Client Portal Book a Call

Home » Blog

Blog

Accountancy & business insight

Practical tax tips, sector insight and business advice from our team, written by the specialists who do the work.

By Harvee Patterson

7 Xero Automations That Save You a Day a Month

Xero can do far more than store your numbers. Here are seven automations that quietly give you back a day a month.

Read more →

By Harvee Patterson

Dext Done Right: Stop Typing In Receipts

Dext reads your receipts and bills and pushes them into Xero. Here is how to set it up so it does the typing for you.

Syft: Turning Xero Data Into Forecasts You Can Act On

Xero holds your numbers. Syft turns them into dashboards, forecasts and board-ready insight. Here is how we use it.

How We Use AI Safely in the Practice, and What It Means for Your Data

AI is powerful, but your financial data is sensitive. Here is how we use it responsibly, and what it means for you.

By Jade Stenner

The VAT Margin Scheme Explained for Used Car Dealers

The VAT margin scheme lets used car dealers pay VAT on the margin, not the full sale price. Here is how it works, and the traps.

By Jade Stenner

Getting Keyloop or Pinewood Automation Ready

Keyloop or Pinewood holds a goldmine of data. Here is how to get it automation ready and talking to your accounts.

By Kendal Goulding

5 Ways to Protect Your Margin When Food and Energy Costs Rise

When food and energy costs climb, margin is everything. Five practical ways for hospitality businesses to protect it.

By Harvee Patterson

Getting EPOS, Bookings and Xero Working Together

Your till, booking system and Xero should talk to each other. Here is how to connect them and stop rekeying.

Van vs Car: What Trades Can Actually Claim

For a trade, van or car makes a big difference to your tax. Here is how capital allowances and benefit in kind compare.

Retentions and Cashflow: Getting Paid on Construction Contracts

Retentions can quietly strangle a construction firm’s cashflow. Here is how to track them, chase them and plan for them.

Retainers vs Projects: How to Price for Profit

How an agency prices shapes its profit and cashflow. Here is how retainers and project fees compare.

When Should You Hire an Outsourced FD?

You may need finance leadership before you can justify a full-time FD. Here are the signs, and what an outsourced FD does.

Personal Holding Companies: What They Are and When They Help

A holding company can protect assets and add flexibility. Here is what a personal holding company is, and when it helps.

Planning Your Exit: How, When and Who to Sell To

The best business exits are planned years ahead. Here is how to think about how, when and who you sell to, and the tax.

By Karlee Pegley

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What Sole Traders and Landlords Must Do Now

MTD for Income Tax changes how sole traders and landlords keep records and report. Here is who is affected, when, and how to get ready.

Salary vs Dividends: The Tax-Efficient Way to Pay Yourself in 2026/27

Most director-shareholders take a mix of salary and dividends. The balance changed again in April 2026. Here is how it works in 2026/27.

By Karlee Pegley

The Easy Tax Savings You May Be Missing

You do not need clever schemes to save tax. Trivial benefits, working from home, mileage and pensions all add up. Here is how to use them.

Employing Family Members: The Rules and the Savings

Employing a family member can be sensible and tax-efficient, but HMRC expects it to be genuine. Here are the rules and the savings.

Do I Need to Register for VAT? Thresholds, Flat Rate and the Traps

VAT registration catches a lot of growing businesses by surprise. Here is when you must register, when you might choose to, and the traps.

By Karlee Pegley

P11Ds and the Move to Payrolling Benefits: What Employers Need to Know

The rules for reporting benefits in kind are changing. Here is what payrolling means, when it starts, and how to get ahead of it.

By Harvee Patterson

How Zapier Connects to Xero: 5 Basics to Get Right

Zapier is the glue between your apps and Xero. Before you build your first automation, get these five basics right.

By Jade Stenner

Electric Company Cars: The Tax Benefit, and How Best to Buy One

An electric company car is hard to beat on tax. Here is the benefit in kind saving, and how lease, PCP and contract hire compare.

By Kendal Goulding

The Tronc System Explained: Tips, NIC and Keeping Staff Happy

Since October 2024 you must pass on all tips in full. A properly run tronc does that and saves National Insurance for everyone. Here is how.

By Harvee Patterson

Getting Started with Automation: Where to Begin in Your Business

Every business has repetitive tasks that eat time. Here is how to start automating them sensibly, without boiling the ocean.

Why Your Motor Trade Business Needs a Specialist Accountant

Margin schemes, stocking finance, department profitability. The motor trade is unlike any other sector, and here is why a specialist accountant pays for itself.

By Jade Stenner

Xero for the Motor Trade: The Add-Ons That Save Hours (and the Margin VAT Trap)

Xero plus the right add-ons can transform a dealership’s numbers, but margin VAT is where many motor traders come unstuck.

By Karlee Pegley

7 Numbers Every Pub, Restaurant or Hotel Should Watch

Hospitality runs on thin margins. Track these seven numbers to protect your profit.

CIS & the VAT Reverse Charge: A Plain-English Guide

The Construction Industry Scheme and VAT reverse charge explained, and what contractors and subcontractors must do.

How AI & Automation Are Changing Accountancy

Less admin, faster insight, better decisions. What the shift means for your business.

By Abbeygate Team

Autumn Budget 2025: The Key Points You Need to Know

Frozen thresholds, selected rate rises and targeted support, and what it means for you.

xeroPlatinum Partner

Let's have a proper conversation about your business.

No suits, no jargon, just straight-talking advice. Book a free, no-obligation call and see the Abbeygate difference.