Starfish Accounting

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Starfish Accounting

Accounting, bookkeeping and tax advice for growing businesses

Starfish Accounting is here to help your start-up or existing small business with more than just accurate accounts – we’ll also give you ongoing advice and support to help you succeed. Based at our home office in Maidenhead, Berkshire, we can help you if you are in West London, Berkshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire or anywhere else within striking distance. Starfish Accounting is owned

and run by Georgina Rollings, ACA, whose experience in both the corporate environment and in small business management will help you get your business off the ground and soaring towards success.

19/06/2026

As part of the Government's "Great British Summer Savings" package, a temporary reduced rate of VAT will apply from 25 June to 1 September 2026.

During this period, a 5% VAT rate will apply to certain family-focused activities, including:

- Children's meals consumed on the premises of restaurants, cafés and similar establishments (where they are specifically marketed as children's meals)
- Children's cinema, theatre, show and concert tickets
- Admissions to qualifying attractions suitable for children, including amusement parks, museums, heritage sites, zoos and soft play centres. Interestingly, the reduced rate applies to all admissions, regardless of the visitor's age.

For businesses operating in these sectors, it's important to understand how these temporary changes affect your pricing, VAT accounting and systems.

As always, the detail matters when it comes to VAT. If you're unsure whether your business qualifies or how to apply the reduced rate correctly, we're here to help.

18/06/2026

Should I choose an electric vehicle for my company car?

As accountants, we’ve been asked plenty of times – “should I get a company car?” Up until recently, our answer was usually no. But new tax incentives relating to electric vehicles mean we’re shifting our thinking towards an overwhelming YES.

With government incentives and new models bringing greater capabilities to the market, having an electric vehicle for your company car is fast becoming the best option for business driving.

Check out our blog to learn more: https://www.starfishaccounting.co.uk/blog/sustainability-topics/electric-vehicle-company-car/

17/06/2026

Bookkeeping: the quiet hero of every successful business.

It’s not the most glamorous part of running a business, but it is the foundation on which everything else is built.

When your books are up to date and accurate, you can:
✅ See where your money’s going
✅ Make better decisions, faster
✅ Stay on top of cash flow
✅ Avoid tax-time stress
✅ Spot problems before they grow

Good bookkeeping doesn’t just keep you compliant, it keeps you confident.

So if your bookkeeping’s fallen to the bottom of the to-do list, maybe this is your sign to bump it back up. We're here if you need a hand.

16/06/2026

- Insure The Key Person

The success of the business may rest on one individual, and insurance (key person insurance) may be taken out to protect against loss of profits resulting from the death, critical illness, accident, or injury of that person. This may provide peace of mind.

As an added benefit, the premiums on such a policy are allowable in calculating the profits of a company or a partnership (but not a sole trader) if the sole purpose of taking out the insurance is to meet a loss of trading income arising from the loss of services of a key person, rather than protecting against a capital loss.

15/06/2026

The Government has launched an AI chatbot - but will it be useful for tax queries?

The new AI-powered tool called GOV.UK Chat is now available through the GOV.UK app. Designed to answer questions in plain English, it draws on official government guidance to provide quick responses on a range of topics, including tax.

On the face of it, this sounds like a positive step. Making information more accessible and easier to find can only be a good thing.

However, as with all AI tools, there are some limitations to be aware of:

- It relies on guidance published on GOV.UK and does not draw information from HMRC's detailed manuals.
- It is likely to be most useful for straightforward queries rather than more complex tax situations.
- As it is only available through the GOV.UK app, businesses may wish to consider any privacy or data security implications if staff are accessing it via personal devices.
- AI tools can occasionally provide inaccurate or incomplete answers, so important decisions should never be based solely on AI-generated advice.

We're interested to see how GOV.UK Chat develops and whether it helps make government information more accessible.

We'd be interested to hear about your experience.

12/06/2026

Earlier this week, Emma dodged the rain and attended a very interesting B Social event in London hosted by Bates Wells.

The focus of the event was the Better Business Act, the flagship policy campaign from B Lab UK. Its mission is simple but transformative: to amend UK law so that every company aligns the interests of shareholders with those of wider society and the environment.

As a certified B Corp, this is a topic close to our hearts. We believe businesses have an important role to play in creating positive outcomes not just for shareholders, but also for employees, communities and the planet.

It was inspiring to hear from like-minded organisations and be part of the conversation about how business can be a force for good.

11/06/2026

Accounting isn’t just about numbers. It’s about clarity, confidence, and control.

When you truly understand your finances, you’re not just balancing books; you’re building a future, making better decisions, and unlocking the potential of your business.

At Starfish Accounting, we believe that financial empowerment is the foundation of success.

Let the numbers tell your story!

10/06/2026

This week is a great opportunity to celebrate the beauty and benefits of our outdoor spaces and we'd like to give a special shout-out to one of our wonderful clients, MJT Landscapes Reading.

Founded by Mark Tomlinson in 2004, MJT Landscapes has grown from humble beginnings carrying out garden maintenance and small domestic projects to becoming one of the region's leading landscaping specialists.

Today, their talented team delivers everything from stunning garden transformations and hard landscaping to large-scale commercial projects and groundworks, all with the same commitment to quality, attention to detail and exceptional customer service.

Their expertise has even been recognised at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where they collaborated with Hillier Nurseries on a Gold Medal-winning garden.

Happy National Garden Week to all the gardeners, landscapers and outdoor enthusiasts helping to make our communities greener and more beautiful!

09/06/2026

: Choose the Right Structure for Your Business

When starting (or growing) a business, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right structure. The setup you choose affects:
✔️How your business is taxed
✔️Your liability for debts
✔️Legal and admin requirements
✔️How decisions are made and how you can raise finance

The four most common structures are:

- Sole trader – Simple to set up and you keep all the profits, but you’re personally responsible for all business debts. Profits are taxed as part of your personal income, and Class 4 NICs may also apply.
- Partnership – Similar to sole trader but shared with partners.
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – Flexibility of a partnership but with limited liability protection.
- Limited company – More complex to set up, with filing and compliance obligations at Companies House, but shareholders’ liability is limited to their investment. Companies are taxed separately, and directors have legal duties to uphold.

Your choice will depend on many factors – including your growth plans, appetite for risk, and how you want to manage finances.

Getting this decision right at the outset can save you time, money, and stress later on.

Need guidance on choosing the best structure for your business? We’re here to help.

08/06/2026

Listen to the Humanise The Numbers podcast, which features our very own Georgi Rollings.

Georgi talks about how transparent she and Emma are with the team as business owners. She also shares the number of different ways they communicate with the team, such as quarterly off-site meetings, weekly meetings in the office, and informal catch-ups, to ensure everyone is on the same page.

They have created a safe space at Starfish, which means that if someone is struggling, they don't wait until Friday to put their hand up.

It is a great behind-the-scenes interview, and you can listen here: https://humanisethenumbers.online/episode-159-georgi-rollings-founder-and-co-ceo-at-starfish-accounting/

Address

3rd Floor, 25-29 Queen Street
Maidenhead
SL61NB

Telephone

+441628828855

Website

http://www.starfishaccounting.co.uk/

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