I Hate Numbers Podcast

The podcast that aims to help you and your business make more profits and reduce your anxiety.

About the Podcast

I Hate Numbers: Simplifying Tax and Accounting

For some, watching paint dry, or a poke in the eye is better than dealing with their business numbers. I get it, numbers can be scary, confusing, and boring, not what your business is meant to be about.

But here’s the thing. If you’re serious about your business, you need to grab hold of your numbers, and connect with them. Falling in love with them may feel weird, but at least be on friendly terms with them if you want your business to survive and thrive.

Numbers make you accountable, showing you the financial impact of your successes, a route map to success and highlighting those flip-ups. Above all, learning to love & use your numbers means you have a better chance of making money, what’s not to love.

Fundamentally business is there to make money. You need to make money to survive and have impact. It’s about knowing how your future is going to pan out.

As a business finance coach, financial story teller and tax advisor, I’ve helped thousands of businesses over the years.

I love numbers, but I get it that not many businesses will do so. I want to share my love of numbers through my podcast, to make it accessible, to help you and your business power forward.

My aim is to make this podcast listener friendly, jargon and BS free.

In the words of W.E.B. Dubois “When you have mastered numbers, you will in fact no longer be reading numbers, any more than you read words when reading books. You will be reading meanings.”

Forecasting: How to Predict Your Cash Flow Like a Pro

Forecasting is crucial for running a successful business because it helps us look ahead and prepare for potential challenges effectively and strategically. While understanding historical performance is important, we must equally focus on what lies ahead and adapt to evolving circumstances. Specifically, forecasting cash flow ensures we minimise risks, reduce anxiety, and identify opportunities that...

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Cashflow Management: Essential Strategies for Your Business

Cashflow management is undeniably critical for the survival of any business. Although profits may sustain you temporarily, businesses cannot thrive without steady cash flow. Consequently, managing cashflow ensures that your business can handle unforeseen expenses, adapt to changing circumstances, and maintain financial stability. Build a Safety Net with Cash Reserves Firstly, creating a cash reserve...

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Billing Mistakes: Tips to Avoid Payment Delays

Billing mistakes can severely harm your cash flow and lead to unnecessary stress for your business. Because of poor billing practices, many small business owners find themselves struggling to keep their financial health intact. Consequently, addressing these issues early can make a significant difference in maintaining smooth operations. Irregular Invoicing Practices Firstly, failing to invoice...

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Dividend Paperwork and Documentation

Dividend paperwork and documentation are crucial for ensuring compliance with legal regulations. Certainly, adhering to the Companies Act is non-negotiable for limited companies, regardless of size or shareholder structure. Proper records not only safeguard you during audits but also provide clarity for future financial decisions. Accordingly, maintaining accurate records is a wise discipline that helps...

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Dividends and the Director’s Loan Account

Dividends and the Director’s Loan Account are essential topics for any business owner who operates through a limited company. Firstly, dividends represent payments made to shareholders from a company’s post-tax profits. Unlike wages, dividends do not attract National Insurance contributions. Consequently, they are a tax-efficient way to reward shareholders. However, dividends can only be issued...

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VAT Reverse Charging in the UK

VAT reverse charging fundamentally shifts the responsibility of VAT accounting from the seller to the buyer. Unlike traditional VAT transactions where sellers collect and pay VAT to HMRC, the buyer handles the VAT declaration instead. Consequently, this mechanism prevents VAT fraud by eliminating the risk of sellers disappearing with VAT payments owed to HMRC. Furthermore,...

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Tax Treatment for Limited Companies

Tax treatment for limited companies plays a significant role in financial planning and compliance. Additionally, understanding the tax rules can help businesses optimise their finances while meeting their obligations. Basically, limited companies have unique responsibilities and opportunities compared to other business structures. Corporation Tax and Rates Firstly, limited companies are subject to corporation tax on...

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Tax treatment for Sole Traders Explained

Understanding the tax treatment for sole traders in the United Kingdom is crucial for managing your business finances effectively. Sole traders, unlike limited companies, operate without legal separation between personal and business finances. This structure may be simpler, but it comes with unique tax obligations. What It Means to Be a Sole Trader As a...

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Sole Trader or Limited Company: Decide What’s Best

Sole Trader or Limited Company—this is one of the most significant decisions you’ll face as a business owner. Each option has its own advantages and challenges. However, understanding how these choices impact your business can save you from costly mistakes. The Sole Trader Advantage A sole trader business is straightforward to set up. Because you...

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Bad Business Habits: 4 Habits you need to overcome

In this episode, we explore Bad Business Habits that can slowly but surely undermine growth and profitability. Surprisingly, many business owners develop unproductive habits without fully realising their long-term effects. Accordingly, addressing these bad business habits is essential for building a sustainable and thriving enterprise, no matter the industry. The Pricing Trap: Harmful Discounts Firstly,...

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Dormant Accounts: Essential Compliance Tips for Directors

Dormant accounts play a significant role in business compliance, especially for company directors. When a company is dormant, it’s essential to understand both the Companies House and HMRC perspectives. Although both consider dormancy differently, each perspective brings specific obligations. Accordingly, directors must navigate these to avoid fines and ensure accurate filings. Companies House and Dormancy...

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Shareholders and Directors: Who Does What?

Shareholders and directors each have unique roles and responsibilities within a company, yet people often confuse the two. As we discuss this in the episode, we aim to clarify these distinctions for UK companies. However, these principles apply broadly to companies outside the UK as well. Defining Shareholders and Directors Firstly, shareholders are the actual...

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