The Ledgers blog
All guides
90 plain-English guides for UK founders, newest first.
- 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
- Align your bank account with your books from day one: the setup sequenceRun your books · 27 Jul 2026
- Set up your books to stay investor- and diligence-ready from day oneRun your books · 27 Jul 2026
- How much should a pre-seed startup spend on finance tools and services?Run your books · 26 Jul 2026
- The startup tax deadlines and reliefs first-time UK founders missAccounting for non-accountants · 26 Jul 2026
- Accountant vs bookkeeper: what's the difference, and do you need both?Accounting for non-accountants · 25 Jul 2026
- Bookkeeping vs accounting vs a fractional CFO: what a pre-seed startup actually needsAccounting for non-accountants · 25 Jul 2026
- Opening your startup's business bank account: UK process, documents, and how to chooseRun your books · 24 Jul 2026
- What to look for in accounting software as a funded UK startupRun your books · 24 Jul 2026
- First-cheque compliance: the UK registrations and deadlines a funded startup can't missRun your books · 23 Jul 2026
- Just raised your first cheque? The 30-day finance setup checklist for UK startupsRun 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
- How to get your books ready for your accountant (in an afternoon)Run your books · 21 Jul 2026
- What your accountant actually needs from you at year-endRun your books · 21 Jul 2026
- How to run payroll for one employee (or just yourself)Run your books · 20 Jul 2026
- What is RTI and how do I report it to HMRC?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
- Snap a receipt, done: how receipt scanning should workRun your books · 17 Jul 2026
- Stop double-paying suppliers: matching bills to bank paymentsRun your books · 17 Jul 2026
- How to know who you owe and when it's dueRun your books · 16 Jul 2026
- How to track business expenses (the no-shoebox method)Run your books · 16 Jul 2026
- How to connect your bank to your accounting (and why it changes everything)Run your books · 15 Jul 2026
- Stop doing your bookkeeping every week: what an AI bookkeeper actually doesRun your books · 15 Jul 2026
- Bank reconciliation without the headacheRun 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
- Pre-money vs post-money valuation explained simplyManaging investors · 8 Jul 2026
- Convertible notes and SAFEs explained for UK foundersManaging investors · 7 Jul 2026
- Dilution: what happens to your ownership when you raiseManaging investors · 7 Jul 2026
- How to issue shares and file an SH01Managing investors · 6 Jul 2026
- SEIS and EIS explained for founders (and how to give investors their relief)Managing 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
- How much runway do you need to raise? (and how to prove it)Managing investors · 4 Jul 2026
- What is a cap table and how do I keep mine clean?Managing investors · 4 Jul 2026
- The startup metrics investors care about (MRR, burn, runway, CAC)Managing investors · 3 Jul 2026
- What investors actually want to see before they investManaging 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?Accounting for non-accountants · 29 Jun 2026
- Working capital explained (the money your business needs to breathe)Accounting for non-accountants · 29 Jun 2026
- How to read your numbers when you hate numbersAccounting for non-accountants · 28 Jun 2026
- What is gross margin and why should I care?Accounting for non-accountants · 28 Jun 2026
- What is Corporation Tax and when do I pay it?Accounting for non-accountants · 26 Jun 2026
- What is Making Tax Digital and does it affect me?Accounting for non-accountants · 26 Jun 2026
- The UK small business tax calendar (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
- What records do I legally have to keep (and for how long)?Accounting for non-accountants · 22 Jun 2026
- When do I have to register for VAT?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
- Sole trader vs limited company: which should I be?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 is VAT and do I actually have to charge it?Accounting for non-accountants · 19 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 is reconciliation in accounting?Accounting for non-accountants · 18 Jun 2026
- Profit vs cash: why you can be profitable and still brokeAccounting for non-accountants · 17 Jun 2026
- What does 'accrual vs cash accounting' actually mean for me?Accounting 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
- Can you trust AI to do your bookkeeping?Run 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
- QuickBooks alternative for UK small businessRun your books · 14 Jun 2026
- How to send a professional invoice (free template + the faster way)Run your books · 13 Jun 2026
- Recurring invoices: stop re-typing the same bill every monthRun your books · 13 Jun 2026
- How to chase late-paying customers (without the awkward email)Run your books · 12 Jun 2026
- How to know who owes you money, at a glanceRun your books · 12 Jun 2026
- How to file a VAT return (without an accountant)Run your books · 11 Jun 2026
- VAT return mistakes that trigger an HMRC enquiry (and how to avoid them)Run your books · 11 Jun 2026
- How to do a VAT return for the first timeRun your books · 9 Jun 2026
- SEIS/EIS compliance after you raise: what you must not missManaging investors · 9 Jun 2026
- Investor update examples that actually keep investors engagedManaging investors · 8 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 report to investors without a finance teamManaging investors · 6 Jun 2026
- How to write a monthly investor update (template + the faster way)Managing investors · 6 Jun 2026
- How to keep multiple investors updated (without 12 separate emails)Managing investors · 5 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
- Best accounting software for non-accountants UKRun 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
- Xero alternative for founders who aren't accountantsRun your books · 3 Jun 2026