GM Bookkeeping Services

GM Bookkeeping Services Calm, professional bookkeeping for sole traders and small businesses. Jargon-free support to keep your business on track.

Based in Little Sutton and available virtually, I can handle your daily records or provide one-off tidy-ups. I’m Gill, and I provide a relaxed, flexible bookkeeping service tailored specifically for sole traders and small businesses. Whether you need a one-off tidy-up of your records or regular weekly or monthly support with your paperwork, I’m here to help. From data entry and debtor control to M

TD filing and year-end preparation, I offer a flexible service that fits your needs. My goal is to give you more time to focus on your business, while I deal with the accounts. I can work virtually or in person in Little Sutton, providing clear, jargon-free support that keeps your books in order and ready for your accountant.

Have your accounts started to go a bit pear shaped? Maybe the receipts have piled up in a drawer, your bank reconciliati...
29/05/2026

Have your accounts started to go a bit pear shaped?

Maybe the receipts have piled up in a drawer, your bank reconciliation is months behind, or bookkeeping has simply slipped down the priority list while you focus on running your business. It happens more often than you think. When it does, it can feel like a burden on your shoulders.

A lot of people assume paperwork only matters when it’s time to file your year end information. In some cases, that may feel true, but staying on top of your bookkeeping throughout the year can make a huge difference to your business and your peace of mind. Also, with new rules regarding MTD, you may need to be filing quarterly.

Ask yourself:
✔ Do you know what profit or loss you made last month?
✔ Can you see whether every customer has paid you?
✔ Do you know how much money is actually available to spend?
✔ Are you setting enough aside for your tax bill?
✔ Are your records ready for VAT or MTD filing requirements?

I offer a one-off tidy up service for sole traders and small businesses who need help getting their records organised and back up to date. There’s no pressure to commit to ongoing bookkeeping support if that’s not what you need. Sometimes a fresh start and getting back on track is enough.

If you think that this is a service that you could benefit from, then please drop me a message.

Myth Busting:Think a bookkeeper is only for big businesses? Not at all. I work with sole traders and small businesses wh...
27/05/2026

Myth Busting:

Think a bookkeeper is only for big businesses? Not at all. I work with sole traders and small businesses who just want to know their numbers are right and up to date. Whether you're just starting out or have been going for years, I can help. Please send me a message if you would like to find out more.

Why submitting your tax return early benefits you.- If your taxable income has dropped, compared with last year, you cou...
15/05/2026

Why submitting your tax return early benefits you.

- If your taxable income has dropped, compared with last year, you could be due a tax refund. Makes better sense for you to have the overpayment in your bank account.

- calculating your tax due for the 2025 - 2026 tax year now gives you a heads up of what you need to have saved up by 31 January 2027. Completing your tax return now doesn't mean you have to make payment now, but will help with financial planning.

- if you've been required to make a payment on account (so in January and July), you may be paying too much if your taxable income has dropped. Doing your return now gives you time to reduce your payments on account, which will affect the July payment.

- January is the deadline for getting your return filed AND tax paid. It doesn't give you much time to plan, so get it done now to avoid any last minute panic.

Although I don't file the tax return, in order for you or your accountant to do so, you need your accounts prepared. Have you fallen behind? Give me shout.

If you are looking for extra help with your books, looking to reduce accountancy fees or have a bookkeeping question, th...
11/05/2026

If you are looking for extra help with your books, looking to reduce accountancy fees or have a bookkeeping question, then please get in touch.

A new client came to me recently asking if I could help bring their paperwork up to date. Totally normal, life gets busy...
03/05/2026

A new client came to me recently asking if I could help bring their paperwork up to date.

Totally normal, life gets busy when you're running a business on your own. But as I worked through everything, I noticed that two sales invoices, over 3 months old, appeared to be unpaid. Confirmed with my client that they hadn't received cash, the client had no idea they were outstanding. The invoices had slipped through the cracks while they were busy doing what they do best. Once I flagged it, they were able to chase their customer straight away and got paid.

This is exactly why regular bookkeeping isn't just about tax returns and keeping HMRC happy. It's about having someone in your corner who spots the things you're too busy to see.

If you're a sole trader, your time is spent on the job, not on spreadsheets. And that's how it should be. But your invoices deserve to get paid.

📩 Drop me a message if you'd like a chat about getting your books in order. No jargon, no judgement, just clear, simple support for people who work hard for themselves.

How to work out your hourly rate as a sole trader 🔧One of the most common mistakes tradespeople make is pulling a number...
30/04/2026

How to work out your hourly rate as a sole trader 🔧

One of the most common mistakes tradespeople make is pulling a number out of thin air — or just copying what a mate charges. Here's a simple way to work out your rate properly, using some realistic numbers.

Start with what you actually need to earn Write down all your personal monthly outgoings — mortgage or rent, food, bills, fuel, everything. That's your baseline. You're not working for fun, you're running a business that has to pay your life.

Be honest about your real working hours You might have 40 hours a week available, but not all of those are chargeable. Every hour spent quoting jobs, chasing invoices, ordering materials, or doing your books is time you're not billing anyone. Allow 5–8 hours a week for admin and non-chargeable tasks — so realistically you're left with around 32–35 chargeable hours per week.

Factor in holidays and the odd sick day too — around 5 weeks a year where you're not earning. That leaves you with roughly 47 working weeks.

So your real chargeable hours look something like this: 33 hours (average) × 47 weeks = around 1,550 chargeable hours a year

Add up your fixed business costs These come out whether you're busy or not — insurance, tools, van, fuel, phone, any subscriptions. Whatever that monthly figure is, multiply it by 12 and add it to what you need to earn.

Don't forget the tax bill A chunk of everything you earn goes to HMRC. Most sole traders should be setting aside around 25% for tax and National Insurance. If you don't build this in, your rate is lying to you.

📊 Let's run the numbers

Say you need £30,000 a year to cover your personal bills and take-home pay, and your fixed business costs are £500 a month (£6,000 a year).

Personal income needed £30,000
Fixed business costs £6,000
Tax & NI buffer (25%) £7,500
Total you need to earn £43,500

Now divide by your chargeable hours:

£43,500 ÷ 1,550 hours = £28.06 per hour (break-even)

Add a 15% profit margin on top: £32.27 per hour

So a rounded rate of £33–£35 per hour is where you'd want to be — just to keep the lights on and put something back into the business.

And always charge materials separately. Your time is your time. Materials should never come out of your labour rate.

If your current rate is lower than what's calculated, it's worth having a proper look at your numbers. This is exactly the kind of thing a good bookkeeper can help you work through — and for most tradespeople, it's a real eye-opener.

HMRC Payment on AccountIf your profits for the year ended 5 April 2026 have dropped, or you have tax reliefs that have r...
24/04/2026

HMRC Payment on Account

If your profits for the year ended 5 April 2026 have dropped, or you have tax reliefs that have reduced your taxable income, you may benefit from reducing your payments on account due in July. But this should only be done if your tax bill has dropped.

Get your year-end accounts completed early and submit your tax return to confirm whether you should reduce your payment on account.

A quick poll...In recent conversations with clients, there's been a real sense that things are feeling a little tough at...
15/04/2026

A quick poll...

In recent conversations with clients, there's been a real sense that things are feeling a little tough at present, with one reason or another. If you compare your business to this time last year, how are you doing financially?

Vote:
❤️Better Off
👍About the same
😢Worse off

Did You Know? 🤔Your accounting software's "auto-categorise" feature can guess wrong! That Amazon purchase might be label...
15/04/2026

Did You Know? 🤔

Your accounting software's "auto-categorise" feature can guess wrong!

That Amazon purchase might be labelled "Office Supplies" when it was actually a personal purchase. Or that Currys purchase gets classed as fixed assets, but it's actually ink for your printer!

Incorrect categorisation can skew your reports and could affect your tax bill.

A bookkeeper ensures every transaction is correctly categorised, giving you a true picture of your finances. Automation doesn't mean correctness.

14/04/2026

Things no one tells you about starting a business…?

Share your thoughts ...

It’s always a good idea at the start of the tax year to review how much you’re setting aside for your tax bill.When you’...
13/04/2026

It’s always a good idea at the start of the tax year to review how much you’re setting aside for your tax bill.

When you’re employed, tax is deducted automatically each time you’re paid.

When you’re self-employed, you receive a lump sum tax bill instead. Because of this, it’s important to set money aside regularly — ideally from each payment you receive — into a separate savings pot.

If this is something you already do, what percentage do you put aside?

A simple approach is to save between 18% and 25% of your income. This can help reduce stress when payments are due in January.

You may want to lean towards the higher end of this range if you need to cover payments on account, particularly in your early years of trading or if you’ve fallen behind with your savings.

Address

Greenbank Avenue, Little Sutton
Ellesmere Port
CH661PJ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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