Now is the time to start thinking about your end-of-year tax planning while there is still time to maximise the benefit of any allowances you haven’t used yet this tax year. The end of the current tax year is April 5, 2024, and there are various tax breaks you want to make the most of before that date. However, there is another date to bear in mind too – March 6, which is when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Budget to the House of Commons. There is some expectation that he will announce tax cuts on this date, which is customary in a General Election year. The question is whether it wil ..read more

How to negotiate pricing with new and existing clients Article by Lewis Bird, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US As an industry that deals in hard facts, why do accountants struggle to calculate and communicate their own value? This short guide helps you articulate your worth and have that (not so) difficult conversation about setting client fees. Why are accounting firms so terrible at increasing their fees? Whenever I ask an accounting firm why they don’t charge more, I see the same look in the partners’ eyes. I call this ‘The fear’. In the early days of building a ..read more

How to keep your accounting software costs low in 2024 Article by Sanjay Swarup, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US How much does your practice spend on software? More importantly, how much has this increased over the last three years?  In a previous article, I outlined how small-to-medium-sized practices can avoid rising costs. Here, I want to zoom in on accounting software and share practical advice on making your tech work harder.  From accountant to software producer When I studied accounting in the late 1980s, textbooks were king and home computing was ..read more

How to combat rising costs at your accountancy firm Article by Sanjay Swarup, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US As we settle into 2024, the persistent issue of rising costs remains the biggest obstacle for accountancy firms looking to grow. In this article, we will explore strategies for overcoming this challenge by cultivating a skilled and efficient workforce. In the past three years, the convergence of a global pandemic and turbulent geopolitical events has unleashed a perfect storm of macroeconomic challenges for small businesses, creating unprecedented conditions t ..read more

Build your firm as an asset, not a job Article by Sanjay Swarup, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US Why did you set up or buy your accountancy firm: good income, choice of clients, work-life balance, pension pot? Too often, partners get stuck after item one – salary. They are running a business that supports a good lifestyle but miss out on other valuable rewards. Day-to-day demands leave them trapped in a cycle of doing a ‘job’ when they would rather spend time building their business into an asset. By ‘asset,’ we mean a firm with solid financials, efficient operat ..read more

How to train your staff when embracing AI Article by Sanjay Swarup, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US Your firm has invested in Artificial Intelligence accountancy software; the next challenge is staff training. SKS has spent the last two years developing and rolling out our proprietary AI software to over 900 staff across our member firms and outsourcing partners. Here, we share what we have learned in the process. Whether you are shaking up your own systems or introducing packages such as Dext or AutoEntry into your workflow, the advice is universal. Ident ..read more

Beyond your paycheck – build your accountancy practice into an asset Article by Sanjay Swarup, Director & CEO, SKS Business Services BOOK A MEETING CALL US When establishing or acquiring your accountancy firm, you were probably focused on securing a good income. However, many partners find themselves stuck in that mindset, missing out on the broader rewards of transforming their business into a valuable asset. A strong asset will do two things: provide you with professional fulfilment, work/life balance and a good income attract a high multiple from potential investors or buy ..read more

Unlocking Tax Advantages: A Deep Dive into EIS, SEIS Opportunities Delivered by our CEO and Director, Sanjay Swarup REGISTER ONLINE Thursday 18 April 2024 at 11am – 11:30am We’re delighted to announce that our CEO and Director, Sanjay Swarup will be delivering a free-to-attend webinar on Thursday 18 April 2024 at 11am – 11:30am, providing insight into tax advantages via a deep dive into EIS, SEIS opportunities. Duration: 0.5 hours Level: Introduction – Requires no prior subject knowledge Targeted Audience:All individual taxpayers, businesses seeking opportunities to qualify ..read more

Navigating the Tax Landscape: A Comprehensive Guide to Basis Period Reforms for Sole Traders & Partnerships Delivered by our CEO and Director, Sanjay Swarup REGISTER ONLINE Thursday 21 March 2024 at 11am – 1:30pm We’re delighted to announce that our CEO and Director, Sanjay Swarup will be delivering a free-to-attend webinar on Thursday 21 March 2024 at 11am – 1:30pm, covering the Tax Landscape: A Comprehensive Guide to Basis Period Reforms for Sole Traders and Partnerships. Duration: 2.5 hours Level: Introduction – Requires no prior subject knowledge Targeted Audience ..read more

Exploring Capital Allowances for Commercial Property – Q&A Session Delivered by Lewis Bird, Martyn Penney & Kamber Kimti. REGISTER ONLINE Thursday 29 February 2024 at 11am – 11:15am We’re delighted to announce that the knowledgeable Lewis Bird, Martyn Penney and Kamber Kimti will be delivering a free-to-attend webinar on Thursday 29 February 2024 at 11am – 11:15am, covering capital allowances for commercial property. This session will be delivered as a Q&A where we will not only be answering some of the most common questions we get asked, but will be able to open the ..read more