Blue Marble Business Services

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Blue Marble Business Services

BlueMarble Bookkeeping is a professional, home run business. Tailored to helping your business grow.

08/09/2026

Taking on your first employee? Congratulations! 🎉

But before payday arrives, there are a few things you need to have sorted.

You'll normally need to:

✔️ Register as an employer with HMRC
✔️ Set up your payroll
✔️ Collect the right employee information
✔️ Make the correct deductions
✔️ Report their pay to HMRC
✔️ Keep the appropriate records

And that's before you even get into workplace pensions, holidays, sick pay and everything else that comes with employing people.

It's a big step for a small business, and it's easy to feel like there's suddenly a whole new world of admin to understand.

If you're taking on your first employee and would rather have someone else take care of the payroll side, give us a call.

Source: GOV.UK

28/08/2026

Not every small business needs a full accounts department.

But that doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself.

If you're a sole trader trying to stay on top of your bookkeeping and annual returns, or you're running a growing business with employees but don't have the need or budget for an in-house accounts team, that's where we come in.

At Blue Marble, we can support you with the day-to-day financial admin that takes up your time, including bookkeeping and payroll.

Think of us as an extra pair of hands when it comes to keeping the numbers side of your business organised.

Less time chasing paperwork.

More time doing the thing you actually started your business to do.

If that sounds like something your business could use, get in touch.

26/08/2026

A small business owner's to-do list is never-ending.

Reply to emails.

Finish that quote.

Chase that invoice.

Post on social media.

Order stock.

Speak to the customer who needed something yesterday.

Oh, and somewhere in there you're also supposed to keep your bookkeeping up to date. 😂

The truth is, most people don't start a business because they love paperwork and spreadsheets.

You start because you're good at what you do.

The bookkeeping is just one of those things that comes with it.

That's where we can help.

What business admin job is always the first one to get pushed to tomorrow?

24/08/2026

If you're a company director, this is one you don't want to miss.

Companies House has introduced identity verification requirements, and directors need to verify their identity and provide their personal code as part of their company's next confirmation statement.

If you're sitting there thinking, "My what?" you're probably not alone. 😅

There have been quite a few changes to get your head around recently, which is exactly why it's worth keeping on top of your company admin rather than leaving everything until the last minute.

If you're unsure what applies to you or what you need to do next, we're always happy to point you in the right direction.

Source: GOV.UK

19/08/2026

The Burnham administration has reaffirmed its commitment to capping the main rate of Corporation Tax at 25% for the duration of this parliament, providing long-term stability and predictability for corporate planning.

For owner-managed businesses and limited company directors, this is meaningful certainty at a time when much else remains in flux.

The current structure remains:
📌 Small Profits Rate: 19% on profits up to £50,000
📌 Marginal Relief: tapered rate between £50,000 and £250,000
📌 Main Rate: 25% on profits above £250,000
📌 Confirmed ceiling: 25% no further increase this parliament

With the Budget confirmed for 28 October, this confirmation matters as it removes Corporation Tax from the list of October surprises that directors need to plan for.

The more productive planning conversations now focus on areas that remain open: the salary and dividend mix for 2026/27 given the increased dividend tax rates, the impact of reduced writing down allowances on capital investment decisions, and whether retained profits or extraction makes more sense ahead of any CGT changes at Budget.

If you'd like to review your company's tax position ahead of October, we're here to help.

Source: SME Accounting News / Gov.uk - August 2026

17/08/2026

Chancellor John Healey will present the 2026 Budget on Wednesday 28 October 2026 - the first fiscal event under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

For small business owners and limited company directors, this Budget carries more significance than most. The number of live consultations and stated policy intentions from the new government is unusually high, and October is likely to bring formal confirmation or revision of several measures that directly affect business finances.

Key areas to watch:

📌 Business rates - promised reform needs a costed policy and timeline
📌 Corporation Tax - the government has reaffirmed its commitment to capping the main rate at 25% for the duration of this parliament but formal Budget confirmation would be welcome certainty
📌 Capital Gains Tax - with Burnham's administration signalling a review of wealth taxation, any changes could significantly affect exit planning for owner-managed businesses
📌 Employment costs - employer NI, the NLW roadmap, and any further labour market measures
📌 MTD thresholds - the April 2027 £30,000 threshold and April 2028 £20,000 threshold may be confirmed or adjusted

Ten weeks is a meaningful window for tax planning, if you haven't reviewed your business's financial position since the change of government, now is a good time to do so before the Budget lands.

Source: Ross Martin SME Tax Update / HM Treasury - August 2026

14/08/2026

We're Blue Marble Business Services, a small friendly bookkeeping and payroll practice based in Ringwood, right in the heart of Dorset.

We started because we believe small business owners deserve the same quality of financial support as big companies without the big price tag, the corporate jargon, or the feeling that you're just a number on someone's client list.

Every business we work with gets a dedicated, personal service. We get to know you, your business, and your goals so we're not just processing your numbers, we're genuinely invested in how you're doing.

Here's what that looks like in practice:

📞 You can actually pick up the phone and get us
💬 We explain things in simply
📋 We stay on top of every HMRC change so you don't have to
💷 We keep your books accurate, your payroll compliant and your records HMRC-ready all year round
😌 And we make sure year end is never a panic

We work with sole traders, limited companies and growing employers right across Dorset and the South, from trades and therapists to consultants and retailers.

If you've been thinking about getting some support but weren't sure where to start this is your sign 😊

12/08/2026

Quick tip that could save you a stressful conversation with HMRC:

Always keep your business and personal phone calls separate, or keep a log.

If you claim your mobile phone bill as a business expense, HMRC expects you to be able to demonstrate the business-use percentage. If you use one phone for everything (which most of us do), you'll need to estimate honestly and be able to back it up if asked.

A few things worth knowing:

📱 Sole traders - you can claim the business-use percentage of your personal bill. 60% business use? Claim 60%. Keep it realistic and consistent
📱 Limited companies - if the company pays for a phone used exclusively for business, it's fully deductible. Personal use makes it a benefit in kind
📱 Second phone - if you have a dedicated business-only phone paid for by your company, 100% is claimable with no benefit in kind implications
📱 Landline and broadband - same rules apply. Business proportion only for sole traders

It sounds small. But across a year, your phone and broadband bills add up and every pound of legitimate expense you miss is money you've overpaid in tax.

Not sure what you can and can't claim? That's exactly the kind of question we love. Give us a call.

Source: HMRC / Gov.uk

11/08/2026

"I'll sort the bookkeeping when things slow down."

We hear this one a lot, and we completely understand why - when you're busy, admin is the last thing you want to think about.

But here's the painful truth: things rarely slow down. And the longer the books are left, the harder they are to catch up.

Here's what actually happens when bookkeeping gets left:

📌 Receipts go missing, and with them, legitimate expenses you can't claim back
📌 Bank transactions become impossible to remember, "what was that £340 in March?"
📌 VAT quarters sneak up and the return becomes a frantic scramble
📌 You lose sight of cash flow, and the first sign of a problem is when the bank account runs low
📌 Year end becomes a monster job instead of a straightforward process

The businesses that find bookkeeping least stressful aren't the ones with the simplest finances. They're the ones who do a little, consistently, throughout the year.

Or better still - the ones who hand it to us 😄

10/08/2026

Monday morning, the emails are already piling up, the to-do list is longer than the weekend felt, and somewhere at the bottom of it all… are your books.

If the financial side of your business is the thing you keep pushing to the bottom of the pile you're not alone.

But here's the thing. Starting the week with a clear financial picture changes everything. Knowing what's in the bank, what's coming in, and what needs to go out this week means every other decision you make today is a better one.

That clarity is what we give our clients every single month, without them having to think about it.

New week, fresh start - we'd love to hear from you.

Address

Ringwood

Website

https://www.bluemarblebusinessservices.co.uk/

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