The Buzz Blog
Straight talk on running a better business — the numbers, the tax changes and the practical stuff that actually matters.
Management accounts: the reports that actually run a business
Regular, forward-looking financial reports that help you run the business now — what they show and when you need them.
How to price for profit (without just guessing)
A small pricing change flows almost straight to profit. How to price on cost, margin and value — and the mistakes to avoid.
Working on your business, not just in it
The oldest business advice there is, and the hardest to follow. Why owners get stuck in the work — and how to get out.
Performance on Purpose: the thinking behind Buzz coaching
Andy Jackson's coaching approach: build the person, develop the leader, improve the business — so performance serves a purpose.
The three freedoms: financial, time and mind
Owners don't really chase revenue — they chase freedom. The three freedoms of financial, time and mind, and how to build toward them.
How to build a business that doesn't depend on you
If the business can't run without you, you own a job, not a business. How to reduce owner-dependency through systems, people and letting go.
How to register as self-employed
Earning money working for yourself? A step-by-step guide to registering as a sole trader with HMRC, the deadline and the £1,000 allowance.
How to set up a limited company
Incorporating is quick and cheap — the real questions are whether you should, and what being a director involves. A plain-English guide.
When should you register for VAT? (and the Flat Rate Scheme)
The £90,000 threshold, when it's worth registering early, and whether the Flat Rate Scheme suits you — VAT registration in plain English.
Section 24: what the mortgage interest changes mean for landlords
Section 24 changed how landlords get relief on mortgage interest — and why some now pay tax on properties that barely break even.
VAT for online sellers: Amazon, Shopify, OSS and IOSS
Marketplaces, selling to the EU, OSS and IOSS, and stock held abroad — the VAT complexity online sellers need to get right.
How to pay yourself from a limited company: salary vs dividends
Salary or dividends? How to pay yourself tax-efficiently, with the new 2026/27 dividend rates and where directors get it wrong.
Allowable business expenses: what you can actually claim
What you can claim, what you can't, home office, mileage and the wholly-and-exclusively rule — for sole traders and companies.
Self Assessment: the complete guide
Who needs to file, how to register, the key deadlines, payments on account and penalties — the whole thing, start to finish.
The 31 July Self Assessment deadline is closer than it feels
HMRC is reminding Self Assessment taxpayers that the second payment on account is due 31 July. Here's what that deadline actually means.
What the Battersea Power Station accounting probe is a reminder of
The FRC is looking into claims that undeveloped land at Battersea Power Station was overvalued by hundreds of millions of pounds. The scale is different — the lesson isn't.
The economy is stalling — here's why cashflow visibility matters more now
UK growth is expected to flatline again as the Iran conflict pushes up fuel and food costs. Here's why this is exactly the wrong time to be flying blind on cashflow.
Director's loan accounts, explained
Taken money out of your limited company that wasn't salary or a dividend? Here's what a director's loan account is, and why documentation matters.
Payroll for your first hire: what changes
Taking on your first employee changes what's expected of you as a business. Here's what payroll actually involves once you make that first hire.
What actually happens on a discovery call
Booked a discovery call and not sure what to expect? Here's exactly what we cover, what we'll ask, and what you'll walk away with.
Freelancer invoicing: getting paid on time
Late payment is one of the biggest stresses of freelance life. Here's how to invoice in a way that actually gets you paid on time, without awkward chasing.
The real cost of late VAT returns
A late VAT return costs more than a single penalty. Here's what actually adds up when VAT slips, and how Making Tax Digital changes the picture.
How to read a cashflow forecast (without glazing over)
Cashflow forecasts don't have to be intimidating. Here's what actually matters when you're reading one, and how to use it to make real decisions.
IR35: inside or outside — what it actually means
IR35 explained in plain English for PSC contractors: what inside and outside status actually means, who decides it, and why it matters for take-home pay.
Landlord tax: what you can (and can't) claim
A plain-English rundown of what landlords can and can't claim against rental income, and why the answer changes depending on how the property is owned.
What a “dedicated accountant” should actually mean
Every firm says you'll get a dedicated accountant. Here's what that phrase should actually mean in practice, and how to tell if you're not getting it.
Sole trader or limited company: when should you switch?
Not sure whether to stay a sole trader or move to a limited company? Here's how to actually think about the switch, and what changes when you do.
The OBR's "most alarming yet" report is a reason to plan, not panic
The OBR's latest fiscal risks report makes grim reading for the public finances. Here's what a 50-year forecast should actually mean for your business planning today.
Government targets VAT-dodging online sellers to back the high street
New reforms accelerate the end of cheap-import duty relief and put more scrutiny on online sellers' VAT. Here's what it means if you sell online or run a shop.
5.6 million people now check their tax on an app. Why is your bookkeeping still on paper?
HMRC says 7.6 million people used its app last year. The direction of travel for tax admin is digital — here's what that means if your business isn't there yet.
The tax gap is 6.4% — and small businesses are the biggest slice
HMRC's 2024-25 tax gap figures put small business non-compliance at the top of the list. Most of it isn't fraud — it's bad bookkeeping.
Five numbers every business owner should know
Profit doesn't tell you the whole story. Here are the five numbers worth checking regularly — and why once a year isn't often enough.
Making Tax Digital: what's changing, and when
MTD is rolling out further over the next two years. Here's exactly who it affects, when it lands, and what you need to have in place.
Switching accountants without the hassle
Worried a switch means weeks of chasing and admin? Here's what actually happens when you change accountants — and why it's simpler than you think.
The Value Gap: what it is, and why it matters
Most businesses are leaving money on the table without realising it. Here's how to find out how much — and what to do about it.