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02/11/2026

What would you like your business to earn next year? And would that be enough to pay you properly?

A sales target is a starting point. The next step is checking what it costs to deliver the work and what needs to be left to cover the bills.

This month’s blog walks through a simple budget for 2027, including planning for your own income. You do not need to be good with spreadsheets to start making sense of it.

If you would like help turning your plans into figures you can use, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

21/10/2026

Do you pay every supplier bill as soon as it arrives, even when it isn’t due for another few weeks?

Paying on time matters. Paying early when cash is tight can leave you short for wages or tax. Record each bill with its due date, then check what is coming up before you approve a payment run.

I help clients keep bills organised and see how planned payments affect the bank balance. If supplier payments are taking over your week, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

19/10/2026

Christmas can change when money comes in and goes out. You might buy stock early, pay extra staff hours or find that customers take longer to approve invoices over the holidays.

Put those dates into a cash flow forecast now. Include January’s usual bills and any tax payment due on 31 January. You’ll have a clearer picture of what needs covering before everyone closes for Christmas.

I help clients turn those dates into a plan they can use. If you want to map out the next few months, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

16/10/2026

A customer pays £1,200 for something you sold with 20% VAT. That includes £200 VAT.

It is easy to see the full £1,200 in the bank and think it is all available to spend. But the VAT needs to be accounted for when your return is due. There may also be income tax or Corporation Tax to plan for, depending on your business.

A separate account can make it easier to put money aside. The right amount to transfer depends on your own figures, especially if you reclaim VAT on purchases.

If you want help working out a sensible tax pot, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

14/10/2026

If you’re already using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, your second quarterly update is due by 7 November.

This applies to people who joined from April 2026, generally sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. The update uses the records you have kept in compatible software. The time-consuming part is usually catching up on missing transactions and receipts.

Now is a good time to check that your records are up to date and any questions are cleared. If you’re due to join from April 2027 because your qualifying income is over £30,000, you can start building the habit now.

I can help with the bookkeeping and quarterly updates. Book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

12/10/2026

How long do you wait between finishing a job and sending the invoice?

If you leave it until month end, you have added days or even weeks to the time you wait for payment. Send it promptly, show the actual due date and make your bank details easy to find.

Then keep an eye on anything overdue. I help clients see who owes them and put a sensible follow-up routine in place, so chasing does not become a horrible job that keeps being put off.

Need help getting on top of unpaid invoices? Book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

09/10/2026

Would it help to know now which week your bank balance might get tight?

A cash flow forecast starts with today’s balance. Add the money you realistically expect to receive each week, then take off the bills due that week. Look ahead 13 weeks and update it regularly.

You might spot VAT, payroll and a supplier payment landing together. Seeing that early gives you time to plan.

I can help you build a forecast you can actually use. Book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

07/10/2026

Imagine you finish a £12,000 job in September and invoice straight away. The sale is in your figures, but your customer won’t pay until October or November.

You have already paid for materials. Wages are due this week. That is how a business can make a profit and still feel short of cash.

I help business owners look at both the work they have earned and the money they actually have available. If you’d like to understand the gap in your business, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

05/10/2026

Did you start working for yourself, or receive rental income, between 6 April 2025 and 5 April 2026?

If you need to send a Self Assessment tax return for that year and haven’t registered before, today, 5 October, is the date to tell HMRC. Some people who were registered before may need to reactivate their account.

Not every bit of extra income means you need a return, so check your position rather than guessing. If you’ve left it until today, start with HMRC’s registration guidance. If you’d like help working out what applies to you, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

02/10/2026

“We made a profit, so why is there so little in the bank?”

It’s a fair question. A sale can appear in your figures weeks before the customer pays. In the meantime, wages, materials and other bills still need paying.

I’ve written a blog about where the money can get tied up and how a simple cash flow forecast can help you see a tight month coming.

Read “Making a profit but still short of cash” on the Books & Balance website. If the numbers still don’t make sense for your business, book a chat: https://linktr.ee/booksandbalanceuk

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