Knowledge

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!

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the government’s Winter Economy Plan to support businesses through the winter during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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. The important point to remember is that the tax is calculated on the profit you make, and not the amount you sold it for. As the name suggests, it’s all about the gain! 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.

The Chancellor delivered an economic statement on 8th July 2020 setting out measures to help the UK recover from the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

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

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

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.

Being self-employed shouldn't prevent you from getting a mortgage, but is this still the case in the confusing landscape of 2020?

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.

Self-employed and struggling to deal with Self Assessment? Start the tax year positively and make next year’s Self Assessment as painless as possible - get some expert advice from our client managers.

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.

GDPR is a term all businesses, large or small should be aware of. Here's a jargon-free explanation of what you need to know to ensure you meet the rules.

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.

The government has delivered its budget for March 2020, outlining changes to IR35, tax rates, and amendments to Statutory Sick Pay.

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.

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.

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!

Postgraduate Master’s Loans were introduced by the government to help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master’s course.

Neither an employee, nor an employer, has the right to record a meeting – unless both parties agree to the recording. Read more here.

How to stay on top of the deadlines for your tax filings as a freelancer, contractor or small business in the UK.

They say that if you’re waiting for the perfect time, you’ll be waiting forever, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to starting your own business.

We've recently updated our charts for 2018 for the amounts of maternity leave and pay people are entitled to. We advise you on where you stand.

Hiring employees can increase your productivity and help you offer more services to your clients. Here's how to decide what to do.

Expenses are great. By claiming all your allowable expenses, you reduce your company profits, meaning less tax to pay on them. Here's what to do.

Confused about how to go about managing your repayments? Don’t sweat, here’s all you need to know about student loan repayment when you’re self-employed.

If you are self-employed, you might think you have a clear answer to this questions. However, it's not as simple as that. We take a look.

What are your responsibilities as a limited company director? We explain what you need to file with Companies House & HMRC so you can keep on top of things.

Being made redundant isn't a pleasant experience for anyone, so what happens next? Are you entitled to any redundancy pay? We take a look.

There is very little difference in employment law between England and Wales, some differences in Scotland but important differences in Northern Ireland.

It might sound simple, but being self-employed can lead you to this question when you are working with clients. It's important to understand, so we explore.

The UK formally left the European Union on 31st of December 2020. Here's what that means for you as a freelancer, contractor, or small business owner.

From 6th April 2020, all new agency workers must be given a ‘key information document’ (KID) before agreeing terms with an employment business or agency.

The new Marriage Allowance policy will allow some couples to potentially save on the amount of income tax they pay.

We take a closer look at how the new Flat Rate VAT scheme and the Limited Cost Trader test will affect you if you’re a VAT registered small business.

What are the EU Driver's Hours Rules and how will they affect small businesses? We take a look at the exemptions, the rules and the duties involved.

Tax credits are an incentive for people to remain in low-waged employment instead of seeking similar benefits in unemployment.

Late payments can cost you business. Here's a few ways to chase an unpaid invoice without chasing your client away.

We look in detail at all the points you need to consider and the documents you need when employing staff, casual workers and freelancers / contractors.

A comprehensive guide to Service Companies and VAT for people working in the entertainment industry.

How do you find work to get the ball rolling as a consultant, and continue to get the kind of clients that will keep inviting you back?

As a freelance consultant, you’re now the master of your trade, as well as the master of your own destiny. Here's what you need to know to get started!

Talk positively about the great things you've done, and win clients over. Our jargon-free advice on creating a great freelancer portfolio or contractor CV.

Bad news if you were intending to pay off your Self Assessment tax bill with a personal credit card - this will no longer be an option as of 13th January.

As a plumber, you can claim tools and business equipment back as an expense, but how do you what you can and can't claim?

We take a closer look at the differences between unsecured and secured business loans, to help you decide which may be better suited to your business.

Whether you're a freelancer, contractor or employee, you're still protected to a variety of workers rights. Our guide explores the law around this.

Why use online accounting software when you can download an Excel spreadsheet for free? Well, the reasons are numerous.

Anyone who is defined as a 'worker' is entitled to a selection of workers rights. We look at the minim wage, overtime, equal pay and unpaid experience.

This bumper article gives practical tips and advice on how to develop from a freelance newbie into a freelance veteran.

Crunch are excited to reveal the latest improvements to our online accounting software and introduce our new platform - Ada, in honour of Ada Lovelace!

Toby Osbourn went self-employed in order to take control of his own financial security. Backed by a strong support network, the gamble has paid off Toby and his business Tosbourn Ltd.

We're proud to accept awards from the British Accountancy Awards and the Accounting Excellence Awards for Mid Tier and Large Firm of the Year 2019!

HMRC's recent IR35 email campaign to GSK clients has raised a few eyebrows - but what should you do if HMRC ask for proof of your employment status?

Fixed Term Contracts have always been popular with employers as a way to fill a 'gap' for a temporary period, but we also know they can be abused.

Parental leave is a right for parents who are employees to take time off work to look after a child or make arrangements for the child’s welfare.

For electricians and other tradespeople whose construction careers often live and die by word-of-mouth, struggling to find work can be especially difficult.

HMRC has experienced a number of issues which has lead to some delays and difficulties. Here's how things stand with MTD for VAT.