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The Big Picture | how we help

The service we actually provide is that of helping clients achieve their key business and financial aspirations:

Startup Support > Admin Outsourcing > Tax Minimisation > Financial Security

By way of example, the following are real client case studies:

Mr H is an IT engineer who, aged around 30, was becoming fed up with his employer continually profiting from his efforts.

He decided to take the plunge in 2001, having discovered us through a Google search on the internet. Having no previous experience of running a business, Mr H was anxious to quickly absorb from us all of the relevant information for him becoming a freelance contractor. Although untrained in tax, he knew that careful advance planning would result in lowering the tax leakage from his new venture and he was anxious to explore all avenues in this regard. We set him up to keep his records on Sage Line 50 accounting software, we guided him through the hurdles associated with falling outside of the complex IR35 tax rules and assisted him in negotiating the terms and conditions of the service contract with his new clients. His remuneration package was carefully structured to fall within the section 660 rules, whilst maximising the after tax net take home pay.

Mr U was recommended to us by a business associate in summer 1997 and rang us up to seek advice on starting a business and how to prepare a business plan. We soon discovered that he worked as a security manager for the UK subsidiary of an American group. His employer was in the process of outsourcing non-essential services and asked him to put a proposal and tender document together, to supply these services using the same personnel as those currently directly employed.

We assisted with this exercise and then incorporated a new limited company after he was awarded the contract. Mr U is the only director and concentrates his time on the operational management of the company. We assist with all aspects of payroll and VAT administration, meeting with him once per quarter to undertake book-keeping and prepare management accounts. We use these to review performance with him and advise on the appropriate level of dividend payments. The business has grown, allowing the proven business model to be rolled out to further contracts. The company is now established, producing healthy profits which Mr U fully extracts from the company as dividends. The close relationship established with this client over many years of regular contact enables the quarterly meetings to be an ideal platform for discussing business development ideas.

Mr I and Mr G ran an established painting partnership and building company. Around 1997, they were becoming fed up with the high tax cost of their existing trading structure and the lack of pro-active advice coming from their 'big city' accountant. On the recommendation of their bank manager, they contacted us and liked what they heard.

Numerous years later, trading has been re-structured to lower the overall tax cost. Mr I has now retired and our corporate finance advice enabled this succession to be structured with loan notes, to be tax efficient for him, and to enable Mr G to fund this buy-out through future business profits. Mr G has spare net disposable income and likes to invest in property. We have assisted him to structure buy to let acquisitions and speculative builds, through a combination of personal, corporate and pension ownership.

Mr K came to us in 1999, seeking advice on how to start self employment as a window cleaning business. Having no previous business experience, he knew nothing about tax, book-keeping, VAT, national insurance or accounts.

We registered him as a sole trader and guided him through the relevant procedures and rules. He is now his own boss, having the flexibility to work as and when he chooses, and he has surprised all of his friends and family by his ability to continually grow and develop the business. He now employs staff and instructs us to administer the payroll. In 2002 his profits were sufficient that we advised him to lower his tax exposure by 'going limited'. We explained to him all of his responsibilities as a new director and we assist him with all company secretarial duties.

T Ltd are a medium sized third generation manufacturing group. They approached us in 1998 to take part in a 'beauty parade', as they wished to move away from their big 4 auditor, to a more local flexible firm.

We were fortunate enough to succeed in our pitch and immediately provided corporate finance advice for a complicated management buyout, which ultimately involved a formal liquidation and trade 're-birth', including splitting trading activities and property ownership into two new companies. We have since continued to provide annual compliance srevices (prepare statutory accounts, undertake an annual audit and complete and submit corporation tax returns). As well as these core services, we have helped with tax enquiries, claiming R&D tax relief and in establishing trusts for the shareholders, as part of a package of inheritance tax planning actions.

If you require assistance with your business, finances or tax, we can provide support when it counts.

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