Getting the rate you deserve – negotiating contract rates
Contractors who work in the IT sector were able to command some of the highest rates during 2018. According to data by ITjobswatch, in the six months up to 14th January 2019, the average day rate of an IT contractor [...]
What pensions can I get as a self-employed contractor?
It’s simple, all the healthy food we’re consuming and the hours of exercise we’re doing is making us live longer. According to the Office of National Statistics, the life expectancy for a man in the UK is 79.2 years, and [...]
Can a limited company loan money to another limited company?
If you operate as a contractor through your own limited company, you may be asked, or you may want to loan money from your limited company to another. It may be the company asking for the money is a start-up [...]
Making a will as a contractor
We all know that we should make a will, yet figures released in 2018 by Unbiased show that a staggering 60% of UK adults (approximately 31 million people) don’t have a will. Reasons given for not making a will include [...]
2019 Loan Charge
With less than one month until the changes on outstanding disguised remuneration loans (also referred to as 2019 Loan Charge) kicks in, we take this time to give you the low down on everything you need to know. Background to [...]
Getting a mortgage as a self-employed contractor
Owning a home is a dream for many of us, but if you work as a self-employed contractor, you may have seen first-hand how tricky it can be to obtain a mortgage. That’s because mortgage lenders want to ensure you [...]
Directors Loan: 5 things you should know
It’s not a well-known fact, but it is possible to loan money from your limited company. This is referred to as a Directors Loan, and it is defined as “money which is taken out of a limited company which isn’t [...]
What does a limited company accountant cost?
Being a director of a limited company, comes with additional responsibilities, like filing paperwork and accounts with Companies House and HMRC by specific dates. Failure to do so can lead to you to being penalised. Finding the time to stay [...]
Late payments: what are your rights?
Working in the service industry means that at some point you will encounter a client who fails to pay your invoice on time. Chasing clients for unpaid invoices can be stressful and it also wastes a lot of time. On [...]
Pensions for contractors with limited companies
Retirement may be something you are longing for or something that you dread. Whichever one you are, the earlier you start planning for it the better. The age at which we can receive a state pension is rising (66 [...]
How do Directors Loans work?
As the director of a limited company one of the fundamental things to remember is that the money held within the company does not belong to you. Technically it belongs to the company. However, there may be times when you [...]
Budgeting Tips for Contractors
For many, the draw of contracting is being able to choose who you work for, where you work and the rate you want to charge. The flexibility that contracting offers, does have a downside – getting a contract is never [...]
Do I need an accountant as a contractor working through my limited company?
As an independent contractor working through your own limited company, your days are mostly spent working on your client’s projects. The last thing you want to do after a busy day is to sit down and look over your accounts [...]
Best pension plans for contractors
The flexibility of being your own boss comes with a lot of benefits, but there are also some downsides to consider as well. One of which is, you do not receive a company pension. As specialist contractor accountants, we strongly [...]
The 10 best paying jobs for contractors
We’ve always believed that working as a contractor is one of the best ways to work. As well as the freedom of choosing when you work, you also have control over who you work for. A report by Bullhorn backs [...]
Bookkeeping tips for contractors
Bookkeeping is the cornerstone of accounting. Get it wrong and not only could you be in trouble with HMRC, but you could misjudge the financial position of your limited company. In this article, we discuss the integral role that bookkeeping [...]
Buying a company car as a contractor
The majority of contractors use their personal car to travel to and from their clients' offices. Those who do will use HMRC’s Mileage Approved Rates (MAPs) to claim for the cost of these journeys. However, they also have the option [...]
Protect yourself from HMRC scammers
Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to scam people into handing over their personal and bank details. According to the Citizens Advice Bureau around four million people are scammed each year in the UK. The scary thing is, this number [...]
What to consider when choosing a business bank account
When forming a limited company, we strongly advise you to open a bank account that will be solely used for the business. Whilst, this isn’t a legal requirement, it will make managing the company’s money that much easier. It is [...]
Fuel efficient cars for contractors
As a contractor who operates through a limited company and who uses your own vehicle to travel to your clients’ office, you should be used to claiming for mileage expenses. With the fluctuating fuel costs, you may have noticed that [...]