LJM Bookkeeping Ltd

LJM Bookkeeping Ltd Supporting businesses with their financial requirements, taking the stress out of bookkeeping and pr

Lara Manton MICB

Supporting businesses with their financial requirements, taking the stress out of bookkeeping and producing real time accounts in order for you to make informed decisions. Streamlining your software via an 'Accounting Eco System' ensuring you have the right tools for your business as it grows | Xero Silver Partner | Receipt Bank Gold Partner | ICB Certified |Fully insured & covered under the Money Laundering Regulations. Let me help you with your books, so you can have more time to focus on running your business. Great bookkeeping means great reports & management accounts to give you a better of idea what's happening within your business & highlights any issues that need addressing. Services offered include:

* Creation of invoices
* Entering supplier bills & receipts
* Upkeep of sales & purchase ledgers
* Bank reconciliation
* Credit card reconciliation
* Credit control
* VAT returns
* Up-keep of fixed asset register
* Maintenance of computerised accounting systems
* Analysis of business expenditure
* Advice on accounting systems & procedures
* Set up of Xero or accounting systems to your needs
* Cash Flow Forecasting & Management Information Reporting
* All aspects of bookkeeping to Trial Balance for Ltd Companies
* Preparation of Final Accounts for Sole Traders: including Profit & Loss
* Liaising with your accountant in regards to final accounts & tax returns

People hear 'automation' and think robots.What it actually means for your finances:— Invoices that go out on time, every...
22/09/2026

People hear 'automation' and think robots.

What it actually means for your finances:

— Invoices that go out on time, every time
— Expenses that are captured before they get lost
— Reports that are ready when you need them, not three weeks after month-end
— A bookkeeper who can actually advise you, because they're not buried in data entry

Automation doesn't remove the human. It gives the human time to think.
That's when bookkeeping stops being admin and starts being useful.

We are absolutely over the moon to share that Lara has made it to the finals of the ICB Awards 2026 — in not one, not tw...
18/09/2026

We are absolutely over the moon to share that Lara has made it to the finals of the ICB Awards 2026 — in not one, not two, but THREE categories:

⭐ Bookkeepers' Champion
⭐ Bookkeeping Innovator of the Year
⭐ Small Practice of the Year

For those who know Lara, this will come as no surprise. She shows up for her clients, she champions the bookkeeping community, and she's on a mission to make the profession smarter and more efficient for everyone in it.

We are so proud of you, Lara. Now let's go bring one (or three!) of those awards home.

Don't Wait Until Year End to Look at Your NumbersIf the only time you really look at your finances is when your bookkeep...
17/09/2026

Don't Wait Until Year End to Look at Your Numbers

If the only time you really look at your finances is when your bookkeeper asks for your records, you're never going to plan ahead.

Year-end accounts tell you what happened. But the decisions that shape your business — hiring, pricing, investment, withdrawing dividends, happen all year round. And they're better decisions when they're made with up-to-date financial information.

Good bookkeeping isn't just about compliance. It's about visibility.

When your records are current, you can spot a cash flow issue before it becomes a crisis. You can see when a service line isn't profitable. You can make a case to your bank, or to yourself, about whether now is the right time to grow.

The numbers are already there. Make a habit of looking at them.

You started a limited company, so the money in the business account is the company’s money, not yours. Even if you’re th...
15/09/2026

You started a limited company, so the money in the business account is the company’s money, not yours. Even if you’re the one who built it from scratch, put the hours in, and are the reason it exists at all.

That distinction matters a lot when it comes to director’s loans. And it’s the part that catches plenty of business owners completely off guard.

Let’s break it down clearly, in our latest blog:

https://www.ljmbookkeeping.co.uk/post/directors-loans-explained-simply-and-how-they-catch-people-out

Most service-based businesses have quiet periods. Whether it's summer, the run-up to Christmas, or a recurring seasonal ...
10/09/2026

Most service-based businesses have quiet periods. Whether it's summer, the run-up to Christmas, or a recurring seasonal dip, if you've been in business more than a year, you've seen the pattern.

The businesses that navigate slow months well aren't the ones with the most revenue. They're the ones who planned for it.

That means building a cash reserve during busier periods, ideally enough to cover 2–3 months of fixed costs. It means knowing your quiet months in advance and adjusting your spending before the dip, not during it.

It also means using that time intentionally. Quieter periods are often the best time to work on the business rather than in it: reviewing processes, updating your systems, or planning for the next busy season.

Slow months aren't a problem if you see them coming.

You said yes because they're a friend.Of course you did.But that was three years ago. Their business has grown. Your cos...
08/09/2026

You said yes because they're a friend.
Of course you did.

But that was three years ago. Their business has grown. Your costs have risen. Your team has expanded.

And the rate? Still the same. Because somehow it never felt like the right time to bring it up.

Mates rates are one of the most common — and most awkward — margin-killers in service businesses.

The good news: there's a way to handle it that doesn't cost you the friendship or the profit.

DM to find out how.

Late payments are one of the biggest cash flow killers for service-based businesses and yet most people handle them reac...
03/09/2026

Late payments are one of the biggest cash flow killers for service-based businesses and yet most people handle them reactively, if at all.

Having a clear process changes that.

Something as simple as this can make a significant difference:
▪ A friendly reminder on the due date
▪ A follow-up three days later if unpaid
▪ A firmer message at seven days overdue
▪ A formal notice at fourteen days

Automate what you can. Many accounting platforms let you set up automatic payment reminders so you're not having to remember (or dread) sending them manually.

Late payers often aren't malicious, they're just busy. A timely, professional nudge is usually enough.

You said yes to one small thing. Then another. Then a third. And now, somehow, you’re doing twice the work for the same ...
01/09/2026

You said yes to one small thing. Then another. Then a third. And now, somehow, you’re doing twice the work for the same fee and wondering where your profit went.

If you run a service-based business, scope creep is one of the most common (and most quietly damaging) challenges you’ll face. It doesn’t usually arrive with a bang. It creeps in, one tiny request at a time, until you look up and realise your boundaries have completely dissolved.

Let’s talk about what it’s really costing you, and what you can do about it, in our latest blog:

https://www.ljmbookkeeping.co.uk/post/the-real-cost-of-scope-creep-in-your-service-based-business

Understand Your Key DeadlinesMissing a tax deadline doesn't just cost you money in penalties. It costs you time, stress,...
27/08/2026

Understand Your Key Deadlines
Missing a tax deadline doesn't just cost you money in penalties. It costs you time, stress, and sometimes your credibility.

For limited companies in the UK, here are the key ones to have in your diary:

▪ Corporation Tax: Due 9 months and 1 day after your accounting period ends
▪ Confirmation Statement: Annually, within 14 days of your review date
▪ Company Accounts: 9 months after your financial year end (for private companies)
▪ VAT Returns: Usually quarterly, 1 month and 7 days after the period ends
▪ Payroll (if applicable): PAYE the 22nd of the next tax month if you pay monthly
the 22nd after the end of the quarter if you pay quarterly

These deadlines don't move, but they do have a habit of sneaking up.

Put them in your calendar and if anything changes in your business structure, check whether your deadlines change too.

One unbilled hour a week.That doesn't sound like much, does it?But that's 50+ hours a year. More than a full working wee...
25/08/2026

One unbilled hour a week.

That doesn't sound like much, does it?

But that's 50+ hours a year. More than a full working week given away for free — every single year.

And if it's happening across multiple clients? That's not a small oversight. That's a structural problem quietly eating your margins.

If you're running a service-based limited company and you keep squeezing in extras "just this once", it might be time to look at what that's actually costing you.

Address

Peterborough
PE60BJ

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+441733602492

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