate contains information on […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 When it comes to forming Limited By Share Companies, we offer 5 different packages: • Basic – £16.99 • Printed – £29.99 • Privacy – £49.99 • Comprehensive – £129.99 • Ultimate – £199.99 If you want to form a Limited Company then there’ll be a package that suits you. To compare packages see our register […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you have a Limited Company on our system (or numerous Limited Companies) then you want our system to be completely up to date and hold the information Companies House hold. To make sure this is the case login, access “My Companies”, click on the relevant company and the click on “Sync […]

Yesterday we brought you the fantastic news that our Company Name Search App is now available on Android Marketplace. Well the news gets even better, Our Tax Saver UK App is also now available on Android Marketplace! Check if you are better off as a sole trader or a Limited Company whilst on the move […]

We’re delighted to announce that our Company Name Search Application is now available on the Andoid Market! This means you can now search the availability of your proposed Limited Company name whilst on the move with both the iPhone and Android Devices. For more information on the FREE app, or to download the app, click […]

We’ve created a brand new “Why choose us” page to demonstrate why, if you’re forming a Limited Company, you should choose Companies Made Simple as your company formation agent. You can view the page here. And if you still need convincing you can also take a look at our most recent reviews and testimonials. This […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 One of the most common questions we are asked is “how many people does it take to form a limited company?” Well the answer is just one person. In a limited company one person can act as: • Director • Shareholder • Secretary (optional) To start the company formation process click here. […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Our Cosec (Company Secretarial) System, the only secretarial software accredited by ICAEW, is constantly being updated with new benefits and features. The latest upgrade is the ability to update all your Limited Companies (on our system) with Companies House, providing you with the latest up-to-date due dates for annual returns and annual […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Is your company dormant? Is the annual account due date nearing? Don’t worry, let us file your Dormant Company Accounts for you. All we need is: • Your company Authentication Code • To know if the shares in your company are paid or unpaid We’ll then do the rest. Our Dormant Company […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you want to protect your director’s address from the public register then our Director’s Service Address Service is ideal. For just £49.99 per year we’ll allow you to use our address as the Service Address for all your company directors – rather than residential addresses. For more information or to buy […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 We want our customers to know if forming a Limited Company is right for them. That’s why we’ve a page dedicated to the UK Limited Company. Everything you could want to know about forming a Limited is on this page and what’s more, you can also download “The Facts Whitepaper”. Visit THE […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 This is important! Annual Returns and Annual Accounts are two completely different filing obligations Limited Companies have with Companies House. Two of our Limited Company packages (Comprehensive & Ultimate) come with an Annual Return Service, none come with a Company Accounts service. Regardless of the trading status (trading or dormant) of your Limited Company, […]

Sorry,  we no longer offer the assistance service as HMRC no longer uses this paper form. Let’s face it, no one likes filling out forms. That’s why we’ve launched the CT41G Assistance Service. The CT41G is sent by HMRC to all new Limited Companies a few weeks after incorporation. With our assistance service (£10), all […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you have completed a Return of Allotment Shares for your Limited Company your next step should be to create share certificates for your new shareholder/s. You can now download a share certificate template from your Companies Made Simple Dashboard under the option “Statutory Forms”. Simply open up the document, enter the […]

Sorry, we can no longer offer a HSBC Business Bank Account. If you are using our White Label Company Formation Service on your website, you can now enable and disable the HSBC banking option. To do this: 1. Login at our Affiliate Site 2. Select “White Label” 3. On the left-hand side of the screen […]

Companies Made Simple has launched a site dedicated to affiliate marketing opportunities! Our Affiliate Marketing Made Simple page outlines the various affiliate opportunities currently available, including: • White Label Company Formation • Sole Trader vs. Limited Company “widget” • Affiliate Links Over the coming weeks we’ll go into much more detail in regards to these […]

If you want exposure for your business the best way of doing this is through networking. But where exactly is the best place to do this? Firstly exhibitions, local and national events and trade fairs are powerful things. They allow your business to become more ‘personable’ and allow you to get stuck in with your […]

The government has recently announced that it plans to cut 160 burdensome regulations as part of the ‘Red Tape Challenge’. Following the launch of the Red Tape Challenge website, businesses are invited to share their opinions and views on the rules and regulations that they deem difficult or redundant, eventually resulting in a break down […]

Last Updated: 10/09/2014 Everyone who forms a Limited Company with Companies Made Simple gains access to their own online admin portal. The homepage of the admin portal is the “Dashboard”. The dashboard (which can be found once you login) offers a “Statutory Forms” facility where you will find “Useful templates and forms for statutory requirements”.

Did you know that our site has an area dedicated to customer reviews and testimonials? Our reviews page is constantly updated with the latest feedback from our customers. And whilst we’re always delighted to read nice things about our services, we recognise the importance of negative feedback as it helps us to develop and improve […]

Well first off, ask us if we have it. We hold authentication codes for all the limited companies that we form. If however, the code we have has expired, simply: 1. Register for Companies House WebFiling 2. Sign in to Companies House WebFiling 3. Select “Forgotten your authentication code?” 4. Select if the authentication code […]

In today’s economic climate, focus on the customer has never been more important. You have to keep your customers happy, keep them coming back for more and generate positive responses to your business and/or product. Here are a few customer focused and marketing tips to consider in order to make your business attractive to those […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 We receive many calls from customers concerned that when on the Companies House webcheck, the status of their company is shown as “Active”, despite the fact their company is dormant. This is no cause for alarm. This status has nothing to do with the trading status of the company; it just means […]

Our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial System lets you import companies that were not formed with us onto the system, free of charge. This allows you to carry out various admin tasks (all free unless otherwise stated) such as: • Appoint / Resign Directors • Appoint / Resign Secretaries • Update appointee information • Update Registered […]

There are numerous statutory duties that apply to directors, many linked to defaults by the company. If a private company offers shares to the public, the company ’and any officer of the company in default‘, are guilty. However, there are some duties, whose breach is a criminal offence, that apply only to directors. One of […]

Legislation protecting and controlling the employment of individuals has been considerable over the last few years. It is particularly important that however few employees you intend to take on, you take appropriate advice to ensure that you comply with all legislation particularly with regard to: • The recruitment process • Terms and conditions of employment […]

Business insurance like many types of expenditure is one of those items that business owners typically do not like to pay. You must remember that sufficient insurance can be as critical to the success of your business as a good product or service. Without proper insurance you could lose all the money, time and effort […]

Are you better off as a Sole Trader or as a Limited Company? That’s the exact question we can answer with our Sole Trader v Limited Company calculator. Simply enter your annual profits, hit “Calculate” and we’ll give you a detailed breakdown helping you make that all-important decision. Try it now! Sole Trader or Limited […]

It’s important to develop a set routine, such as the one below, when collecting overdue payments for your Limited Company. A typical debt collection policy: • Invoice at the earliest opportunity, stating the payment terms clearly on the invoice. • 15 days after invoicing, telephone the customer. Thank them for their business and ask if […]

Small Business of the Year 2010 has a winner! We saw many fantastic entries submitted and the judges had a difficult time choosing a winner. However, SweetBar Limited, owned by James Bland, fought off the competition and is crowned our Small Business of the Year 2010! Since incorporation in 2010 and in just six months […]

Regular readers of our blog will notice that we’re constantly updating and improving our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial Management System. Our latest update is the ability for users to delete companies from the system. If there is a company on the system that has been dissolved or you are simply not involved with a company […]

Be selective about the organisations with which you intend to do business. This can be difficult if you are dependent on a few large customers or if your customer base is dwindling, but once your business has reached a manageable level of stability it is a good idea to research all prospective clients. You should: […]

The first funding source which typically comes to mind when borrowing money is a bank (which is effectively why they are in business). Banks typically lend to small businesses on a secured basis using equipment, stock or debtors. The more liquid and readily saleable the assets you have to offer as security, the more acceptable […]

The concept of selling doesn’t have to be intimidating, particularly if you think about it in terms of solving a problem or filling a need. And you are doing your customers a disservice if you fail to do everything possible to explain how purchasing from you will benefit them. The bottom line is that people […]

The implications of the recent burgeoning of e-commerce are clear for all businesses, large and small – develop and implement an e-commerce strategy soon, or risk being left behind in the ‘new industrial revolution’. The online marketplace is developing so rapidly that an internet presence is increasingly becoming the norm in the UK, and businesses […]

Keeping good records is an essential aspect in running a successful business. Apart from the fact that they will form the basis of your annual accounts which need to be submitted to the tax authorities, (and Companies House if you trade as a Limited Company), they are also the only way to make meaningful decisions. […]

Earlier in the month we told you about our delight at having the only company secretarial system with an ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants) accreditation. Now, with the accreditation under our belt, we’re going to concentrate on explaining different parts of the cosec system. Today we shall look at importing companies. Our cosec system […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 As a director, shareholder or secretary of a limited company, there are times when you will be asked if the shares within the company are paid or unpaid. So: Paid If the total value of allocated shares within the company is paid into a nominal account, the shares are paid. Unpaid If […]

Our Company Secretarial System is now accredited by ICAEW, The Institute of Chartered Accountants. Not only is the accreditation a fantastic coup in itself, what makes it even more special is the fact that we are the only Secretarial System provider with the accreditation. Signing up for our Secretarial System allows you to manage all […]

Complete the CH01 (Change of director’s details) paper form and file with Companies House. Or… If you are on the Companies Made Simple system you can login, access your company and edit the name from there. The name change is normally accepted within 3 working hours. Companies House do no not charge for this service […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 A few weeks ago we blogged about PROOF, the Companies House fraud protection service. In short PROOF means that everything for your company must be filed online. Companies House stop accepting paper forms for your company. Therefore, if your company is signed up for PROOF, having access to your registered office is […]

Companies House will be closed the following days over the Easter period: Friday 22nd April Monday 25th April Friday 29th April Monday 2nd May Tuesday 3rd May (Belfast only – all other branches will be open) This means that any company formations submitted on these days will join a queue at Companies House and be […]

Irrespective of the type of financing you need and are able to obtain for your business, the process of obtaining it is somewhat similar. There are several questions that must be answered during the course of raising money for your business. The ability to answer these questions is critical to your success in obtaining financing […]

Users of our Company Secretarial System may have noticed a few updates over the last week: • Annual Return / Annual Accounts Filter We’ve now added a toggle that allows you to filter through your companies revealing those which have filing obligations near. For the more technically inclined there’s also a “export to CSV” option”. […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 In a partnership, two or more individuals join together to run the business enterprise. Each of the individual partners has ownership of company assets and responsibility for liabilities, as well as authority in running the business. The authority of the partners, and the way in which profits or losses are to be […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 The share certificate is a legal document that certifies ownership of shares within a limited company. The company director should distribute a share certificate to each shareholder. Because it is a legal document you should not create your own share certificate “from scratch”. Templates that meet all the requirements can be found […]

We’ve just launched the latest in our “all you need to know” webpage series. This time round we’re looking at buying a limited company. You can view the page here: Buying a Limited Company Previous editions: Setting Up a Limited Company Dormant Company Accounts This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 It is necessary to notify H M Revenue & Customs of your existence by completing forms CT41G ‘Corporation Tax – Information for New Companies’ letter (companies) or CWF1 (sole traders/partnerships). You can also telephone H M Revenue & Customs to notify self employment on 0845 915 4515. The CT41G ‘Corporation Tax – Information for New […]

Prime Minister David Cameron says his government will “Back Small firms” and “Boost enterprise” as part of his growth strategy for the UK. Speaking in Cardiff on Sunday, Cameron went on to say he will “be on the side of everyone in this country who wants to create jobs, and wealth and opportunity.” The Prime […]

1. Establish your mission. Your mission statement explains why your company exists. When you encounter a problem or a key decision, the answer will be informed by your mission. Think about why you started the company, what needs of the marketplace you aim to satisfy, and imagine where you want your business to be in […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 Many people starting off a business, and working from home, make use of a virtual office solution. The range of services provided by virtual office providers can cover many aspects of running a small business and commonly include mail forwarding, telephone answering, the provision of meeting rooms and some secretarial services. It […]

We’ve just launched a brand new web-page, www.dormant-company-accounts.co.uk. This is the first in a series of “all you need to know” pages that we’ll be launching over the coming weeks that give clear and concise information on individual subjects related to Limited Companies. As you may have guessed from the URL, the first page is […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 Due to popular demand we’ve created a package that includes everything you’ll need to get yourself up and running as a sole trader; • HMRC Registration – We send you a 1 page form, you simply return this to us • Barclays Business Bank Account • Business Start Up Guide • How […]

Many start-up and small businesses tend to work initially from home. Whether it is a back bedroom or just a spare surface in a lounge or dining room, for the start-up business, this is a relatively simple and cheap option.

It’s easy to see why at just £16.99 our Bronze company registration package is one of our most popular Company Formation services. It is a great product that provides the essential elements needed for a Limited Company. So why do we offer, and recommend, our Bronze + service? Well this is because the Bronze + […]

If not independently wealthy and perhaps even if you are, eventually you will probably need to obtain some outside capital for your business. In some instances, you may need to obtain capital for the initial expenses prior to opening your business or perhaps the funds you require may be required for expansion or working capital […]

A survey produced by The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that the demand for UK-produced goods has increased, with 30% of those companies who took part saying output rose “in the three months to January”. The CBI state “Output was lifted by an improvement in domestic orders growth, with 28% of firms reporting a […]

Latest figures released by the information services show that small companies in the last quarter of 2010 paid invoices, on average, 25.7 days late. These figures show an increase of 16% when compared to the rest of the year. Industry experts consider such stats useful when looking at the “health” of small companies. This post […]

The keen-eyed amongst you will have noticed a new video embedded on our homepage. The curious amongst you will have hit play and been treated to some nice people saying some very nice things about their experiences with us. If you haven’t yet pressed play, what are you waiting for! Watch the video here. This […]

Up to 43% of small companies have ruled themselves out of trading overseas because they find the idea too daunting, according to a survey by Parcelforce. Of the 513 “executives” surveyed, 43% of those not trading abroad recognised the fact it could increase revenue but most overlooked this as they believed the process to be […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 Don’t worry. Active simply means that your Limited Company is not dissolved (or in the process of being dissolved). This status has nothing to do with the trading nature of your company, trading or dormant. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple   Keep up to […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) “are here to ensure the correct tax is paid at the right time”. As explained on their site, they administer: • Capital Gains Tax • Corporation Tax • Income Tax • Inheritance Tax • National Insurance Contributions • Excise duties • Insurance Premium Tax • Petroleum Revenue […]

Even if you are already the leader in your industry, there will be opportunity to improve the profitability of your business. It is not always easy to achieve, but it’s certainly possible. You need a plan of attack. Specifically, you need to find out exactly what your existing and potential customers want—it’s not always the […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 If you’ve just set up a limited company it’s useful to know exactly what mail you can expect to receive. So here you go. We’re going to split this into 2 categories, Official and Public. Official If you formed your company through us on any package Printed upwards, the first item you can […]

The Government has launched exciting plans to expand the scope of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), which it hopes will create 40 000 new businesses by 2013. The NEA will provide up to £2000 to unemployed people who want to start their own business. The scheme will be available to twice as many people as […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 Much confusion surrounds Annual Returns and Annual Accounts. So to clarify: • They are not the same thing. Annual Returns are a snapshot of general company information such as appointments, registered office and share structure. Annual Accounts concern the financial aspect of the company. • Both are required – even if a […]

A report published by The Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) has highlighted the lack of pension opportunities being offered in small businesses. The Smaller Firm’ Pensions Survey states “At present, two-thirds of the UK’s smaller firms offer no pension scheme”. 96% of those not offering pensions said the main reason was simply cost. The government […]

1: A dead document A business plan that is created for a purpose and then discarded will always become obsolete fast. Making your business plan a living document is essential if you don’t want the whole process to be a failure. Only a regularly reviewed and updated plan can be the spur to look critically […]

When you form a limited company with us, or buy a service from us or even if you simply sign up for a free account, you will have unlimited access to your own company management system. This system is easy to use – simply login at www.companiesmadesimple.com using your login details and you will be […]

The important thing to note is that profit is “what’s left over.” In other words, profit is a residual. It is the consequence of what happens in and to your business. Some of these things are within your control and some of them are outside your control. If you’re going to have any effect on […]

The Microsoft Small Business Centre has found that many older people are seeking a new life in business after retiring from the workplace. According to Tony Clack, managing director at Laterlife, the world of entrepreneurship is increasingly appealing to over-65s, giving them a new challenge in their later years. He observed that older people often […]

• Are you the sort of person who can succeed in business? • Have you any funds you can put into the business? • Are you familiar with the legal requirements that will be placed on you as a business proprietor? • Have you considered how much you will earn during your first year? • […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 Annual Accounts If filing the first set of accounts for your limited company the accounts must be delivered no later than 21 months from the date of incorporation. Therefore for a company formed on the 1st of January 2014 (which would therefore have an accounting reference date of 31st of January), the accounts […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 When preparing an annual return for your limited company you will be asked for your company SIC Code(s). A SIC Code (UK Standard Industrial Classification Code) is simply a five digit number that classifies your company’s principal business activity. Numbers range from 01110 (Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds) all the […]

So you’ve formed your Limited Company, your product is ready, now it’s time to think about the 4 P’s of marketing: Product Product covers the physical aspects or intangible characteristics of the product or service you are planning to sell. It can include packaging, appearance, warranty etc. Pricing Pricing should take into account profit margins […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 You can’t form a Limited Company in the UK without going through Companies House – they are the United Kingdom Government Department through which all UK companies are registered. In their own words, the main functions of Companies House are to: • incorporate and dissolve limited companies; • examine and store company […]

It may sound a little simplistic, but there are really only 4 fundamental ways to successfully grow your business.

As of now anyone who has a company with us is able to change their accounting reference date online via our system. Simply login to Companies Made Simple, access “my companies” and click on your company name. Next to “Accounting Reference Date” you will see “Change Date” – click this. You can then input your […]

With the New Year fast approaching many people will be thinking about new starts. And whilst we will not say “forget” about giving up smoking, chocolate, alcohol etc etc we will say consider doing something different for 2011. How about starting a new business? Whilst such a decision can’t and shouldn’t be taken lightly, now […]

Completing a business plan encourages you to get past the ‘initial concept’ stage of your business start-up and, if it’s done properly, leads you to estimate, to the best of your ability, real figures. A business plan can solely be an internal document to guide you in establishing and growing your new venture and/or it […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 A Company Dissolution is the process of closing your company. As outlined by Companies House, a company can only be dissolved if it: • Has not traded within the last 3 months • Has not changed the company name within the last 3 months • Is not subject to any legal proceedings, […]

Throughout the recession, the majority of feedback from the small business and company formation sector, has been that limited access to finance is the main challenge faced by enterprise in the current economic climate However, a recent report conducted by the Forum of Private Enterprise, claims that in a survey of over five hundred small […]

The findings of a recent survey found that while finance is limited throughout the country the situation is much worse for small business owners situated up north than it is for their southern counterparts. However, today the findings of this report have been questioned by The Forum of Finance and Funding. The body conducted its […]

It is a well documented fact that the majority of small businesses have found gaining access to additional finance increasingly difficult throughout the recession. Indeed, despite poor market conditions and an overall decrease in consumer confidence, many small business owners and entrepreneurs who have recently completed the company formation process, have stated that not being […]

According to a recent report, company formation is being stimulated by the number of entrepreneurs want to start a small business. The report, conducted by business insurance experts Simply Business, has found that the number of small business owners has increased by over one hundred per cent in the six years in the UK. The […]

The government’s Emergency Budget, has been widely criticized by the small business and company formation sector, for not doing enough to help the enterprise in the UK. In the context of all this negative feedback the government made a concession to the small business sector, by implementing a policy which would make all companies with […]

In days gone by British enterprise could be defined as a nation of independent retailers. The high street was dominated by a collection of autonomous brands and unique independently owned outlets. However, a recent report which showed the sharp increase in shop vacancies across the north hinted at the extreme pressure the retail sector is […]

Despite the fact that government pledged to put enterprise and company formation in the centre of its economic recovery policy, a recent report has revealed that the majority of small businesses and recently registered companies feel they have been ignore. The report, conducted by the Forum of Small Business and enterprise, surveyed over a thousand […]

From the moment the Coalition Government announced its Emergency Budget, it became clear that one of their main objectives was to support small regional businesses and company formation. When the previous administration announced its plans to increase National Insurance, the SME sector was up in arms. Many small business owners could not understand why the […]

While recent reports suggest that market conditions are improving and consumer confidence is on the increases a recent report conducted by the Forum of Small Businesses suggests that British companies are still not profitable. According to the CBI – Confederation of British Industry – companies in the UK are still finding it tough to maintain […]

From the point of company formation, business owners are constantly told how important managing a business’s cash flow is to the future success of their company. One of the first steps to keeping a handle of your cash flow is establishing which costs are fixed – i.e. costs which will be incurred regardless of how […]

A recent report conducted by the Forum of Private Enterprise, reveals that consumer confidence has increased for the first time since the beginning of the year. The survey, which asked over two thousand respondents how they felt about the current economic context revealed that fifty five per cent said the felt more optimistic about the […]

Throughout the recession, the previous administration spoke on a number of occasions about the culture of late payment which was jeopardizing enterprise in g the UK and overall economic performance. As a result the government introduced the ‘Late Payment Charter’ which encouraged business to commit to paying their suppliers on time. However, on the whole, […]

This week, the UK’s market leading tax analysts the IFS, defined David Cameron’s ‘Emergency Budget’ as ‘regressive’. In a complete contradiction of Chancellor George Osborne’s claim that the Emergency Budget represented ‘progressive economics’ , the Institute for Fiscal Studies claimed that the budget actually targeted lower income families, by cutting welfare and child benefits. Shadow […]

According to a recent report, over forty per cent of the UK workforce thinks that they have a business idea which will make them more successful than staying in their current jobs. The survey, conducted by online consultancy RGM, found that of the two thousand people asked – aged between eighteen and thirty felt that […]

The lack of finance options available to recently formed companies and small businesses remains the biggest challenge the UK’s economic recovery faces. A recent report conducted by private investment company ‘Peter Marshall Consultancy’, found that over ninety per cent of all the four hundred small business owners asked said that they have found accessing finance […]

When the coalition government first came into power, it was hoped that they would reverse the previous administration’s plans to increase National Insurance. However, once the ‘Emergency Budget’ was announced, the SME sector was disappointed to find that it did not include any provisions to decrease National Insurance for the SME sector. However, it did […]

The government seems to have put the issue of lending to small businesses firmly on the political agenda; not only have they produced a white paper on alternative finance routes, they have also hinted at the fact that they establish lending targets for banking sector. This has been seen as an extremely positive move by […]

A recent report found that the number of students leaving school and either starting their own business or going into the workplace have increased exponentially in the last two years. The report ,conducted by the Institute of Employment , not only found that less and less school leavers were considering going on to university, it […]

According to a recent report, women who have gone through the company formation process and started a business, run more successful companies than their male counterparts. The report, which was conducted by finance company M.P Partners ltd, found that male company owners tend to take more risks financially and also ignore elements of administration which […]

When the Coalition Government first came into power, David Cameron hinted at the possibility that they would appoint a Minister, tasked with the job of improving the current lending situation in this country and also devising what was called a ‘Lending Commission’ to act as a intermediary between companies and banks. While this has yet […]

The recession stimulated a number of important changes to enterprise in the UK. From the ‘Voucher Code Revolution’ to an increase in the number of people considering company formation. However, now as many company owners are still recovering from the aftershocks of the economic downturn they have found themselves facing a new challenge; of whether […]

Despite the fact that banks such as HSBC announced record profits yesterday, according to a recent report conducted by the Forum of Small Businesses, the SME and company formation sector are still not receiving finance. When the government stepped in to privatize RBS as a result of its imminent collapse, many people felt that at […]

Since the recession began company formation owners have faced two main challenges: declining consumer spend and a restricted access to finance. Throughout the general election all three political parties devised policies to address both of these issues. David Cameron pledged that he would make doing business in the UK easier. But what has the coalition […]

Ever since the government announced that the country was officially out of recession, our attention has been focused on how our rate of recovery compares to all countries and to what extent UK enterprise has recovered from the economic downturn. Well, according to a recent report conducted by magazine ‘Enterprise UK’, most small companies in […]

Prior to being elected Prime Minister, David Cameron, then leader of the opposition, appeared on the Andrew Marr show – among others – declaring that company formation and running a business in the UK was extremely difficult and overly bureaucratic. Therefore, when the coalition was first came into power and the Emergency Budget first announced, […]

One of the main disappointments of June’s ‘Emergency Budget’ was its failure to adequately address the issue which most small business and company formation owners face: the fact that access to finance from banks is severely restricted. In the run up to the election campaign it was suggested that the government that eventually came into […]

There has been much negativity in the media and small business press alike about the way in which banks are hindering the UK’s economic recovery by limiting the amount of finance available to small business and recent company formations. However, Lord Peter Bridges, the chief economic advisor to the Federation of Small Businesses, has today […]

The recession put an unprecedented amount of pressure on both the company formation and small business sector; having to make redundancies, being forced to diversify, and hostile market conditions. However, for most company formation owners, the biggest challenge they faced during the economic downturn was a limited access to finance. At the start of 2009 […]

Having limited access to finance has been one of the biggest challenges the company formation and small business sector has faced during the economic downturn. While the government has pledged to address this issue, many small business owners are still finding that finance is hard to find. Indeed, a recent report has suggested that banks […]

2010 has been identified as the year of the strike. Not only have we had the threat of a British Rail strike since the beginning of January but we have also had to contend with a striking British Airways. The implications of both have been extremely damaging to UK businesses and posed a significant threat […]

George Osborne’s budget was positioned as ‘tough but fair’. While it did include plans to increase VAT to 20%, it also pledged to reduce Corporation tax to 20% and offered tax breaks on National Insurance contributions. Osborne said that they budget was devised with the objective of informing the global economy that Britain was ‘open […]

The recession has initiated a number of cultural shifts ; consumers have become less obsessed with buying from big brands, discounting is now a major part of any company’s marketing mix and recent graduates are now preferring company formation over working within a large corporation. But what impact, if any will this have on the […]

For most people, once they have completed the company formation process the next step they will take before they start trading is opening a business bank account. However, a recent report has revealed that over forty per cent of all recently formed companies are unsatisfied with their business banking within the first year from company […]

Despite the fact that the retail sector experienced the worst Christmas sales in over three years and the fact that the ‘Big Freeze’ of 2010 lead to an even worse January, at the start of 2010, the mood among entrepreneurs and company formation owners was – on the whole – much more positive than at […]

As the small business and company formation sector waits with baited breath to see how the government’s Emergency Budget will affect enterprise, they may not be aware of how an increase in Capital Games Tax could negatively impact their company both in the long and short term. Regardless of the fact that the government’s planned […]

When David Cameron’s coalition government first announced its plans to dramatically cut public spending many people feared that this move would stunt the UK’s already fragile economic recovery. However, as the government prepares to announce its Emergency Budget on 22nd June amid fears that it will include further spending cuts, VAT increases and Tax rises, […]

While it may seem like the general election was a long time ago, it is important the electorate does not forget the policies each political party pledged to implement if they got voted into power. One of the main promises the then Conservative party leader and now Prime Minister , David Cameron made to the […]

While the previous Labour government were consistently criticized throughout the recession for doing little to help small business and company formation owners survive the recession, one policy they implemented did receive positive feedback from the majority of SME’s and recent company formation owners ; the ‘Time to Pay’ scheme. The ‘Time to Pay’ scheme gave […]

While both the SME and company formation sector applauded the coalition government’s plans to address the budget deficit as a matter of priority, they are extremely concerned about the impact an increase in VAT will have on the already struggling high street, job market and consumer spending. Retailers have warned the government that any increase […]

This week saw the Queen opening parliament to welcome in a coalition government for the first time. Throughout her speech she gave details on how the new government plan to address the UK’s massive budget deficit. On the whole, company formation groups and SME forums, are in full support of the coalition government’s proposed policies. […]

As the coalition government announces its plans to cut public spending by six billion pounds, by significantly reducing the money it spends on the Civil Service, it seems that the small business and company formation sector aren’t going to follow suit. Indeed if recent figures, which clearly state that investment in small business has risen […]

The high street has faced many challenges throughout the recession; declining consumer confidence, tough market conditions and increased competition, not to mention the pressure put on the high street from the rise of online shopping. However, towards the end of 2009, the high street enjoyed a brief uplift in consumer spending and looked forward to […]

Throughout the general election, many company formation and small business owners commented that they felt ‘unsupported’ by the government during the recession. However, the one policy they felt did help the SME sector was the government’s VAT cut in 2009. Now, as the coalition government attempt to formulate some form of cohesive economic policy, a […]

The rise in employee stress levels since the recession began has been well documented; the threat of redundancy, pay cuts and pay freezes has left the UK’s workforce exhausted and stressed out. But what about business owners? While many feel they are up in their ivory tower protecting their own assets, a recent report which […]

In the context of the impending election, party campaigns and televised debates it is easy to forget that country is still attempting to recover from one of the worst economic downturns of all time. For the first time in two years the newspaper front pages aren’t dominated by gloomy headlines detailing spiralling unemployment and rising […]

Despite an initial uplift at the beginning of the year, unemployment figures during the recession have been the worst this country has ever seen. The worst effected group has been the 18-25 year olds and last month unemployment rose by 0.3 per cent. However a new survey reveals that unemployment figures are set to decrease […]

While the country may be out of recession and consumer confidence may have increased since last year, the fact remains that for many small business and company formation owners, market conditions remain tough. This will not be helped by the fact that according to a report by the BCC inflation rose by 0.4% in March […]

When the government first announced the country had emerged from what had been the worst economic downturn for sometime, it was expected that growth would be slow; however, as reports from the first quarter of the year have come in, it appears that growth is even more anemic than expected. 

Last month saw an overall increase in sales revenue for the retail sector. This has been helped in no small part by the fact that Easter fell a week earlier this year. However, while this is positive many small businesses are still struggling with market conditions and late payment. As we have noted on a […]

If someone had told us a couple of months ago, that an Icelandic volcano would ground all planes in and out of the UK and Europe, causing thousands of Brits to be stranded abroad and widespread disruption to business and people who have recently completed the company formation process, nobody would have believed them. While […]

During the televised debate last week, Gordon Brown mentioned the fact that, like Nick Clegg, he too wanted electoral reform. Indeed Mr. Brown seemed keen to emphasize the similarities between the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties at every available opportunity. However, it is worth noting that despite Labour’s attempt position the Liberal Democrats as a […]

Last month changes to employee legislation meant that the ‘sick note’ would abandoned. In its place would be, what the media are calling, a ‘fit note’. This note will advise an employer of which jobs an employee can still carry out despite their illness. It also gives Doctor’s the ability to advise employers on changes […]

Once the government announced that UK was out of recession, one of the first things the British media did, was comment on the somewhat anemic nature of the country’s recovery – especially when compared to other nations – the second thing they did was to revisit all the gloomy statistics and depression predictions economists made […]

The government undoubtedly positioned this year’s budget as, ‘The Small Business’ budget. However, if a recent report is to be believed, the key to economic recovery isn’t just giving small businesses and companies that have recently formed increased access to finance, it is developing the relationships that exist between banks and small business owners. According […]

The government’s plan to extend its ‘Time to Pay’ initiative indefinitely was met with a range of both negative and positive opinions. One the one hand small business owners were pleased that the government were implementing a practical scheme to help their companies recover from the downturn, yet on the other hand accountants warns that […]

When the Prime Minister announced a date for the general election yesterday, he said that the Labour Party was standing on behalf of the ‘Great Ignored.’ Now while he didn’t go into detail about who ‘The Great Ignored’ were, he could have been addressing any number of people; the politically apathetic, the unemployed or the […]

March’s 2010 budget reflected the enormous difficulties small business and company formation owners were having accessing finance form their businesses. The chancellor also made provisions within the budget to make it easier and ensure that the banks were obligated to lend to the small business sector. However, if you exhausted all conventional lending routes to […]

Ever since the government announced that Britain’s economy had emerged from recession, there has been widespread speculation that we could experience a double-dip recession. Obviously there are many factors both economic and social which will affect this; however, you may be surprised to hear that football is one of them. A report conducted by PWC […]

While the recession put an unprecedented amount of pressure on the small business and company formation sector, being a ‘Green Corporation’ was still seen by many extremely important .Companies were urged by many independent environmental bodies such as ‘Green Enterprise’ not to neglect their environmental responsibilities as a result of the mounting financial pressures on […]

The fact that the government’s most recent budget was conceived in an effort to placate small business has been widely documented and if you managed to catch Channel 4’s ‘Ask the Chancellors’ debate, it was clear that all of the main political parties, had small business firmly high up on their agenda. In his last […]

While the budget has been well received by the majority of the company formation and SME sector. The government’s plan to increase the minimum wage from £5.80 to £5.93 has divided popular opinion. While many small business owners feel that the fact that the increase is only marginal reflects the government’s acknowledgment, that most small […]

Business groups have welcomed tax relief schemes announced in the Budget to help small firms, saying that the Chancellor has finally recognised the need to put small business at the heart of economic policy. However, they expressed continuing concerns about the UK’s Budget deficit and its impact on business activity. “After two years of economic […]

Politicians from both the Conservative and Labour party have spoken about the small business sector as the backbone of the UK’s economy since the recession began. With the announcement of this year’s budget it seems that the Labour party are putting their money where their mouth is, as it were. In the new budget, Darling […]

While the weather outside maybe warming up, according to a recent survey conducted by business consultants KHPG, there is still a distinct chill in the air of most offices when it comes to terminating pay freezes. For many employers, having to make members of their team redundant was an unfortunate consequence of the recession. As […]

After experiencing a disappointing Christmas, many small businesses and recent company formation owners, expected profits to rise as consumers hit the high street, in the hope of grabbing a bargain. However, as a consequence of the freezing weather conditions of the last few months, many retailers were bitterly disappointed and the high street suffered another […]

There is no doubt that the UK’s economy has benefited from the government’s announcement that the recession is over; recent reports have found that consumer confidence has gone up and so has retail revenue. However, according to a report conducted by the Federation of Small Businesses, our economic recovery may be short lived. Our recovery […]

As the company formation and SME sector wait with baited breath for the Chancellor’s expected budget, retailers across the UK have come together to urge the government to retract planned tax increases and reduce public spending instead. After last year’s budget, which saw the government announce plans to raise VAT and increase National Insurance, a […]

According to a recent report conducted by the Forum of Small Businesses, the recovery of enterprise in the UK is being held back by an overly bureaucratic and complex tax system. The report, which involved over three thousand small business owners, found that over 45% felt that the tax system was one of the main […]

Both the Government and the opposition have declared on a number of occasions, that the small business sector is the life blood of the UK’s economy and while it was inevitable that some unpopular tax increases would be included in the 2009 budget, plans to increase National Insurance, came as a complete shock to the […]

According to a recent report by think-tank ‘TEAM’ one of the most damaging and far-reaching aspects of the credit-crunch, has been the number of employers implementing a ‘pay freeze’ policy. The report found that over 32% of small businesses in the UK had frozen the pay of some or all of their employees. According to […]

You can’t turn on the television, pick up a newspaper or listen to the radio, without being confronted with some form of Labour or Tory policy declaring to help the small business sector. However, what as to what extent these policies will practically help small businesses, the jury is still out. A recent survey, conducted […]

The recession has had many damaging and far reaching consequences for employees in Britain. Not only have they had to contend with pay cuts, they have also had to deal with the threat of being made redundant. According to a recent report conducted by HSBC this has had an overwhelming effect on the working culture […]

Global economics has proved time and time again, that when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold. Surely the same rule applies to when positive growth occurs in the USA? Well, not if you compare America’s recent growth figures to the UK’s. But is the fact the government has announced that we […]

As we have said time and time again on this blog, one of the most effective ways of making sure your company remains profitable during a times of economic instability is by maintaining a healthy cash flow and becoming more cost efficient. However, as the country recovers from the recession – regardless of how anaemic […]

One of the main challenges many new companies face, is securing the finance needed to get a new company off the ground. Form many small business owners the lack of available finance has been one of the biggest challenges of the recession. However, according to a report out today, many companies expect there will be […]

When you first start the company formation process, most business owners are more concerned about running their business than the endless red-tape and form filling that seems to come hand in hand with becoming your owner boss in this country! However, to avoid fines and in some cases prosecution, it is vital you understand your […]

Time and time again, the government has spoken about how maintaining a good cash flow is one of the most important things a small business or recent company formation can do if they are to survive the recession. They even implemented a policy whereby they agreed to pay all of their suppliers with ten days. […]

When the government announced that the UK was finally emerging for what has been one of the worst recessions it has ever experienced, 2010 looked a looked a lot more positive than was initially feared. However, both economists and the media warned that while the country maybe out of the recession, a return to pre-recessionary […]

The government has continuously spoken of how important the SME and company formation sector is to the UK’s economic recovery. However, until now, they have failed to mobilize public sector spending to help small businesses. In this country, the public sector spending contracts are worth almost £250 billion pounds a year. Yet as a consequence […]

The Government’s well worn marketing slogan, ‘Tax Needn’t be Taxing’, was undermined last week, by a survey which suggested that the majority of SME’s and recent company formation owners, feel that the current tax system in the UK unfairly favours big business. According to the report, conducted by management consultancy firm ‘Talk Business’, of the […]

Much has been made of how the recession has resulted in redundancy and pay freezes for a large proportion of the UK’s workforce. However, what about the small business owners? How has the poor economic conditions impacted them financially? According to a recent survey conducted by Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, most small business owners […]

It has been widely stipulated by both the media and many marketing leading economists, that the main thing holding the SME and company formation sector back from full economic recovery, is the lack of available finance. However, an over reliance on bank loans, overdrafts and credit in general, has been identified as one of the […]

One of the main reasons many small businesses and recent company formations have gone into administration during the recession, poor cash flow and ineffective financial planning. Therefore, the results of a recent survey carried out by finance company AXIS – which found that over 50% of small companies admit to feeling “out of control” when […]

Many business analysts have suggested that the rise of the ‘power brand’ – shops such as Tesco, which sell everything from books and DVD players to milk and newspapers – would result in the end of the high street and independent entrepreneurs considering company formation in the retail sector. And as Tesco announce that 2009 […]

A recent report conducted by GMTV’s money saving expert Martin Lewis, found that the number of people drawing from their credit cards to make mortgage re-payments has increased by almost 33%. Similarly, as the majority of landlords have refused to contemplate reducing quarterly tenancy agreements many small business owners are looking to access some form […]

When the recession first hit, it was feared that the lack of available finance to help fund company formation and the growth of  the small to medium enterprise sector, would be the biggest challenge facing the small business sector. However, in a recent report , which asked over 5,000 small business owners, ‘what were their […]

While many business analysts and economists have predicted an improved economy for 2010, many company formation owners are still predicting that 2010 will be a challenging year. Indeed, of the six thousand companies asked in a new report conducted by the O2 business center, 56% have stated that they are planning further redundancies and pay […]

Despite the fact that many small businesses and recently formed companies waited for and injection of festive revenue that never came, according to a report by website “Start Your Business”, the majority of small business owners are feeling more optimistic and excited about what 2010 has to offer. The report found that of all the […]

Happy New Year, it is time to start thinking about that fast approaching tax return deadline! If you are a business owner or registered as self-employed you have already missed the October 2009 deadline for paper returns for the financial year 2008-09. However, you can still file your tax returns online via the HMRC website. On the […]

It is the start of a new year and it is now more important than ever to plan for how you will maintain a healthy cash flow in 2010. In our second ‘Tips on Cash flow’ installment, we give you some more guidance on the best strategies on how to keep your company in the black: […]

While Christmas may not have lived up to expectations for many retailers and the end of the recession still feels far away, it is vital that all business owners start planning how 2010 will be a better year. According to a recent report, establishing and maintaining a healthy cash flow is one of the most […]

One of the main objectives for most recently formed companies through 2008 was to reduce overheads by any means possible. For many, that meant making redundancies, switching suppliers and attempting to negotiate cheaper rents on their premises. However, with the next quarters rent now due, many landlords are refusing to lower rents or negotiate more […]

Yesterday, the media was full of speculation that, by next month, the UK’s economy will be officially out of recession and yet many business analysts are predicting that 2010 will still be a year punctuated with job losses and redundancies. According to Enterprise UK, a further 300,000 jobs will be lost before we reach the […]

When the recession first hit, it was widely thought that the company formation sector would be badly affected. However, as a result of redundancies and a hostile job market, the number of people wanting to form their own company actually increased throughout 2009. However, according to a recent report this has done little to help […]

Whether it is a quiet drink after work, paid for by your boss or a big sit down dinner with all your colleagues, a work Christmas party is an important event in most companies’ calendar. However, according to the Institute of Professional Development and Training over thirty percent of companies have said that they have […]

Watching Newsnight last night, it seemed that the entire business world – and indeed the whole country- was waiting with baited breath, to hear the Chancellor’s ubiquitous pre-budget report. This morning, opinion has been polarized; the shadow chancellor George Osborne suggested that Darling’s plan was ‘not credible’. While the small business and company formation community […]

A lack of available finance is constantly being given as a reason why many small businesses can’t fund growth and a reason why people considering company formation may be deterred. However, according to business bank, the SME and company formation sector don’t need loans. According to a report, conducted by HSBC, of the entire small business […]

Forming a company and starting your own business, requires a number of vital skills – accountancy, marketing and sales. However, most people considering company formation are doing so because they have a specific skill set, appropriate to the sector which they aim to enter. Therefore, they either outsource the skills they do not have or […]

When the recession began, retailers feared the worst and the high street suffered exponentially. However, according to a recent report conducted by the Federation of Small Business retail sales have increased by 14% in the last two months and a set to improve even more in December. This will come as a relief for most […]

Many business analysts, have stated that the main thing holding the UK’s economy back from full economic recovery, is the decline of available finance for small businesses. However, as the British Chamber of Commerce, has recently announced uplift in banking lending, you would expect the situation to vastly improve. According to financial service specialist Hudson […]

The UK may be on the path of economic recovery, however, the British Chamber of Commerce has stated that the economy still faces a number of challenges, before we can identify the credit crunch an over. A report conducted by the body, revealed that  Britain’s Gross Domestic Product will drop by almost 5% in by […]

Okay, so you are tired of having a boss, you’ve got a great business idea and you have just read our post on the challenges of forming your own company and have decided to take the plunge and begin the company formation process.  So, what’s the next step? In this post we look at how […]

In yesterday’s post we gave you some top tips on how to increase profitability during these difficult economic times. Today, we look at how the strategies many big brands’s such as Tesco are employing and give you some advice on how they can work for your small business or recent company formation. 1. Get to […]

While we have looked at the potential benefits of the recession for small businesses, it would be short sighted not to recognise the obvious risks it poses to small businesses both from the beginning company formation process to the start up phase. There are a number of ways to help you survive the recession but […]

Entrepreneurs are motivated to begin the company formation process, by their passion for an innovative business concept. While investors – who tend to be more conservative – are persuaded to part with their money by the promise of return on investment. These two minds do not always meet. Companies Made Simple investigate the alternative finance […]

Money makes the world go round, as they say. However, searching for investment to fund a recent company formation or grow an existing business in the current economic climate could be perceived as futile. Yet if your business needs additional income to grow, or indeed survive, and you are not quite ready to give up, […]

In the current economic climate, the idea of trying to gain funding to finance a company formation may seem hopeless. However, venture capitalist, Aaron Campbell, says that with an innovative business idea and robust planning there is investment to be found for the right company formation or growing company. In this series of posts we […]

Forming a company can be immensely rewarding and satisfying; however, as any entrepreneur will tell you, challenges are inherent in any business. One of the reasons why so many businesses fail is a lack of capital at inception. Raising finance for a business can be a very time-consuming affair; however, it is key for successful […]