Services

We offer a comprehensive range of business services all under one roof and all with a clear focus on helping you grow your business and increase your wealth.

Included in this portfolio of services are Strategic Business Planning, Business Acquisitions, Sales and Software Training, and much much more.

Please feel free to browse through the list on the left or, alternatively pick up the phone and give us a call on Mansfield: 01623 420 269 or Chesterfield: 01246 264 968

Audits

Some clients look upon audits as being a necessary evil to satisfy statutory requirements. We don’t.

We see an audit benefiting clients in two ways. Firstly we will conduct a comprehensive review of the books and records and apply various tests to these records. An audit may throw up issues which we need to raise with the client and also enable us to add value to the company by using the wealth of experience at your disposal.

Secondly, the fact that a company has had an audit will be recorded in the accounts filed at Companies House. This will help give other businesses looking to do business with your company the added comfort that you have a clean bill of health.

Contact: Phil Nicholson
Accounts Preparation

Do you really know what your accounts are telling you?

The answer we suspect is 'no' in many cases. This is where we are different. Upon completion of your accounts we will help you understand them, critically review them with you, and examine how they can be improved upon. Some of the ideas we will come up with will sound very basic but they will have a proven track record in helping businesses to improve.

Our aim is to produce a set of accounts within a month of receiving your accounting records. In terms of fees we will always provide a quote before we start on any work so that you will always know what our fees will be. Our work also comes with our guarantee, ‘If you are not happy with the work we do for you then you don’t pay’.

For Limited Company accounts
Contact Phil Nicholson

For Sole Trader and Partnership accounts
Contact Glen Wood
Personal Tax Returns

The burden of complying with the tax legislation can appear overwhelming.

We can lift that burden, ensuring that tax return deadlines are met and that correct tax payments are made.

We will also offer advice to reduce your tax liabilities where possible.

Contact Tricia Cutts or Steven Strawther
Corporate Tax Returns
Our mission statement says that ‘we will consistently question what we do and never rest on our laurels; we will find innovative ways of helping our clients’. This is particularly relevant in the field of tax planning.

We undertake to:-
- Find the most tax efficient way forward for your business.
- Advise on tax opportunities and reliefs.
- Focus on minimising tax liabilities and maximising wealth.
- Help businesses to plan for the future, this may involve advice on sales/acquisitions. or looking at planning for the owners retirement.
One of the ways we will accomplish this is by holding pre-year end meetings.

Contact : Tricia Cutts or Steven Strawther
Bookkeeping

Book keeping is another job many business owners hate, but imagine this:-

It is the end of the month, a machine has broken down, you have orders to get out of the door, the phone will not stop ringing, it is pay day tomorrow, you have got your VAT return to do online, suppliers want paying, you do not know what you owe, you have no cash to pay them because you’ have not chased your debtors.

It is a recipe for disaster.

The answer is to outsource your bookkeeping -

It will streamline the year end accounts process, produce monthly reports giving you timely, accurate information so you can assess how your business is performing and be informed of any tax liabilities that have arisen.

To discuss your book keeping requirements.......

Contact: Gemma Vitel or Karen Wright
Business Planning

You would not begin to build a house without a plan – so why would you start a new business or run an existing business without a plan?

A basic business plan will start the ball rolling and get you to think about how you will run your business and what challenges you are likely to meet on the way. This applies whether you are just about to start out or are looking to move an existing business forward.

It is a good idea to review your business plan each year, examining all areas of the plan. It will precisely define your business, identity your goals and may also help you get funding if you need to borrow money. A good business plan will also reassure a lender.

We have the people with the skills to help you produce your business plan.

....remember the old saying....’Fail to plan and plan to fail’ – this is certainly true in business. Make sure it doesn’t happen to you....

Contact: Richard Smith or Graham Richmond.
Business Sales & Acquisitions

Are you thinking of buying an established business or perhaps a franchise?

Have you decided that you want to retire or have simply had enough and want to sell your business?

We will guide clients through business sales and business acquisitions utilising the experience which we have acquired over many years. We have a team of professional advisers with whom we regularly work – solicitors, taxation specialists, employment consultants and other specialists. Together we can assess, advise and guide you through a deal.

It is never too early to talk to us.....

Contact: Richard Smith
Company Formations
We are experienced in this field and with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency will help you complete this crucial task.

What we will do for you:-
- Check with Companies House for a suitable name.
- Arrange for the completion of the company documents online.
- Supply the Certificate of Incorporation and copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
- Supply Statutory Book and Company Seal.
- Register the company for VAT and PAYE – if necessary.
- Issue Shares
- Complete the forms required by the Inland Revenue
- Complete the statutory book entries
- Complete and file any other Companies House forms required.
To find out more.......

Contact: Sam Tuffnell
Employment Law
Do all your employees have Contracts of Employment and do you have a formal disciplinary and grievance procedure in place?

Sadly we are in a litigious age when Employment Tribunals are becoming far more common and where the outcome of the tribunal often seems to fall in favour of the employee.

Stopford Associates can put you in touch with reputable organisations that will help you and can offer you full employment law advice including the following:-
- Bespoke Employment Handbook drafting
- Bespoke Contract of Employment drafting
- Compromise Agreements
- Employment Telephone and Email Advice
- On site mediation and conciliation
- Regular Legislation Updates
- Representation Insurance Cover
Can you afford not to have up-to-date employment support? If in doubt....

Contact: Ruth Wilson

Fee Protection

“Do you think I need to take out this type of insurance? It’s a question we are always being asked -the answer is always the same....”We don’t really know! ”

The facts are that the H M Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has the power to open a compliance check into tax returns or a set of business accounts. No reasons are given for opening a compliance check and thousands are started every year at random.

They can also examine your VAT records and returns.

With every inspection comes the possibility of additional accountancy costs and this is why we offer clients the option of joining the tax enquiry scheme we have set up with Qdos Consulting.

We have researched the market and found Qdos to be competitive, and not only this, their scheme also offers a Employment and Health & Safety Support Service.

If you want to join our scheme or have any queries about it….

Contact: Steven Strawther
Health & Safety
- Do you have policies and procedures in place?
- If so do they tie in with your staff handbook and your H.R policies?
- Have you undertaken the risk assessment relating to “asbestos” in the buildings you occupy?
- Are you aware of the ‘duty of care’ that employers have under the Health & Safety at work Act 1974?
If not we can help by putting you in touch with specialists who we regularly work with to provide you and your team with training and guidance.

Call us now for details....

Contact: Ruth Wilson
Forecasting

This is an important part of business planning.

Forecasting contains a lot of assumptions as projections relate to expected future events and the actual results will almost inevitably differ from the projections. However – it does make sense for you to plan ahead as it will give direction to your business.

This is where we can help. Preparing forecasts will enable you to track your performance against your projections. Doing so will enable you to make important management decisions relating to your business.

Start planning now....

Contact: Richard Smith ort Graham Richmond
Management Accounts
Management Accounts are invaluable in helping businesses to make timely and meaningful decisions.

For instance:-
- Do you monitor your sales against past performance and budget?
- Do you compare your costs against past performance and budget?
- Are your margins consistent?
These are all important issues that you need to keep on top of if you want to know how your business is performing.

This is where we can help. We can produce management accounts covering any period you wish ie monthly, quarterly or half yearly. In producing the accounts, we will highlight, in a report, any issues that we feel may need further investigation.

Keep a step ahead of your competitors by ensuring your hard work is producing the correct results.

For Corporate Accounts
Contact: Phil Nicholson

For Sole Trader or Partnership Accounts
Contact: Glen Wood
Forecasts, Updates and Analysis
We have a cost effective scheme to help clients with the preparation and ongoing monitoring of a financial plan for their businesses.

This is what we will do:-

Preparation of Budget Forecasts
- Sales spreadsheet
- Profit and Loss
- Cash-flow
- Balance Sheet
This is how we monitor performance:-

Quarterly Meetings at your offices – review and discuss progress against budget
- Budgets v Actuals
- Update annual forecast
Additional support:-
- Pre year-end pre review meeting
- Year-end exit meeting
- Unlimited telephone support.
For more information...

Contact: Richard Smith or Graham Richmond
Payroll

Processing payroll is one job many business owners really dislike.

Imagine the scenario:-

It is the end of the month, a machine has broken down and you have orders to get out of the door. The telephone will not stop ringing and then your secretary reminds you that it is pay day tomorrow. You need to run the payroll as it needs to be with the bank tonight!

It’s a job you can’t put off as failure to pay your employees on time can be a disaster.

Outsourcing to our specialist payroll team will ensure that your payroll is processed on time, accurately and confidentially.

We offer a flexible, competitively priced and complete service. The cost of which is often cheaper than doing it yourself when you take into account the annual cost of updating your own software updates.

Outsourcing will allow you to concentrate on the important thing – your business.

To discuss your payroll requirements.....

Contact: Mandy Charlton or Jane Mackenzie
Raising Finance
- Do you need help in raising finance for your business?
- Are you sure that you have the right type of finance for your business?
- Cash flow is the life blood of all business, but being able to raise it can be difficult.
This is where Stopford Associates can help.

As a firm, we have links with all the major finance providers and a reputation of being able to source and obtain finance for our clients. Whether that’s conventional overdrafts or loans, invoice finance or asset finance we have people who we can turn to.

If you require help in raising or reorganising finance….

Contact: Richard Smith or Graham Richmond
Sage Products & Services

Not only can we supply certain Sage products, we can also offer clients Sage Accounts and Sage Payroll Training.

Whether you are new to Sage and require introductory training, or have been using Sage for some time and require training of an advanced nature, we can help and identify the training required for the needs of your business.

Sage training is normally carried out at your own business premises on a one-to-one basis or in small groups and tailored to suit the needs of your business.

If you would like to know more about Sage Training...

Contact: Pat Stopford
Taking Your Business Forward

This is an area which often gets neglected. We spend too much time working “in the business” and not enough time working “on the business”.

Do you have a strategic plan and know where you personally want to be in say the next 5-10 years, and where you want the business to be?

If you don’t then you need our help......

1) Planning day
2) Action Plan
3) Implement review

Firstly we will start with a planning day which will focus entirely on you and your business and will draw out all the key issues. This will provide you with an Action Plan.

We recognise that you cannot do it all overnight but you can make a start. Let us be the catalyst to take your business forward.....

Contact: Brian Stopford or Richard Smith

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