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Five Indicators of Financial Distress

In navigating the intricate landscape of business finance, recognising early warning signs of financial distress is paramount for proactive management. The following five tests serve as crucial indicators, signalling potential challenges that require swift attention. From overdue payments and legal entanglements to cash flow struggles and balance sheet examinations, these markers provide a comprehensive overview of a company's financial health. Timely recognition and remedial actions based on these tests can often prevent further complications and foster a healthier financial trajectory for businesses of all sizes. Overdue Payments and Legal Notices The business has either received a Statutory Demand or County [...]

2024-02-19T00:32:00+00:00February 8th, 2024|Advice, Company news, Uncategorized, Updates|

Meet the team – Andrew Bland

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and Insolvency Practitioner. Having trained as a Chartered Accountant at a small local firm, qualifying in 1986, he moved to the Corporate Recovery and Insolvency department at Ernst & Young's Manchester office. In 1999, he successfully completed the Joint Insolvency Examinations and became a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. Following this, Andrew went into industry, concentrating on companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market, initially at a vehicle telematics company and latterly at a market leading personal insolvency business where he became the Group Operations and Finance Director. In 2004, Andrew returned to public practice and set [...]

2024-02-05T23:21:33+00:00February 6th, 2024|Uncategorized|

Protect Your Business: Identifying Scam Emails from HMRC

In the digital age, small businesses are increasingly reliant on electronic communication, making them susceptible to scams, especially those impersonating reputable entities like HMRC. Scammers often use sophisticated tactics to trick unsuspecting individuals, and small businesses can be particularly vulnerable. One common approach is through fraudulent emails, where cybercriminals pose as HMRC officials. Here's how small businesses can spot scam emails and protect themselves from falling victim to fraudulent activities. Check the Sender's Email Address Legitimate HMRC communications will always come from an official domain. Be wary of email addresses that don't end in "gov.uk." Scammers often use similar-looking addresses [...]

2024-02-12T13:04:46+00:00February 1st, 2024|Uncategorized|

5 Tests for financial difficulty

Overdue payments The client has received a Statutory Demand or County Court Judgement. HRMC is chasing for payment and there is no time to pay agreement or the time to pay agreement has been broken. Time is taken up “fire-fighting” creditors because they are not being paid in time Suppliers are requiring cash on delivery Wages day is a crisis day If each month there is a worry about whether there are funds to pay the wages and PAYE and/or pension contributions are falling behind. Directors cannot afford to pay themselves from the business. Balance sheet test Does the company [...]

2023-03-15T02:33:39+00:00March 15th, 2023|Uncategorized|

I have used my bounce back loan to pay my mortgage and household bills, what next?

If your small business has recently suffered from financial losses arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you, as company director or sole trader, may have taken advantage of the government-supported bounce back loan scheme. This may have helped you carry your business through this difficult period in order to avoid liquidation, but what if you’ve used it for other purposes?   Bounce back loans offer struggling businesses up to £50,000 depending on the business' usual annual turnover, and allow a six-to-ten-year repayment term. The scheme was launched on 4th May 2020 and eligible business owners have until 31st [...]

2021-01-26T07:31:05+00:00January 26th, 2021|Directors|

What is an Insolvency Practitioner?

Insolvency is a highly regulated professional service.  If a firm offers “insolvency services” there must be a licensed Insolvency Practitioner (IP) within the business.   Insolvency practitioners have often qualified as accountants before they specialise in insolvency.  It is important that they have a good understanding of business finance. There are many firms which claim to offer insolvency services; however, some will simply charge you a fee to refer you to another company that does have a licensed IP.  If you feel that you may need the help of an IP it is worth making sure that you are speaking to [...]

2020-07-20T20:11:48+00:00July 20th, 2020|Directors|

What are the implications for changes in IR35?

HMRC introduced IR35 or the ‘off-payroll working rules’ in 2000 to target ‘disguised employment’ and tax avoidance. It is aimed at companies who hire freelancers or contractors to undertake work but who are in effect working as employees. The advantage for the employer is that they don’t have to pay employers’ National lnsurance contributions or give the contractor the benefits they would have to give to an employee. The benefit for the contractor is that by setting up a limited company, they can take avoid National Insurance and pay lower rates of tax. IR35, however, is designed to assess whether [...]

2020-01-23T13:10:41+00:00January 17th, 2020|Directors|

What should someone do if they receive notice of a County Court Judgement?

If you’re an accountant or solicitor and one of your clients receives notice of a County Court Judgement or CCJ, what should you be advising them to do? Well, the first point is that they shouldn’t just ignore it. A CCJ is not simply going to go away. So it’s no good your client putting their head in the sand, hoping it will. You need to make them realise they must take urgent action. They have just 14 days to respond. What exactly is it? Explain to your client that a CCJ is a court order, issued by a county [...]

2019-12-19T11:13:08+00:00December 19th, 2019|Directors|
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