Startup & Small Business Essentials

Introduction - Stop Cashflow Crises In construction and engineering, cashflow problems rarely come from one big disaster. They come from  small delays that stack up : a quote that sits in someone’s inbox for a week a job that drags on because of call-backs an invoice that doesn’t go out until “Friday when we get time” credit control that starts at 60+ days (when it’s already too late) The frustrating part? You can be  profitable on paper  and still feel broke. Cashflow isn’t

In construction and engineering businesses, department heads play a bigger role than many directors realise. They control the flow of information, influence margins, shape delivery, and directly impact cash flow. Yet most SMEs, especially those scaling quickly, don’t truly know whether their department leads are performing well. This happens because many owners rely on gut feel, verbal updates, or firefighting indicators rather than structured performance metrics. In this blo

Introduction - Creating Departmental Accountability In growing construction and engineering firms, budgets are often decided at the top and then communicated to department heads without much discussion. The result? Lack of ownership, overspending and finger‑pointing when numbers go awry. True accountability happens when heads of operations, sales and service understand and own their costs. This blog shows how to gather data, measure performance and create a culture of account

Introduction - Training Non‑Finance Managers Many site managers and project leads in construction and engineering are highly skilled in operations but feel uncomfortable with financial reports. Yet understanding numbers, budgets, margins and cash‑flow, is essential for making informed decisions. This blog provides a step‑by‑step approach to training non‑finance managers, using plain language and tools designed for SMEs. Where Is the Best Place to Start? Begin with the basics:

Introduction Running a construction or engineering business is hard enough without your finance function slowing you down. Yet many SMEs grow quickly, take on bigger projects, and suddenly realise their numbers are unreliable, late, or impossible to interpret. In this blog, we break down the  five most common ways businesses accidentally sabotage their finance department , why it causes real-world problems, and how to fix it. If you’re scaling, taking on £1m+ projects, or jug

Running a construction or engineering business often means wearing multiple hats, director, project manager, estimator, and sometimes even site labourer. But there’s one habit that quietly destroys clarity, cash flow, and control:  mixing business and personal finances . Many small business owners still use the same bank account for both, buying fuel, paying subcontractors, and covering personal bills all from one pot. It might feel harmless or “easier to manage,” but in real

You may not be thinking about selling your construction or engineering business today, but you should be building it like you are. Why? Because when it’s time to exit, whether in 3, 5, or 10 years, buyers will only pay a premium for businesses that run smoothly  without  the owner. If everything’s in your head, or held together by your personal relationships, the value drops significantly. This is where many construction, trade, and engineering SMEs fall short. They’re brilli

Introduction - Artificial Separation & VAT Disaggregation If your construction or engineering business operates through multiple companies, perhaps one for labour, one for materials, or one for management, you could unknowingly be breaching  HMRC’s VAT rules on artificial separation and disaggregation . It’s a common trap for small and medium-sized construction firms. Many set up multiple entities for practical reasons, like dividing work or managing cash flow. But if those c

Introduction - Prove You’ve Got Capacity Saying “yes” is easy. Delivering profitably is hard. Construction and engineering SMEs don’t usually fail for lack of demand, they stumble when they take on work without the  capacity  to deliver: people, cash, equipment, suppliers, and control. At Jones Financial Accounts (JFA), we help owners answer a simple question before they sign a contract:  Do we genuinely have the capacity for this job, without hurting margin, cash flow, safet

Introduction - Projects That Don’t Fit Your Strategy In the fast-moving world of construction and engineering, not every project is a good project. Yet many SMEs still chase every tender, quote, or contract that comes their way. At Jones Financial Accounts (JFA), we see the same issue repeatedly, companies taking on work that looks profitable on paper but quietly drains cash, time, and energy because it doesn’t align with their business strategy. This blog explores why strate

Introduction - Fixing Working Capital Working capital, the money you use to keep your business running day-to-day, is often the first sign of financial strain in construction and engineering firms. Late client payments, retentions, and supplier demands can all drain cash before profit ever hits the bank. If you don’t have a finance team watching the numbers every week, you’re not alone. Most growing SMEs operate with limited admin support and only review figures at month-end

Introduction - Guide to Valuation When you’re raising finance, for new kit, extra crews, or bridging cash between stage payments, two questions matter most:  what’s the business worth, and how much should you ask for?  Get either wrong, and you risk expensive borrowing, unnecessary dilution, or a deal that collapses at the finish line. For construction and engineering firms, the challenge is sharper: project timings, retentions, variations, and materials volatility all distor

Introduction In construction and engineering, directors are often focused on turnover, gross profit, or cash flow, but overlook the...

Introduction - Lean Finance In construction and engineering, ambition often means chasing bigger contracts, hiring faster, or investing...

Introduction - Remote FD vs In-House Accounts Construction and engineering businesses scaling from £500k to £5m turnover often face the...

Introduction - Accountants Pays Off Immediately Running a construction or engineering business is tough enough without wasting money...

Introduction - Bad Traits of a Finance Director Hiring a Finance Director (FD) is one of the biggest decisions a construction or...

Introduction CFO-Level Thinking In the world of construction and engineering, projects can move quickly, deadlines shift, costs change,...

Introduction - Grow Your Construction Business Safely Scaling a business is exciting, new projects, new staff, and bigger contracts. But...

Introduction - Register for VAT VAT (Value Added Tax) is one of those subjects that business owners hear about constantly but rarely feel...