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Small and micro business: news and insights

Interviews, reflections and commentary on key issues affecting small and micro businesses.
Displaying 1-30 of 209 results
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Firms showcase AI across corporate finance
  • 26 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
AI across the deal process has morphed from theoretical to something that is being actively used to deliver client work. But how does it work in practice? A recent ICAEW event lifted the lid.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
FRC updates resources to reflect reporting threshold changes
  • 26 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The Financial Reporting Council has updated relevant documents on UK reporting thresholds ahead of the changes that come into effect from 6 April.
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Government confirms consultation on business growth scheme
  • 19 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
First announced in December, the Business Growth Service will serve as a one-stop shop for government advice and support, to streamline the government’s offer to small companies and to assist businesses seeking to raise finance.
London Westminster
Chancellor must prioritise skills, tech and infrastructure
  • 17 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
To kickstart economic growth the government needs to accelerate infrastructure projects, ensure access to skilled workers and support investment in new technologies, says ICAEW.
A pair of hands typing on the laptop keyboard
Could the new Procurement Act drive local growth?
  • 12 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
With more focus on local SMEs providing services to their local authorities, the Procurement Act 2023 could be a source of growth across the regions.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
Euro ‘omnibus’ proposal reveals softer CSRD and CSDDD
  • 04 Mar 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The European Commission’s omnibus proposal waters down European sustainability reporting and assurance rules within CSRD, CSDDD and CBAM.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
IASB publishes third edition of IFRS for SMEs Accounting standard
  • 28 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Revised SMEs Accounting Standard enhances alignment with IFRS Accounting Standards while incorporating targeted modifications to ensure it remains relevant and simplified for SMEs.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
FRC issues updated going concern reporting guidance
  • 26 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The non-mandatory guidance is to help directors of UK companies demonstrate the assessments underlying their going concern conclusions in a bid to increase confidence from all stakeholders.
A hand holding a magnifying glass looking at some papers
Is the FRC doing enough to support small audits?
  • 20 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
A new FRC campaign to help SMEs navigate the audit market takes an upbeat approach – but there are deeper concerns about how UK auditing standards apply to smaller audits.
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Trade Strategy Review: six principles for success
  • 18 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
ICAEW has taken the opportunity to comment on the Trade Strategy Review, received from the Department for Business and Trade on 22 November.
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How to build the case for sustainability service lines
  • 17 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
This second unit in ICAEW’s new, free e-learning programme focuses on building the business case for sustainability, including for practices considering new ESG service lines.
New tax return requirements for sole traders and directors
  • 13 Feb 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Taxpayers may need to provide more information in their 2025/26 self assessment tax returns as some voluntary requirements have been made mandatory and new mandatory requirements have also been introduced.
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Budget drives dramatic drop in business confidence
  • 15 Jan 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Confidence across all UK business sectors has plunged, according to ICAEW analysis, as concerns over last year’s Budget tax measures weigh heavily on the economy.
Leaf sprouting from the ground
Willow Review aims to boost SMEs’ sustainability know-how
  • 14 Jan 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
Following the recent launch of an independent review to help small businesses get to grips with sustainability, Co-Chair Michelle Ovens CBE outlines the project’s drive and focus.
Laura Beales ACA, co-founder and CEO of Tally Workspace
The SME view: ‘VAT is complicated, even for accountants’
  • 09 Jan 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The co-founder of a fast-growing business – and ICAEW member – outlines why VAT could be made much easier for the nation’s entrepreneurs.
Tanuvi Ethunandan ACA founded Data Duopoly
The SME view: ‘VAT needs to be an asset to the UK economy’
  • 08 Jan 2025
  • ICAEW Insights
The founder of a tech company and ICAEW member explains how VAT reform could make a difference for growing businesses in this country.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
UK company size thresholds to increase
  • 12 Dec 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
New regulations increasing company size thresholds and removing certain requirements from the Directors’ Report will be effective from April 2025.
Free CPD: FRS 102
  • 26 Nov 2024
  • Insights
FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland will see the most significant changes come into effect from January 2026 since its introduction a decade ago. Whether you need a refresh of the current standard or an understanding of the changes, this article will help you find free CPD-verifiable content that will bring you up to speed.
Mercer logo
What’s the #1 people risk for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?
  • 21 Nov 2024
  • Mercer
People are everything to SMEs, so it’s no wonder that rising health and benefit costs top their list of worries. Employee benefit premiums and related costs ranked first in our People Risk 2024 survey of the most likely people risks to affect their business in the next two years with the most severe impact.
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The case for action on late payments
  • 18 Nov 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
A small practice round table at Chartered Accountants’ Hall, attended by Small Business Commissioner Liz Barclay, outlined the impacts of late payments on economic growth.
Keys Finance logo
Next-day fee finance vs invoice factoring
  • 01 Nov 2024
  • Keys Finance
Keys Finance explain how their Next Day Professional Fee Finance tool can help accountants to receive 100% of their client fees Next-Day.
A person holding a mobile phone in one hand, making a payment with a bank card, held in the other hand
Payment scams, data hacks and Cyber Security Awareness Month
  • 31 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Cyber round-up: the continuing payment scams and personal data attacks on individuals, key takeaways from ICAEW’s Cyber Security Awareness Month campaign, and how to safeguard your data and business from harm.
Houses of Parliament at night
Budget 2024 verdict: big and bold, but borne by business
  • 31 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Chancellor Rachel Reeves focused on delivering economic stability with her wide-ranging first Budget – but short-term tax raising measures worth £40bn fall primarily on the shoulders of business.
Government publishes its plans for corporation tax
  • 30 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
The government has set out its intentions for corporation tax for the next five years, delivering on its commitment to publish a business tax roadmap at the Autumn Budget.
Four wind turbines on a green background
B20: three critical tasks for the accountancy profession
  • 25 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
ICAEW is a network partner to global business summit B20’s Integrity and Compliance task force, which has highlighted key areas for the profession’s scrutiny.
Four wind turbines on a green background
ICAEW: weak public finances put under further strain
  • 25 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Commenting on the public sector finance release for September 2024 published by the Office for National Statistics today (Tuesday 22 October 2024)
Graphical of top of white sheet of paper on a blue background. On the paper you can see top of column graph, red column comes all the way off the page as a role of tape.
The complicated and costly world of VAT
  • 23 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Everyone knows UK VAT is complicated and, for taxable persons, costly to comply with. But why is the tax so complex, and why does it often impose onerous compliance costs?
Two people looking at the laptop having a conversation
How to access free business banking dispute resolution support
  • 14 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Accountancy firms play a unique role in supporting and advising SME clients about resolving banking issues – and some accountancy businesses may have banking issues of their own. Fortunately, help is at hand.
Two women having a meeting between themselves
ICAEW disappointed by new reporting to tackle late payments
  • 09 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
New reporting requirements and a new Fair Payment Code among the measures outlined by government to target improvements in payment times, especially to small businesses and the self-employed.
Cyber security phone
Why small accounting firms are prime targets for cybercriminals
  • 08 Oct 2024
  • ICAEW Insights
Cyber Security Awareness Month: SMEs and small accounting firms are not taking cyber security seriously enough, according to Daniel Teacher.
Displaying 1-30 of 209 results
Insights hub

Pulling together opinion, analysis, interviews and features on the profession along with a focus on the key issues affecting accountancy and the world of business.

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