accountancy and taxation services

Having worked within business organisations before moving into practice, the team at Alpha Business Services are fully aware of the needs of small and medium sized businesses. We are as accountants and business advisors, far more accessible than many of our peers and we believe that within ever changing environments where businesses need to constantly review there positions and react quickly, it is inappropriate not to be able to talk candidly at length with your accountant.

The emphasis for Alpha Business Services is to provide a bespoke solution to you addressing your needs more closely. We aim to provide a quality service to all businesses.

We will provide a solution to all your needs from providing accounts (in a statutory format where limited) to book-keeping and payroll bureau where required.

Within this framework we will provide you with a constant stream of practical advice and can take on the financial control of your company allowing you to free your time to devote your energies into running your company profitably.

Our Services include

Book keeping

We can complete your books on a regular basis. Ensure that all control accounts are reconciled on a regular basis and provide you with regular reports such as debtor and creditor listings

Payroll Bureau

Payroll requirements come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of complexity. Our payroll services take the worry away of needing to employ staff with specialist knowledge. We provide a timely, accurate and flexible service designed to meet your needs.

The main elements of our service are :

• Providing a qualified and experienced payroll team
• A helpline facility to respond to your payroll queries
• Detailed checking of all input and output
• Easy to read reporting which can be tailored to individual needs
• Management and application of statutory and legislative changes
• Tax year end processing

Processing includes :

• New employees and leavers
• Input of all data
• Calculation of Tax, NIC, SSP, SMP, Tax credits, Court Orders and Student Loans
• Year end reconciliations and printing of P60/P35/P14 which can be submitted via internet.
• Security payslips and BACS processing can be provided

Vat Returns

Allied to our book keeping we can provide quarterly reconciliation of vat accounts and production of the vat return which can be submitted on the clients behalf either by post or online.

monthly or quarterly management accounts

Alpha Business Services can develop customised management accounts which will provide the business with timely and accurate information allowing it to review and control its financial performance. The key to making this service invaluable is the ability for us to work closely with the client to tailor reporting requirements to the individual needs.

Management accounts help the business to focus on making correct commercial decisions on issues such as funding, risk analysis, performance improvement. They can be a necessary requirement when banks or venture capitalists provide funding.

Regular management accounts information also provide the basis for pre year end tax planning opportunities.

Un audited statutory accounts

For limited companies both full and abbreviated accounts are prepared.

For partnerships and sole traders a set of accounts are prepared which can provide information to banks and HMRC.

Providing Budgets and Cash Flow Forecasts

Budgeting and cash flow forecasting are essential disciplines for managing businesses effectively. They also assist business owners and management to obtain funding via banks or other potential investors.

We can assist in the preparation and interpretation of cash flows and budgets.

In todays continually changing climate we understand that the best approach for our clients is to strike a balance between achieving low tax costs and the prospect of regulatory challenge and sustainability.

Our tax services include

• Individual self assessment returns
• Corporation tax self assessment
• Taxation of property income
• Capital Gains Tax planning
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Retirement and succession planning
• VAT planning and consultancy
• Stamp Duty
• Company Car analysis
• IR35
• Construction Industry Schemes (CIS)

Limited Company Formation

Alpha Business Services can provide a quick and efficient service of setting up a bespoke company from scratch with the name that is required (assuming that it is available), the directors, company secretary and shareholders within a period of one working day. Memorandum, articles and registration certificate are supplied as a basic package.

Limited Liability Partnership Formation

As per the limited company an LLP can be set up to your requirements.

Registered Office

Alpha Business Services can provide the use of a registered office to operate out of. This allows us to control the filing of documents at companies house more easily.

Company Secretary

The last thing that a busy business owner needs to take valuable time and resources out of running his business to ensure that his company fully complies with the Companies Act. Moreover with the constant changes to legislation the business owner needs to be kept fully aware of how changes affect him and other directors.

Alpha Business Services can give complete peace of mind by carrying out the necessary company secretarial duties, these include

1) Preparation and filing of statutory returns
2) Preparation and filing of all documentation related to minutes and resolutions
3) Maintenance of statutory books
4) General advice on company law

We are able to give advice on the most suitable accounting software for your business. We are Sage accountants, Quickbooks advisors and specialise in KashFlow online book keeping and can therefore provide help in assessing these systems for your business and assist in the implementation and support of these systems.

Strategic and Business planning

Everyone knows that successful businesses must plan ahead and continually refine their plans but all too often the pressures of running the business from day to day will often result in planning not being given the attention it deserves at best and completely ignored at worst. This can often result in businesses making rushed and often ill considered decisions, over/under capacity, or missed opportunities.

Every business owner needs a planning advisor who can take the long term view and advise on appropriate course of action. With years of experience and a wealth of knowledge developed through working for businesses we can provide the necessary expertise to guide the business owner through the planning process.

Business Development consultancy

Alpha Business Services can help to provide analysis in pricing decisions, costing, break even analysis, HR policies, health and safety advice and advise on many other aspects of your business often with assistance from its business partners.

PR and Marketing

Alpha Business Services can provide your business with a cost effective solution to assist you to grow your business. Our specialists have many years of experience in getting your business the exposure it needs either to a local or national audience.

Company Valuations

Often the two things that should be uppermost in the business owners mind are what is my business worth and how can I increase the value of the business. Alpha Business Services can assist in producing a valuation for the business and evaluating any envisaged changes.

Valuations can help when

There is a requirement to buy or sell a business - by understanding the value of a business it can enable the business owner to take steps to

1) Improve the net worth of the business
2) Decide upon the best time to sell the business
3) Negotiate better terms
4) Complete a purchase more quickly

To assist in getting others to invest in the business e.g. business angels or venture capitalists - a valuation of the business can assist in setting a price for new shares to be issued.

To create an internal market for shares - this can assist in buying or selling shares in a business at a fair price e.g. where a director wishes to retire and sell his shares.

Business Acquisitions and Disposals

Sometimes the best way to improve the businesses position in its market place is through looking at a merger or acquisition. This can be a complex and time consuming process which, if not thoroughly researched and correctly negotiated can make the business worse rather than improving it.

Alpha Business Services can assist the business by :

1) Identifying potential targets
2) Screening targets for suitability and fit.
3) Assisting in negotiations
4) Helping to raise the necessary business finance
5) Developing a plan to integrate the business
6) Optimising the tax and financial position of the new combined business

Should the business decide to concentrate on more profitable areas of the company and divest itself of less profitable units the we can help by :

1) Identifying areas of least fit or less profitable parts of the business
2) Providing assistance with valuing the assets
3) Finding prospective buyers
4) Negotiating the deal.

Financial Due Diligence

For peace of mind on potential acquisitions Alpha Business Services can provide a financial analysis of the target company reporting on weaknesses and anomalies which need addressing.