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One of the most important aspects of being a contractor is marketing yourself. The better you are at networking, the more opportunities you have to find new clients. Today, one great way of networking is via social media. LinkedIn is one of the best social networks to focus on if you are a contractor. It […]

There are two major VAT system changes coming around April 1 2019. The first is the the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, which means we have yet to establish the implications of cross border trade and VAT accounting. The second is prevention of the ability to submit VAT returns via the government gateway for most

As a contractor, you can operate two different ways: as your own limited company or under a PAYE umbrella. Both options have a number of pros and cons depending on your contracted situation and your level of willingness to take on responsibility. If you are unsure about which route is right for you, contact Aston

Are you struggling to fully understand IR35? You’re not alone. However, it’s important to understand the basics of IR35 as the rules can seriously impact your income if you get caught in it. Reach out to Aston Black for any advice regarding IR35 and its ramifications to ensure that you can be aware of everything

The HRMC recognises that Christmas parties are a great way to reward your employees for an entire year of hard work. Therefore, no matter the size of your business, you can claim for some Christmas party expenses to be exempt from your National Insurance and tax. As the Limited Company director, you can claim expenses

Working as a contractor gives you significant freedom over working as an employee. As a contractor, you will benefit from having more control of the work that you do, as well as having flexible working hours, being your own boss, and potentially receiving higher earnings. However, there are also issues that you will likely face

Philip Hammond shared the Autumn Budget at the end of October.  As well as thanking the British public for their hard work, he made a few announcements for small businesses.  This varied from personal tax allowance to business rates. He said that it was a “Budget for hard-working families…the strivers, the grafters, and the carers

There has been a new agreement by the Treasury Select Committee who agreed that the Treasury should “keep an open mind” when it comes to auto-enrolment pensions for the self-employed. When it comes to helping those for are self-employed save for retirement, they added that it is “not clear that the Government has a clear

If you’re an owner of a small business, then you know your resources are a little bit more limited than those from a large company.  It can be hard to advertise on the TV and radio and have everybody know your company’s name! Remember, you need to make sure you have the budget and finances

When you own your own small business or you’re self-employed, it is easy to be uncertain how to keep your business healthy as you can have little support from someone in the know.  There is no doubt you’ve had sleepless nights worrying about your business and trying to be successful. Below we have a few