LedgerlyPro Blog

Practical UK finance guides for small businesses.

Bookkeeping, VAT MTD, Self Assessment, invoices, expenses, mileage, payroll, projects and AI finance support — written to help you stay organised, not to replace professional advice.

Latest articles

30 articles
Self Assessment 7 min
24 June 2026

How to Do Your Own Taxes When Self-Employed in the UK

Learn how to organise self-employed tax records in the UK, track income and expenses, and prepare for Self Assessment with clear bookkeeping.

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VAT MTD 6 min
17 June 2026

When UK Freelancers Need to Register for VAT

A practical UK freelancer guide to VAT registration thresholds, voluntary registration, what to prepare and how to keep VAT records tidy.

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Self Assessment 7 min
16 June 2026

Self Assessment Checklist for UK Sole Traders

A plain-English checklist to help UK sole traders prepare income, expenses, mileage, receipts and records before Self Assessment deadlines.

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Invoicing 5 min
15 June 2026

How to Chase Overdue Invoices Without Sounding Pushy

Professional overdue invoice chasing templates and timing tips for UK freelancers and small businesses.

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Expenses 6 min
14 June 2026

Best Way to Track Expenses for UK Small Businesses

How UK small businesses can organise expenses, receipts, categories and review-ready records without spreadsheet chaos.

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Mileage 5 min
13 June 2026

How to Track Business Mileage as a Sole Trader

A UK sole trader guide to keeping mileage logs, trip purposes and HMRC mileage allowance calculations organised.

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VAT MTD 7 min
12 June 2026

VAT MTD Explained for Small Businesses

A practical explanation of VAT Making Tax Digital records, digital links and review steps for UK small businesses.

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Payroll 6 min
12 June 2026

Payslip Templates vs Payroll Software: What UK Small Employers Should Use in 2026

Free payslip templates are fine until you hire employee number two. Here's when a template is legally enough, when it isn't, and what payroll software actually costs.

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Tax 7 min
12 June 2026

How Much Tax Will I Pay as a Sole Trader in 2026/27? (Worked Examples)

Income Tax bands, Class 4 National Insurance and payments on account explained for the 2026/27 tax year — with worked examples at £25k, £45k and £70k profit.

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MTD 8 min
12 June 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: What Sole Traders Must Do From April 2026

MTD for Income Tax is now live for sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000. Here's exactly who's affected, the new quarterly deadlines, and how to get compliant without drowning in admin.

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Payroll 6 min
11 June 2026

Payroll Basics for Small Businesses with Employees

A beginner-friendly UK payroll overview for small businesses hiring employees, including records, payslips and accountant review.

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Projects 5 min
10 June 2026

How to Know if a Project Made Profit or Loss

How UK freelancers and small businesses can compare project income, costs, time and margin to understand profitability.

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Expenses 5 min
9 June 2026

How to Organise Receipts Before Tax Time

A practical receipt organisation checklist for UK freelancers, sole traders and small businesses before tax deadlines.

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AI Finance 6 min
8 June 2026

Why Spreadsheets Become Messy for Small Business Bookkeeping

Why bookkeeping spreadsheets break down as UK small businesses grow, and what to organise instead.

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Software Guides 7 min
29 March 2026

Xero Alternatives UK (2026): 5 Options Compared

Searching for a Xero alternative in the UK? Compare the top options on price, features and ease of use to find the best fit for your business in 2026.

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Software Guides 7 min
26 March 2026

QuickBooks Alternatives UK (2026): 5 Options Compared

Looking for a QuickBooks alternative in the UK? Here are the leading options compared on price, features and who they suit best in 2026.

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Bookkeeping 7 min
23 March 2026

How To Track Business Expenses (The Easy Way, UK 2026)

A practical system for tracking business expenses as a UK freelancer or small business — capture, categorise and store every cost so you never overpay tax.

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VAT 8 min
20 March 2026

VAT Registration Explained (UK 2026 Guide)

When to register for VAT in the UK, how the £90,000 threshold works, the schemes available, and how Making Tax Digital affects your VAT returns.

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Small Business 7 min
17 March 2026

10 Bookkeeping Mistakes Small Businesses Make (And How To Avoid Them)

The most common bookkeeping mistakes UK small businesses make — from mixing finances to missing deadlines — and simple ways to avoid each one.

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Tax 8 min
14 March 2026

How Much Tax Should Sole Traders Save? (UK 2026/27)

How much of your income to set aside for tax as a UK sole trader in 2026/27, with worked examples covering Income Tax, National Insurance and payments on account.

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Software Guides 8 min
11 March 2026

Best Bookkeeping Software For UK Freelancers (2026)

How to choose the best bookkeeping software as a UK freelancer in 2026 — the features that matter, what to avoid, and how the main options compare.

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Tax 9 min
8 March 2026

Making Tax Digital Explained (UK 2026 Guide for the Self-Employed)

What Making Tax Digital means for UK sole traders and landlords: who's affected, key deadlines, how quarterly updates work, and how to prepare.

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Tax 8 min
5 March 2026

What Expenses Can Freelancers Claim? (UK 2026/27 Guide)

A complete guide to allowable expenses for UK freelancers in 2026/27 — what you can claim, what you can't, and how to capture every deduction.

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Bookkeeping 9 min
2 March 2026

How To Do Bookkeeping As A Sole Trader In The UK (2026 Guide)

A complete, plain-English guide to bookkeeping for UK sole traders: what records to keep, how to track income and expenses, and how to stay MTD-ready.

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Expenses 7 min
5 February 2026

Allowable Expenses for UK Freelancers (Full 2026/27 List)

The complete list of allowable business expenses for UK freelancers in the 2026/27 tax year, with real-world examples and HMRC's exact rules.

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Sole Trader 4 min
28 January 2026

How to Register as a Sole Trader in the UK (Step-by-Step)

Registering as a sole trader takes 15 minutes. Here's exactly what to fill in, when to register, and what to do in your first week of trading.

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Limited Company 5 min
20 January 2026

Limited Company vs Sole Trader: Which Is Right for You in 2026?

When does it pay to incorporate? A clear comparison of tax, admin, liability and the £30k–£50k profit sweet spot where Ltd usually wins.

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Self-Assessment 6 min
15 January 2026

Self-Assessment Deadline Checklist: 2026 Edition

A 7-point checklist to file your UK Self-Assessment without the January panic. Cut-off dates, allowable expenses and what to do if you're late.

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VAT 5 min
8 January 2026

How VAT Works for Sole Traders (Without the Jargon)

When you have to register for VAT, which scheme to choose, and how to invoice and reclaim. A no-nonsense guide for UK sole traders.

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AI 4 min
20 December 2025

AI Bookkeeping vs Traditional Accounting: What's Actually Different?

AI bookkeeping promises 10x speed. Does it deliver? An honest look at where AI helps, where humans still win, and how to combine both.

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