August 4th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Santander has today (4 August 2026) launched a new range of Fixed Rate ISAs, offering competitive rates of up to 4.70% AER/tax-free, alongside rewarding customers who transfer in an ISA from an external provider, with up to £400 in hotel vouchers.

The new range includes two top-of-market rates among high street providers for a three-year (4.65%) and five-year (4.70%) fixed rate ISA.

The new Fixed Rate ISA range¹ includes:

• 1 Year Fixed Rate ISA (12 months): 4.50% AER/tax-free
• 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA (24 months): 4.50% AER/tax-free
• 3 Year Fixed Rate ISA (36 months): 4.65% AER/tax-free
• 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA (60 months): 4.70% AER/tax-free

To help customers make even more of their savings, Santander is offering those who transfer a full ISA with a minimum balance of £25,000 from another provider into a Santander ISA up to £400 in TLC hotel vouchers², which can be used across 1.5 million hotels worldwide, including popular hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Millenium hotels.

To qualify for the hotel voucher, customers must:

• Open one of our new Fixed Rate ISAs on or after 4 August 2026 and before the offer is withdrawn;
• Complete a “transfer in” instruction online or in branch within the first 14 days of opening or upgrading their account, which asks for customers’ non -Santander ISA to be transferred to the new Fixed Rate ISA;
• Ensure the non-Santander ISA that is being transferred in has a balance of at least £25,000 and is transferred in full – patrial transfers are not eligible³; and
• Be a UK resident and at least 18 years old.

Joao Soares, Head of Savings at Santander UK, said: “At a time when many savers are looking for both certainty and value when it comes to their money, our new Fixed Rate ISA range offers customers guaranteed and competitive longer-term rates. For eligible customers who choose to transfer an external ISA to Santander, the added benefit of up to £400 in hotel vouchers means they can enjoy a reward today, while continuing to build their savings for tomorrow.”

August 3rd, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Late payment is not a minor admin irritation. It is a growth tax imposed on smaller firms by larger customers, as well as by muddled systems and old habits. Cash flow keeps an SME alive. Not profit on a spreadsheet. Cash. When invoices sit unpaid for weeks beyond terms, owners freeze hiring, shelve expansion and waste hours chasing money already earned. That drag spreads everywhere. Confidence drops. Decisions shrink. A business can look busy, even successful, while its bloodstream quietly clots.

Cash Flow, Not Vanity

SMEs rarely collapse because demand vanishes overnight. They crack because cash arrives too late. Plenty of firms post healthy sales and still stumble into panic because customers treat payment terms like a suggestion. Central London accountants see this phenomenon constantly in growing companies that appear solid from the outside yet operate with alarming fragility underneath. One delayed payment knocks supplier schedules sideways. Three delayed payments force directors to choose between VAT, wages and stock. That is not a strategy. Growth needs momentum, and momentum hates uncertainty.

The Hidden Cost of Chasing

Late payment steals time as well as money. Owners and finance staff should spend their days pricing work properly, improving service and planning the next move. Instead, they send reminders, make awkward calls and hunt for missing purchase order numbers. This is clerical theatre dressed up as control. It drains morale. Staff become debt collectors by accident. Senior people end up in disputes over invoices that should have sailed through a clean process. Firms often rot through friction before they fail through catastrophe.

Automation Cuts the Nonsense

Automation eliminates delay by attacking its cause. Automation sends bills quickly, applies the right terms, logs each step, and sends reminders without human intervention. Better systems match purchase orders, detect exceptions early, and show finance teams who owes when. Organised and reliable processes speed up customer payments. Internal teams stop making costly mistakes. Bad allusions. Absent follow-ups. Records duplicated. Computers don’t feel bad about delivering reminders on day seven. It just works.

Growth Loves Predictability

Predictable cash flow restores nerve. Leaders can hire before burnout hits. They can negotiate from strength with suppliers. They can invest in equipment, marketing or new premises without gambling the rent on one overdue client. This is where automation stops being a finance tool and becomes a growth engine. Reliable collections data sharpens forecasting. Forecasting sharpens choices. A company that runs tight payment systems signals seriousness. Clients notice. Staff notice. Lenders notice. Order has a habit of compounding. The books improve, and the business becomes calmer, faster, and harder to bully.

Conclusion

Many SME leaders still treat late payment as an annoying part of business, something to complain about and put up with. That attitude belongs in the bin. Tolerating chronic delay means funding other people’s inefficiency with one’s own survival. Smaller firms do not need more heroic founders performing midnight cash-flow acrobatics. They need systems that make prompt payment normal and visible. Automation does not remove every dispute or awkward client. It does remove a great deal of avoidable chaos. Once that rhythm returns, SMEs stop merely coping and start moving with force again.

July 29th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Finding a cheaper energy deal is set to get even easier for households across the UK thanks to a new update on a free mobile app.

The Renewal app’s new energy-switching feature lets households see which providers are available at their property and how much they could save by switching. Users just have to add their home address to the app, which will then estimate how much they could save on their annual bill by changing providers.

Renewal from Go.Compare is a free app that allows customers to store all their insurance details in one convenient place. Users can quickly check what they’re covered for, find out who their insurer is, and access important contact and claims information whenever they need it. The app also sends reminders when policies are due for renewal, helping customers stay on top of their insurance and shop around for a better deal at the right time.

Now, the app is also aiming to help users find a better price on their utility costs through this new energy feature. The addition comes in light of Ofgem increasing the energy price cap by 13% this month, which saw the average annual energy bill rise by £221 for a typical household.

Matt Sanders, Go.Compare’s money spokesperson said: “With many households continuing to feel the impact of higher energy bills, consumers are understandably looking for simple ways to reduce their monthly outgoings so that their money goes further.”

“We’re delighted to bring another useful addition to Renewal from Go.Compare to help with this. Our new energy-switching feature makes it easier for users to explore the providers available at their property and see how much they could save by switching. By helping users compare their options in just a few clicks, the feature will support homeowners in finding a better deal and minimise the impact of rising energy costs.”

Matt added: “Renewal is all about helping consumers stay on top of important household expenses and renewals. Alongside the new energy-switching feature, users can also keep track of their insurance policies, and other details like their vehicle’s MOT status, in one place.”

The Renewal app can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

July 24th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Digital assets have grown quickly, opening up new chances for investors and businesses. But this growth also brings big challenges for accounting and reporting. As these assets become more common, knowing how to track, value, and report them correctly is no longer just for specialists; it’s a basic need for good financial health and following rules.

Understanding Digital Asset Basics

To account for digital assets, you first need to know what they are. This term covers many things that exist digitally and come with a right to use them. This includes cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stablecoins. Many tax authorities define digital assets as any digital representation of value recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger. For accounting, each type of asset might need different handling depending on its features and how the company uses it.

Why Traditional Accounting Falls Short

Old accounting systems were made for a world of regular money, physical goods, and central banks. They struggle to handle the unique features of digital assets. Cryptocurrencies change value very quickly, making it hard to value them consistently. Unlike a bank account with a clear balance, a digital wallet can hold many different assets, each with a price that changes every second. Plus, the sheer number of transactions, like trades, transfers, and staking rewards, can quickly overwhelm manual record-keeping, leading to mistakes and incomplete information.

Key Principles of Digital Asset Accounting

New rules are emerging for digital asset accounting to fix the problems with older methods. The main idea is to keep a clear, verifiable record for every transaction. This involves:

• Tracking the Cost Basis: Recording the exact price paid for an asset. This is crucial for correctly figuring out capital gains or losses when the asset is sold, traded, or spent.
• Measuring Fair Value: Regularly updating the value of holdings to show current market prices, especially for businesses that need to present an accurate financial picture.
• Proper Classification: Deciding if a digital asset should be treated as an investment, inventory (for traders), or an intangible asset on the balance sheet. This classification affects how it’s valued and reported, marking a new era in tax planning and financial strategy.

Automating for Accuracy and Efficiency

Trying to manually track thousands of transactions across many exchanges and wallets is not just slow; it’s almost impossible to do accurately. This is why specialized software is so important. Modern digital asset accounting platforms automate the whole process. They can connect directly to exchanges and blockchain addresses to automatically import transaction data. These tools match transfers, calculate gains and losses using common methods like FIFO or LIFO, and create the detailed reports needed for taxes and internal accounting. Using dedicated crypto accounting software not only saves a significant amount of time but also helps you maintain accurate records, automate reconciliation, and generate the reports needed to keep up with evolving regulatory requirements.

Preparing for Future Financial Audits

As regulators pay more attention to digital assets, being ready for an audit is vital. An audit trail for digital assets must be perfect, tracking every asset from when it was bought to when it was sold. Just having a final number for gains or losses isn’t enough; you need to be able to show how you got that number. This means keeping detailed records of every transaction, including dates, times, values in regular currency at the time of the transaction, and any fees. Using an accounting platform that creates a permanent, auditable log of all activity offers strong protection if an audit happens. It’s also smart to work with an accountant or firm that has proven experience with digital assets.

Managing your digital asset accounting correctly is a proactive step toward financial transparency and security. Adopting the right tools and principles now helps you build a strong foundation that supports growth while reducing risk.

July 23rd, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you aren’t in control of your finances, then it’s reasonable to claim that you aren’t in control of your life or your destiny. Your long-term spending priorities, like a deposit for a house, or a pension pot, might end up being undermined by short-term, frivolous spending decisions.

So, how can we solve this problem? Let’s take a look a few key tips for staying in control of your spending.

Understand Where Your Money Is Going

Before you attempt to cut costs in a meaningful way, you’ll need an idea of what those costs amount to. Get a budget together for the average month. Review old bank statements, and try to divide spending into essential and non-essential. Fortunately, many modern digital banking services will provide tools that make this much easier to do.

Cut Household Bills Without Cutting Comfort

Of course, just because a give expense is ‘essential’ doesn’t mean that you can’t lower it. By comparing services and costs from different energy, broadband, and mobile phone providers, you may find that you can save money without compromising on the quality of the service you enjoy.

Shop Smarter Rather Than Spending Less

Often, you might find that spending big on quality items might help you to spend less in the long term. Price comparison services, discounts, and loyalty schemes might all offer scope for savings. The same goes for the second-hand market, which can often lead to major savings, too. Second-hand jewellery often represents much greater value than the pieces you buy fresh off the rack.

In short, cutting down on spending doesn’t always mean that you need to give up the things that you really appreciate. If you go into the task of reviewing your spending thinking that you’re going to end up giving things up, then you’re likely to put it off – perhaps indefinitely. But the truth is that this is rarely necessary.

Find Everyday Savings That Add Up Over Time

Often, it’s not the major items of spending that make the biggest difference, but the small, seemingly minor ones. It’s easy to leave savings on the table when it comes to things like food shopping, transport, and energy usage, because these areas of spending so often amount to a myriad of smaller costs.

For example, when it comes to spending on energy, you might find that changes in your heating habits make a big difference to the amount you spend over the course of a given winter. Try to keep the temperature on your thermostat low, and to dial down the temperature in rooms that don’t need it, like hallways and spare bedrooms. In the long term, the savings that you accrue will add up.

Finally, you might consider performing a financial ‘health check’ every so often. This is a review that will ensure that your spending remains aligned with your goals, and that you haven’t slipped back into bad habits.

July 15th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

The broadband experts at Go.Compare have explained consumers’ rights and shared the steps they can take to leave their contract following the news that Ofcom is fining Virgin Media for preventing contract cancellations.

The industry regulator Ofcom announced earlier in the week that it has fined Virgin Media £28 million for breaching its consumer protection rules, following an investigation.* It cited that millions of calls made by customers between January 2022 and September 2024 were likely mishandled to delay or prevent a cancellation.

In response to the news, Catherine Hiley, broadband expert at Go.Compare, said: “We all have the right to leave a broadband provider at any time, even if you’re mid-contract – although this will likely incur an early termination fee. Providers also can’t try to delay or prevent a cancellation to get you to stay, as this goes against Ofcom’s rules, which state that cancellation procedures must not act as a disincentive to customers who wish to leave. If you believe this has happened to you, you can make a complaint.

“Start by following your provider’s complaints process and gathering as much evidence as possible to support your claim, including records of previous communications and details of when you contacted them. If your complaint hasn’t been resolved after eight weeks, or if your provider issues a deadlock letter before then, you can escalate it to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme. They can investigate the complaint independently and may award compensation where appropriate.

“You can also report your experience to Ofcom. While it doesn’t investigate individual cases, consumer complaints can help it identify wider issues and may lead to enforcement action, as we’ve seen with Virgin Media this week.

“It’s also worth remembering that, while leaving a contract early will usually come with a charge, you may be able to leave without paying an early termination fee if your provider isn’t delivering the minimum level of service it promised and the issue can’t be resolved.”

This follows the news that 43% of UK households now feel broadband is the connected expense that has increased the most over the past five years, according to Go.Compare’s latest research.** It also found that the average UK household now spends £774 a year on broadband, mobile and digital subscriptions combined.

In addition to this, Catherine Hiley shared the following steps customers can take to cancel their broadband contract:

• • “Check if you’re mid-contract: You may have to pay an early termination fee to cancel if you’re mid-contract, so be sure to check this and consider if you’re willing to pay it before cancelling. You might prefer to wait until the end of your contract, when you can leave for free. You can also leave for free if you’re still within the provider’s cooling off period.
  • “Check your provider has been delivering the service promised: You can leave for free if they haven’t, even if you’re mid-contract, but you will need to attempt to resolve the issue with them first. Use a broadband speed checker to get proof that the speed promised isn’t being delivered, taking screenshots of the results. Use this to complain to your provider about their service, keeping a record of each time you contacted them. If the issue still isn’t resolved, you can then use all of this as evidence to leave penalty-free.
  • “Compare deals to switch providers: If you decide you’re cancelling after this, your next step should be to compare other providers so that you can find a deal to replace them. Ofcom’s One Touch Switch policy means you no longer have to tell your current provider about a switch – your new provider does this for you. Once you’ve found a deal you prefer you can simply agree to switch with your new provider. You might even be able to find a deal that will give you some money towards any early cancellation fees. So it’s well worth shopping around, even if you’re not out of contract yet.
  • “Cancelling without switching: If you’re not switching providers and just want to cancel your contract, you will need to get in touch with your provider directly. Each provider has a different process for this, so you’ll need to check the process for yours.”

More information on cancelling broadband contracts, including details on how to cancel deals with the major providers, can be found on Go.Compare’s website: https://www.gocompare.com/broadband/broadband-cancellation-rights/

July 15th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

July 8th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

New research by Nationwide suggests 2026 summer holiday plans are being reshaped due to global uncertainty, with many opting to delay or cancel trips, stay in the UK or keep options open.

This is backed by Nationwide’s own spending data, which highlights a -1.2% fall in average holiday spending year on year. Customers spent an average of £498 on holidays between January and April last 2025, compared to £492 in the same period this year, reinforcing signs of more cautious consumer behaviour.

The poll of 2,000 people, conducted in May, found that almost a quarter (23%) say global events have already changed their holiday plans. Among those affected, the most common responses include delaying decisions (28%), increasing flexibility (22%) and booking UK holidays instead of travelling abroad (23%). Others are choosing cheaper trips (17%) or shorter breaks (16%), while some 15 per cent are cancelling holidays altogether (15%), or switching to day trips (15%).

Concerns linked to Iran and fuel costs are influencing decisions, with 18 per cent of those whose plans have changed saying this is a reason they are not going away this year. Overall nervousness remains high, with over four in ten (41%) cautious about booking holidays and a third holding off or keeping plans flexible.

Mark Nalder, Payments Director at Nationwide, said: “Our latest research shows that uncertainty this year is having a clear impact on people’s holiday plans. It could also be we are seeing the rise of the ‘delaycation’ as many choose to delay booking holidays, while a growing number are cancelling plans or opting for UK staycations to keep a tighter grip on their finances and budgets. Quick transfer features and budgeting tools like those on our app can be a big help when balancing spending and manage money when plans change”.

June 29th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

June 25th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Growth can be exciting as an SME and something that is the target for most, but it is important to be aware of the financial risks of growth. There are a handful of financial risks that can threaten sustainable growth, so this post will offer practical guidance on how to monitor and mitigate these risks before they become serious problems. Keep reading to find out more.

Cash Flow Pressure & Working Capital Risk

Growth can put pressure on cash reserves even when sales are increasing. Expanding often requires upfront investment, but income can be delayed due to extended payment terms, which creates a risk. This is why effective cash flow forecasting is key for projecting income and outflows so that you can create a plan to meet your obligations. Keep out for warning signs, such as reliance on overdrafts, delayed supplier payments, or shrinking cash reserves. 

Customer Concentration, Bad Debt, & Commercial Disputes

It is also a risk to rely too heavily on a small number of loyal customers as you experience growth. There can be a strong financial impact of late payments, unpaid invoices, and contractual disagreements. This is why businesses need to establish credit control measures, customer due diligence, and clear contracts and procedures for recovering debts when disputes arise. Dispute resolution lawyers should be utilised for contractual disagreements, unpaid invoices, or supplier disputes before they escalate into significant financial losses.

Compliance, Governance, & Insolvency Risk

SMEs should also be aware of the financial consequences of failing to meet statutory obligations, including financial penalties and reputational damage (which can be hard to recover from). To avoid these, be sure to file tax returns on time, ensure accurate financial reporting, and understand compliance with tax requirements. Directors need to understand their responsibilities if the business shows signs of insolvency, including persistent losses, mounting debts, and creditor pressure.

Fraud, Cybersecurity, & Operational Disruption

Fraud, cybercrime, and operational disruption are major threats and can be costly in more ways than one. Payment diversion scams, phishing scams, and supplier fraud can lead to immediate financial losses, while data breaches and system outages can lead to downtime and erode customer trust. To protect your SME, implement strong internal controls and cybersecurity measures, including staff training, secure networks, and regular system updates. Business continuity planning is also important for minimising any disruptions.

These are the main financial risks to be aware of for growing SMEs. Growing your business can be exciting and take you to new levels of success, but it can also introduce wide-ranging risks that need to be understood and mitigated.