u/Anonymous33845

I always had a passion for startups. Right out of uni I launched two businesses, sadly both got wiped out by Covid (& business model) . Took everyone's advice, went down the career route, qualified as a chartered accountant at a Big 4 firm, and I'm now a finance manager at a large tech company in London.

But the startup itch never went away.

So here's what I'm offering: if you're an early-stage UK startup and you need a finance person to bounce things off -P&L, cash flow, fundraising numbers, pricing models, tax basics, whatever. DM me.

I know a lot of founders at this stage are too small for the big firms or just feel awkward asking. That's exactly who this is for.

Come chat. Happy to help where I can.

One of the most common questions I see in here so thought I'd break it down quickly.

Stay sole trader if your profits are under £30,000-£35,000. The tax savings from going limited simply won't outweigh the extra costs at that level.

Start thinking limited once you're past £35,000-£40,000. Salary and dividends combined can save you anywhere from £2,000 to £5,000 a year.

The biggest mistake I see? People going limited too early, or staying sole trader out of habit for years and quietly losing money every single tax year.

Happy to answer any questions in the comments!

Your tax bill is not just 20%. Once you factor in Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance on top of Income Tax, you could be handing over 30-40% of your profits depending on what you earn. Most people find this out the hard way.

The expenses you think you can't claim, you probably can. A portion of your phone bill, your home office, software subscriptions, travel, professional development - it all adds up and it all reduces your tax bill.

Paying yourself a mix of salary and dividends (if you're a limited company) is one of the most straightforward ways to keep more of what you earn. Yet most freelancers either don't know about it or aren't set up for it.

Putting money aside for tax every month is not optional - it's survival. A simple rule of thumb is 25-30% of everything you invoice.

And perhaps the most overlooked one - a good accountant should cost you less than they save you. If yours isn't doing that, it might be time for a conversation.

See this question come up a lot here so thought I'd give a straightforward answer from a chartered accountant's perspective

You don't need one yet if:

• Income is under £1,000
• One income stream, simple expenses
• Self Assessment is straightforward

It starts to make sense when:

• Turnover is hitting £30–50k+
• You're unsure what you can legitimately claim
• Your books are eating into your actual working time

You need one now if:

• You're approaching the VAT threshold (£90k)
• You're thinking about going limited
• HMRC has contacted you
• Your revenue is growing but you can't tell where the money is actually going

Most freelancers come to an accountant too late - usually after a penalty or a missed saving.

A decent accountant should save you more than they charge. If they're not, find a different one.

See this question come up a lot here so thought I'd give a straightforward answer.

You don't need one yet if:

• Income is under £1,000
• One income stream, simple expenses
• Self Assessment is straightforward

It starts to make sense when:

• Turnover is hitting £30–50k+
• You're unsure what you can legitimately claim
• Your books are eating into your actual working time

You need one now if:

• You're approaching the VAT threshold (£90k)
• You're thinking about going limited
• HMRC has contacted you
• Your revenue is growing but you can't tell where the money is actually going

Most sole traders come to an accountant too late - usually after a penalty or a missed saving.

A decent accountant should save you more than they charge. If they're not, find a different one.