162. A Deep Dive into Buying a Business

Introduction Buying a business can be a strategic move to complement and accelerate growth of an existing business you own, a way to diversify your portfolio, or simply to fulfil a lifelong dream of entrepreneurship. However, it is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. This article will delve into the key steps […]

Continue reading

157. CFO – Full time or Fractional

It is all too easy to make assumptions, isn’t it? And, as I found out to my cost, doing this can come back to bite you. More specifically, when asked what Tectona does, my answer is usually something along the lines of: “Tectona provide part time finance directors/CFOs to owner managed businesses who don’t need, […]

Continue reading

154. Failing to plan, or planning to fail in FX?

Plan for the worst? There’s no shortage of advice or opinion on currency markets but, the truth is, most of it is unhelpful, unactionable, and usually wrong. Financial executives needn’t be plugged into second-by-second exchange rate movements, rather they should be on top of their company’s ongoing level of risk. Businesses that don’t have a […]

Continue reading

152. The 5 Gotchas of Discounting

Discounts can be a powerful tool for businesses, but there are also some perils for the unwary. Here are 5 of them: Discounting … Can erode brand value: If you offer discounts too often, customers may start to see your brand as being less valuable. This can make it more difficult to charge full price […]

Continue reading

148. Your CFO – are they good enough for you to call them the “Chief Fixing Officer”?

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is often seen by the uninitiated as the company’s number-cruncher. True, they are responsible for overseeing the company’s finances, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. However, the CFO is much more than just a numbers person. They are also a strategic thinker, a problem-solver, and a leader and a general […]

Continue reading

145. HMRC enquires – Why do they happen and what are they?

Research & Development (R&D) tax-credit claims are being subjected to increased scrutiny (and in our view, with good reason). As a self-assessed benefit, HMRC have a duty to occasionally conduct compliance checks into R&D claims to ensure they are legitimate. These are known as ‘enquires’. As part of an effort to reduce fraud and error […]

Continue reading