Why Small Businesses NEED a LinkedIn Profile
Why You and Your Business Need a LinkedIn Profile It seems like there’s always a new social media channel coming out — and between managing employees, keeping up with your blog, and of course, the actual work of providing your...
Clear Books Partner Open Day – March 2017 Registration is Open!
Few people know Clear Books better than our Accountant Partners, and whilst we’ve always tried to make changes to the product that benefit our users, it’s probably fair to say that we’ve not always given our partners the opportunity to...
What is Mindfulness and Why is it Important to Small Businesses?
Even as recently as a decade ago, the idea of mindfulness and corporate wellness might have seemed, well, a little woo woo. But with hugely successful companies like Google, GM, and Goldman Sachs incorporating it into their operations, it’s become...
Product Updates – February 2017
What’s in preview Credit notes Adds functionality to list credit notes under ‘recent invoices’ on the bank import. Adds functionality to allocate a payment against a credit note on the bank import tool. Adds functionality to allow a payment to...
7 Reasons Why Small Businesses Fail
Starting a business can be one of the most exciting — not to mention rewarding — things you can do. But it’s important to go into the process with open eyes. The reality is, almost all of small businesses fail...
Certified Partner Spotlight – Tony Kelly of A G Kelly Ltd
Today we have a chat with Tony Kelly of A G Kelly Ltd. Let's see how he runs a successful accounting practice using Clear Books. Who are you and what is it you do? We are a firm of...
Certified Partner Spotlight – Specialist Accounting Services and Alpha Payrolls
Today we speak to Maria Wells of Specialist Accounting Services and Alpha Payrolls to see how she runs a successful practice. What is it you do? We provide all aspects of Bookkeeping. VAT Returns, cash flow, Management Accounts, Tax Returns...
5 Books Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs Should Read
One thing nobody tells you when you start a business is that the growth of the business is directly related to your growth as a person. But when you’ve got your head down in the (often all consuming) process of...
4 things your accounting practice should consider when moving to the cloud
There are loads of good reasons to switch to a cloud based accounting system for your accounting practice — using one can save you time, you can get great value for money, your information is secure, you’re constantly getting the latest...
7 Reasons Why Your Small Business Should Have an Active Blog
It seems like there’s always a million things to do when you’re running a small business … and somehow, writing that next blog just doesn’t seem to make your priority list. After all, how much good can a blog do,...
How to Choose an Accounting Practice for Your Small Business
So you’ve come a long way from keeping a hodge podge of receipts in a box under your desk. You know that you need to take your accounting to the next level by working with an accountant, but do you...
Partner Spotlight – Stephanie Pettitt of Equation Accounting
Today we catch up with one of our certified partners, Stephanie. Let's see what makes her practice "Equation Accounting" a successful accounting practice. 1. Who are you and what is it you do? I’m Stephanie Pettitt, Managing Director of Equation...
February 2017 product updates
Improvements pending Removal of VAT rounding functionality On 28th February 2017 we are removing the VAT rounding toggle feature. If you create an invoice that has multiple line items, the system will no longer automatically add a penny rounding adjustment...
Bonkers! HMRC Say They Will Support Spreadsheets in MTD?
(Note, we now have a product that seamlessly allows businesses to keep spreadsheet records, while allowing the accountant to submit their returns digitally, complying with MTD) I applaud the sentiment behind the government’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative i.e. to...
MTD consultation documents – The results!
On 31 January 2017 the Government published the responses to the six consultation documents on Making Tax Digital (MTD) and incorporated links to draft primary legislation, for this year’s Finance Bill. There was an unprecedented 3,000 responses directly to the...
Development priorities for the year
Much of the last 12- 18 months have seen the development team focussed on “back end” improvements, with the move to a new hosted environment and changes to the look and feel of the product to improve responsiveness and make...
New starter spotlight – Ian and Michal
As we continue to grow our product and service, we are delighted to welcome 2 new starters into the Clear Books team. Meet Ian Stewart and Michal Olejarski. Ian Stewart With our partner programme expanding we have hired an additional...
What is amortisation?
Amortisation definition Amortisation is the process of reducing the value of an asset in order to show how its worth has reduced over time. It is therefore similar to depreciation, though it can be used to refer to the reduction...
What is accrual basis accounting?
Accruals basis definition The methodology behind accrual basis accounting is to make a record of revenues when they are earned - as opposed to recording them when the cash is actually received. Likewise, when using this method of accounting, any...
What is an accounting period?
Accounting period definition An accounting period is a set period of time for which financial statements are prepared, in order to show clearly what has happened during the period in question. Companies may choose to set their own internal accounting...
What are accounts?
Accounts definition Broadly speaking, there are four main types of financial statement you need to know about. These statements, or accounts, are prepared at the end of a set period of time to reflect the profits and losses recorded during...
What is accounts receivable (AR)?
Accounts receivable definition The term accounts receivable, or 'AR', relates to payment(s) that one company expects to receive from another. When a company purchases something from another company but doesn't immediately pay for it, the selling company will record this...
What is accounts payable (AP)?
Accounts payable definition The term accounts payable (AP) relates to goods or services that are received in advance of payment. This means the company that received the goods didn't pay for them in cash up front, and therefore acquired them...
VAT MOSS what next? Changes to VAT on cross border online sales
On 1 December 2016 the European Commission released its proposals for changes in the way VAT is applied to cross-border online sales within and into the EU. The current situation Since 1 January 2015 any business (whether VAT registered or...
Certified Partner Spotlight – Maitland Limited Chartered Accountants
Clear Books interviews Andy Maitland of Maitland Limited Chartered Accountants. It's always great to catch up with our partners to learn what makes their practice successful. Name & Company Andy Maitland, Maitland Limited Chartered Accountants Who are you and what...
A chat with Martyn Keates of Keates & Co.
Today we have another catch up with one of our certified partners Martyn Keates, principal of Keates & Co. let's take a look at how he runs his successful accounting practice based in Camberley and Fleet. Who are you and what...
A chat with Jane Swain of Lymm Tax Services
Today we have a chat with one of our newly certified partners Jane Swain of Lymm Tax Services. Let's take a look at how she runs her successful practice using Clear Books. So what do you and your practice do? Chartered Accountant...
Changes to VAT Flat Rate Scheme (FRS)
In his Autumn Statement of November 2016 the Chancellor announced changes to the FRS designed to combat perceived abuse; predominantly by labour only agency workers. It will however affect many other service sector businesses. The announcement was followed by HMRC...
Thanks for registering your interest!
Thank you for registering your interest in participating in the Making Tax Digital (MTD) pilot testing programme! While you're here, why not take a few minutes to check out some of our other blogs? Such as... 5 ways you should...
Create invoice design update part 2
Dear customers, A big sorry to those customers who didn’t like the new design of our create invoice page. I appreciate that a change to a key workflow when you are on autopilot can be frustrating. It certainly isn’t our...
