These services are all designed to help you make more of a success of your business.

Each service has its own question and answer sheet, which provides an outline of that service.

Each of these services will involve you the proprietor in a question and answer session with me the consultant, this may be followed by more detailed investigation, before a written report is produced. In some instances we may offer to help you implement our recommendations.

Often small businesses, even one-man bands, can enjoy massive benefits from our consultancy services. The economic principles which apply to small businesses are remarkably similar to those which apply to big business.

The benefits can be as diverse as the subject matter: more sales, more profit, a better price for the business, less risk, less stress, a better quality of life…

We help you to focus on the management of the business, we help you to analyse and resolve problems. We provide a confidential and unbiased sounding board for your ideas, but we also contribute our analytical skills, our knowledge of a wide range of businesses, and our knowledge of a wide range of business techniques.

A minimum consultancy session will take half a day, you will receive a report and that will be it.

At the other end of the scale a business coaching contract will start with a couple of full day sessions and be followed by numerous telephone calls and half days for as long as it takes.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

We will analyse the cost breakdown of your products and business and will create a simple model of how profit varies with price and output.

We will consider whether a pricing strategy can be developed differentiated by product or by customer.

We will consider whether there are any added value products or services that can be tagged on to your core product.

We will provide any information that we can obtain about the market(s) in which your business operates.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Often small businesses, even one-man bands, can enjoy massive benefits from our consultancy services. The economic principles which apply to small businesses are remarkably similar to those which apply to big business.

Pricing is extremely difficult, and many businesses find themselves in a pricing trap (trapped between the fear of not enough work and the reality of not enough profit). We can suggest a number of ways out of this dilemma.

The whole objective of this consultancy is to help you make more profit.

A minimum consultancy session will take half a day, you will receive a report and that will be it.

We suggest you phone up for a quotation.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

We will analyse your credit control procedure from taking the order to banking the cheque.

There can be more than 20 stages to the credit control process.

We will provide a full report and recommendations, but we also provide also proforma letters, advice on using companies house, credit agencies, reservation of title, credit insurance, factoring, the courts and solicitors.

Sometimes the use of our expertise will cause bad debtors to pay up immediately and more than is actually due.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any business that provides its goods or services on credit.

It may take you £1,000 of sales to add £100 to the bottom line but £1,000 of bad debt will cost you £1,000……

A minimum consultancy session will take half a day, you will receive a report and that will be it.

We may offer further support if appropriate. We suggest you phone up for a quotation.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

We can also offer seminar training on cash collection and the credit control cycle if required.

Granting Credit

• Setting a minimum
• Getting Accounts
• Using a credit agency
• Using in-house knowledge
• Setting a limit

Monitoring Credit.

Setting Terms.

• Payment Period
• Reservation of title
• Prompt Payment discounts

The Importance of Invoicing.

• Data Capture
• Prompt invoicing

The Chasing Cycle

• Statement
• First Letter
• Telephone Call
• Second Letter
• County Court Summons.
• Account on Stop
• Activating Reservation of title.

Credit Insurance

Factoring

Collection Agencies

Solicitors

We will work with you to analyse every aspect of your business.

We will be looking for

• Strengths (upon which you can build)
• Weaknesses (and ways to counter them)
• Opportunities (and ways to exploit them)
• Threats (and ways to counter them).

The purpose of this session is to help you stand back from the business and to find ways of more effectively at fulfilling your goals.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any businessman who wants to improve the effectiveness of his business.

This session should help you to focus upon those activities most likely to make a difference to your future prosperity. Most importantly by taking time out to think about your business, and improve the focus of your activities, the session helps you to take control of the business and not visa versa.

It would be unusual for a business analysis to take less than one full day. You may choose to progress from a business analysis to a more focused business consultancy or to a full-blown business coaching service. We suggest you phone up for a quotation.

A full day session plus report costs £950

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

HORNBEAM CONSULTANCY AND BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

Even the smallest businesses constantly face strategic decisions. Whether to grow, contract or remain steady, whether to carry on, wind down, or sell up. Whether to invest or not to invest, whether to borrow or not to borrow, where to get skilled employees, then how to motivate and incentivise those employees, whether to go for low unit costs or high quality or both.

We can help you look at all the interlocking aspects of your business and develop a coherent strategy for developing your business. We will apply an extensive knowledge of business management and economic theory to the practicalities of your business.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any businessman who wants to develop a coherent strategic plan for his business.

I like the saying

A strategic plan will help you to get the most from your business. To develop in the direction you want to go, and to react quickly and effectively to opportunities and threats.

This depends upon how complex your business is and how well we know your business. We suggest you phone up for a quotation.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

All businesses should be constantly reviewing their costs and productivity. ‘Because if you are not, your competitors are!’

Most productivity theories are simple ideas dressed up in jargon. We will help you to identify practices which can increase your productivity and drive down your costs.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any businessman who is looking for ways to drive down his costs.

A low cost base and a world class production system, are the best foundation upon which to build a successful business.

This depends upon how complex your business is and how well we know your business. We suggest you phone up for a quotation.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

Most businesses face special projects at some time or other. This may be taking on new premises, buying another business, taking on new staff, investing in new plant, taking on a massive new contract, or any of the thousand and one projects that face businesses.

We can help you make a risk analysis, and a cost-benefit analysis.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any businessman who is considering a project which needs careful evaluation.

We can draw on a wide range of experience, having helped many client businesses with project evaluation, and a knowledge of project evaluation techniques. Fundamentally, we can provide a completely independent, absolutely confidential second opinion and sounding-board.

This depends upon how complex your project is and how much you want us to contribute. We have in the past played the lead roll in purchase negotiations, which takes a lot of time, right down to simply discussing projects over the phone.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

Most businesses need to raise finance at some time or another. We can help you to assess the quantity of finance needed, set out the types and sources of finance available, and help you present your case to potential lenders or investors.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Any business in need of funding or investment.

We can draw on a wide range of experience, having helped many client businesses with the whole cycle of raising finance. Drawing up business plans, income projections and cash-flow forecasts is something of a specialty for this practice.

This depends upon how complex your funding requirement is and how much you want us to contribute.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

Perhaps the biggest sale that most businesspeople ever make is when they come to sell the business that they have built up. We can advise on

• Building up your business for sale
• Planning for your retirement
• Making provision for business continuity
• Valuing your business
• Getting the most for your business
• Handing over to your children
• Making best use of tax allowances for business disposals
• Structuring your withdrawal from the business
• Negotiating the sale
• What next

Any person who wants to consider how to get the best outcome when they withdraw from the business that they have set up.

Many business people allow their businesses to wind down as they get towards retirement, we can help you to avoid this by putting a value on your business, helping you to find or cultivate potential purchasers, helping you to get the best deal to achieve your personal goals and pay the least possible tax.

Planning for retirement and business continuity will almost inevitably stretch over many years, but we should be able to set you thinking with one half-hour session.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

One of the core skills to be expected of any accountant is the ability to establish the basic record keeping systems of a business. From simply writing up a cashbook, through to developing full internal controls for a branch network we can help. We can help with all stages of:

• Analysing the requirement
• Designing the systems
• Selecting computer systems
• Implementation and training
• Preparing systems notes

Any business that requires help with their systems of data capture and recording.

Good quality accounting systems have the following attributes:

• They are cost-effective (minimising paper handling and data input)
• They produce reliable records (which take the worry out of VAT and tax inspections)
• They control possible sources of loss
• They return control to management.

This will depend how complex is the system with which you require assistance

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

To book your BOOKKEEPING AND DATA RECORDING SYSTEMS session phone Hornbeam Accountancy Services Ltd on 01603 720424 and ask for Phil Needham

Almost any business or individual can take any number of fully legal measures to minimise their tax burden. We can look at everything including the following

• VAT planning
• Payroll taxes
• Motor vehicles
• Structuring of investments and loans
• Partnerships and Incorporation
• Employment of family members
• Capital Taxes

From a standing start we will first seek to find out about your business and private affairs, and will try to find areas where we can help you to reduce your tax liabilities.

If you have a particular problem, we are always willing to look for solutions.

We will provide you with a written report and recommendations in plain English.

Virtually anybody

Most people find the value of reduced tax liabilities particularly easy to appreciate.

This will depend how complex is the problem with which you require assistance, but for most people a general tax health check can be completed in a half day session.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

To book your TAX PLANNING session phone Hornbeam Accountancy Services Ltd on 01603 720424 and ask for Nicky Cooper

Use of sub-contractors allows a modern business to keep its cost base flexible to meet peeks and troughs of demand. Furthermore subcontractors are generally not entitled to; holiday pay, sick pay, redundancy, notice pay, much legislation that pertains to ‘employees’, and they do not attract 12.8% employers national insurance. The trouble is that English law is magnificently woolly in its definition of what constitutes self-employment.

We can help you understand the legislation.

We can help you set up your contractual terms and procedures to ensure that you are as far as possible from the ‘grey area’ which might become the subject of an Inland Revenue Status Enquiry.

Anyone wishing to use self-employed sub-contractors. Construction industry a speciality, but we have experience of computer consultants, business consultants, marketing consultants, bookkeepers, oil engineers, aviation engineers, and many others

We can also help the self-employed and one-man companies effected by IR35

Whilst the benefits of using sub contractors are pretty obvious, the dangers of losing a status enquiry are less so. But just tot up the 12.8% employers National Insurance on a £20,000 subcontractor back for six years multiplied by ?? subcontractors and you can see that losing a status enquiry can be very expensive. Anyone using subcontractor should seek advice and implement suggestions.

For most businesses a self-employment consultancy can be completed in one or two half-day sessions.

A half day session plus report costs £550 + VAT

A full day session plus report costs £950 + VAT

Longer contracts will be a multiple of the daily rate.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

To book your USE OF SUBCONTRACTORS session phone Hornbeam Accountancy Services Ltd on 01603 720424 and ask for Phil Needham or Andrew Bloy.

If you are working harder than ever before, but earning less money and going nowhere, then we can help you. By bringing our analytical skills, experience, and independence to the table we can help you to identify what needs to be done and provide support with implementation.

If you have a successful business and you want to take it further we will be delighted to help you identify and evaluate your options, then implement your business plan.

Business coaching is a long-term procedure whereby you and we commit to the improvement of your business. Probably many of the 11 business support services listed above will be implemented.

Anyone who wants to develop their business and who is seeking expert help. The role of the business coach is like that of a non-executive director. To help you get what you want from your business over the medium term.

We can help you to develop and achieve your goals

A business coaching consultancy is for the long term, and takes many forms. There can be full day sessions or five-minute telephone conversations.

The charges for a full blown business coaching service are likely to be negotiated.

If you are not satisfied with any half or full day consultancy session then you can have the session free. The only requirement we have is that you do not allow us carry out a further session before you tell us of your dissatisfaction.

To book your BUSINESS COACHING session phone Hornbeam Accountancy Services Ltd on 01603 720424 and ask for Phil Needham or Andrew Bloy.