The Uncommon Practice

09/09/2026

👋 Meet Marlon Armstrong FCCA – Director & Founder

With almost 30 years of experience supporting SMEs, Marlon is passionate about helping business owners overcome challenges, seize opportunities and build successful, sustainable businesses.

Over the last decade, he's developed a specialist expertise in supporting ecommerce businesses, advising on cross-border VAT, bookkeeping and tax structures. His practical, straightforward approach helps clients navigate complex financial matters with confidence.

A firm believer in the power of technology, Marlon champions AI and digital solutions that simplify processes, improve efficiency and give business owners more time to focus on growing their business and making informed decisions.
Outside of the office, Marlon is a proud Liverpool season ticket holder, a self-proclaimed Jamie Carragher impersonator, keen traveller, aspiring footballer and regular runner.

Whether he's helping clients embrace new technology or tackling complex financial questions, Marlon is committed to building lasting relationships and delivering advice that makes a real difference.

📊 From bookkeeping and accounts to strategic business advice, our team works alongside ambitious businesses to help them thrive. Get in touch to see how we can support you.

08/09/2026

You’re busy and your workload is growing, so… is it time to hire?

Hiring your first employee can feel like the obvious next step — but being busy doesn't automatically mean your business is ready for another member of staff.

Before recruiting, take a step back and look at:

📊 Your profitability
💷 Your cash flow
📈 Your sales pipeline
👤 How much work the role will actually generate
⏱️ Whether the hire will create capacity for you to grow
🤖 Whether AI, automation or better processes could create capacity before you hire

And don't forget to consider the alternatives…. outsourcing, freelancers or part-time support could give you the extra capacity you need without committing to a full-time employee.

The right question isn't simply “can I afford to hire?”

It's “will hiring help my business become more profitable and sustainable?”

We explore exactly what to consider before taking that next step in our latest blog.

👉 Read it here: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/can-i-afford-to-hire

02/09/2026

Business rates: could you be eligible for extra relief?

The 2026 business rates revaluation has changed bills for many businesses. If you’ve lost some or all of your Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief as a result, you may be eligible for Supporting Small Business Relief.

For eligible businesses, increases in 2026/27 bills are capped at £800 or the relevant percentage cap, whichever is greater.

If your business operates from commercial premises, it’s worth checking your new bill and making sure you’re receiving any relief you’re entitled to.

👉 Find out more about Supporting Small Business Relief: https://www.gov.uk/business-rates-relief/supporting-small-business-relief

If you're unsure what the changes mean for your business, speak to our team at [email protected].

GOV.UK - The best place to find government services and information.

31/08/2026

Think hiring someone will cost you their salary? Think again.

When you’re working out whether you can afford to take on an employee, the salary is only part of the calculation.

You also need to consider:

• Employer National Insurance
• Workplace pension contributions
• Holiday and sick pay
• Recruitment and onboarding costs
• Equipment, software and training
• The impact on your cash flow

That £30,000 salary could therefore cost your business considerably more than £30,000 a year.

So before you advertise that role, have you worked out the true cost of hiring?
We’ve broken down the numbers — and the questions you should be asking before you recruit — in our latest blog.

👉 Read the full guide: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/can-i-afford-to-hire

28/08/2026

“My only regret is not doing it sooner.”

Changing accountants can feel like a daunting decision – especially after building a relationship with your existing adviser over many years.

But the right finance partner can make a huge difference.

Since joining The Uncommon Practice, they've experienced the difference that comes from working with strategic accountants who provide proactive advice, meaningful financial insight and support throughout the year - not just when accounts are due.

We're proud to help ambitious business owners turn accurate financial data into better business decisions.

📩 If you’re looking for an accountancy team that works alongside you, rather than just for you, we’d love to hear from you.

Email: [email protected]

27/08/2026

Making Tax Digital: 436,000+ have now submitted their first update

More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have now successfully submitted their first quarterly update under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax.

So, what is Making Tax Digital?

MTD is HMRC's move towards keeping tax records digitally and submitting information about income and expenses through compatible software.

It currently applies to certain sole traders and landlords based on their qualifying income, with more people due to come into the scheme over the coming years.

If you're already required to use MTD, or you're unsure whether it applies to you, now is a good time to make sure your records and software are ready.

📩 Have questions about how MTD could affect you? Email our team at [email protected].

Read the latest HMRC update:

More than 436,000 sole traders and landlords have successfully submitted their first Making Tax Digital for Income Tax quarterly update.

26/08/2026

“Can I afford to hire an employee?”

This is something that comes up quite frequently when speaking with business owners.

The answer isn’t just about salary. Employer NI, pension contributions, holiday pay and cash flow all need to be considered before you recruit.

In our latest blog, we explain:

• the real cost of hiring,
• the cash-flow checks to make first,
• the warning signs that it may be too soon,
• and the indicators that your business is genuinely ready to grow.

If you’re thinking about taking on your first employee, this is a practical guide written for UK small businesses.

👉 Read the blog here: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/can-i-afford-to-hire

25/08/2026

Now is a good time to review your business finances.

At this point in the year, things may have changed since you set your original targets and forecasts.

• Costs may be higher.
• Sales may be different.
• Your team may have grown.
• You may have won (or lost) a major contract.

So, does your financial forecast still reflect the business you're actually running?

A mid-year financial review gives you the opportunity to stop, look at what's really happening and re-forecast for the remainder of your financial year.

The value of your numbers isn't knowing what happened, it's knowing what to do next.

We've put together a practical guide to help you review your business finances and identify where you may need to adjust your plans.

👉 Read the full article on our website.

24/08/2026

📢 The Government is consulting on changes to the UK's distributions framework

The Government has launched a consultation exploring whether the rules governing payments made by companies to non-corporate shareholders should be modernised.

The current legislation is complex and, in many cases, has remained largely unchanged since 1965. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the rules work as intended, reduce unnecessary complexity and minimise distortions, while continuing to support normal commercial practice.

The Government is gathering views before deciding whether reforms should go ahead, making this an important opportunity for businesses and advisers to contribute to the discussion.

📝 Read the consultation and have your say before 14 September here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-the-distributions-framework

📩 If you'd like to understand what potential changes could mean for your company or discuss your wider tax planning strategy, email our team at [email protected].

20/08/2026

Is your business on track?

At this point in the year, it's a good time to step back and ask: how is your business performing compared with where you expected to be?

Your original targets may have changed, your costs may have increased and your cash position might look very different from what you expected. That’s exactly why a mid-year financial review can be so useful…

A good review should look beyond turnover and profit to consider:

📊 Are you on track against your targets?
💷 Are your margins where they should be?
💰 What does your cash flow look like for the months ahead?
📈 Does your original forecast still reflect reality?
🎯 Are your financial results supporting your wider business goals?

The important bit isn't simply finding out where you are, it's using that information to decide what to do next.

We’ve put together a practical guide to help you carry out your own mid-year financial review and identify where you may need to adjust your plans for the remainder of your financial year.

👉 Read the full article: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com/post/mid-year-financial-review