Clients are all telling me that they are working harder than ever before. As belt-tightening starts to take hold it has never been more important to be lean and efficient. We have been working long hours all Summer to address areas of our business where we felt that improvements could be made and we are actively canvassing clients to find out which areas could be improved further.

The most popular value added service at the moment is centred around helping our clients understand their real break-even point and making sure that their accounting systems are producing accurate results every month.

A few weeks ago we did an article with our tip on understanding you real breakeven point. This week’s article is based on the importance of having a plan and how to go about putting one together. By clicking here, you will go straight to a detailed version of the article. - Having a plan

31st October marks the deadline for any paper copies of tax returns to be submitted. After this, all forms must be filed online in order to avoid late filing penalties.

At A4G we have been filing online wherever possible for a few years now thereby extending the deadline to 31st January. Only a tiny proportion of our clients have paper copies submitted and only for obscure reasons.

If you complete your own return, please note that late filing penalties will be issued if you submit a paper copy from now on. If you need help in dealing with your tax affairs, please email Janice@a4gsolutions.co.uk

PS – we have it on good authority that HM Revenue and Customs grant an automatic exemption from penalties for late returns to any MP who is late submitting. Nice to know that there is one rule for them and one rule for us!

As you will have seen in our last newsletter A4G are launching a series of weekly free seminars focusing on whatever issues our clients need the most help on.

We have still a few spaces on the following seminars:

When will it be safe to go back into property?

This seminar is suitable for those who want to cash in on the slump in property prices and are considering when to make their move.

Representatives from A4G Wealth Management will look at the way that property prices moved during the last recession examine the finance that is available and compare the commercial and residential markets. They will also comment on investment alternatives to property if you don’t think the time is yet right and also analyse a deal being offered by Barratt Homes to sell properties at discounts of up to 30% on their original price

Date and time: Thursday 6th November. 7.45 for 8am start finish by 8.45

Understanding your REAL break-even point

This seminar is specifically aimed at those businesses that have been profitable in the past or are still profitable now but want to consider what options are available to them if their sales fall. The contents of the seminar include:

1. How to calculate your REAL break-even point for the year
2. The impact of pricing on your break-even point
3. The impact of tax on your break-even point
4. The 5 minute cash flow
5. What to do if you identify a problem
   

Date and time: Friday 7th November. 7.45 for 8am start finish by 8.45.

We are now taking places for our next seminar:

Learning the lessons of the last recession

Whilst the reasons behind it were completely different to today, human nature has varied little since the last recession suffered in the UK. Understanding the impact on small businesses and when and how we eventually came out of it will give you a head-start on your competitors in the months ahead

Date and time: Thursday 13th November. 7.45 for 8am start finish by 8.45.

Places are limited to ten per seminar and will be issued on a first come first serve basis so book your place by contacting jenny@a4gsolutions.co.uk

"Without a positive mental outlook, you have nothing "

Sven Goran Eriksson