Hornton Financial Services

09/07/2026

HMRC wants to make your life easier. But will there be a catch…

In a recent government tax update is a promise, a full review of the "end-to-end customer journey" for small businesses.

There is the aim for simpler guidance, fewer pain points and a smoother path from start-up to steady state.

It sounds really encouraging but you have to marry this with what is also running alongside the plans. Here's what's also happening:

- Corporation tax late filing penalties have doubled from April 2026 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporation-tax-increases-to-late-filing-penalties/increases-to-corporation-tax-late-filing-penalties

- HMRC is recruiting 5,500 extra compliance caseworkers over the next five years

- Small businesses already account for 40% of the UK's unpaid corporation tax

So, while the front door is getting a new coat of paint, the back office is getting a lot more serious about who's falling behind.

This pattern has been seen before, "Simplification" coupled with "Stricter Enforcement" which tends to arrive hand in hand and the businesses that get caught out aren't usually the ones deliberately cutting corners. They're the ones who assumed a friendlier system meant a more forgiving one.

However, it doesn't, it means there will be fewer excuses.

If your compliance is solid, none of this changes much for you .

But if you are not sure and you don’t have clarity, that uncertainty is exactly what gets expensive.

What's your experience been, are HMRC getting easier to deal with, or just louder about trying?

16/06/2026

We just spoke to a new client, they were looking for a smaller, more personal practice to look after their accounting.

They have been with the same accountants for a number of years but found that they were not receiving the service they once did as the company was bought out by a larger firm. They are passed to different contacts each time they call or email and when they have a query the turnaround can be slow.

They were after a more personal approach with a practice that values the relationship with their client. They want to know who is looking after their business' finances, and who they will be speaking with from one week to the next. They want accountants that know their business and don't have to rely on uninformed generic responses.

We find this more and more, founders and business owners coming to us wanting a smaller practice offering a closer relationship knowing they have the relevant real life experience having worked within corporates and SME's.

Anyone else out their finding this? it seems that there is a growing need for this in our industry?

Email: [email protected]
Web: www.horntonfs.co.uk

01/06/2026

This marvellous young lady is RUNNING FOR JAMES in aid of Katharine House Hospice who went above and beyond for our son James in the 6 months before he passed, Forever 19, and who continue to support our family and many others.

We are so very touched, thank you Catriona Reid

Please give what you can as hospice care is enormously important and makes a huge difference.

This June I’ll be taking part in my third half marathon. This time it’s personal and I’m raising funds… Catriona Reid needs your support for Running for james

26/05/2026

We met a local new client recently….

It’s a good family business and it was impressive what they have achieved over the last couple of years. They have been growing quickly and their enthusiasm really shone through.

After about ten minutes we asked a question, we always ask our prospective clients as it’s a really important one: "What percentage of your revenue comes from your biggest client?"

They said its "About sixty percent, I think. Maybe more."

Not saying anything too dramatic we just pointed out that this was a risk as it can be viewed as a dependency which doesn’t show up in their reporting.

The business is making healthy profits, and they are working really hard, but it felt like this client held too many cards and it needed looking into.

Identifying risks even when things are going well can help sure things up so that you can grow with confidence. We're working on that now.

If your top client walked out next week, how long could you keep going?

Email: [email protected]

Website: Horntonfs.co.uk

19/05/2026

Accounting for Small Businesses is changing....

We talk to a lot of SME owners and what we find is most of them are so focused on running their business day to day, that some of the bigger shifts in how finances can be managed are passing them by.

Here are 4 things to highlight that are changing right now and why they matter to you.

1) Making Tax Digital isn't going away, HMRC now requires digital software for most businesses. Spreadsheets won't cut it much longer. If you haven't switched yet, it's worth doing sooner rather than later.

2) Automation/AI is assisting with the boring stuff, Invoicing, reconciliation, chasing payments. Having good accounting software handles more of this than most people realise. Meaning less admin, fewer errors, more time back.

3) Real time numbers are available and not a luxury anymore. Costs have gone up and margins are tighter, The NIC rise and minimum wage increase hit a lot of small businesses hard.

4) A good finance partner is worth more than compliance. SMEs that work closely with their accountant grow faster on average 11.5% more revenue.

The best financial relationships aren't just about filing returns.

5.7m SMEs in the UK that's 99% of all businesses.

30% of businesses make it past 5 years. Financial visibility is a big part of why.

The businesses that treat their finances as a tool for growth not just a compliance box to tick are the ones that tend to still be here in 5 years' time.

If any of this resonates, we'd love to have a chat.

Questions about your business? We'd love to help.

Email: [email protected]
Website: horntonfs.co.uk

Or message us here.

18/05/2026

Been a while, just setting off to see a potential new client …….

One example of a visit not so long ago was a good business, hardworking with long term customers but like many others now were feeling the squeeze of rising costs with profits under pressure.

They had accounts and were not short of data, but what they did not have was a clear picture of where they were, where they were heading, and what choices they have.

We spent time together discussing the business going through the numbers and what became clear was they wanted a proper forecast not a finger in the air, but a proper view of what was ahead.

So, we began building a provisional set of numbers, a working forecast and a plan that gave a clear picture of their current position and started mapping out a more profitable way forward. It wasn’t a polished report but a practical tool to help them make decisions.

That’s what good FD support looks like for an SME. It's not just about getting the accounts filed and sorting the tax. It's about understanding your business clearly enough to ask the right questions and make better decisions.

If your costs have crept up and profit feels harder now, and this sounds like the kind of support you are looking for drop us a line.

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.horntonfs.co.uk

Or just drop us a message in the comments here.

14/05/2026

You can be profitable on paper and still run out of cash.

It happens more often than you think.

A business with strong sales but with clients that are slow to pay up can face very real issues, with payroll due, suppliers chasing, HMRC expecting payment.

Here are 3 things every founder should build into their business from day one:

· A simple rolling cash flow forecast, so you know what money is coming in and going out

· Establish clear client payment terms for which you are ready to enforce if need be.

· A cash buffer, aim for at least 2 to 3 months of fixed costs.

90% of UK businesses experienced late payments in 2025. The average SME loses almost 90 hours annually chasing invoices. That's almost 2 and a half weeks of time you could spend growing.

Cash flow isn't just an accounting issue it's a strategy issue effecting small and larger firms.

Questions about your business? We would really like to help.

Email us at: [email protected]

Visit us: horntonfs.co.uk

Or message us here.

12/05/2026

It's good to be back. (The picture is just one we like)...

We've missed the routine, the conversations, the clients, the satisfaction of helping someone get to grips with their business finances and feel better for it.

We work with SME's across Oxfordshire and further afield. Some are just getting started, others have been going for years but feel like they're running to stand still. All of them just want someone they can trust to give them a straight answer.

That's what we do.

If you've been meaning to sort your finances out, or just want a chat about where your business is heading, drop us a message.

[email protected]

www.horntonfs.co.uk

05/05/2026

Back at our desk …

After a difficult few weeks, it feels good to be returning to the work we love.

Supporting business owners and listening to their challenges, helping them find clarity, watching them grow is something we genuinely care about and right now, getting back to that feels like exactly the right thing to do.

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with such kindness and support. The business community we are part of has shown us just how generous people can be, and we won't forget that.

Katharine House Hospice were extraordinary in their care and support, and if you ever feel moved to support them, they are truly deserving.

🌐 www.katharinehouse.org.uk

We're here, we're ready, and we're looking forward to reconnecting with clients old and new.

If you've been thinking about getting your finances in better shape, or just want a conversation now is a great time to reach out.

[email protected]
www.horntonfs.co.uk