Starting Out
Advice for start-ups and small businesses
Setting up your company
- Why should I register as a limited company?
- What are the key steps to becoming a limited company?
- Why should my sole trader business become a limited company?
- Can I move from being a sole trader to a limited company?
- Do I need to create a subsidiary for my company?
- What insurance does my start-up need?
Finance & Accounting
- Do I need a separate business bank account?
- How should I do my bookkeeping and accounts?
- Why does my start-up need an accountant?
- When is my start-up officially trading for accounting and tax purposes?
- Can I pick my accounting year-end – and can I change it later on?
- What business records do I have to keep – and for how long?
Tax & HMRC
- How do I register my limited company for tax with HMRC?
- What are the different taxes my start-up will need to pay?
- When must I register for PAYE?
- When must I register for VAT?
- How do I pay my taxes?
- What happens if I’m late paying my taxes to HMRC?
Directors & Shares
- How do I pay myself as a director?
- Do directors qualify for the state pension?
- Who are the different parties involved in a limited company – and what roles does my start-up need?
- How many shares should my limited company have – and what is each share worth?
- What are the different share classes in a limited company?
- Can I change the allocation and value of shares in my limited company?
Expenses & Benefits
- How to make Mileage Allowance Payments
- What are Mileage Allowance Payments?
- What pre-trading expenses can I claim for?
- What are the tax implications of providing ‘benefits in kind’ to my employees?
- How are directors taxed on benefits in kind?
- What’s the most tax-efficient way to provide a company car or vehicle?