It’s the 12th day of 2012 already, and it is continuing at the same hectic
pace as 2011.(thus explain the reason for no blogs since mid December!!). I
trust that like me, everyone has their plans in place to ensure that 2012
meets expectations and ensures that your business is going in the right
direction. My biggest challenge for 2012 is to ensure that my client base
(currently around 450) has the right mix of sole traders, partnerships,
limited companies, charities etc.. During the last 4 and a half years adding
clients through client referrals has always seen a nice stream of new
clients coming on board. Unfortunately I never took the time to consider if
they where clients I actually wanted. As the practice continues to grow I am
now in a position where I can choose which new clients I want. This will not
only benefit me and my staff, but also the client, as they will not only
know they are wanted but we will have the time to devote to providing the
service they desire.

So, if you are a growing or established business and you think you will make
an ideal client, please get in touch to see if we want to act for you!! Feel
free to browse my website, check out the staff and view the client
testimonials.

Robert

A week has passed and it’s on to my second blog. Last time I was struggling to think of things to write about, today I seem to have loads spinning in my head. However with Christmas fast approaching I have decided to keep it slightly topical (??)

As owner manager of a service company I appreciate many business people who are in the position that if you don’t work you don’t earn. One big issue for many owner managers is the provision of childcare. This issue increases at holiday times such as Christmas, Easter, summer holidays etc. I am sure many of you will be aware of employer supported childcare vouchers. If you are a director of a limited company then this legislation can apply to you. What many people don’t know is the type of childcare that can qualify for this tax free cash. The maximum tax free per week is £55, and this can be saved up and used when childcare is required, ie. Christmas, 6 week holidays etc..Along with the registered childminders it can also be claimed against costs of outer school activities such as football training, music lessons etc. subject to the qualifying conditions being met. The £55 per week does not count as income for tax credit purposes and could save you £572 per year in tax.

If you need any more information on this please ask, or shove it under the nose of your own accountant (although I would rather you ask me ☺). At the end of the day everyone likes something for nothing, and I am about to download some free songs courtesy of Becks.com. Hopefully by the end of tonight I should have 20 or 30 free tracks!! Feel free to leave a comment if you found this useful.

For some time I have wanted a blog section on my website, and due to a recent website refresh I have got it. Now the problems start as I am not sure what to blog about!

Over the last couple of weeks I have read various blogs online to see what people write about. I have searched for accountancy
blogs, which in the main I thought where poor, and offered little useful information, and I have read other business related blogs which range from average to quite good. The best ones seem to combine professional and social life seamlessly, unfortunately
on reflection I have a relatively non-existent social life, and everything I do seems to revolve around my business.

So this being the first of what I hope will be many posts and an increase in my social life as we approach Christmas, together with
the challenge of ensuring all self assessment tax returns are completed by the 31 January (currently just over 150 still to do) I hope to think of something interesting to say relatively frequently over the next couple of months.

My first Christmas party is tonight (and yes I know it is still November) at the Carlton Park Hotel in Rotherham, and I hope I will not be too hung over tomorrow to do something useful.

As a note for people who have not yet completed their 2011 self assessment tax return this is the first year that late filing
penalties apply even if no tax is due, so make sure they are submitted by the 31 January 12.