Starting a business is a daunting prospect and it can often feel like entrepreneurs are left to fend for themselves during this vital period. At Sowerby, we help cut through the red-tape and offer all necessary support.
When starting a business, it can seem pragmatic to put accounting aside ‘until you have time’. This a common and grave mistake and earlier transactions can be be forgotten or missed. We can help keep track of your business’ accounts while you spend time growing your fledgling business.
We can help you:
- decide on the most suitable structure for your business (i.e. sole trader, partnership or limited company)
- prepare a business plan, cashflow projections, budgets and trading forecasts to prove the financial viability of your ideas and demonstrate this to the bank / potential investors
- assess your finance requirements and access the most appropriate source of finance
- help you establish relationships with banks, solicitors, etc via our well-established network of contacts
- carry out registration procedures with Companies House and HM Revenue & Customs and
- set up an internal accounting system which complies with statutory requirements.
When all the registration and document creation is completed, our business advisors can assist with the further development of your new business. Sowerby takes into account your future aims and motivations, offering advice which best suits your personal and business circumstances.
Business support at Sowerby extends far beyond the essential compliance services. We aim to be your business partners, helping ensure the best possible chance of success for your business and helping manage its growth.
Every business plan must be thorough in order to minimize errors and missed opportunities. Business owners have a duty to invest significant time in developing a long-term plan for their start-up. We at Sowerby have the expertise to play a significant part in the development of these plans.
We can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your business in a detailed financial review and provide tailored suggestions for improvements. This takes the form of a benchmarking review, which compares your business’ performance with that of similar company’s in your sector. Whilst no two business are identical, Sowerby’s report provides a very useful benchmark to ascertain how well your business is performing.
We also have considerable experience with applications for local and regional grants which have helped support the growth of our clients’ businesses.
Sowerby is always on hand to discuss strategy and offer advice which best fits your business. We have supported our clients through acquisitions, mergers and significant new financial investment and have the expertise to help avoid the pitfalls associated with such growth.
Most business owners are guilty of getting caught up in the day-to-day challenges of running a business and forget to invest time working on their business. We at Sowerby understand this and our business advisory team is especially geared toward helping you focus on and achieve your business aspirations.
As businesspeople ourselves, we have faced most of the issues which befall a business owner, and we are therefore well placed to offer practiced and commercially viable advice. We monitor the key parts of your business and offer meaningful figures to indicate your business performance.
Business Planning
Business support at Sowerby extends far beyond the essential compliance services. We aim to be your business partners, helping ensure the best possible chance of success for your business.
Every business plan must be thorough in order to minimize errors and missed opportunities. Business owners have a duty to invest significant time in developing a long-term plan for their start-up. We at Sowerby have the expertise to play a significant part in the development of these plans.
We can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your business in a detailed financial review and provide tailored suggestions for improvements. This takes the form of a benchmarking review, which compares your business’ performance with that of similar company’s in your sector. Whilst no two business are identical, Sowerby’s report provides a very useful benchmark to ascertain how well your business is performing.
Preparing the Ground
Most businesspeople have a good idea of what the future holds for them and their business, whether that be continued growth (mergers and acquisitions), succession planning or grooming the company for sale. We at Sowerby understand the complexity that any of these three possibilities pose and are here to help you navigate the process.
We use our own experience, having grown Sowerby significantly over the last 10 years, and offer advice which is practice and commercially viable.
As your business grows, and the challenges change, we are able to help you with the back-office administration in our outsourcing department and take over your accounting functions.
Mergers and Acquisitions
A merger or acquisition is a tricky but very rewarding process and can be an important part of a business’ growth strategy.
Sowerby has a history of merger and acquired business itself, putting our advisors in the best position to help you manage your project and ensure that it is completed successfully.
Mergers are especially hard to actualise and must start on the grounds that all parties can work together.
Funding and Liaising with the Bank
A key part of our business strategies for clients is using our extensive network of high street banks, grant funders and secondary funding options to secure investment in the business.
We know that dealing with banks and financial institutions is a daunting prospect, so we take away the stress of dealing with them for you. Sowerby works to ensure your business has access to the best financial options at the best price model available.
Risk Management
Business people tend to make decisions based on tax implication – although this is important, you cannot allow tax to dictate the decisions you make. Sowerby ensures you make decisions which help achieve your aspirations – leave the tax efficiency worries to us.
Our first steps are to review your business and create a strategy which reduces the risks to your business and personal wealth.
Exit
We at Sowerby understand the emotions and stress involved when exiting a business after years of hard work. Our advisors can assist you through the whole complex process, starting with the valuation and finishing with advice on the most tax effective manner to hold the cash generated.
We will introduce you to businesses who specialise in selling your business, whether by sale to a competitor, management buy-out (MBO) or buy-in (MBI), or initial public offering (IPO).
Business Valuation
Business owners require a valuation of their business for many different reasons and, with Sowerby, you can rely on our network of professional contacts to provide a timely and accurate valuation which takes the current environment of your marketplace into account.
For further information contact one of our specialists:
Richard Skewis
Patrick Scargill
Elizabeth Blanchard
Stewart Scargill
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