The Ledgers blog
All guides
73 plain-English guides for UK founders, newest first.
- Seven in ten small businesses ask AI before their accountant. How to do it without getting burnedAccounting for non-accountants · 11 Nov 2026
- Two MTD deadlines in: what went wrong for sole traders and landlords, and what to do nowAccounting for non-accountants · 11 Nov 2026
- Autumn Budget 2026, measure by measure: what each one does, and whether it's good for UK businessAccounting for non-accountants · 30 Oct 2026
- Autumn Budget 2026: what it means for your limited companyAccounting for non-accountants · 28 Oct 2026
- How long does it take to categorise 500 bank transactions? We timed itRun your books · 16 Oct 2026
- HMRC's free Company Tax Return service has closed: how to file your CT600 nowAccounting for non-accountants · 15 Oct 2026
- Companies House identity verification: who must verify, and by whenAccounting for non-accountants · 13 Oct 2026
- QuickBooks UK prices in 2026: what each plan costs, and what to checkRun your books · 13 Oct 2026
- Xero price increase 2026: what changed on 1 September, and what to doRun your books · 13 Oct 2026
- Connect Claude to your books: ask about your cash, profit and VAT in plain EnglishRun your books · 10 Oct 2026
- The types of VAT a UK startup actually meets (and how to record each one)Run your books · 24 Aug 2026
- When should a startup set up accounting software — and why "when we're bigger" costs youRun your books · 28 Jul 2026
- Set up bookkeeping for a new company: the day-one sequence that keeps you investor-readyRun your books · 27 Jul 2026
- Accountant vs bookkeeper: who does what, what it costs, and when you need a CFOAccounting for non-accountants · 25 Jul 2026
- What to look for in accounting software as a funded UK startupRun your books · 24 Jul 2026
- Just raised your first cheque? The 30-day finance setup checklist for UK startupsRun your books · 23 Jul 2026
- First-cheque compliance: the UK registrations and deadlines a funded startup can't missRun your books · 23 Jul 2026
- A simple burn-rate model you can build in an afternoonAccounting for non-accountants · 22 Jul 2026
- Default alive vs default dead: what it actually means for your numbersAccounting for non-accountants · 22 Jul 2026
- What your accountant actually needs from you at year-end (with checklists)Run your books · 21 Jul 2026
- How to run payroll for one employee (or just yourself)Run your books · 20 Jul 2026
- CIS for contractors made simpleRun your books · 18 Jul 2026
- Companies House filing: what's due and whenRun your books · 18 Jul 2026
- Stop double-paying suppliers: matching bills to bank paymentsRun your books · 17 Jul 2026
- How to track business expenses (the no-shoebox method)Run your books · 16 Jul 2026
- How to know who you owe and when it's dueRun your books · 16 Jul 2026
- How to connect your bank to your accounting (and why it changes everything)Run your books · 15 Jul 2026
- Bank reconciliation without the headache: what it is and how to reconcile your bank accountRun your books · 10 Jul 2026
- How to categorise bank transactions automaticallyRun your books · 10 Jul 2026
- How to forecast cash for your next 12 months (investor-grade)Managing investors · 8 Jul 2026
- Dilution: what happens to your ownership when you raise (and pre-money vs post-money explained)Managing investors · 7 Jul 2026
- Convertible notes and SAFEs explained for UK foundersManaging investors · 7 Jul 2026
- SEIS and EIS explained for founders (and how to give investors their relief)Managing investors · 6 Jul 2026
- SH01 form: how to issue shares and file the return of allotmentManaging investors · 6 Jul 2026
- How to answer investor due diligence (the financial checklist)Managing investors · 5 Jul 2026
- How to calculate and explain your burn rate to investorsManaging investors · 5 Jul 2026
- What is a cap table and how do I keep mine clean?Managing investors · 4 Jul 2026
- What investors actually want to see before they invest (the metrics, documents and signals)Managing investors · 3 Jul 2026
- Get your startup financials investor-ready in a weekendManaging investors · 30 Jun 2026
- How to build a data room for your raise (the lean version)Managing investors · 30 Jun 2026
- What is runway and how do I work out mine? (And how much you need before raising)Accounting for non-accountants · 29 Jun 2026
- How to read your numbers when you hate numbers: cash, runway, gross margin and working capitalAccounting for non-accountants · 28 Jun 2026
- What is Corporation Tax and when do I pay it?Accounting for non-accountants · 26 Jun 2026
- The UK small business tax calendar 2026/27 (every deadline, plain English)Accounting for non-accountants · 25 Jun 2026
- What can I claim as a business expense? (the honest list)Accounting for non-accountants · 25 Jun 2026
- How much tax will I actually pay? (founder's rough guide)Accounting for non-accountants · 23 Jun 2026
- Self Assessment for the terrified: a step-by-stepAccounting for non-accountants · 23 Jun 2026
- When do I have to register for VAT?Accounting for non-accountants · 22 Jun 2026
- What records do I legally have to keep (and for how long)?Accounting for non-accountants · 22 Jun 2026
- Do I need to file accounts if I made no money?Accounting for non-accountants · 21 Jun 2026
- Can I do my own bookkeeping? (A realistic guide)Accounting for non-accountants · 20 Jun 2026
- Do I need an accountant for my small business?Accounting for non-accountants · 20 Jun 2026
- What's the difference between an invoice and a receipt?Accounting for non-accountants · 19 Jun 2026
- What is a chart of accounts (and why do I have 60 of them)?Accounting for non-accountants · 18 Jun 2026
- What does 'accrual vs cash accounting' actually mean for me?Accounting for non-accountants · 17 Jun 2026
- Profit vs cash: why you can be profitable and still brokeAccounting for non-accountants · 17 Jun 2026
- Debits and credits explained (so you never have to think about them)Accounting for non-accountants · 16 Jun 2026
- Gross vs net: which number actually matters?Accounting for non-accountants · 16 Jun 2026
- AI bookkeeping: what it does, where it's reliable, and when you can trust itRun your books · 15 Jun 2026
- How to know if your books are actually correctRun your books · 15 Jun 2026
- How to switch from Xero to Ledgers (without losing your history)Run your books · 14 Jun 2026
- How to write an invoice in the UK (free template and checklist)Run your books · 13 Jun 2026
- How to chase late invoices (without the awkward email)Run your books · 12 Jun 2026
- SEIS/EIS compliance after you raise: what you must not missManaging investors · 9 Jun 2026
- Plan vs actual: how to show investors you're on track (or own it when you're not)Managing investors · 8 Jun 2026
- How to write a monthly investor update (template, examples and the faster way)Managing investors · 6 Jun 2026
- How to report to investors without a finance teamManaging investors · 6 Jun 2026
- Run your books without becoming a bookkeeperRun your books · 5 Jun 2026
- Accounting for non-accountants: the plain-English guide for UK foundersAccounting for non-accountants · 4 Jun 2026
- The founder's guide to managing investors (without a finance team)Managing investors · 4 Jun 2026
- Accounting software for non-accountants: the best UK options in 2026Run your books · 3 Jun 2026
- What is a balance sheet? (explained without the jargon)Accounting for non-accountants · 3 Jun 2026
- What is a P&L (profit and loss) in plain English?Accounting for non-accountants · 3 Jun 2026