The number of private sector businesses has reached a new record of 5.4 million, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced. There are now 900,000 more businesses compared to 2010, while the number of businesses that employ people has also risen by 35,000 from 2014. Small businesses make up 99.3% of all businesses…

This article outlines some of the different ways employers can reward their staff and the tax implications of each approach. Seemingly as quickly as it came, another year is galloping off into the distance and people’s minds are beginning to turn to the festive holidays. Employers will want to show their staff that the year’s…

This guide looks at some of the common payroll problems and choosing payroll software. Running payroll is one of the less glamorous aspects of being an employer. However, it is often the mundane tasks that are the most crucial. Failing to pay your staff would quickly lead to a very unhappy workforce. While neglecting your…

From 12 October 2015, eligible individuals will be able to begin topping up their state pension by up to £25 per week. The lump sum payments, known as ‘class 3A voluntary contributions’, can be made up until 5 April 2017 by those that are entitled to a basic state pension before 6 April 2016. For…

The adult rate of the national minimum wage (NMW) is set to rise by 20p to £6.70 on 1 October 2015. As well as the change to adult rate: the apprentice rate increases by 57p to £3.30 the rate for 18 to 20 year olds will rise by 17p to £5.30 those aged 16-17 will…

Over-55s are the targets of repeated cold-calling and email scams offering fake pension opportunities.

This article looks at the accounts that companies need to keep.

Small businesses employing 40-49 workers will begin complying with their auto-enrolment duties from 1 August. The dates when businesses begin complying with auto-enrolment are known as staging dates. From this date employers are required to have enrolled employees onto a workplace pension scheme, written to staff members and signed the declaration of compliance.

Employers will need to account for overtime when calculating holiday pay from 1 July 2015.

A guide to alternative business finance Setting up a business and funding it while it takes its first, unsteady steps in the world can be an expensive proposition. As it grows and becomes more resilient, a successful company will begin to be able to stand tall on its own 2 feet, but the initial infancy…