Limited company guide
Practical cash control for early-stage companies, forecasting, tax reserves, payment terms, VAT timing and the levers that extend runway without cutting the team.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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Xero Gold PartnerCertified advisor
QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityA thirteen-week rolling cash forecast is the single most useful document a startup can maintain. It shows exactly when money is tight and gives you weeks of warning rather than days.
Forecast weekly, not annually
Reserve for tax
Levers that actually work
Know your triggers
A thirteen-week rolling cash forecast is the single most useful document a startup can maintain. It shows exactly when money is tight and gives you weeks of warning rather than days.
Update it with actuals every week. A forecast that is never compared to reality teaches you nothing about how wrong your assumptions are.
Corporation tax is payable nine months and one day after the period end, before the return is even due. VAT is collected on your customers' behalf and is never your money. PAYE and National Insurance are due monthly.
Keep tax reserves visible in the forecast, or ideally in a separate account. HMRC debt is the most common reason otherwise healthy small companies get into trouble.
Payment terms and invoicing speed usually beat cost-cutting. Invoice on delivery not month end, take deposits, use direct debit, and chase politely from day one rather than day forty-five.
On the outflow side: annual contracts renegotiated to monthly, unused software seats removed, and hires staged rather than made in a single wave. Time-to-hire is itself a cash lever.
Agree with your board what happens at nine months of runway, at six, and at three. Written triggers stop the decision being emotional when it arrives.
Model the downside scenario honestly. Every founder builds the upside case; the useful work is knowing exactly what you would do if revenue came in 30% under plan.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
Commonly three months of operating costs beyond planned spend, more if revenue is lumpy or customers are concentrated.
It can bridge genuine timing gaps in a B2B business with reliable debtors, but it is expensive relative to fixing payment terms and collections.
HMRC may agree a Time to Pay arrangement if you contact them before the due date with a realistic proposal. Waiting until after adds penalties and interest.
It can, since VAT is often payable on invoices before customers pay you. Cash accounting is available below a turnover limit and can help some businesses considerably.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
Talk to an accountant
Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
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Appointments run Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
Four London offices
Work with us entirely online, or sit down with your accountant at whichever office suits you. Open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Office visits are by appointment only, so please book before coming in.
Free, no obligation
Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
