Institute of Chartered Accountants- The ICAEW is one of Europe's major professional accountancy organizations.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) - The ACCA is the world's largest and fastest-growing global professional accountancy body

Association of International Accountants- An international accountancy and accountancy examining body, recognised in the UK under the Companies Act 1989.

Association of Accounting Technicians - The Association of Accounting Technician's web site with information about the Association, benefits of membership, and student information.

Looking for a Job?

Accountancy Age Jobs - UK finance jobs and accounting jobs at all levels, including public sector, practice and industry and commerce accountancy vacancies, auditing jobs and more.

Accountant Careers - Specialist jobs board servicing Accounting and Finance Professionals across the UK and Ireland.

Gaap Web - UK based Accounting and Finance jobs site, containing current vacancies in Accountancy and Financial Services in the UK and beyond.

AccJobs - UK based Accounting, Banking and Finance job board, containing jobs for Accountants, Banking, and Financial professionals.

Accountancy Job Board- UK based leading accountancy, finance and banking jobs boards. Search now and view the latest accounting vacancies or register for Jobs by Email and let the jobs come to you!

Official Websites

HMRC

As they are responsible for tax collection in the UK this may not be everyone’s favourite organisation. However, HMRC’s website is a mine of useful information. There are full details of Income Tax, Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, VAT, Excise duties and Stamp duties, including all rates and allowances. The site can be accessed via their Home page at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm.

You may find the following pages useful:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/esi.htm  - This Employment Status Indicator tool will give their opinion of whether someone is your employee or is self-employed.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employment-status/index.htm  - Guidance on the employment status of workers
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/se1.pdf  - A guide to starting up in business
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/index.htm  - A useful guide to VAT, including when and how to register
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/intro/basics.htm  - A basic guide to how and when to operate PAYE
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/business-payment.htm  - What to do if you cannot pay your taxes immediately
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/start/schemes/flat-rate.htm  - Advice on the the flat rate scheme of VAT which can be advantageous under certain circumstances

Grants

Are you looking to see whether your buiness qualifies for any form of grant or funding.  If so, then one very useful website to look at ishttp://www.j4bgrants.co.uk/Default.aspx.  This website carries details of a wide range of grants and has a useful search facility.

Business Link

Business Link is a business support and advice organisation which is funded by the government, and provides a wide range of free practical help and information. Topics covered include starting a business, employing people, finance and grants, importing and exporting, health & safety, employment law, information technology, and many other topics. This site is well worth a visit, and you can register your business with them to gain access to an even wider range of services and tools. Their Home page can be found at: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home?domain=www.businesslink.gov.uk&target=http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/

Companies House

Companies House maintains details of all companies registered within the UK, including details of the company’s directors, registered office, and mortgages, as well as copies of the latest accounts. For a small fee you can order any of these for delivery either electronically or by post. There is also a substantial amount of guidance on forming and running a company, and the obligations and duties of the company’s officers. You will find the site at http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/.

Citizens Advice Bureau

More advice on a wide range of topics can be found on the Adviceguide website operated by the Citizens Advice Bureau. Topics covered include employment law, taxation, debt management and advice, social security benefits, housing issues, health matters, and discrimination law. The advice given is vast. For instance, the health section provides information on what help is available through the NHS, patients’ rights, help with health costs, how to make a complaint, and details of health services for people from abroad. This can all be found at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Direct.gov.uk

The central site pointing you to the government’s latest information and advice on their services including information on retirement, caring for someone, motoring, travel, the environment, living abroad, parenthood, disability, plus many others. Matters covered include details of the government help and support available towards the meeting the cost of these items. All of this free advice is available at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

Business Network International

A business referral organisation to which we belong. We are founder members of the Warrington group which has been in existance for over 10 years, and details of which can be found at http://www.bni-warrington.com/4506.html. Only one member is allowed from each trade or profession. If you think that this may be for you and you cannot see your business sector listed in the members list then contact us and we would be pleased to invite you along as our guest.

Free Software

There are a couple of free programs which may be useful for small businesses.

http://www.download.openoffice.org/  - A Microsoft Office look-a-like which includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and presentation program. All modules can read and write documents in Microsoft Office format, although there is some loss of functions.

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp  - A free download that will translate word document files into Adobe PDF files.