Knowledge

It’s essential to make sure that you keep your personal and business banking separate, so you’ll usually need a dedicated business bank account.

Freelancer, contractor, or small business owner looking to reduce outgoings and increase productivity? There’s a new solution - Crunch Free!

In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers were workers, not self-employed. But what does this ruling mean, and how did we get here?

We’ve put together this comprehensive, jargon-free guide to help you understand how best to set up as self-employed, and how to act tax-efficiently.

This article will cover exactly what a director’s loan is, the HMRC rules, and your tax obligations. So you'll avoid any problems or unexpected tax bills.

If you don’t file your Self Assessment and pay any tax due by the deadline you’ll face fines – and potential extra penalties. Here's all the info.

Finding work as a freelancer can be tricky. But there's good work on offer if you know where to look - here are a few of our favourite freelance job sites.

Lowering your Corporation Tax just takes diligence, a bit of knowledge of the tax system, and a few minutes every month making sure everything is recorded.

Businesses can benefit from a company car, van or motorcycle. Having a mode of company transport can be invaluable for small businesses.

The Conservatives' 'National Living Wage' is not the same as the one proposed by the Living Wage Foundation. We look at the differences.

Confused by P11D forms? Unsure whether you need to file one? Want to avoid the common mistakes? Read our articles and you'll be an expert in no time.

New to contracting or freelancing? Struggling with filing your first Self Assessment? Our quick guide goes over the basics of what you should do.

If you live outside of the UK but run a UK-based limited company, there are certain rules you’ll need to be aware of to effectively run your business.

What is the Tax-Free Childcare scheme? How does it work, and how do you apply for it? Read on for everything you need to know about the new scheme.

A Self Assessment tax return is one of the most significant tax documents you’ll be dealing with when you’re self-employed. Here's what you need to know.

How long does trademarking a company last? How much does it cost? What's the difference between trademarking a company & registering one? All this and more.

A locum doctor can provide work under a variety of different guises, including as a limited company. We take a look at the pros and cons.

We’ve all done it, yet most freelancers will have regretted it at some stage. Here's a few who have had enough of being asked to work for free.

A quick explanation of each of the small business taxes you’re expected to pay as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner.

A sole trader is someone who runs their own business as an individual, and is self-employed. Find out more about how it works in this jargon-free article!

Professional Indemnity insurance should be considered by any self-employed worker who is providing design, advice or specifications.

The VAT Mini One Stop Shop (VAT MOSS) scheme is a way of paying VAT if your UK business provides certain digital services to customers in the EU.

In no particular order, here are 15 personality traits that, when properly harnessed, can lead you to business success!

To make naming your business or company just a little easier, here are some simple, quick methods for coming up with a company name.

Employers’ Liability Insurance often provokes many questions, not least whether or not you actually need it. We answer the most commonly asked questions.

In our first article for Locums we looked at the crucial element of employment ‘status’ - how you know what status you have?

If HMRC decide your contract is inside IR35, it can be a costly and time consuming. We look at the best ways to ensure you're not caught out.

If you're looking to start a business here are all the I’s you'll have to dot, and all the T’s you'll have to cross to give you the best chance of success.|If you're looking to start a business here are all the I’s you'll have to dot, and all the T’s you'll have to cross to give you the best chance of success.

This handy checklist will help you understand what to look out for when arranging insurance cover as a contractor.

It's important to stress-test your small business idea for fatal flaws before you become self-employed. Here at 10 ways to stress-test your idea.

For Locum doctors, it's important to know whether you are employee, a worker, or someone who is self-employed? We explore the differences.

Wave Accounting is removing access to its free accounting software in the UK, but there’s an even better replacement for the UK’s self-employed heroes.

If you’re in the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) and VAT registered, HMRC are changing how you account for VAT from 1st October 2019.

Public Liability Insurance won’t cover you retrospectively, so you should have it in place as soon as you start to interact with members of the public.

Lesley of the HR Kiosk provides advice for care workers who are unsure of their rights. Have an employment question? Leave a comment.|Lesley of the HR Kiosk provides advice for care workers who are unsure of their rights. Have an employment question? Leave a comment.|Lesley of the HR Kiosk provides advice for care workers who are unsure of their rights. Have an employment question? Leave a comment.

Upload bank transactions in a flash with Crunch's simple and secure Open Banking feeds, with established links with several of the UK's biggest banks.

If you're a director of a limited company, you can claim up to £150 as a business expense for a Christmas party - even a virtual one! There are some strict rules, though.

A handy, jargon-free checklist to prepare you for when times take a turn for the worse.

The Coronavirus Business Bounce Back Scheme is designed to provide quick access to cash . We've put together this guide to help you make a claim

Looking to find your gap in the self-employed market? Here's how do you identify your niche among the self-employed community and stress-test your idea.

From 1 January 2021, all non-British/Irish nationals will require a valid immigration status/visa to live, work, and study in the UK.

Our ultimate business tips guide covers everything from which hand to hold your drink, to the secret tricks that the most successful people swear by.

Bookkeeping is the art of recording your financial information so that you can keep track of your incomings and outgoings. It can be a delicate process, but once you've mastered it, you'll have full control of your finances.

The government have announced the Job Support Scheme to protect viable jobs in businesses who face lower demand over the winter months due to COVID-19.

You've pitched, landed the job, delivered your work...and now it's time to get your money. But how do you do that? Here's how.

With Snap, our new receipt scanning app all you have to do is take and upload a photo of the receipt or invoice for an expense.|With Snap, our new receipt scanning app all you have to do is take and upload a photo of the receipt or invoice for an expense.

What can you do if you're made redundant, especially in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic? Don't panic - it could be a great opportunity, here are some options.

Having a clear plan and building a funnel of potential clients are key to Hannah Searle's approach to making her Interior Designer business a success.

Even self-employed veterans can struggle to generate small business leads. Here's a checklist of how small business can get in front of the right people.

Want to break free...lance? Learn about escaping your boring job, breaking free and going freelance with lessons from five Queen bangers.

From choosing the best LinkedIn profile picture to nailing your headline, our tips will help freelancers and the self-employed find work on LinkedIn.

Receiving a gift from your employer is a great feeling, but in the workplace the employer needs to be aware of whether or not they need to pay tax on the present. Here are some helpful examples for small businesses.

Payment on account is not something that is widely known about among people who have never been part of the Self Assessment system. Learn more now!

Breaking down four of the main late payment excuses you will hear when running your own business, and what you can say and do to overcome them.

We show you how to set up a limited company so you get to define your brand, own everything you do, and run your business in the most tax-efficient way.

We asked the members of our self-employed community, Crunch Chorus, to share their experiences of starting a business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capital Gains Tax comes into play when you make a profit from selling something you own. Here's a quick breakdown of what you need to know.

Whether you have an accountant or are taking on the books yourself, it's important to be organised, especially if you're planning on making expense claims.

Is your accountant better at invoicing you than looking after your accounts? Here are the top five signs you need a new accountant.

The NHS recommends you self-isolate for a period of 14 days and work from home if you believe you have coronavirus, but how do you stay productive?

When you join Crunch Chorus you’ll get access to free business guides, self-employed meetups, an invoice generator, late payment letter templates and more.

Self-employed and struggling to get a mortgage? We share insider tips that will increase your chances of securing a mortgage.

Whether you've decided to retire, become an employee, or go back to sole trader, you need to know the tax-efficient ways to close your limited company.

A company year end can be a daunting undertaking for first-time limited company directors. However it needn't be the end of the world. Here's what you need to know to get your year end accounts sorted.

Taking care of your small business accounting can be a little daunting for complete newcomers, but the process isn’t as scary as you might think.

Are you interested in a spot of moonlighting alongside your regular job? Our guide gives you the lowdown on how you can go about this and the pros and cons.

Bookkeeping software may not be able to make bookkeeping fun, but it can definitely make it much easier. Here's a few ways how.

Crunch are delighted to announce the launch of our simple, online bookkeeping software for limited companies and sole traders, Crunch Free!

All visitors from Crunch who complete the free online legal health check will get access to unlimited free legal documents from Lawbite for eight weeks.

Crunch has written to the Chancellor providing analysis and feedback from clients, which we believe justifies a widening of the government’s grant support.

Ready for pastures new? Before you tell the boss exactly where to go, read our top tips on how to quit your job the right way.

Everyone knows it’s legal to evade tax but completely illegal to avoid it, right? Wrong. Confused? You’re not the only one, we'll clear up the confusion.

When you set up a limited company, you’ll need to provide your registered office, your business address, and your service address.

There are a whole host of regulations and laws in place to protect workers from being exploited in regards to working hours, break and holiday.

The government’s reform of IR35 rules is forcing many contractors operating personal service companies to review their options.

Since June 2016, UK companies have been required to maintain a PSC register of decision-makers. We explain what you need to do to stay compliant.

Successful brands have always told stories about themselves, but how do you tell your story and build your brand? Create better content today!

The chances are slim, but accidents happen. Make sure you're prepared with our free business continuity plan template.

Coronavirus: The government has announced a three month extension period to file accounts with Companies House during the coronavirus emergency

Want to know what interest you can charge on late payments when working as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner? This article explains what the rules are, and a few ways to get your money from difficult clients. Get paid what you’re owed!

If you're finding yourself a little stretched for cash, you might consider a second job. While it’s not illegal, there can be issues to consider.|If you're finding yourself a little stretched for cash, you might consider a second job. While it’s not illegal, there can be issues to consider.

If you spend time working from home, then depending on the work you do, you might be able to claim expenses back for using your home as an office.

Unable to work? You are entitled to sick pay from your employer if you meet the qualifying conditions, which are as follows.

Thinking about selling your limited business? You'll need to know about entrepreneurs' relief.

If you've undertaken some R&D work, or even if you’ve worked for another company on a project, you could be due Research and Development tax relief.

We look at alternative options for employers, instead of changing terms of their employee's contracts or making redundancies.

A handy side-effect of the entrepreneurial zeal sweeping the country is that there are now many schemes in place specifically to help small businesses.

Contractors registered under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) are required to deduct tax from their payments to subcontractors. We explain how CIS works.

Matt Dowling founded the Freelancer Club in 2014 after his own experiences as a freelance photographer highlighted a need for a change.

Did you know that in many circumstances employees now have the right to take time off work to deal with an emergency involving someone who depends on them?

Don’t worry, it’s not as confusing as it seems. Here's what you need to know about share value and capital when setting up a limited company.

Executive Income Protection- A tax efficient way of protecting your income. Here's what you should know and how to make the most of it.

UK employers must provide access to a pension for their eligible workers. Employees can choose to opt out of auto-enrolment if they wish to. Find out more!

As a contractor or freelancer, you won't have access to Sick Pay if you get ill. Income Protection or Critical Illness Cover could be the solution.

Did you know that you could make a substantial tax saving on your premiums by taking out what is called ‘relevant life insurance’?

We take a look at Income Protection Insurance and how it can be beneficial for the self-employed in the event of unforeseen circumstances.