Books & Balance

10/06/2026

Big news… my new website is now live 🎉

A huge thank you to Tracey at Zerenity Creates for bringing my vision to life.

I wanted a website that reflected where Books & Balance is heading as a business. Less “just bookkeeping” and more finance partner and strategic support for growing businesses.

I signed up to Tracey’s Website Accelerator offer, where we spent the day together over coffee and lunch planning the website and discussing everything that was needed. From the very beginning, she completely understood the vision and created something that feels professional, welcoming and very me. The whole process felt easy because she just got it straight away.

The new site showcases:
✨ Our services
✨ The people behind the business
✨ How we support clients beyond the numbers
✨ Our blog

If you are thinking about refreshing your branding or website, I would absolutely recommend Tracey.

I’d love to know what you think: https://link.feacreate.com/sp/4b69bfbf17b

08/06/2026

Profit is not the same thing as cash.

You can be profitable and still feel squeezed when:
• Debtors grow (cash trapped in unpaid invoices)
• Stock/WIP grows (cash trapped in work not yet billed)
• Tax/VAT builds up quietly then lands in one go
A quick control: reconcile the movement in cash to what changed in debtors, stock/WIP, and tax balances.

If you can’t explain the gap, you can’t manage it.

If you want a simple monthly routine that keeps cash predictable, book a call, the link is in my bio.

03/06/2026

When you have a team, “good finance management” is less about admin and more about control.

Three things I’d expect in a growing business:
• Bank reconciled weekly (so cash isn’t a mystery)
• Clear rules for coding common spend (so reporting isn’t random)
• A month-end close that happens on a date, not “when we get time”

If your numbers arrive late, you end up managing on instinct. That’s expensive as you build a team.

If you want your books to become decision-grade (without more effort), book a call, the link is in my bio.

01/06/2026

Most businesses don’t have a profit problem. They have a customer mix problem.

I’ve published a new blog:
Client Profitability: How to Find Your Best and Worst Customers Using Your Accounts Data.

It shows a simple way to use what you already have in your accounts to spot:
• Which customers fund growth
• Which customers drain margin (without you noticing)
• Where pricing, scope, or process needs tightening
You don’t need complex spreadsheets. You need straightforward categories and a consistent way to review the same questions each month.

If you want me to help you find your best and worst customers from your numbers, book a call, the link is in my bio.

29/05/2026

If month-end is late, everything decision is more difficult in your business.

A clean close comes down to discipline:
• Weekly reconciliations
• Cut-off dates for invoices, receipts, approvals
• A short commentary: what changed and what needs action
• The goal is speed with accuracy. Not perfection.

If you want a month-end close process your team can run without you chasing, book a call, the link is in my bio.

27/05/2026

Forecasting doesn’t need a monster model. It takes a handful of key numbers.

A practical 8-week view is usually enough to regain control:
• Expected cash in (by date, not hope)
• Fixed commitments (payroll, VAT/tax, key suppliers)
• Known one-offs (equipment, annual renewals)

When you can see the pinch points early, you can act early: chase, renegotiate, pause spend, adjust plans.

Want me to build a simple forecast you’ll actually use? Book a call, the link is in my bio.

26/05/2026

25/05/2026

Long weekends are where cash slips: invoicing delayed, chasing paused, and supplier payments still go out.

Before you switch off, do three things:
• Send any invoices you’re sitting on
• Chase anything due this week (politely, but firmly)
• Check next week’s outgoings: payroll, suppliers, tax/VAT

This takes 20 minutes and saves a week of stress.

If you want a bank-holiday-proof cash routine, book a call, the link is in my bio.

22/05/2026

Most finance pain is rework: fixing the same issues every month.

A few process upgrades remove most of it:
• One way to capture receipts (at source)
• Clear approvals (what needs sign-off, what doesn’t)
• Standard coding rules for common spend
• A close checklist that’s followed every time

Less rework means faster close, better numbers, and fewer interruptions for you.

If you want help tightening the process around your software, book a call, the link is in my bio.

20/05/2026

VAT issues are rarely dramatic. They’re usually small inconsistencies repeated for months.

Three preventables:
• Not reconciling VAT monthly (even if you file quarterly)
• Unclear treatment for mixed or unusual items
• “We’ll fix it later” items left sitting in holding accounts
• Consistency is the win. A short VAT rules list for your business avoids repeated judgement calls.

If you want me to review your VAT process and spot the obvious risk points, book a call, the link is in my bio.