Read my blogs
End of financial year preparation: A guide for business owners
As the end of the financial year (EOFY) approaches, business owners should take the time to review their financial records, reconcile accounts, and prepare for the year ahead. Staying organised ensures you have a clear understanding of your business’s financial...
5 Tips to Help Manage Cash Flow in Your Business
Managing cash flow is essential to keeping a business healthy. Whether you’re just starting out or running an established company, here are five key tips to maintain a steady cash flow and prepare for any financial challenges that come your way. Use Cash Flow...
National Living Wage Update 2025: What Business Owners Need to Know
As your trusted Bookkeeper, I am here to keep you up to date on the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) changes coming in April 2025, as announced in the latest UK budget. Understanding these updates is key to staying compliant and budgeting for...
Payroll Forms – Which Form and When to Use It
If you are running your own payroll, there are quite a few payroll forms you need to be aware of to ensure tax compliance. Payslip An employer must provide an employee with a payslip each payday, and it must show: Earnings before and after deductions The amount of any...
What can an employee claim whilst on jury service
As an employee it’s important to note that your employer is not required to pay your wages whilst you are on jury service. If your employer has chosen not to pay you whilst you are on jury service, you can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court. To do this...
What is the Difference Between a Pro-Forma Invoice and an Invoice?
Most of the time, you will receive an invoice when you have paid for goods or services. This invoice provides confirmation of the specified goods or services and is to be included in your business accounts, enabling you to claim VAT if applicable. However, some...
Five Self-Assessment expenses you didn’t know you could claim
Your Self-Assessment reports your taxable profit to HMRC, so it’s important to ensure you have claimed for all your relevant tax allowable costs incurred in running your business. Below are five costs commonly missed by business owners: Work Clothing Now this is one...
Guide to record keeping for new businesses
Guide to Record Keeping for New Businesses Whether you have been planning this for a while or your hobby has become your business (remember, any income more than £1,000 per tax year must be declared and may be taxable), you’ve taken the leap, and your passion has...
Why every business needs to obtain an invoice or receipt for their purchases
No matter what your business structure (yes, this includes sole traders), it’s essential to have a record of all your business purchases. You only have to ask my clients to know I chase them all the time to make sure we have a receipt for every one of their purchases....
Minimum Wage, Statutory Pay and Deduction Thresholds 2024-25
Minimum wage rates change on 1st April each year so it’s vitally important you are aware of the new rates and ensure you have checked your payroll software is up to date to ensure wages are calculated using the correct rates. The hourly rate for the minimum wage...
ABOUT SUE
Sue Haynes is the founder of Cactus Bookkeeping and helps business owners
with all aspects of Bookkeeping to save them time so they can concentrate on running their
business. Sue is licensed, regulated and supported by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)