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 & cove

red 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

You started doing your own books because it made sense at the time. Why pay someone else for something you can figure ou...
18/06/2026

You started doing your own books because it made sense at the time. Why pay someone else for something you can figure out yourself?

The problem is, the hours you spend wrestling with spreadsheets, chasing receipts, and trying to make sense of your accounts, that's time you're not spending on the work that actually grows your business.

And time has a price.

When you factor in the cost of errors (and HMRC doesn't take kindly to those), missed tax reliefs you didn't know to claim, and the mental energy spent on something that isn't your zone of genius, DIY bookkeeping often costs more than it saves.

AT LJM Bookkeeping we don't just keep your numbers tidy. We give you clarity, catch the things you'd miss, and free you up to focus on what you do best.

The most successful business owners aren't the ones who do everything themselves. They're the ones who know when to hand things over.

Ready to stop spending your evenings on your accounts? Let's talk about what working with LJM Bookkeeping could look like for you.

Book a call: https://calendly.com/ljm-bookkeeping/30min

You're flat out. The to-do list is growing faster than you can clear it. You're working longer hours, dropping more ball...
16/06/2026

You're flat out. The to-do list is growing faster than you can clear it. You're working longer hours, dropping more balls, and wondering how much longer you can keep this pace up.
The first instinct is usually to push through. The second is to hire someone.

But there's a step most people skip, and it's the one that could save you thousands of pounds and months of stress.

Look at your systems first.

Before you assume the problem is capacity, ask: how many of the tasks eating your time are things that don't actually need a human to do them?

Think about it. How many minutes a week do you spend:

▪ Manually chasing unpaid invoices?
▪ Entering data that could be captured automatically?
▪ Sending the same onboarding information to every new client?
▪ Pulling together reports that could run themselves?
▪ Forwarding receipts and bills to someone else to process?

These aren't skilled tasks. They're repetitive ones. And repetitive tasks are exactly what automation is built for.

When you map out your processes, step by step, you start to see where the friction is. You also start to see where a well-set-up system could do in seconds what currently takes you twenty minutes.

That time adds up. And when you get it back, you can spend it on the work that actually needs your brain, your relationships, and your expertise.

Feeling busy and feeling productive are not the same thing.

If you're overwhelmed right now, the answer might not be more hours or more hands. It might be a better look at how your business actually runs and where the gaps are hiding.

Still mixing personal and business spending in one account?It feels harmless, especially when you're just starting out. ...
11/06/2026

Still mixing personal and business spending in one account?

It feels harmless, especially when you're just starting out. But it creates a headache you really don't want when it comes to tax time.

When your finances are mixed, it's harder to see what your business is actually earning. It's harder for your bookkeeper to do their job. And it's harder for HMRC to trust your records if they ever come knocking.

The fix is simple: open a dedicated business bank account and make it a rule that everything business-related goes through there. No exceptions.

Remember, if you're a limited company it's actually a legal requirement to have a dedicated business account.

It's one of the smallest changes you can make and one of the most impactful.

You’re working longer hours than ever. Your to-do list is growing faster than you can clear it. Clients are waiting. Eve...
09/06/2026

You’re working longer hours than ever. Your to-do list is growing faster than you can clear it. Clients are waiting. Evenings and weekends are no longer yours.
You’re busy, really busy. And it feels like the right time to hire.

Busy isn’t a financial metric. And making a hiring decision based on how stretched you feel, without looking at the numbers, is one of the most common (and costly) mistakes service-based limited company owners make.

So before you post that job ad, let’s talk about what the numbers actually need to look like.

https://www.ljmbookkeeping.co.uk/post/the-numbers-that-tell-you-if-you-can-afford-to-hire

The truth may hurt sometimes.But, isn't it better knowing the truth behind your numbers so you can actually make a diffe...
04/06/2026

The truth may hurt sometimes.

But, isn't it better knowing the truth behind your numbers so you can actually make a difference?

Businesses who have visibility of their finances, and take relevant action, are the businesses who become successful and experience sustainable growth.

Are you ready to take action?

Get in touch today.

Welcome to June!Have you given your business numbers much thought recently?Maybe you are worried about your finances, so...
02/06/2026

Welcome to June!

Have you given your business numbers much thought recently?

Maybe you are worried about your finances, so just keep burying you head in the sand.

Or maybe, you know you're doing really well, so what's the point in tracking the numbers, right?

Either way ignoring your numbers is not good for business. At LJM we help our clients to maintain accurate accounts with consistent, regular bookkeeping.

Knowing your numbers means you can make much better business decisions. If you do it now, you know you'll be in a much better position by the end of the year.

Messy bookkeeping doesn’t just mean your accounts are a bit untidy.It usually means you’re paying in ways you can’t alwa...
28/05/2026

Messy bookkeeping doesn’t just mean your accounts are a bit untidy.
It usually means you’re paying in ways you can’t always see, until it’s stressful, expensive, or both.

Here’s what messy bookkeeping really costs service-based Ltd companies:

▪ Time (the constant “I’ll sort it later” tax)
Every missing receipt, uncategorised transaction, or half-reconciled month steals time you could spend on clients, sales, or switching off.

▪ Cashflow surprises
When your books aren’t up to date, you don’t know what’s truly available to spend and VAT/tax bills can feel like they come out of nowhere.

▪ Overpaying (or underpaying) VAT
Wrong VAT codes, duplicated expenses, or missing invoices can mean you either pay too much… or claim too much and have to fix it later.

▪ Bad decisions based on “gut feel”
If you don’t trust the numbers, you stop using them. That’s when pricing, hiring, and investment decisions get made on guesswork.

▪ Stress at the worst possible time
Quarter-end VAT. Year-end accounts. Mortgage applications. Funding.

Messy books always show up when you need things to be smooth.

The good news? LJM Bookkeeping are on hand to help.

Book a call to find out more https://calendly.com/ace-xl/ace-assess

So many business owners assume: “If I paid for it, I can claim the VAT back.”And I get why, it sounds logical. But VAT d...
26/05/2026

So many business owners assume: “If I paid for it, I can claim the VAT back.”

And I get why, it sounds logical. But VAT doesn’t work like that, and this assumption can land you with an awkward bill (or a stressful VAT return) later on.

Here’s what usually trips people up:

▪ Not every purchase has VAT on it
Some things are VAT exempt or zero-rated, so there’s nothing to reclaim in the first place.

▪ Some expenses are restricted
Even if VAT is charged, HMRC doesn’t always allow you to reclaim it (it depends what it is and how it’s used).

▪ Missing or incorrect invoices
A bank transaction isn’t enough. If you don’t have a proper VAT invoice/receipt, you may not be able to claim it.

▪ Mixed-use purchases
If something is partly personal and partly business, you can’t automatically reclaim 100% of the VAT.

The goal isn’t to claim “as much as possible” — it’s to claim what you’re entitled to, confidently, with the right evidence.

If you’re VAT registered and you’ve ever thought “I’m pretty sure I can claim that…” drop me a message and let's have a chat.

The 3 numbers I look at before I look at anything else.If you’re a VAT-registered, service-based Ltd company, it’s easy ...
21/05/2026

The 3 numbers I look at before I look at anything else.

If you’re a VAT-registered, service-based Ltd company, it’s easy to get lost in the detail… but these three numbers will tell you very quickly how things are really going.

1. Turnover (sales coming in)
This is your momentum. Are you steady, growing, or having a quieter spell?
It’s also the number that impacts everything else — VAT, tax planning, and capacity.

2. VAT liability (what you owe HMRC)
This is the one that catches directors out most.
Because that VAT you’ve collected isn’t “extra income”, it’s money you’re holding on HMRC’s behalf.
Knowing this number early = no nasty surprises at quarter end.

3. Cash in the bank (what you can actually pay out today)
Profit is great, but cash is what keeps the business running.
If cash is tight while turnover looks healthy, it usually means timing issues (late payers, big expenses, VAT due, or tax not being set aside).

You don’t need to be “good with numbers” to feel in control — you just need to look at the right ones, consistently.

If you want better control over your finances reach out today.

>>book a call https://calendly.com/ace-xl/ace-assess

Let’s be honest: most “payment problems” don’t start with a client refusing to pay.They start with unclear expectations....
19/05/2026

Let’s be honest: most “payment problems” don’t start with a client refusing to pay.
They start with unclear expectations.

When your payment terms are vague (or only mentioned awkwardly after an invoice is overdue), you end up doing extra admin, chasing money, and feeling resentful, even when you’re delivering a great service.

The good news: strong payment terms don’t have to feel strict or scary. In fact, the right terms often build trust with good clients because they show you run a professional, well-organised business.

Here’s how to set payment terms that protect your cash flow and keep the client experience smooth.

https://www.ljmbookkeeping.co.uk/post/payment-terms-that-protect-your-business-and-don-t-scare-off-good-clients

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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