If you're running a growing SME, you've probably got a good accountant. They file your tax returns on time, sort out your statutory accounts, and keep you compliant with HMRC. That's valuable work, and we're definitely not here to diminish it. But here's a question worth asking: Is your accountant helping you grow your business, or just keeping score of what's already happened?

For SMEs, startups, and scale-ups, understanding that people are your most valuable asset isn't just feel good rhetoric - it's fundamental to business success. When examining a business's balance sheet, one of the most crucial assets rarely appears, and that is the people who make everything happen.

A fractional Finance Director (FD) can transform a cost into one of the most valuable investments for your business's future. As your business reaches a crucial stage of growth, the need for strong financial leadership becomes clear. You require someone capable of navigating funding rounds, optimising cash flow, and converting your strategic vision into effective financial planning.

Have you ever received a clear explanation of crowdfunding for business? You might have a brilliant business idea, possibly even a prototype or some initial traction, but you need capital to scale up. Crowdfunding could be a valuable tool for you.

This blog post, aimed at startups, scale ups, and SMEs, answers the question: What is a cash flow forecast? As fractional CFOs, we've lost count of how many times we've heard a business say: "We're making sales, we're profitable on paper, but we're always running out of cash." If this sounds familiar, don’t worry, you're not alone.

Today's UK budget announcements are not as scary for SME businesses as anticipated, with corporation tax and national insurance rates held, and a move to encourage investment to stimulate the economy. The Financial Market's neutral/marginally positive immediate reaction is a reflection of this. Nevertheless, SME businesses face stiff challenges in the light of National living wage changes which will increase employment costs, and SME business owners will be hit personally wit

You've got a brilliant idea for an early-stage start-up and perhaps you even have a prototype or some early traction, but you need capital to take things to the next level. Has SEIS ever been explained to you in depth?

If hiring a full-time chief financial officer (CFO) feels premature or financially unfeasible, fractional CFO consulting might be precisely what your business needs. As your business grows, you will likely reach a pivotal moment where financial decisions feel increasingly complex and consequential.

In the fast-paced, resource-stretched world of startups, scale-ups, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), the term non-executive director (NED) might sound like something reserved for large corporate boards. Don’t be fooled - bringing the right non-executive director into your business can be one of the smartest, highest impact moves a founder or leadership team can make.

One critical function small businesses often overlook is financial leadership.

We explain startup funding, from rounds to ASAs and everything in between.

A well-organised finance team is the backbone of any successful business.

Stay ahead of the game in terms of financial strategy and operational efficiency.

Businesses have a variety of finance solutions available to them. This guide from The FD Consultant provides an overview of business finance

All businesses, large or small, will, at some stage, need to invest in external expertise and guidance. Management teams know their businesses well, but to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing environment, bringing relevant experience to help and support can be a very effective and cost efficient way to navigate business challenges and build a roadmap for success.   External support is available for most areas in a business, and across multiple disciplines. External advis

Introduction to EMI Schemes The Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme . Sounds complicated, right? It’s not, and it’s a great idea for your business to consider. Put simply, an Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) Scheme is a government approved employee share scheme which is a cost effective, highly flexible, and tax efficient way to reward your employees.   Overview The Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme is a share option scheme backed by HMRC and a popular tool used

Introduction Founders and Business Owners who are looking to exit their businesses should consider a range of options in order to achieve the most beneficial outcome based on their personal objectives, the nature of the business, market conditions and unexpected opportunities. There are various business exit options available, and we list the most common types below alongside the benefits and disadvantages of each.   Business Sale to third parties This is one of the most comm

The FD Consultant was thrilled to be invited to contribute a guest article, ' Why budgeting is good for your business ', to the  Go EO (Go Employee Ownership Trust)   blog. Go EO, founded by Chris Maslin, helps smaller businesses make the transition to employee ownership more easily and affordably. Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) are a Government initiative aimed to promote employee ownership by giving business owners the opportunity to sell their shares to an employee own

Introduction Management information is a key aspect of good organisational management and significantly contributes to business success. This article explains what management information is and what it can look like. It explores how it can be obtained and the significant benefits it can provide to businesses and organisations.   What is management information? There is no standard definition for management information (MI), as it is a broad term which covers a large subject

Introduction Businesses can access debt from a variety of sources. This is a simple guide to various business debt options which will help you understand and navigate the choices available to organisations requiring debt financing. Why does your business need Debt? It is important to be clear why you require debt financing in your business. Do you need short term cashflow cover or funds for longer term investment or for a purchase of equipment? It's also essential to carefull

Insights Where do you want to go? A business plan is a key document that summarises your business strategy going forward. Simply put, a business plan defines your objectives and explains how the business will achieve these goals over a specified period. Clarity in a business plan Working on a detailed business plan provides clarity to business owners and the leadership team. By defining clear goals and objectives, timings, and the steps needed to achieve these plans, a busine