Category: accounting news

The success of any business, large or small, depends largely on nurturing an efficient, productive workplace. While improving employee productivity should be always be a priority when the ultimate goal is a sustainable and profitable business, the process is easier said than done. Below are some of the most effective methods of managing a productive, happy workplace while increasing output.

Establish Accountability

Productivity depends on every employee understanding that the jobs they do come with specific responsibilities, and that their actions have consequences. Employees that lack accountability are more likely to slack off, procrastinate, or blame others for their shortcomings. Establishing accountability from the beginning results in higher-quality work output and an increased focus on informed, efficient action.

Avoid Excessive Micromanagement

There is no denying that management is absolutely crucial, but too much of a good thing can have adverse effects on productivity. Excessive micromanaging creates employees that feel as if they are not trusted and that their decision-making processes are not valued. Instead of encouraging employees to put forth their best efforts, it results in an eventual dependence on micromanagement that can sink productivity levels.

Recognise Success

Just as employees must be held accountable for their actions, they should also be recognised for their success. Even small efforts, such as verbal recognition or occasional awards, can encourage employees and make them feel like their hard work is being rewarded. For businesses that can afford it, larger rewards, such as holiday parties, improve morale and create camaraderie in the office, all of which leads to happier, more productive employees.

Break Out of Ruts

While it is generally advisable to assign tasks based on an employee’s particular competencies, keep in mind that doing the same tasks repeatedly over an extended period of time can make even a skilled employee feel as if their work has become monotonous. If possible, it may be useful to expose employees to other tasks and even other departments. This renews motivation, offers new skills to learn and apply, and grants the employee a broader understanding of how the company operates.

Cut Down on Meetings

Oftentimes meetings serve as nothing more than temporary breaks from productive work. If a meeting does not have a specific purpose, an organised agenda, and a plan of action, it will probably only function to diminish productivity. Meetings can be a great way to share ideas and establish goals, but don’t let them get in the way of delivering actual results.

Embrace Technology

While many workplaces still see new technology as unnecessary or even distracting, the simple truth is that they can have a significant positive impact on productivity. Updated hardware, software, and machinery ensure that work can be performed in less time and with minimal error. While it may not seem like a big deal, even minor issues such as temporary connectivity problems or hardware breakdowns can quickly add up through the course of a fiscal year.

Think Outside the Box

Studies have revealed several productivity-boosting techniques that may seem counter-intuitive at first glance. While social media has been demonised in workplace settings, data shows that allowing occasional breaks to access such sites can boost workplace productivity by nearly 10%. Likewise, allowing employees to listen to music while working – when it doesn’t interfere with the job, of course – can also improve efficiency. Providing such perks can pay off tremendously if it means happier, more motivated employees.

Balancing the needs of a business is never an easy job, but a focus on increased productivity can have a positive impact on nearly every other facet of the workplace. By using the techniques above, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary pitfalls and ensure that employees are personally invested in efficient, quality work output.

These days, it’s inevitable that a diverse group of older and younger workers cross paths in business.

After all, the young, tech-savvy, socially conscious demographic known as Gen Y are currently the largest living generation, navigating the work force in record numbers. And the boomers may be retirement age, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to stop working. Many baby boomers are choosing to enjoy “encore careers” – jobs that allow them to continue to apply their skills and experience to personally meaningful projects.

Here are a few ways to help these two groups work together, so your business benefits from their unique and complementary skills.

The best of two worlds

Millennials offer incredible potential to the businesses they work for. Young, tech-savvy and interested in making a difference in the world, Gen Y only lack one key trait: experience.

Boomers, on the other hand, know how the business world works, and many enjoy sharing their knowledge with younger colleagues. However, unlike millennials, they may be “stuck” doing things less efficiently, simply because they don’t adapt easily to new technologies.

With their distinctive skill sets, pairing up a young worker with an older employee can be mutually rewarding – and highly beneficial – if you know how to manage the relationship.

Partners – not protégés

Trust is the foundation of every good working relationship. Building trust among your younger and older workers can mean establishing a very different work dynamic than your older employees may be used to.

To avoid tension, avoid creating hierarchies at work. Even in a mentor-mentee relationship, it’s important that each person see themselves as an equal. That way when someone doesn’t know something, there’s no reason to feel embarrassed. No one is the boss; everyone is there to exchange knowledge and experience.

Communication is key

Being digital natives, Gen Y may prefer communicating with tweets, texts and instant messages; boomers, on the other hand, prefer a phone call, email or face time.

Moreover, older generations may be used to a more formal approach to communicating at work, particularly with management. They may interpret a more casual communication style – common among their Gen Y peers – as a lack of respect.

You can help bridge gaps in communication with weekly staff meetings. You might even consider creating a communication policy: group emails for important matters that affect everyone, and the communicator’s preferred form of communication for other matters.

Final tips

While you can’t necessarily influence how well any two employees work together – after all, there’s more to any working dynamic than generational tendencies – an awareness of how your staff work best and an attitude of flexibility can make a huge difference.

Find ways to support your employees as they nurture each other’s growth. When it comes to problem-solving, encourage your boomer staffers to help younger workers understand their reasons behind their decisions with examples based on their experience. Likewise, millennial staff should think about the best ways to teach their older colleagues, who are less comfortable with technology, how to use a new web tool or software.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be on your way to nurturing the skills and talents of all your workers – and creating a harmonious atmosphere for everyone.

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

Most small business people would agree that their Profit and Loss account (now more correctly called a Statement of Financial Performance) is among the easier – if not the easiest – financial document to understand. It’s typically presented in two parts.

The top half of the statement reveals the various sources of income the business has received for the period covered, such as a quarter, half year or full financial year. After subtracting the cost of producing your goods or services, it shows your gross profit figure.

The bottom half of the account lists all the relatively fixed running costs (business overheads) such as rent, power and communication costs you need to pay each month regardless of sales levels. When these costs are subtracted from the gross profit the result is a net profit figure (before tax).

So far, so simple, but you can learn more.

How well is the business performing?

These two results enable you to work out two key performance indicators (KPIs) that offer important insights into how your business is performing.

The first, your gross profit margin, is the gross profit expressed as a percentage of sales.

To work this out (if your accounting software doesn’t do this automatically), you divide the gross profit figure by the sales total and multiply by 100 to get the percentage.

Here’s an example:

Gross profit: £80,000

Sales: £400,000

GP %: 80,000 divided by 400,000 = 0.2 x 100 = 20%

Multiplying by 100 allows you to study the gross profit margin as a percentage, so you can easily compare this result with previous margins, irrespective of fluctuating costs or sales levels. Has the margin improved? If not, it’s time to investigate the causes. For instance, has there been an increase in the cost of materials or production labour?

You can now compare your gross margin to similar businesses, because turning the result into a percentage overcomes any differences in size. Regardless of whether they are smaller or much larger businesses, it’s the gross profit percentage (GP %) that tells the performance story.

Depending on which sector you operate in, we can help find the average GP percentage for your industry. Your aim should then be to at least equal the industry average, and preferably do even better. You can also aim to improve on your previous gross margin results.

How profitable is your business?

The net profit margin reveals how profitable your business is when your overhead costs are deducted from the gross profit. It’s worked out using a similar formula. For example:

Net profit: £50,000

Sales: 300,000

NP %: 50,000 divided by 300,000 = 0.166 x 100 = 17%

This KPI empowers you to spot trends before they become disasters. If your net profit margin has fallen, you need to dig for the causes. For example, you may find your marketing costs have blown out with no increase in sales. The lesson here would be to measure your marketing and advertising to see what is actually working, so you can drop any unproductive tactics.

Three tips

1. Use your gross profit and net profit margins as benchmarks to set improvement goals. Try to improve both on internal benchmarks (your current performance against previous results) and external benchmarks (the average for your industry type).
2. Don’t rely on just an annual profit and loss account. You can’t effectively drive your business forward using a rear view mirror that reflects dated data – you need more up-to-date figures. Use your accounting software to generate more frequent profit and loss accounts, such as monthly or quarterly statements. These enable you to take prompt action to fix any negative trends before they do serious damage to the business.
3. Remember to you can always get in touch with us to interpret trends in your results so you can take the right corrective action.

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

Running a small business is hard work. Entrepreneurs know they have to put in long days and give up personal time in pursuit of success. There’s a line, however, between putting in some extra time and becoming addicted to work, and it’s important to know the difference between them.

Being addicted to work—sometimes referred to as being a “workaholic”—can have serious negative consequences for your personal life and your health. Figuring out when you’ve crossed the line and taking steps to gain control over your work life-balance are vital to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Here are three signs you’re addicted to work.

1. You work far more than you intended to

Most people have occasional days where they get caught up in work or a project keeps them at the office hours after they should have been home. That’s part of working. The problem is when those become the norm for you, when you’re frequently working 12- to 16-hour days and only going home long enough to sleep and grab a bite to eat.

Even if you have a bit more time than that at home, if you intended to work 40-50 hours a week and you routinely hit more than that, you may need to take a step back from work and enforce a 40-hour work week.

Ask yourself: How many hours should I reasonably work at this business? Am I frequently working more than that?

2. Your health is suffering

If you are showing physical signs of stress, or if you are generally more unwell than in the past, it’s possible that you’re working too much. It may seem like a good idea to put in all the hours you can to make your business successful, but the consequences of poor health can be devastating for your company.

Your decision-making skills may suffer. You may find yourself unable to complete required job duties. You might miss important details, such as vital payments that are due. All have a negative effect on your organization.

Working to the point of being sick is not a sound business strategy. You need time away from work to rest and recover, and give yourself something else to focus on.

Ask yourself: Do I generally feel healthy and energetic? Am I sleeping well? If not, you might need time away from the job.

3. You constantly cancel on people because of work

Unless your small business involves actual life-and-death scenarios, there’s no need to constantly cancel on your friends and family for “work emergencies.” Sure, they can happen once in a while. You might have an important deadline with a client or an urgent phone call with a supplier that pulls you away from your plans.

If you frequently cancel engagements with your friends and family—and if they’ve started complaining about it—there’s a chance you’ve become addicted to work.

Ask yourself: How many times in the past month have I had to cancel plans for something work-related that wasn’t actually urgent? If it’s more than a couple of times, you might need to rethink your work/life balance.

Final thoughts

Running a small business requires a lot of you, but becoming addicted to work increases the risk of burnout. Burnout can be catastrophic for a small business, especially if there is no one else to take over while you recover.

A better plan is to work only as much as you need to and to protect your personal time as much as possible. Listen to your body and the people around you when they tell you it’s time to stop. Enforce hard stops for workdays, after which you must go home. Hire a team that can handle your business while you’re not there, then trust them to do so.

Your business will be better for it, and so will you.

Got a question about your business? Get in touch with us.

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

Starting a new business is exciting, but it also comes with its fair share of responsibilities. One of the most critical responsibilities is maintaining accurate records of your business transactions. From saving receipts to processing employee payroll, every money-related detail should be documented. It’s not just about keeping things tidy; it’s about understanding the financial health of your business and meeting all your tax obligations.

Don’t underestimate the basics

Some small businesses continue to rely on traditional systems, like pen, paper, and a trusty shoebox. Although it may seem outdated, this method can work well for businesses with very few transactions. These businesses might not have the latest payment technology, and could be invoicing customers or receiving immediate cash or cheque payments. In such cases, they would need to maintain a record of all receipts, past, present and future jobs, as well as a log of their customers and transactions.

Of course, if you’re serious about your business, you might want to consider using a more accurate system.

The power of spreadsheets

In the digital age, spreadsheets offer a simple and effective way for start-ups to keep track of their financial activities. When you’re just starting or operating a part-time business with a limited budget, a spreadsheet can be a cost-effective alternative. As your business grows and becomes more complex, you can transition to specific accounting software.

With a spreadsheet, you can set up a basic accounting system to track invoicing, perform calculations, and even set up a budget.

Embrace accounting software

For those more serious about their business, subscribing to accounting software might be the best option. Modern accounting software often links directly to your bank account, making it an efficient way to document all necessary transactions. It also reduces the risk of errors and offers features like generating professional invoices, tracking debts, and ensuring everything is entered accurately for your accountant at tax season.

If you opt for a cloud-based solution, you’ll enjoy real-time access to your accounts, increased data security, and the flexibility to access your financial data anytime, anywhere.

Stay on top of your cash flow

Regardless of the accounting system you choose, a good system will enable better decision-making based on real-time financial insights. Identifying cash flow trends can help drive your business growth by revealing your most profitable products and services, your biggest customers, your highest costs, and more. The ability to monitor these trends places you in a better position to improve your profits and spot potential areas of growth.

Wrapping up

As a start-up, your primary task is to evaluate your business needs and choose an accounting system that allows you to track your cash position accurately, keep precise records for tax purposes, and identify cash trends.

Consulting with your accountant can be an invaluable first step. They can offer advice on the best system to use and ensure it’s compatible with their processes. Remember, your financial records are the lifeblood of your business, and keeping them in perfect order is integral to your success.

Want to discuss what system will best suit your needs? Contact us now for advice.

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

The words ‘personal brand’ are still somewhat controversial, and carry an unfortunate cast of self-promotion and vanity. The truth is that personal branding is more important than ever in the job market, and those without a clear personal brand or mission to create one are lagging behind the competition.

What is a personal brand?

How you present yourself has always been important in the workplace. In the corporate heyday, it was established that to get a good job and be considered for promotion, you had to dress, speak and act appropriately for the company with which you were employed. Consider this the forerunner of the personal brand; now you simply are creating an impression of yourself that companies want to hire.

Though companies are growing ever larger, there is more competition for fewer jobs; yet rarely does someone stay in a job for more than a few years. This makes it vital to ensure you always look employable to other companies and remain visible within your own organization. You must update your personal brand and create an image of yourself which showcases not only your proficiency in your current job, but your transferable skills and achievements.

Personality versus personal brand

Do not mistake your personality for what constitutes an attractive personal brand. In the age of social media, everyone is Googling prospective employees and personal information is available at their fingertips. If there are unattractive photographs of you on Facebook, personal details about your family, or complaints about your work, delete them or make them private. Now would be a good time to set up work-only accounts and separate your social and corporate friends lists.

Promote yourself professionally on the Internet. When creating a profile or website, what photographs are you using? What typefaces and colors do you use? What are you saying? The handwriting font may appeal to you, your favorite color may be baby pink or that picture of you wearing a Halloween costume may show your best side, but ask yourself: would you hire you based on your personal tastes?

Remember, this is not about changing who you are, but highlighting your best assets.

Present yourself in your best light

First, determine what brand you wish to project. Are you an excellent communicator, or highly organized? Highlight successes in these areas and build your reputation by constantly seeking tasks in your workplace that allow you to demonstrate these skills. If you’re not so good at time management, or do not work in a team well, work on these valuable skills or convert them to assets by saying you “use a spontaneous approach to problem solving” or “are independently motivated.”

Curate a professional image

Now that you have decided how you will present yourself, translate that into the nuts and bolts of branding. Give your website a makeover, overhaul your social media accounts and even change the way you dress in the workplace. Even small changes like using a different font for emails can present a radically different version of you. Refresh your CV, and focus on the skills you want to use to advance your career.

Remember that branding is just another word for marketing. You are selling yourself in the workplace every day by making yourself available and preferable for different responsibilities. Do not be afraid to ask for others’ input. Ask managers why they chose you for certain tasks, or ask your co-workers what word jumps into their minds when they hear your name. Reliability? Professionalism? Authority? Or is it something negative? Ask for honesty, and receive criticism with grace.

You can use personal branding to advance in your current workplace, look for a similar job elsewhere or instigate a complete career change. If you have been working as an office temp and would rather work for a start-up selling ethical cosmetics or alternative clothing, consider your personal brand.

Communicate the hard skills you learned in your office and do not be afraid to incorporate your hobbies and volunteering experience; if it is relevant to the job you wish to acquire, your personal brand should reflect it. Bold, illustrated CVs and outspoken opinions on social media have their place if they align with the company’s image and goals.

Personal branding is a powerful tool ­– you can use it to your advantage or to your detriment. Use it wisely, and it might be the most important thing you ever did for your career.

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

If you have been lucky enough to encounter generous people, you understand that they have a truly unique gift for garnering the respect and admiration of individuals around them. When you are a leader, having a positive relationship with the people who follow you is a huge asset that you simply cannot put a price on. If you are looking for ways to become a better leader, increasing your generosity can improve your effectiveness and contentment. Here are a few things you can begin doing to increase your generosity.

Fully understand the benefits of being a generous person

Being generous because you know it is the right thing to do and being generous because it is something you value are two different things. If you want your generosity to be effective it is important that it comes from a place of sincere care and concern for those you are leading. Being generous to others not only lowers their anxiety and increases their appreciation for you, it also adds to your personal happiness and health.

Look for moments to be grateful

Being grateful could be as simple as sending out a brief and personal thank you email when the occasion arises. You do not need to create a large display or spend a lot of money to make people feel valued. Simply watch for positive behavior in others and when you see it, make a mental note to acknowledge it and express your gratitude.

Find opportunities to give back to your community

Depending on your resources and the capacity in which you are leading others, the extent of your reach may vary, but don’t let that stop you from finding ways to give back to your community. Most homeless shelters have standing requests for donations of socks, bottled water, coats and blankets. Speak to your company to gauge their interest and help to organize a supply drive or fundraiser to give back to your community. When the people you lead see you being generous, it puts your character on display and often increases the level of respect they have for you.

Become more optimistic and hopeful

Naturally generous people are often idealists. They have a perception of how the world around them should be and they believe in the goodness of people. If you are naturally pessimistic, becoming an optimist could be a struggle for you, but it is not insurmountable. Next time a challenge arises on the team you are leading, go above and beyond to believe the best in others and trust that the outcome will be positive even when it may not look that way on the surface.

Look for opportunities to trust others

Trusting others may not seem like a quality of a generous person, however, one of the greatest ways you can be generous with others is by trusting them enough to allow them to take the lead on things that matter to them. Trust their ideas and more importantly, their ability to complete the task at hand. When you loosen your grip as a leader and trust the people around you to do what needs to be done, they will in turn see you as a more trustworthy, generous leader.

There are many ways you can express your generosity towards others. When you look for opportunities to be more understanding and helpful, the people you lead will become more secure following you. It is important to gain trust and respect when you are a leader and one of the best ways to do that is by being generous as often as possible!

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants

As a business owner, you know that the right people are crucial to your company’s success. The best employees can help you achieve your business goals, improve your productivity, and drive growth. But finding the people best suited to your team can be daunting, and sometimes it’s easy to hire someone who seems okay, rather than taking the time to find the best fit. 

Here are some steps you can take to find and hire staff that support your business growth.

Step 1: Define the job and necessary qualifications

The first step in finding the right talent is to accurately define the job description and qualifications. Is this a new position you’re hiring for? Are there gaps in employee skills that need to be met? Is this a position that requires specific knowledge and experience? 

Remember that there’s a difference between “must have” qualifications and “nice to have” considerations. When setting out “must have” qualifications, include only those that are absolutely necessary to the person successfully performing the role. 

Keep in mind also that the job salary should match the role and the qualifications. You can’t expect to hire someone with 10 years of experience by only offering an entry-level wage. 

Step 2: Use multiple recruiting channels

These days, there are many places you can turn to when finding employees, and each attracts different people. Using a variety of channels when searching for employees gives you a higher chance of success. 

Post the job description on your company website and multiple social media platforms. Use job boards and recruitment agencies to expand your reach. Reach out to your personal and professional networks to ask for referrals or recommendations. After all, the people you know also know people. They may be able to recommend someone who’s a great fit for your business.

Step 3: Screen candidates

Once you have a list of candidates, you’ll need to screen them. This includes going through resumes/CVs and conducting interviews. Check to make sure they have the qualifications and experience you need. 

During the interview, ask open-ended questions to assess the candidate’s problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and overall fit. Ask about the results they’ve obtained in previous jobs, and lessons they’ve learned throughout their experience. It’s also important to give candidates a chance to ask questions about your company and the position you’re hiring for.

Step 4: Check references

Before making a job offer, it’s important to check references. Contact former supervisors and colleagues to ask about their work performance and attitude. Double check that they obtained the results they said they did. This will help you ensure that the candidate has a proven track record of success and is a good fit for your company.

Step 5: Make a job offer

After checking references and confirming the candidate has the skills and qualifications to match your needs, it’s time to make the job offer. Be clear about the terms of employment, including salary, benefits, and start date. Give the candidate time to review the offer and ask any additional questions they may have. 

Once they accept the offer, you can begin the onboarding process.

Step 6: Provide training and support

Once you’ve hired someone, it’s important to provide training and support to help them succeed in their new role. This can include job-specific training, as well as coaching on company culture and values. Regular check-ins and feedback can also help new employees feel supported and valued, and make sure any issues are handled quickly and effectively.

Final thoughts

Finding the right talent for your business can be challenging, but you can increase your chances of finding the right people who will help your business grow. Remember to be clear about job expectations, use multiple recruiting channels, screen candidates thoroughly, conduct in-person interviews, check references, make a job offer, and provide training and support. 

Looking for a Fulham accountant for your business, or a tax advisor in London? Get in touch – we’d love to help.

e: office@londonaccountants.co   t: 0203 137 9791

Kind Regards,
The Team at London Accountants