Thinking about taking some money out of your limited company? Before you hit ‘transfer’, it’s worth understanding how dividends actually work — and what to check before you pay yourself. Dividends can be a brilliant, tax-efficient way to pay yourself as a business owner, but they come with a few rules and responsibilities. Let’s break
Category Archives: Bookkeeping
start-ups, Tax Planning & Saving Tips, Year-End Preparation Tips
Why Every Business Owner Should Keep Their Will Up to Date
Running a business keeps most of us busy enough without thinking too far ahead. But one of the most practical – and caring – things you can do for your family and your business is to make sure you have a Will in place, and that it’s kept up to date. It’s not the cheeriest
Allowable Limited Company Expenses, Director’s Pay vs Dividends, Tax Planning & Saving Tips, Year-End Preparation Tips
Salary, dividends or both? What you need to know about directors’ loans
If you run a limited company, one of the biggest perks is the flexibility in how you pay yourself. But with that flexibility comes confusion. Should you take a salary, dividends… or a bit of both? And what’s this “director’s loan account” everyone keeps talking about? Let’s break it down in plain English (with no
Allowable Limited Company Expenses, Corporation Tax, Organising Your Receipts & Invoices, Tax Planning & Saving Tips, Xero Tips & Tricks, Year-End Preparation Tips
Year-end tax planning for limited companies – top saving tips
Year-end tax planning for limited companies is all about making the most of reliefs and allowances before the clock runs out. If your company’s financial year-end is on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to review your finances and make sure you’re not missing any golden opportunities to save tax. From pension contributions to equipment
Bookkeeping, Corporation Tax, DNA News, Self-Assessment/ Personal Tax, VAT
Who We Don’t Work With (And Who Might Be a Perfect Fit)
We love working with businesses that align with our values and approach. But we also know that not every client is the right fit—and that’s okay! Being upfront about this helps both of us save time and focus on businesses where we can really make a difference. In this post, we’ll share some red flags
Bookkeeping, CIS, Corporation Tax, PAYE, Self-Assessment/ Personal Tax, VAT, Year-End Preparation Tips
Managing client expectations: How long will it take?
We love working with our clients, but let’s be real – nobody enjoys chasing emails about deadlines. So, to keep things running smoothly, here’s a handy guide on when you can expect your accounts, tax returns, payroll, and everything in between to be completed. Key to Timelines ✅ Timelines below are based on receiving all
Common Bookkeeping Mistakes, Self-Assessment Tips for Sole Traders, Tax Planning & Saving Tips
Accounting vs. bookkeeping: Clearing up the confusion
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what the difference is between an accountant and a bookkeeper, you’re not alone. Many business owners use the terms interchangeably, assuming they mean the same thing. However, while accounting and bookkeeping often go hand-in-hand, they’re distinct roles with unique responsibilities – and understanding these differences can help you make
Bookkeeping, Common Bookkeeping Mistakes, Organising Your Receipts & Invoices, Self-Assessment Tips for Sole Traders, VAT Tips for Small Businesses, Xero Tips & Tricks, Year-End Preparation Tips
Behind the scenes of double-entry bookkeeping with Xero: Why the details matter
For many small business owners, bookkeeping might feel like a bit of a mystery. You upload receipts, reconcile bank transactions, and assign account codes, but what’s really happening behind the scenes? At DNA, we love pulling back the curtain to show how double-entry bookkeeping – the unsung hero of good financial management – works its
Allowable Limited Company Expenses, Organising Your Receipts & Invoices, Tax Planning & Saving Tips
Why Allowable Expenses aren’t always Black and White
When it comes to allowable expenses, things aren’t always as straightforward as we’d like. The idea of reducing your tax bill by claiming legitimate expenses is appealing, but what happens when those expenses fall into a grey area? In this blog, we’ll explore some of the trickier expenses that aren’t always black and white, and
Automating Your Finances, Bookkeeping, Organising Your Receipts & Invoices, Self-Assessment Tips for Sole Traders, Tax Planning & Saving Tips, Xero Tips & Tricks
Credit Control: Chasing invoices and lending clients money for no gain
In the bustling world of UK business, maintaining a healthy cash flow is paramount. Credit control, the process of managing a company’s credit policies, plays a crucial role in ensuring that invoices are paid on time and that the business does not inadvertently become a lender to its clients. Here’s a deep dive into effective