Profit Cash Growth

Having more than one limited company feels like smart planning until it pushes your business into a completely different tax regime. In this episode, we unpack why the £1.5 million corporation tax threshold isn't a single number, it's a number that gets divided across every company you control, and why that catches so many growing businesses off guard. If you've ever set up a company because "that's what everyone does" for property or acquisitions, this one is for you.

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Claire covers one of the most overlooked tax reliefs for business owners who own their own building: capital allowances on commercial property. Prompted by a listener story about a business that missed out on hundreds of thousands of pounds in claims, this episode breaks down what capital allowances actually are, why most accountants never mention them, and what to do before you sign anything on a commercial property purchase.

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We go head to head in a battle off: the five things that have genuinely moved the needle for our businesses over the last 25 years. No rehearsed answers, no overlap discussed in advance, just two founders picking apart what actually built the business versus what just felt busy. It's a useful exercise for any owner who wants to get clear on what would hurt most if it disappeared tomorrow.

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Most business owners have never heard of the apprenticeship levy, and it's costing them thousands of pounds in training they could be getting for free or close to it. In this episode, Claire and Simon explain exactly how the levy works, why it isn't just for school leavers, and how any business, including the owner themselves, can use it to fund everything from AI upskilling to a full charter accountancy qualification.

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Most business owners only track the time between issuing an invoice and getting paid, and wonder why cash still feels tight. In this episode, Claire Hancott breaks down the customer journey cash cycle: the full picture of how long money is actually out of your business before it comes back in. If you're spending on marketing, taking on new work, or thinking about scaling up, this episode shows you exactly what you need to know before you commit more cash.

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Claire talks through three real client scenarios from the last few weeks where business owners came to her wanting to take on debt, and she told all three of them not to. This episode breaks down why, what she suggested instead, and how a genuine growth opportunity can look identical to a cash flow problem you haven't fixed yet. If you're weighing up a loan right now, listen before you sign anything.

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Should you be including your labour costs in your gross profit? Claire breaks down why this simple question trips up more business owners than almost any other line on the P&L, and why getting it wrong can make a good month look bad and a bad month look good. If your gross margin swings wildly for reasons you can't explain, this episode is for you.

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Why do businesses actually fail? Not the vague, one-size-fits-all answer, but the five specific ways it really happens to owner-managed businesses turning over between £1 million and £20 million. In this episode, Claire and Simon work through the five most common causes of business failure, then rank them from least to most dangerous based on what Claire sees across hundreds of client businesses. This one is essential listening for any founder who wants to spot the warning signs before they become terminal.

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Most business owners think "cash flow" means one number on one report. Claire breaks down why that single view is exactly what leaves profitable businesses caught short, unable to pay a VAT bill they never saw coming. In this episode, Claire walks through the three distinct ways every business needs to look at its cash, and why relying on just one of them creates a blind spot that can catch even a genuinely profitable business off guard.

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How did Poland go from earning 16p for every pound a British person earned to 83p in just 25 years? And more importantly, what does that extraordinary economic transformation mean for the way you run your business? In this episode, Claire and Simon break down the eight key decisions that turned Poland into Europe's greatest economic success story, and apply each one directly to what growing businesses can learn from them.

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What would Andy Burnham's Britain actually mean for your business? In this episode, Claire and Simon run through the policies being floated under potential new leadership, from national insurance changes and business rate cuts to flat-rate inheritance tax and a radical property tax overhaul. This is a frank, commercial take on what might change, what's already been ruled out, and why the gap between GDP growth and how business owners actually feel deserves more attention than it gets.

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This week Claire breaks down a court case that sounds like a joke but has serious implications for any business that sells products or services as part of a bundle. The KFC sauce pot VAT case has opened the door for businesses across food, retail, and beyond to look again at how they are charging VAT, and possibly claim some of it back. If you run a business that bundles products or services together for one price, this episode is worth ten minutes of your time.

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This week Simon and Claire dig into the biggest business story of the year so far: SpaceX's $1.7 trillion stock market flotation, which has made Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. They use it as the jumping-off point for a plain-English deep dive into what an IPO actually is, where the idea came from, and whether any of this matters if you're running a six or seven figure business rather than a space company.

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Rachel Reeves announced seven policy changes outside of the normal fiscal calendar, and Claire Hancott breaks down exactly what they mean for business owners and the people running them. From the mileage rate increase that's been frozen for 15 years to the VAT cut on kids' hospitality that might never reach consumers, this episode cuts through the noise to tell you what actually changes for your business and what is just headlines.

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What should your monthly management accounts actually look like, and what should they be telling you? In this episode, Claire walks business owners through exactly what Profit Cash Growth delivers to clients on a monthly basis, from the executive summary to the cash flow forecast to the taxes tab, and explains why the goal of every number is to drive a decision in the next 30 days.

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Your year-end accounts are not a management tool. For business owners turning over seven figures, waiting for annual accounts to understand how your business is performing is not just inefficient; it is genuinely dangerous. In this episode, Claire breaks down exactly why statutory accounts were never designed to help you run your business, and what better financial reporting actually looks like.

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In this episode we took a factory tour of Bremont, one of the UK's only luxury watch manufacturers, and walked away with something we didn't expect: a masterclass in how to build a brand that commands premium prices, generates genuine desire, and attracts exactly the right customers. This episode is for any business owner who wants to understand how positioning, scarcity, and storytelling translate into real commercial results.

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This episode is a practical commercial audit for business owners who want to understand whether their business is genuinely protected from competition, or whether they're one well-funded rival away from a serious problem. Claire and Simon dig into Porter's Five Forces, specifically the threat of new entrants, and map out the real-world strategies six and seven-figure business owners can use to build a defensible position before the market moves around them.

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Most business owners think hedging is something airlines and banks do. It isn't. It's something every business with uncertain costs or foreign income is already doing badly — or not doing at all. In this episode, Claire explains what hedging actually is, where it shows up in business and everyday life, and how businesses between £1m and £20m can use it to protect their margins and make smarter decisions.

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What hedging actually means in simple terms, and why most people are already doing it without knowing

Why certainty nearly always beats chas...

On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast Simon and Claire discuss what happens when your reported profits don’t match the cash sitting in your bank. They open with a short news note about low consumer confidence in the UK and then move into the main topic: the gap between equity (retained profits) and cash.

Claire explains how to calculate the gap (equity less total cash in bank accounts), what a positive gap means (profit tied up in the business), and why many healthy‑profit companies still have empty bank accounts. They reveal the common culp...

If you've been thinking about changing accountants but keep putting it off, this episode is for you. Claire breaks down exactly why business owners stay with the wrong accountant for too long, demystifies the switching process from start to finish, and explains why the fear of moving is almost always bigger than the reality. Whether you're at half a million or heading toward seven figures, this is the practical conversation you've been avoiding.

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Why the fear of switching accountants is almost always bigger than the reality, and what's actually driving it.

This week we break down Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax and explain what it means for six- and seven-figure business owners, landlords and the self-employed. Claire defines MTD, why HMRC is moving to digital records and quarterly updates, and how the change affects people with rental income or sole-trader/self-employed turnover.

They cover who is in scope (personal rental income and self-employment turnover), the current and planned thresholds (50k in April 2026, falling to 30k then 20k in later years), what’s excluded (limited companies, salary/dividends, LLPs and most partnerships), and practical steps: using compatible so...

On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast we tackle a debated question: when does a small business become a big business? Aimed at six- and seven-figure business owners, the conversation explores practical frameworks to understand scale, profitability and growth.

We run a four-round "battle-off" covering metrics (turnover, headcount, locations and funding), the subsidy argument (who deserves public support and when), founder dependency (can the business run without its owner?) and lifestyle versus scalability (choice to stay small vs intent to grow).

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On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth podcast, hosts discuss the race to use annual tax allowances before the 5th of April and share practical tips for six- and seven-figure business owners to protect profits and improve cash flow.

The deep guide covers six year-end tax actions you can take now: use the Employment Allowance (up to £10,500 of employer NIC relief), consider the annual pension allowance (up to £60,000 and up to three years’ carry-back), claim directors’ trivial benefits (up to £300 each), use the £150 per head tax-free staff event allowance, book the company-funded annual health check, and review y...

In this sequel episode, we explore five things business owners often don’t worry enough about: cash flow timing, business model quality, funding strategy, over-reliance on the owner (key-person risk), and skill stagnation. We share real-world examples and practical advice on how to spot and address these issues before they derail growth.

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This episode breaks down the five common overreactions we see from business owners: obsessing over competitors, panicking about tax bills, fixating on vanity metrics (like revenue or social followers), overinvesting in branding or premises, and fearing one wrong decision.

Simon and Claire explain why these concerns are often misplaced and share practical ways to focus on what matters: profit, cash and sustainable growth.

The hosts also offer quick tips—plan cashflow for tax liabilities, prioritise niche execution over constant comparison, use meaningful metrics, avoid expensive branding traps early on, and learn to recognise reversible (B) de...

In this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast we focus on AI in the finance function: Xero’s AI bank reconciliation feature (its limitations and risks), OCR and machine‑learning invoice processing (Dext, others), AI commentary tools for management accounts (Sift, Fathom, DataRails), and the wider question of whether AI can replace CFOs, accountants or bookkeepers. The discussion explains where current tools help, where they fail, and why human nuance, trust and complete data capture remain critical.

Key takeaways: current AI tools can speed up tasks and act as copilots but often introduce errors without careful over...

In this episode, we explain why debt itself isn't dangerous but the wrong debt or bad decisions can be. Claire walks through the four most common types of business finance — asset finance, term loans, commercial mortgages and invoice finance — and when each is appropriate.

Core principles covered: match the length and type of funding to what you're buying, distinguish short-term operating needs from long-term investments, and decide whether financing is for growth or survival. Claire gives practical tips on ease of approval, typical terms, and pitfalls like overpaying or becoming trapped on invoice finance.

Finish with...

In this week's episode we deliver a fast-paced run-through of 20 legitimate tax savings for business owners. The episode mixes practical tax tips with lighthearted chat and a brief news segment on AI.

Highlights include the £300 annual entertaining allowance per couple, low 3% benefit-in-kind for electric company cars and first-year full expensing, turning business trips into leisure, free EV charging at work, length-of-service gifts, suggestion scheme rewards, annual health checks, pension contributions up to £60k (with possible backdating), eye tests, software and subscriptions guidance, snacks and trivial benefits, air miles and reward points, rules on memberships and workwear, mobile de...

On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast, we outline the three levels of financial support every growing business needs: Financial Foundations (compliance, bookkeeping, basic management accounts), Financial Control (a qualified financial controller focusing on processes, reporting, cashflow and forecasting), and Finance Strategy (regular FD input for board-level planning, KPIs, tax planning and high-impact decisions).

We explain when to move between stages, common mistakes (hiring the cheapest accountant or the wrong FD), and why good finance systems free the owner to focus on growth.

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On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast we explain the fastest way to increase profit without making more sales: improve utilisation.

We break utilisation into six asset categories — people, equipment and vehicles, property and space, systems and software, customer lists/data, and working capital — and give clear metrics and tactics to measure and improve each one (revenue per employee, revenue per vehicle, revenue per square foot, features used vs. paid, active customer rates, debtor days and working capital cycle).

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On this episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast we unpack the "thousand-day rule"—why building a stable, profitable business usually takes years and how you can speed that timeline up. We break down the reality behind overnight-success myths, and share five practical ways to shorten the journey: work more on your business (not just in it), hire the right people to free your time, get others contributing to strategic work, adopt technology and automation, and invest in upskilling, mentors and coaching.

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The episode explains HMRC's renewed focus on the £40bn tax gap, the government’s investment in compliance staff and data tools, and why accurate record-keeping (primary and secondary records, VAT invoices, addressed invoices over £250) matters now more than ever.

We cover common trouble spots — Amazon and marketplace invoices, landlord rental income, work-from-home claims, software subscriptions and benefit-in-kind risks — and give practical guidance: keep clear records, be cautious with VAT claims, and consult a specialist accountant if you discover mistakes.

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In this episode, we explore how adding friction to payment processes can hurt your cash flow and what to do about it. Explaining why offering only one payment method loses you time and money, and introduces the idea of treating customers as "B2Me" — giving each buyer a choice of convenient payment options. The goal is to remove barriers so customers can pay quickly and reliably.

The episode outlines seven low-cost, practical technologies you can implement: direct debit (GoCardless with Xero), Xero PayByStatement links, phone-based tap-to-pay, bank QR codes, pay-now buttons on invoices, and card-payment links (e.g...

This week on the podcast, if you're thinking of buying a business in 2026, stay tuned as we give you five easy steps to assess it. 

Claire walks through a practical five-step checklist for an initial buy-side assessment: 1) check cash in the bank versus short-term liabilities to see if the business really has excess cash; 2) calculate adjusted EBITDA to understand underlying operating profitability; 3) review the balance sheet for assets, liabilities and signs the finance function needs cleanup; 4) identify what’s wrong (risks) and quick wins (opportunities) that could boost profit; and 5) model how the business would integrate with the...

In the final episode of our mini-series and the hosts explore five practical ways for six- and seven-figure business owners to grow their businesses in 2026.

The five growth strategies covered are: revenue expansion (sell more to your existing customers using tools like the Ultimate Sales Spreadsheet); maintain and ramp up marketing and advertising even in tough times; keep your opportunity radar on to spot acquisitions, assets and competitor exits and use a hit list to prioritise; immerse yourself in new technology and AI to speed decisions, boost productivity and free headspace; and systemise everything so your business...

In part two of our 100th-episode mini-series, hosts Simon and Clare Hancott explain why cash flow is the lifeblood of business and share five practical ways to improve it. Designed for six- and seven-figure business owners, this episode covers quick changes you can make now to build a safety buffer and seize opportunities in a volatile 2026.

They walk through five steps: control when money leaves your bank with structured payment runs; make it frictionless for customers to pay (direct debit, card links and modern payment tools); track the payment habits of your top customers; use government payment...

Join the Profit Cash Growth Podcast as they celebrate their 100th episode and launch a three-part mini-series to kickstart 2026. In this first episode, Claire Hancott and her co-host focus on actionable ways to Increase Your Profits without chasing new customers.

The episode covers five practical steps business owners can apply right away: review and raise pricing regularly, challenge supplier price increases, improve utilisation of assets and teams, review recurring direct debits, and understand margins by product, service, or customer.

Tune in tomorrow for part two, Improve Your Cashflow, and the following day for Grow Your...

Welcome to this special New Year episode of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast. Recorded between Christmas and New Year, the episode is a 2025 rewind that highlights the year’s most downloaded shows, our personal favourites and the key lessons for six- and seven-figure business owners who want to grow profits and improve cashflow.

Listen for practical frameworks, worksheets and links in the show notes (including a KPI worksheet), sign-up details for their newsletter, and guidance on when it’s time to upgrade your finance team or challenge your current accountant. This episode is a compact, actionable New Year...

Join us for a light-hearted Christmas special of the Profit Cash Growth Podcast. This episode is a festive quiz that tests business knowledge across five rounds: Christmas economics, festive business history and brands, seasonal accounting and tax, the Christmas supply chain, and a final surprise round.

Expect lots of banter, mistakes, laughs, and useful takeaways for six- and seven-figure business owners who want a festive break from serious business talk while still picking up helpful insights.

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