Financial Guides and Articles
Plain-English guides on business banking, insurance and more.
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What Is Invoice Finance?
Invoice finance lets you release cash tied up in unpaid invoices without waiting for customers to pay. It comes in two main forms, factoring and discounting, each suited to different business types and situations. Here is how to work out which one fits yours.
Why Timing Isn't the Whole Story for Startup Finance
James Robson argues the SME finance industry has spent a decade chasing the wrong problem: it's timing, not access. He's right, for established businesses. But for startups and first-year companies with no trading history to time, access is still very much the real issue.
The Comparison Site Now Competing With the Products It Compares
MoneySupermarket has launched its own business bank account. Not a comparison of other banks' accounts. Their own. This is a significant moment for the comparison market, and it raises a question every small business owner should ask before using any comparison site to find a bank account.
Why Timing Isn't the Whole Story for Startup Finance
James Robson argues the SME finance industry has spent a decade chasing the wrong problem: it's timing, not access. He's right, for established businesses. But for startups and first-year companies with no trading history to time, access is still very much the real issue.
The Comparison Site Now Competing With the Products It Compares
MoneySupermarket has launched its own business bank account. Not a comparison of other banks' accounts. Their own. This is a significant moment for the comparison market, and it raises a question every small business owner should ask before using any comparison site to find a bank account.
What the First Month of Starting a Business Actually Looks Like
Every business starts somewhere. For HowMuch, it started with a browser full of tabs, a growing frustration with how comparison had evolved, and a conviction that small businesses deserved something better. This is month one. What I did, what I got wrong, and what I wish I had known sooner.
My Experience of Making Tax Digital, and What I Would Do Differently
I helped my partner's small e-commerce business through its first Making Tax Digital quarter, and made the process harder than it needed to be. Here is what actually ate the time, the rule nobody warns you about, and what I would automate from day one.
How to Form a Limited Company in the UK
Forming a limited company in the UK is simpler than most people expect. The online process takes less than a day and costs £100. This guide covers how to do it yourself, when a formation service adds value, and what to sort out once the company is registered.
Do I Need to Register for VAT?
If your taxable turnover has exceeded £90,000 in the last 12 months, yes. If it has not, VAT registration is a choice. This guide explains when the obligation kicks in, when it makes sense to register early, and what registration actually involves.
What Do I Need to Set Up a New Business?
Setting up a new business involves more than registering a company and opening a bank account. This guide covers the practical things you actually need to sort, in the order that makes most sense to tackle them.
What Business Insurance Do I Need?
Business insurance is not a single product. It is a collection of different covers, each protecting against a different type of risk. This guide explains which types are legally required, which most businesses need regardless, and how to think through what the right cover looks like for your situation.
How to Build Business Credit
Business credit does not build itself. Many business owners discover this later than they would like. This guide explains what business credit is, how it works, and the practical steps that make a real difference over time.
Should You Be a Sole Trader or a Limited Company?
Choosing between sole trader and limited company status is one of the first big decisions when you start a business, and the right answer depends on more than just tax. This guide covers the key differences in liability, tax, cost, and credibility so you can make the choice that fits your situation.
How to Register a Business in the UK
Registering your business is simpler than it looks, but the process differs depending on whether you are setting up as a sole trader or a limited company. This guide covers both step by step and explains what you need to put in place once you are registered.