There’s a big change coming to UK tax in 2026, and if you’re a small business owner or landlord, it might shake up how you do your bookkeeping. It’s called Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax,

New year, tight deadline. January 31st is the UK’s Self Assessment tax return deadline – and if you’re a busy small business owner or sole trader, it’s coming up fast.

January can be a challenging month for many service based small businesses. Sales dip, client activity slows down, and cashflow can feel tighter than usual after the rush of Q4. But the January slump doesn’t have to knock your business off course. With the right financial habits in place, you can protect your cash, plan confidently, and start the year on steady ground.

If you’re nudging past £500k and eyeing the £1m mark, “looking busy” can hide profit leaks. Projects run long, invoices slip, and hiring decisions get made on gut feel. The fix isn’t more spreadsheets — it’s a short list of service business KPIs