HLS Accounting Blog | Tax, Finance & Business Tips for Cardiff

Practical advice on tax, bookkeeping, payroll and business finance written in plain English, not accountant-speak. No jargon. No fuss. Just guidance you can actually use.

Smiling woman in a denim shirt and apron at a till screen, next to the headline How to register as self employed in the UK

How to register as self employed in the UK

A plain English, step by step guide to registering as self employed with HMRC, what you need to hand, what happens next and the common mistakes to avoid.

Sheet of paper with a hand-drawn question mark, illustrating whether a sole trader needs an accountant

6 min

Do you actually need an accountant as a sole trader?

Woman sketching fashion designs at a wooden table with red dress form and sewing tools

7 min

Sole trader vs limited company: which is right for you?

Woman and man smiling and talking over an open laptop on a wooden table

7 min

How much does an accountant cost in Cardiff?

Smiling advisor in navy blazer showing 'Abbreviated Accounts' and 'Abridged Accounts' papers to two clients

6 min

Abbreviated accounts vs abridged accounts: what can you actually file?

Professional woman reviews SA800 Partnership Tax Return guide with couple at a wooden table

5 min

What is the SA800 partnership tax return and who has to file one?

Two men at a wooden table reviewing printed Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet with laptop charts

6 min

What are statutory accounts and when are they due?

Smiling woman points to a sheet titled "VAT Tracker" while talking with a client in a salon

6 min

Flat rate VAT vs standard VAT: which is better for your business?

Person writing in lined notebook beside laptop, calculator, and stacked receipts on wooden desk

5 min

What records does HMRC expect you to keep for your business?

Smiling advisor holds form titled 'Expenses Sole Trader Can Claim' while discussing with client at a wooden table

6 min

What expenses can a sole trader claim? A simple guide

6 min

What triggers an HMRC VAT investigation and how to reduce your risk