MoGio Virtual Bookkeeping and Admin services

19/10/2026

One of the things I notice with long-standing clients is how much the relationship changes over time.

When you first start working together, there is usually a fairly obvious list of things that need doing. Get the books up to date, get the reconciliations sorted, get the finance admin under control.

Then you get to know the business and you learn which customers always pay late, which suppliers tend to send things twice, where the owner likes to see information and what information is most useful to them.

As the business changes, the support changes with it.

That's one of the reasons I have clients who have been with MoGio for 8 years or more. The job isn't really the same job 8 years later.

16/10/2026

One of the least glamorous parts of my job is probably one of the most useful.

Chasing invoices.

Nobody gets into bookkeeping because they dream of sending a third polite email asking whether an invoice from six weeks ago has been paid.

But it matters.

The longer something sits, the easier it is for everyone to forget about it. Then suddenly you're trying to work out why a customer still owes money from three months ago.

A quick reminder at the right time is much easier than a difficult conversation later.

So yes, there is quite a lot of looking at accounts and reconciling transactions.

There is also a surprising amount of "Hi, just checking whether you've had a chance to look at this..."

14/10/2026

💷 What could the 2026 Autumn Budget mean for your business?

With the Budget approaching, business owners will be watching for potential changes to business tax, tax reliefs and other measures that could affect their finances.

While nothing is certain until the announcements are made, understanding what’s being discussed can help you stay informed and consider what any changes might mean for your business.

📖 This article looks at the tax measures we could see in the upcoming Autumn Budget, including those affecting businesses.

Price of stability may delay difficult decisions on tax

09/10/2026

This client’s feedback sums up something that matters to me: taking ownership, being proactive and spotting things before they become problems.

Good bookkeeping should make your life easier, not give you another person to manage.

Thank you to this client for the lovely feedback. It’s a pleasure to be part of their team.

09/10/2026

British Chambers of Commerce has set out a three-point plan for the new government, focused on creating better conditions for businesses to invest and grow.

Its three priorities are:

• Trade – improve access to supply chains and help businesses trade more effectively.
• Investment – create the confidence and conditions businesses need to invest, expand, create jobs and adopt new technology.
• Productivity – accelerate infrastructure delivery and reduce unnecessary burdens that add to business costs.

The BCC is also calling for a fully funded, multi-year workforce plan for the UK planning service, aimed at supporting development, jobs and stronger local economies.

For small and growing businesses, the message is clear: reducing barriers and creating greater certainty could make it easier to invest for the long term.

07/10/2026

"Can we claim the VAT on this?”

It’s a question clients regularly ask me - and something I constantly come across when reviewing receipts and processing expenses.

Sometimes I receive a proper VAT invoice showing the supplier’s VAT number, the customer’s details, a description of the purchase, the net amount and the VAT calculation. Great - my dream receipt or invoice!

Other times, from the very same supplier, I receive only a card receipt, bank-payment confirmation or basic order summary. Not quite the dream paperwork…and this is where the confusion begins!

If VAT was reclaimed from that supplier previously, it’s easy to assume it can be reclaimed again. But the VAT treatment depends on the evidence held for each individual transaction - not simply on who the supplier is.

A bank or card receipt proves that a payment was made, but it doesn’t necessarily prove that VAT was charged. Even if the supplier is VAT registered, we cannot automatically assume that everything they sell is subject to VAT. The same supplier could sell standard-rated, reduced-rated, zero-rated or exempt items.

For purchases over £250, you would normally need a full VAT invoice containing all the required information, including the customer’s name and address and a clear VAT calculation.

For purchases of £250 or less, a simplified VAT invoice may be acceptable. It doesn’t need to show the customer’s name and address or a separately calculated VAT amount, but it must still include the supplier’s name, address and VAT registration number, the date and description of the purchase, the VAT-inclusive total and the applicable VAT rate.

That last point is important: “under £250” doesn’t mean we can simply assume VAT at 20%. Unfortunately, my calculator and I are not allowed to fill in the missing information! The receipt must still tell us which VAT rate applies. Cafés, supermarkets, hotels, Amazon and other general retailers can all supply items with different VAT treatments.

If the correct document hasn’t been provided, the first step should be to go back to the supplier and request a compliant VAT invoice. HMRC may accept alternative evidence in exceptional circumstances, but this is discretionary and shouldn’t become the normal substitute for obtaining the correct paperwork.

So, when your bookkeeper asks you for a better receipt or a proper VAT invoice, we aren’t trying to create extra work or being unnecessarily fussy. We’re making sure that any VAT reclaimed can be properly supported if HMRC ever asks to see the evidence.

The clearer the paperwork, the easier it is to claim what the business is genuinely entitled to - without assumptions, unnecessary risk or a VAT guessing game!

And yes, a perfectly clear VAT invoice really can make a bookkeeper’s day. It’s the little things! 😊

05/10/2026

How do you trust someone with your finances when you will probably never meet them?

It is a reasonable question and almost nobody asks it out loud.

Practically, here is what a good remote setup looks like.

Access, not handover. You give permission on your systems, never login details by email. You keep ownership of your Xero, your bank feeds, your documents.

You can remove access in 30 seconds.

A written data processing agreement, and ICO registration behind it. You are handing over information about your customers as well as yourself.

Anti AML (money laundering supervision), which is a legal requirement, and professional insurance.

A regular rhythm rather than an open door. A short written update at a known point each month beats being able to ring someone any time and never actually doing it.

Remote works very well. It just wants setting up properly at the start.

02/10/2026

Business confidence remains under pressure, according to the latest Institute of Directors (IoD) data.

The Economic Confidence Index fell from -61 in June to -63 in July 2026, showing continued weakness in how business leaders view the UK economy.

Confidence in their own businesses also fell, from +7 to -2, while revenue expectations dropped from +11 to +9, their lowest level so far this year.

At the same time, rising costs are putting more pressure on margins.

For business owners, it’s another reminder that keeping a close eye on costs, cash flow and profitability matters when conditions are uncertain.

28/09/2026

A few things that make your accountant's job faster and your bill smaller.

Reconcile the bank monthly, not annually. Errors found in month 2 take minutes. Found in month 14, they take hours.

Keep supporting documents attached to the transaction, not in a folder somewhere. "What was this £800" is one of the most expensive questions in accounting.

Deal with the Director Loan account as you go.

Tell them when something unusual happens, at the time, rather than at year end.

None of it is difficult. It just has to be done regularly, by someone. That is really the whole job.

25/09/2026

A client told me recently that the thing she noticed most, after a few months, was that she had stopped thinking about invoices late at night.

Not that the invoices were going out faster, although they were.

Just that the thought had gone.

I don't think we talk enough about that side of it. Every conversation about outsourcing is about time and cost, and those are real. But what people actually describe afterwards is quieter than that.