Why I Took the Leap and Started My Own Rosemary Bookkeeping Business in Shrewsbury

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Starting my own Rosemary Bookkeeping business in Shrewsbury has been one of the biggest and most meaningful decisions I have made. Like many business owners, I reached a point where I wanted to build something with purpose, something that would allow me to use my skills to make a practical difference to other people running businesses of their own.

People often assume bookkeeping is purely about figures, spreadsheets and deadlines. Of course, accuracy matters. Compliance matters. Meeting HMRC requirements matters. But for me, bookkeeping is really about helping people feel more in control. Behind every set of accounts is a person trying to make decisions, manage pressure, support customers, pay bills, plan ahead and create stability for themselves and their team.

That is why I chose Rosemary Bookkeeping. I wanted to be part of a recognized bookkeeping brand while still offering the personal, local support that business owners value. Launching in Shrewsbury gives me the opportunity to work closely with sole traders, landlords, limited companies and growing SMEs across the area, getting to know what matters to them and providing support that fits around the way they work.

As a new business owner myself, I understand that the early stages can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There are decisions to make, processes to build, relationships to develop and plans to put into action. It has reminded me that business ownership can be incredibly rewarding, but it is also demanding. That experience helps me relate to the clients I support, because I know how valuable it is to have reliable people around you.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned already is that no business owner can do everything well on their own. The strongest businesses build trusted relationships with specialists who help them focus on what they do best. A good bookkeeper can give you back time, improve financial visibility and reduce the worry that comes from not knowing whether your records are up to date.

Many business owners leave bookkeeping until evenings, weekends or the end of the tax year. It is understandable, especially when customers and day-to-day operations come first. But when records are not kept up to date, it becomes harder to understand cash flow, plan for tax, prepare for VAT, manage payroll or make confident decisions. Regular bookkeeping turns financial administration from a source of stress into a useful business tool.

My aim with Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury is to provide practical, friendly and professional support that helps local businesses feel organised and confident. Whether you are just starting out, growing steadily or trying to regain control of your paperwork, the right bookkeeping support can make running your business feel clearer and less stressful.

This blog series will follow my journey as I build my business, but it is also written for other business owners. Each month, I will share something I have learned and connect it to the challenges many local businesses face. I hope it becomes a useful, honest and relatable resource for anyone trying to build a successful business in Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas.

Do I need a local bookkeeper in Shrewsbury?

A local bookkeeper can provide convenient, personal support while helping you keep records organised, accurate and up to date.

Can Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury help with Making Tax Digital?

Yes. Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury can help businesses and landlords organise digital records and prepare for current and future Making Tax Digital requirements.

How do I know if I need bookkeeping support?

If bookkeeping is taking up too much time, your records are behind, or you are unsure whether your figures are accurate, it is a good time to ask for support.

If you have any questions, you want to cross-check any information you already have or are looking for a trusted bookkeeper in Shrewsbury, I would love to hear about your business. Contact Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury for a friendly, no-obligation conversation about bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, Making Tax Digital support or simply getting your records more organised. Let’s talk, enquire online: www.rosemarybooks.co.uk/shrewsbury or call us on 07799041599 for your free 15 minute consultation

Rosemary Bookkeeping North Star Marketing Award and Franchisee of the Year 2025

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Karen Mann, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury, has won two awards at this year’s Rosemary Spring Forum.

Karen attended the event in person and accepted both the Rosemary North Star Marketing Award and the most prestigious award of the day, Franchisee of the Year 2025.

Since joining the Rosemary network in 2023, Karen has fully embraced the franchise model. From the start, she has made the most of the systems, support, and marketing tools available to her. By putting these into action consistently, she has built a business that is now recognised, trusted, and growing across North Dorset.

Her success shows the value of following the model, staying visible, and investing in the right areas from day one.

Through a clear and consistent marketing approach, Karen has built strong awareness of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset. This has helped her reach more local businesses, grow her client base, and create a brand presence that feels established within her area.

Her business has also exceeded its growth projections. This achievement reflects Karen’s hard work, but it also shows the value her business brings to clients across North Dorset and Salisbury. As more local businesses look for support with bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital, Karen has built a service they can rely on.

Winning the North Star Marketing Award is a fantastic recognition of the way Karen has promoted and grown her business.

Winning Franchisee of the Year 2025 takes that recognition even further. It celebrates her commitment, consistency, results, and the way she has represented the Rosemary Bookkeeping brand since joining the network.

Congratulations, Karen, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across North Dorset, Salisbury and surrounding areas, reach out to Karen for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 01202 094 387 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/northdorset/

Nirmal Thakkar Wins Rosemary North Star Customer Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Nirmal Thakkar, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, has won the Rosemary North Star Customer Award.

This award recognises Nirmal’s commitment to building a customer-first business that local clients can trust.

For Nirmal, great bookkeeping is about more than keeping records up to date. It is about giving business owners clear support, practical guidance, and the confidence that their finances are in safe hands.

Her strong 5-star Google reviews reflect the experience her clients receive. They show the trust she has built locally and the value her business brings to small businesses across Garden City and the surrounding areas.

By putting customers at the centre of her service, Nirmal has been able to strengthen her local brand reputation and reach more businesses that need reliable bookkeeping support.

From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital support, Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City helps business owners stay organised, compliant, and more confident with their finances.

Winning the North Star Customer Award is a well-deserved recognition of Nirmal’s care, consistency, and customer-first approach.

Congratulations, Nirmal, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Garden City and surrounding areas, reach out to Nirmal for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 07940 001375 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/garden-city/.

Zoe Barnard-Rowlands Wins Rosemary North Star Invest Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Zoe Barnard-Rowlands, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter, has won the Rosemary North Star Invest Award.

This award recognises Zoe’s commitment to investing in her business, her brand, and the local market since purchasing Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter.

Since taking over from the previous owner, Zoe has brought fresh energy to the business. She has worked hard to build the local brand, strengthen her presence across Exeter, and give Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter a clear direction for the future.

Her investment has gone far beyond day-to-day business activity.

Zoe has proactively attended networking events, built valuable relationships with trusted business coaches, and spent time getting to know the needs of local business owners in Exeter.

This has helped her better understand her customer base and refine the value Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter can bring to businesses looking to grow in today’s market.

From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital support, Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter helps local businesses stay organised, compliant, and more confident with their finances.

Zoe’s focus has been on making sure that support feels relevant, practical, and built around what local businesses really need.

Although Zoe was unable to attend this year’s Rosemary Spring Forum in person, her efforts were still recognised as part of the wider awards presentation.

Winning the North Star Invest Award is a well-deserved recognition of the time, care, and energy Zoe has put into developing Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter.

Congratulations, Zoe, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Exeter and surrounding areas, reach out to Zoe for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 07444 320 357 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/exeter/

Fiona Perks Wins Rosemary Bookkeeping North Star Award for People

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Fiona Perks Wins Rosemary North Star Award for People.

Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Fiona Perks, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest, has won the North Star Award for People.

This award recognises Fiona’s commitment to building a strong, supported, and capable team within her Rosemary Bookkeeping business.

Over the last year, Fiona has invested in growing her team of bookkeepers, giving her business the support it needs during busy peak periods while continuing to deliver steady growth throughout the year.

For bookkeeping businesses, having the right people in place matters. Clients need reliable support, accurate work, and clear communication, especially around deadlines, VAT returns, payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital requirements.

Fiona has built her Wyre Forest business with this in mind.

By expanding her team, she has created more capacity within the business and strengthened the service her clients receive. This has helped Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest continue to grow while maintaining the personal, practical support local businesses rely on.

Her award also reflects the culture she has built.

Fiona has created a clear people-first ethos across her business. That means supporting her team, valuing their contribution, and recognising the important role they play in the success of Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest.

This approach has helped create a stronger business, better client support, and a team that can grow with confidence.

Winning the North Star Award for People is a well-deserved recognition of Fiona’s leadership, investment, and care for the people behind the business.

Congratulations, Fiona, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster, reach out to Fionafor a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 07421 703 891 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/wyre-forest/

Hanaa Raydan Wins Rosemary North Star Award for Growth

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Hanaa Raydan, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley, has won the overall North Star Award for Growth.

Now approaching two years in business, Hanaa has already made a strong impact within the Rosemary network. Since launching Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley, she has exceeded her annual growth projections, built a clear local presence, and shown what can be achieved with focus, consistency, and a strong understanding of the local market.

Her success was recognised at this year’s Rosemary Spring Forum, where she took home two awards celebrating her growth, progress, and results.

Building a Strong Local Bookkeeping Business in Wembley

Since joining the Rosemary network, Hanaa has worked hard to understand the needs of businesses across Wembley and the surrounding area.

Rather than taking a broad approach, she has focused on identifying where the strongest opportunities sit within her local market. This has helped her define clear specialisms and shape her services around the businesses most likely to benefit from professional bookkeeping support.

From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, software support, and Making Tax Digital preparation, Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley helps local business owners stay organised, compliant, and more confident with their finances.

For small businesses, this kind of support can make a real difference. It gives owners more time to focus on running their business, while knowing their financial admin is being handled properly.

Exceeding Growth Projections

Winning the North Star Award for Growth reflects the progress Hanaa has made in a relatively short time.

In under two years, she has exceeded her annual growth projections and taken her business to new heights. This achievement shows her ability to follow the Rosemary model while also making smart decisions for her own local market.

Her growth has come from careful planning, strong local positioning, and a willingness to keep learning as her business develops.

Hanaa has also mastered a range of tools and marketing solutions to help her get the best return from the money she invests back into her business. By using these resources well, she has been able to build awareness, create new opportunities, and support long-term growth.

A Strong Example for New Franchise Partners

Hanaa’s journey is a brilliant example for new franchise partners joining the Rosemary Bookkeeping network.

She has shown how important it is to understand your territory, use the support available, invest in the right areas, and stay focused on the bigger goal.

Her results show that strong growth does not happen by chance. It comes from consistent activity, clear decision-making, and a strong commitment to building a trusted local brand.

As a newer franchise partner, Hanaa has set a high standard. Her success gives a clear example of what can be achieved when the Rosemary business model is followed with energy, focus, and belief.

Two Awards, One Standout Year

Taking home two awards is a fantastic achievement for Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley.

The recognition celebrates not only Hanaa’s growth, but also the way she has approached her business since joining the network. She has navigated her local market, defined her opportunities, invested in marketing, and continued to push her business forward.

The overall North Star Award for Growth is a fitting recognition of that effort.

Congratulations, Hanaa, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Wembley and surrounding areas, reach out to Hanaa for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 0208 5750286 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/wembley/

Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke Wins Top Growth Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that TJ, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke, has been recognised for exceeding an outstanding £250,000 in turnover.

This was the highest growth award presented at the Rosemary Spring Forum 2026, making it a standout achievement across the entire network.

TJ has spent the last 20 years building a hugely successful Rosemary Bookkeeping business. Over that time, she has grown a strong local brand, built lasting client relationships, and created a business that continues to go from strength to strength.

Her latest achievement shows what is possible with the Rosemary business model when it is backed by experience, consistency, and a clear commitment to growth.

Achieving £250,000 growth in just one year is a highly commendable result. It reflects the scale of the business TJ has built, the trust she has earned, and the continued demand for reliable bookkeeping support across Newbury, Basingstoke, and the surrounding areas.

From bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, management reporting, and Making Tax Digital support, Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke continues to support businesses with the financial admin they need to stay organised and confident.

This award is more than recognition for one strong year. It celebrates 20 years of dedication, business building, and belief in the Rosemary brand.

Congratulations, TJ, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Newbury, Basingstoke and surrounding areas, reach out to TJ for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 01635 869785 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/newbury/

Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford Wins Growth Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford Recognised for Outstanding Growth.

Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Sarah, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford, has been recognised for exceeding £65,000 in turnover.

This is a brilliant achievement and reflects a strong year of progress, focus, and local business support.

Over the last 12 months, Sarah has continued to grow her presence across Shrewsbury, Telford, and the surrounding areas, helping local business owners stay organised, compliant, and more confident with their bookkeeping.

From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital support, Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford provides practical support for businesses that need clear, reliable financial admin.

The award also reflects the work Sarah has done to build the brand locally.

Alongside growing the business, she has invested in sponsoring local children’s football teams. This has helped raise awareness of Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford while also giving something back to the local community.

Supporting grassroots sport is a great way to build local connections. It shows Sarah is focused on growing a business that is visible, involved, and supportive within the area it serves.

Achieving more than £65,000 growth in one year is a fantastic milestone. It recognises Sarah’s hard work, the trust she has built with local clients, and the positive impact Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford continue to make.

Congratulations, Sarah, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Shrewsbury and Telford and surrounding areas, reach out to Sarah for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 01925 239873 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/shrewsbury/

 

Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent and Isle of Sheppey Wins Growth Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Grant Dye, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent and Isle of Sheppey, has been recognised for exceeding £60,000 in turnover.

This is a fantastic achievement and reflects the strength of the business Grant has built over the last decade.

With many years of experience working with some of the UK’s leading bookkeeping and accounting software, Grant has become a trusted source of support for local businesses across North Kent and the Isle of Sheppey.

As a Xero Silver Partner, he brings strong software knowledge, practical bookkeeping expertise, and a clear understanding of what businesses need to stay organised and compliant.

This has become especially important during the ongoing transition towards Making Tax Digital.

For many small businesses, MTD can feel confusing. New software, digital records, and submission requirements all add extra pressure. Grant’s experience means he can guide local business owners through the process with confidence, helping them understand what needs to change and how to get ready.

This award recognises more than one year of growth. It reflects Grant’s reputation, consistency, and the trusted local brand he has built over the last 10 years in business.

As Grant prepares to mark this milestone anniversary later this year, Rosemary Bookkeeping is pleased to celebrate his latest achievement.

Congratulations, Grant, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across North Kent, Isle of Sheppey and surrounding areas, reach out to Grant for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on:   07970 696391 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/north-kent-sheppey/

Rosemary Bookkeeping Stratford Wins Growth Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Mohammad Hossain, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Stratford, has been recognised for exceeding £30,000 in turnover.

Mohammad accepted his award in person at the Rosemary Spring Forum 2026.

The annual event brings together the Rosemary franchise network to share ideas, discuss future plans, and celebrate key successes from across the brand.

For Rosemary Bookkeeping Stratford, this award marks an exciting year of progress.

Over the last 12 months, Mohammad has worked hard to grow his business, build his local profile, and create a clear brand personality for Rosemary Bookkeeping Stratford.

A big part of this has been his focus on building a stronger social media presence. By showing up more consistently online, Mohammad has been able to raise awareness of his services, share useful bookkeeping advice, and connect with more local business owners particularly with Making Tax Digital coming into full force for many businesses who are within the £50,000 turnover threshold.

He has also invested time in networking and relationship building. Events such as Accountex have given him the opportunity to represent the Rosemary Bookkeeping brand, meet other professionals, and build connections that can support the future growth of his business.

His award is a well-deserved recognition of the effort, focus, and ambition he has shown over the last year.

Congratulations, Mohammad, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Stratford and surrounding areas, reach out to Mohammad Hossain for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 0208 0772029or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/stratford/

 

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley Wins Growth Award

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce that Hanaa Raydan, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley, has won a Rosemary growth award for exceeding £25,000 in turnover.

As one of the newer members of the Rosemary network, Hanaa has made an impressive start. She has surpassed her initial projections, exceeded her growth targets, and built strong foundations for the future of her business.

Her success reflects the focus, hard work, and local knowledge she has brought to Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley.

Since joining the network, Hanaa has worked hard to define her specialisms and identify the sectors where her bookkeeping support can make the biggest difference. By understanding the needs of local businesses in Wembley and the surrounding areas, she has started to build a service that feels relevant, practical, and valuable.

From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital support, Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley helps business owners stay organised, compliant, and more confident with their finances.

Hanaa accepted her award in person at the Rosemary Spring Forum 2026.

The Rosemary Spring Forum is an annual network event that brings together franchise partners from across the UK. It gives the network time to share ideas, collaborate on future strategies, discuss key opportunities, and celebrate some of the biggest successes from the previous year in business.

For Hanaa, receiving this award at the forum marked a proud moment in her Rosemary journey so far.

Winning this growth award is a fantastic achievement for Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley. It recognises a strong first chapter in business, clear growth, and Hanaa’s commitment to building a trusted bookkeeping service for businesses in the Wembley area.

Congratulations, Hanaa, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Wembley and surrounding areas, reach out to Hanaa for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 0208 5750286 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/wembley/

Nirmal Thakkar Wins Rosemary Bookkeeping Growth Award

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Nirmal Thakkar Wins Rosemary Growth Award 2025

Rosemary Bookkeeping is proud to announce Nirmal Thakkar, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, as the winner of the Rosemary Growth Award 2025. Nirmal accepted this award at the Rosemary Spring Forum 2026 network event, held each year to bring together the franchise network, collaborate over topics and strategies set to transform the future of the brand and celebrate some of the key successes from the previous year in business.

The award recognises strong growth across the Rosemary network, with turnover exceeding £20,000. But this award is about more than figures.

Nirmal has worked hard to build a trusted local bookkeeping business that supports sole traders, limited companies, contractors, and small businesses across Garden City and the surrounding areas. From day-to-day bookkeeping and VAT returns to payroll, CIS, and Making Tax Digital support, she helps business owners stay organised and feel more in control of their finances.

Her efforts beyond bookkeeping

Nirmal has used her Rosemary business and brand to bring local people together, hosting community events around Diwali, the Festival of Light, and Holi, the Festival of Colour, in partnership with the local council. These events have helped celebrate culture, support local connection, and give something positive back to the community.

Her growing local presence has also seen Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City featured in local publications such as Living Life Magazine. Nirmal has also been nominated for the One Welwyn Hatfield Community Awards 2026, recognising her work within the local community.

As Making Tax Digital continues to become a bigger focus for small businesses, Nirmal has been there to offer clear, practical guidance. For many business owners, having someone local who can explain what needs doing, and then help them do it properly, makes a real difference.

Winning the Rosemary Growth Award 2025 is a well-deserved recognition of Nirmal’s hard work, business growth, and commitment to her local area.

Congratulations, Nirmal, from everyone at Rosemary Bookkeeping.

If you’re looking for an award winning, local and friendly bookkeeper to support your business as it grows across Garden City and surrounding areas, reach out to Nirmal for a FREE 15 minute business consultation today on: 07940 001375 or enquire online on: https://rosemarybooks.co.uk/garden-city/.

Boost Your Financial Awareness: Digitalise Your Bookkeeping for Making Tax Digital

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Prepare for Making Tax Digital Changes by digitalising your processes with the help of an expert bookkeeper.

If you’re a small business owner, sole trader or landlord, you’ve probably heard plenty of rumblings about the imminent and non-negotiable changes surrounding Making Tax Digital.

While, on the face of it, it does seem scary when words like “compliance” and “tax” are being wielded by HMRC, it doesn’t have to be.

In this blog post, our experts break down Making Tax Digital and what you need to do in order to be prepared for compliance when the time comes.

What is Making Tax Digital?

Despite the name, Making Tax Digital (or MTD) is not about tax. It’s about bookkeeping.

The government-led initiative centres on moving UK taxpayers’ records from spreadsheets and paper to a fully digitalised system. Introduced in April 2019, it has already gone through a few phases and currently applies to VAT-registered businesses. This is all set to change, however.

As of April 2026, MTD will be applied to Income Tax records for self-employed individuals and landlords with an income of over £50,000, which will require three key changes:

  1. Digital Record-Keeping: All transactions (income and outcome) must be kept digitally in an HMRC-approved software.
  2. Quarterly updates: Single annual returns are a thing of the past. Now, you must send quarterly updates on income and expenditure using an MTD-compliant software.
  3. Final Declaration: Once you’ve submitted all four quarterly updates in one year, you need to finalise your annualised income with a final declaration.

For those affected, MTD isn’t a tax change, but the mandating of digitalised bookkeeping using compliant software.

How a bookkeeper can help with MTD

No matter your threshold or when you’re affected, if you’re worried about the incoming changes to MTD for Income Tax, a bookkeeper can help.

The best way to keep your MTD experience stress-free is to get ahead of the changes by working with an expert bookkeeper to help make the transition to bookkeeping software.

Choosing the right software for you can be a lot to consider, but with Rosemary Bookkeeping, it doesn’t have to be hard. As accredited experts and approved partners with many leading MTD-compliant software like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent and more, a Rosemary Bookkeeper can help you understand which software will be the best fit for you, get set up and transition to digital in time for the changes.

Or, to completely remove the stress from the equation, you can opt to outsource your bookkeeping to our experts completely, safe in the knowledge that we’ll ensure you stay compliant with MTD and other compliance requirements like AML, as well as keeping your books neat, correct and accounted for.

Want help with your bookkeeping?

If you’d benefit from expert advice, outsourcing and support in time to comply with the upcoming changes for MTD, contact your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper today for a free, no-obligation quotation on a range of professional bookkeeping services.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter Makes a Splash at the West Country Business Show

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Zoe Barnard-Rowland (and Teri Cotta) from Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter made quite the impression attending the West Country Business show.

What’s the most fun a plant pot can have outside of the garden? DJ-ing!

Zoe Barnard-Rowland, owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter, took a trip to the West Country Business Show recently, accompanied by our good friend Teri Cotta!

This blog post has all the details.

A day at the show

Zoe heard about the West Country Business Show after attending another event from the same organiser earlier in the year, and attended alongside her fellow members of Devon Women in Business.

The pair came decked out with plenty of swag. Those who swung by the Rosemary Bookkeeping stand were treated to a veritable visual feast, including a lovely banner, as well as some brilliant goodies to take away, from pens to tasty sweets, flyers, business cards and also a spin on the appropriately named wheel of fun, which allowed them to win some exclusive Rosemary treats at random.

Zoe says her highlights from the day included making lots of contacts and meeting so many people, including Frankie the dachshund and Ocho the assistance dog! Teri, on the other hand, got to try her hand on the DJ deckswith Cornwall’s Rewind Radioand say hi to her friends from our sister brand, ServiceMaster Clean!

Need a friendly, local bookkeeping service?

If you’re in Exeter and the surrounding areas and could use help with your business’s finances, get in touch with Zoe for expert solutions to all of your bookkeeping worries and woes today on 07444 320357.

And keep an eye out for Zoe, Teri, and their wheel of fun at more events and exhibits near you soon!

Or, nationwide, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s Forget Me Knot 2025 for Alzheimer’s Society

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Rosemary Bookkeeping is participating in the third annual Forget Me Knot Challenge to support Alzheimer’s Society. 

Alzheimer’s is commonly misunderstood as a natural part of ageing.

However, it is a deadly neurological disease that is currently the UK’s biggest killer, estimated to affect 1 in 2 people in the UK in their lifetime.

This year, ServiceMaster brands across the UK have once again partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society to help them provide help and hope to the 900,000+ people living with dementia in the UK.

Throughout 2025, we’re working closely with our friends at the Alzheimer’s Society to raise a further £10,000 as part of our commitment to supporting them in their cause.

And as part of our fundraising commitment, our businesses nationwide are again undertaking the Forget Me Knot Challenge.

But what is the Forget Me Knot Challenge? And how can you get involved?

This blog post has all the details.

What is the Forget Me Knot Challenge?

The Alzheimer’s Society is represented by the forget-me-not flower, long associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia due to its impact on memory loss.

The Forget Me Knot Challenge is a sponsored virtual relay in which staff and owners from our businesses across the UK run, walk, or cycle the equivalent total mileage between each of our businesses, tying them together and raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society: creating the Forget Me Knot.

How to support us

If you want to support us, please visit our Just Giving page to donate online.

Or, if you’re one of our customers, please feel free to speak to our staff about donating.

Thank you for all your support!

To stay up to date with how we’re doing, stay tuned to our blog and social media channels over the summer.

Need professional bookkeeping services?

Learn the value of a bookkeeper who cares by finding your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business for a free, no-obligation quote on our services today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping pledges to raise £10K for Alzheimer’s Society

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Rosemary Bookkeeping names Alzheimer’s Society as our Charity of the Year

We are thrilled to announce that Rosemary Bookkeeping has joined the rest of the ServiceMaster Brands UK family in pledging to raise £10,000 this year in support of our charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society.

This blog post has all the details.

Our Charity of the Year

We have named Alzheimer’s Society our charity of the year.

And have thus pledged to raise £10,000 to go towards their work throughout 2025.

As part of its longstanding commitment as Dementia Friends, our sister brand Merry Maids UK has raised over £14,000 for Alzheimer’s Society through its annual nationwide Forget Me Knot Challenge Campaign over the last two years alongside supporting our staff and customers to have a better cleaning experience by ensuring every Merry Maids cleaner across the UK benefitted from specialist dementia training sessions to better support customers living with dementia across the nation.

This year, we’re kicking it up a notch.

With other brands from ServiceMaster Brands UK pitching in, we have pledged this year to raise £10,000 by opening the annual fundraising initiatives to all of our businesses across the UK.

What has dementia support meant to people?

To Merry Maids customers like this woman from Croydon, the support means her father can maintain his independence:

“My Dad is 93 and has got a serious heart condition and dementia,” she says.

“After a long stay in hospital and living with us for four months, he wanted to live independently,”

“He reluctantly accepted help and within a couple of weeks was looking forward to his visits by Merry Maids.”

“They are very caring and have a very soft spot for Dad,” she adds.

“Which makes my life as a carer easier.”

“Dad would never be without his Merry Maids, and they have made a huge difference to his enjoyment of life.”

Meg Foxhall, Community Fundraiser of Alzheimer’s Society, says:

“We are so grateful that Merry Maids chose Alzheimer’s Society as their Charity of the Year. Each hour people generously give to fundraise for us, every event they take part in, every pound they donate, they’re making a life-changing difference to people living with dementia.

“Alzheimer’s Society provides vital support to people living with dementia, funds groundbreaking research and campaigns to make dementia the priority it should be. Together, we will end the devastation caused by dementia.

“There are currently around a million people in the UK with dementia. But we simply can’t reach everyone without the continued support of our incredible fundraisers like Merry Maids.”

Discover the value of a bookkeeper who cares

If you would benefit from a professional and compassionate bookkeeping services from your local experts, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Northampton Awarded for Business Growth

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Mohamed Walji from Rosemary Bookkeeping Northampton picked up a prestigious growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Mohamed Walji from Rosemary Bookkeeping Northampton, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2024, Mohamed made key strides in his business development through providing consistently excellent services to his clients through a range of vital services, including help using software like Xero and QuickBooks to work towards targets around Making Tax Digital and meeting crucial deadlines in the bookkeeping calendar. Delivering a valued service to his clients across the region has allowed Mohamed to exceed targets for his business.

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Mohammed has broken through the £50k mark with focus and consistency, laying solid foundations for further expansion.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Northampton and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Mohamed on 07764 857767 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley Wins Rookie of the Year Award

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Hanaa Raydan from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley picked up the coveted Rookie of the Year award for her exceptional first year in business at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Hanaa Raydan from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In her first year in business, Hanaa made key strides through achieving key qualifications that allowed her to provide exceedingly excellent services to her clients through a range of vital services, including help using software like Xero and QuickBooks to work towards targets around Making Tax Digital and meeting crucial deadlines in the bookkeeping calendar.

Raising awareness of her business and brand in the local area through focused marketing efforts, alongside making space for her family and personal commitments, Hanaa has seen great success.

“[For the] first year, I prioritised the franchise and tried to dedicate my time and concentration on the business to be seen,” she says.

This has paid dividends to Hanaa’s visibility within her community as she has found that Rosemary has become a growing name in her area.

“I found that my biggest success is that most of my clients were calling me Rosemary, which made me feel I did succeed in making the franchise seen and remembered.”

Hanaa says her other successes and greatest pride have been in helping clients and supporting them in managing deadlines, all while connecting with her community and owning a business that allows her to be flexible in work.

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, adds:

“Hanaa has hit the ground running in her first year, showing remarkable dedication to hunting out potential clients and getting them over the line to achieve some great progress towards her growth!”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Wembley and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Hanaa on 0208 5750286 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City Awarded for Business Growth

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Nirmal Thakkar from Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City picked up a prestigious growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Nirmal Thakkar from Rosemary Bookkeeping Garden City, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2024, Nirmal made key strides in her business development by evolving her marketing efforts to grow her regional customer base, including featuring in multiple publications advocating for local business and franchising, and sharing the word about her expertise and dedicated services helped her to exceed targets for her business.

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Nirmal not only exceeded £10k but also achieved the highest percentage growth across the network and gained valuable PR exposure—an exceptional start!”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Stevenage and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Nirmal on 01462 419444 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury Awarded for Consecutive Business Growth

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Karen Mann from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury has picked up her second consecutive growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Karen Mann from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year. This adds to Karen’s trophy cabinet, as she also took home a growth and Rookie of the Year award from last year’s Spring Forum.

In 2024, Karen made key strides in her business development, evolving her marketing efforts to grow her customer base across the region. Sharing the word about her expertise and dedicated services helped her to exceed targets for her business.

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Karen’s success in reaching over £40k reflects her drive and growing presence in her local market—great progress and plenty more to come!”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in North Dorset, Salisbury and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Karen on 01202 094387 or 07590 554797 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent and Isle of Sheppey Awarded for Business Growth

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Grant Dye from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent and Isle of Sheppey picked up a prestigious growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Grant Dye from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Kent and the Isle of Sheppey, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2024, Grant made key strides in his business development through providing consistently excellent services to his clients through a range of vital services, including help using software like Xero and QuickBooks to work towards targets around Making Tax Digital and meeting crucial deadlines in the bookkeeping calendar. Delivering a valued service to his clients across the region has allowed Grant to exceed targets for his business.

Congratulations!

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Grant’s commitment and steady performance have seen him hit the £50k milestone, a testament to his professionalism and client dedication.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in North Kent, Isle of Sheppey and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Grant on 07970 696391 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Bournemouth Awarded for Business Growth

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Goska Dabrowski from Rosemary Bookkeeping Bournemouth picked up a prestigious growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Goska Dabrowski from Rosemary Bookkeeping Bournemouth, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2024, Goska made key strides in her business development through restructuring, focusing on investing in her team development, allowing her to evolve her marketing efforts to grow her customer base across the region. Expanding her team and sharing the word about her expertise and dedicated services helped her to exceed targets for her business.

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Goska’s continued growth has been fuelled by her smart investment in marketing talent, helping her exceed £65k and build strong momentum for the future.

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Goska on 01202 251647 or 07778 286458 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest Named Franchisee of the Year

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Fiona Perks from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest picked up a second consecutive Growth award and the title of Franchisee of the Year at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping’s annual spring forum is a red-letter day for our bookkeepers up and down the UK, where we come together to network, learn, grow, and catch up, too!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2024.

This included Fiona Perks from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest, who won an award for significant business growth last year. This adds to Fiona’s trophy cabinet, as she also took home a growth award from last year’s Spring Forum.

But this year, she also went the extra mile, with her accomplishments in the last 12 months gaining her the prestigious title of Franchisee of the Year.

In 2024, Fiona made key strides in her business development through restructuring to be more manager-operated. Expanding her team and allowing her clients to benefit from more dedicated expertise, while she could focus on implementing plans for strategic growth, helped her to exceed £100,000!

Bobby Garland, Brand Leader for Rosemary Bookkeeping, said:

“Fiona has impressively surpassed the £100k milestone in 2024, driven by her strategic shift to a more manager-led model—a bold move that’s clearly paying off. She has truly set the standard in 2024, combining strategic innovation & strong results to earn the well-deserved title of Franchisee of the Year.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Wyre Forest and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Fiona on 07421 703891 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

New Advisory Fuel Rates – 2025

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Everything you need to know about the new advisory fuel rates for company car users.

For any business, keeping track of your financials is vital.

So, keeping track of relevant legislation that will affect them is imperative.

On March 1st 2025, HMRC reviewed current Advisory Fuel Rates (AFR) for company car drivers claiming back fuel expenses from their employer.

In this blog post, our experts have compiled a guide on everything you need to know about the new Advisory Fuel Rates.

Who is affected by changing Advisory Fuel Rates?

Mileage rates and any changes apply in certain circumstances for employees who use company cars.

These rates only apply when:

Reimbursing employees for company car business travel:

According to guidance from HMRC, if the mileage rate you pay is lower than the AFR for the engine size and fuel type of the car, there will be no taxable profit and no Class 1a National Insurance to pay.

If your cars are more fuel efficient or the cost of business travel is higher than the AFR, you can use personalised rates to reflect your situation.

However, if your mileage payments are only for business travel or you pay rates higher than the advisory rates but cannot show that your fuel cost per mile is higher, there will be no fuel benefit charge.

Instead, you’ll have to treat any excess as taxable profit and earnings for Class 1 National Insurance purposes.

Employees repay the cost of the fuel for private travel:

If you correctly record all private travel mileage and use the correct rate (or higher) to calculate how much your employees repay you for fuel used for personal travel, there will be no fuel benefit charge.

You will also not need to use the advisory rates, where you can show that employees cover the total cost of private fuel by repaying at a lower mileage rate.

When are Advisory Fuel Rates changed?

Advisory Fuel Rates are subject to regular change. HMRC reviews rates quarterly.

The most recent review happened on the first of March.

They are reviewed on:

  • 1st March
  • 1st June
  • 1st September
  • 1st December

How changes are calculated

The changes made by HMRC reflect fuel and energy prices.

Previously, when reimbursing electric company car drivers, the rate used by many companies was based upon annual figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the electrical energy consumption values from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Starting March 2023, HMRC also incorporated figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to inform electricity rates. From March 2024 onwards, they’ve utilised data from annual car sales volumes to businesses (Fleet Audits average for the last three years). This year, they’ve also included findings from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero updates its yearly electricity cost, measured in ‘pence per kilowatt hour,’ based on the quarterly Consumer Prices Index from the Office for National Statistics. This adjustment helps reflect any price changes every three months.

How are the new Advisory Fuel Rates calculated?

Advisory Fuel Rates are calculated when the mean miles per gallon (MPG) is taken from manufacturers’ information.

This considers annual sales to businesses (Fleet Audits average from 2021 to 2023 ).

For liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the MPG used is 20% lower than for petrol due to lower volumetric energy density.

The ‘rates per mile’ are rounded to one decimal place.

The final advisory fuel rates are rounded to the nearest penny.

Rates per mile, which end in 0.5, are rounded to the nearest whole penny for the advisory fuel rate when the underlying unrounded figure ends in a number less than 0.5.

When the underlying unrounded figure ends in a number greater than 0.5, it is rounded to the nearest whole penny.

The DESNZ cost for pence per kilowatt hour is updated by the ONS consumer prices index for electricity.

This is to account for quarterly price variations.

Then, the value of the annual equivalent rate is calculated through the cost of electricity per mile for each model provided by the DfT and electricity price data from DESNZ and ONS.

A weighted average value of the electrical costs per mile for a fully electric car is then calculated using company car sales data across the last three years.

The advisory fuel rates are worked out from the fuel prices in these tables.

Hybrid cars are treated as petrol or diesel cars for advisory fuel rates.

How have Advisory Fuel Rates Changed?

The key changes as of March 2025 include a 1p increase for petrol vehicles with engine sizes between 1401cc and 2000cc and for diesel vehicles up to 1600cc, with no change to other petrol or diesel rates. Likewise, the advisory electricity rate for fully electric cars remains at 7p per mile.

Petrol:

Rates for petrol cars have increased by 1p for petrol vehicles with engine sizes between 1401cc and 2000cc.

Engine size (cc) Mean MPG Fuel price (per litre) Fuel price (per gallon) Rate per mile Advisory fuel rate
Up to 1400 51 138.7 pence 630.7 pence 12.4 pence 12 pence
1401 to 2000 42.3 138.7 pence 630.7 pence 14.9 pence 15 pence
Over 2000 27.1 138.7 pence 630.7 pence 23.3 pence 23 pence

Diesel:

Diesel rates have also increased by 1p for vehicles up to 1600cc. 

Engine size (cc) Mean MPG Fuel price (per litre) Fuel price (per gallon) Rate per mile Advisory fuel rate
Up to 1600 56.9 146.1 pence 664.3 pence 11.7 pence 12 pence
1601 to 2000 49.3 146.1 pence 664.3 pence 13.5 pence 13 pence
Over 2000 38 146.1 pence 664.3 pence 17.5 pence 17 pence

LPG:

Engine size (cc) Mean MPG Fuel price (per litre) Fuel price (per gallon) Rate per mile Advisory fuel rate
Up to 1400 40.8 98.3 pence 446.9 pence 10.9 pence 11 pence
1401 to 2000 33.8 98.3 pence 446.9 pence 13.2 pence 13 pence
Over 2000 21.7 98.3 pence 446.9 pence 20.6 pence 21 pence

Electric:

From 1 March 2025, the advisory electric rate for fully electric cars is 7 pence per mile.

Electrical efficiency — miles per kilowatt-hour Domestic electricity cost (per kilowatt-hour) Rate per mile Advisory electric rate
3.57 25.24 pence 7.06 pence 7 pence

Is it all a bit much?

With legislation changing regularly, keeping track of expenses as a small business can be difficult.

And with fuel rates changing three times a year, it can feel impossible to get a handle on what to do and when.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we are on top of all current legislation and are experts in ensuring you know which way is up with your business financials.

By contacting your local expert, you benefit from regular advice and support on all the latest changes to AFR and much more, as well as bespoke and professional management of your bookkeeping needs.

To see how outsourcing your books to your friendly local bookkeeping service could help you, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or call 0345 862 0072 today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon celebrates first year in business

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Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon owner Dean Kokshun looks back at his first year in business.  

Last year, Dean Kokshun opened Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon, bringing the brand’s expert and bespoke bookkeeping services to the area for the first time.

We sat down with him on the anniversary of his first year in business to look back at the journey so far.

Dean’s Journey

Dean’s journey in accountancy began in 1985 when he joined the bookkeeping and external audit departments of KPMG Mauritius – then known as Peat Marwick before qualifying with the ACCA in 1993. By 2001, he had been admitted as a member and achieved fellowship (FCCA) status.

As a qualified accountant, he has held senior positions within small UK accountancy practices, accumulating 30 years of experience. Throughout his career, Dean has excelled in external auditing of small to medium-sized entities, financial reporting, and management reporting. This has taken him across diverse industry sectors, including retail, services, manufacturing, hospitality, and investment.

“Launching Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon has given me the opportunity to combine my years of financial expertise with running my own business locally,” Dean says.

He says getting to work within his community to support small and local businesses has helped him feel part of something bigger.

“The support from the Head Office team and the wider Rosemary network has been invaluable, and it really feels like being part of a community.”

“I’ve also enjoyed meeting and getting to know other small business owners in Croydon and the surrounding areas through local networking events and sharing our experiences.”

“When I first started, I was focused on offering day-to-day bookkeeping services. However, over the past year, the peculiar demands of the local market have led me to refine my approach. I now focus more on being an approachable expert for small business owners who need help and guidance navigating the gaps between bookkeeping and compliance.”

“It’s been exciting to see my client relationships grow. Some now view me as a trusted expert, giving them peace of mind knowing someone reliable is on hand to help steer their business in the right direction.”

Work/Life Balance

For Rosemary Bookkeeping clients, our services are designed to help you focus on the things that matter most by taking the stress and time worrying about your books out of the picture.

For Dean, managing and running his own business has equally been a balancing act when navigating how he spends his time.

“Balancing the demands of a new business with everything else in life hasn’t always been easy, especially with family caring responsibilities in the mix!” he says.

“But as the business evolves, I’m learning to adapt, manage my time better, and set clearer boundaries. Having a strong support system, both personally and through the Rosemary network, has made a huge difference. It’s been about staying focused on the long-term vision while allowing space for the day-to-day things that matter.”

 

Successes and Support in the Community

Dean says that while his first year has not been without its challenges, particularly within such a competitive market and area, he has seen some great successes in how he has positioned the business and helped provide support to those who need it in the last year.

“There are so many options for bookkeeping services in Croydon/South London, and standing out was tough at first. I overcame this by leaning into what makes Rosemary – and myself – different: being approachable, reliable, and offering peace of mind through accurate books and compliance.”

“Moving from a full-time role in a long-established practice after three decades to becoming a business owner was a real shock to the system – but in a good way!” he adds.

“I’m enjoying the challenge. Seeing my client base gradually grow, particularly over the last six months, has been very encouraging. More than that, it’s the trust clients place in me – whether I’m helping to sort out their books, supporting them with day-to-day bookkeeping, or guiding them through increasingly complex regulations. Each time I help a client breathe a sigh of relief, I count it as a big success.”

This has naturally come with many highlights for Dean, such as a particularly memorable client when he was working with a small group of local university students to make sense of their finances to start their own business.

They had no financial or business background and wanted to start their own e-commerce business, but were struggling to make sense of business finances and the maze of regulations involved.

“After a couple of months of working with this group, two of them found the confidence to dive in and launched their business successfully! Moments like that remind me why I started Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon. When clients finally understand their numbers and feel in control, it’s incredibly rewarding,” Dean says.

The Road Ahead

Looking to the future, Dean says his biggest goal for his business is to establish Rosemary Bookkeeping Croydon as the go-to bookkeeping service for small businesses, including accountants, in Croydon, South London. Longer term, he hopes to expand my services and build a wider team.

He will doubtlessly achieve this through his commitment to building visibility in Croydon through networking events, partnerships with local accountants, or sharing insights that empower local business owners.

“I want to focus on growing the business sustainably while maintaining that personal touch with my clients,” he says.

“It’s been a challenging, enjoyable, and ultimately rewarding journey so far. The support from Rosemary Head Office, fellow franchise partners, and – most importantly – my clients has made this first year truly special. I’m excited for what’s to come!”

Need a bookkeeper?

If you’re in Croydon and the surrounding area and need support with your bookkeeping, contact Dean on 0208 191 2958.

Or, nationwide, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley Celebrates a Year of Bookkeeping Excellence

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Hanaa Raydan from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley reflects on her first year in business.

Hanaa Raydan joined Rosemary Bookkeeping a year ago as the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Wembley to help local businesses get the best possible support with their bookkeeping and fulfilled her dream of owning her own bookkeeping business.

We sat down with her to talk about her experience so far.

How it started

Hanaa is a keen entrepreneur with experience living and working in North London’s thriving business community.

A mother of three girls and the holder of multiple qualifications in business development, accounting and bookkeeping, Hanaa wanted to own and operate her own bookkeeping business for many years after working as a part-time bookkeeper since 2015.

How’s it going

Hanaa’s first year has not been without its challenges. Like any new business owner, opening from scratch is a journey of perseverance and determination. With the nationwide brand and Rosemary Bookkeeping network of franchisees behind her, Hannaa has found great rewards in her work as a Rosemary Bookkeeping franchisee.

“The first year is always the hardest and most challenging,” she admits. “There is a lot of information, training to process and adaptation to understand.”

Thus, Hanaa’s continued endeavours and trust in her expertise as a Xero and QuickBooks-certified bookkeeper and her 10 years of industry experience have seen her business make great progress in supporting the clients she serves in Wembley to manage their business’s finances and take the stress out of their bookkeeping.

Doing this, “It began to evolve out of a sudden, quickly,” she says.

Key Successes

These evolutions have come in the form of focusing keenly on raising awareness of her business and brand in the local area through focused marketing efforts, alongside making space for her family and personal commitments.

“[For the] first year, I prioritised the franchise and tried to dedicate my time and concentration on the business to be seen.”

This has paid dividends to Hanaa’s visibility within her community as she has found that Rosemary has become a growing name in her area.

“I found that my biggest success is that most of my clients were calling me Rosemary, which made me feel I did succeed in making the franchise seen and remembered.”

Hanaa says her other successes and greatest pride have been in helping clients and supporting them in managing deadlines, all while connecting with her community and owning a business that allows her to be flexible in work.

Need a new bookkeeper?

Whether you are:

  • A small/medium business owner
  • A sole trader
  • An accountant
  • A letting agent
  • An online retailer

And you’re in the Wembley area, Hanaa is here to help.

With expertise, know-how and the tools to take the stress of your bookkeeping off your hands, you can rely on your local Rosemary Bookkeeping expert.

Call Hanaa on 0208 5750286 or email wembley@rosemarybooks.co.uk to see how she can help you today.

The best bookkeeping tools for small businesses

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Tools of the trade that will save you time and effort in bookkeeping.

As a small business owner, your time is gold dust.

And with so much to do, your bookkeeping is a chore that takes up that valuable time.

But, bookkeeping is not something you can skip out on, particularly with the growing need to keep a digital record.

Luckily, there are many tools on hand that small business owners can use to make bookkeeping easier.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we know there’s a lot to consider. What works for one business may be the wrong fit for another.

That’s why we’re breaking down the tools of the trade so you can figure out what bookkeeping aids work for you.

Quickbooks

If you’re researching, you might’ve noticed that many small businesses use QuickBooks Online.

But what makes it so good?

Pros: 
  • Scalable
  • Commonly used by professionals (including us!)
  • Integrates with 3rd party systems and Quickbooks Payroll
  • Cloud-based and available on mobile
  • Easy to use: All features are accessible through a central dashboard
  • Has a plethora of online resources to give you the support you need
  • 30-day trial
  • 4 Subscription plans that vary in price for business size, but can be upgraded as your business grows
  • More advanced plans offer more advanced features, though most small businesses will find the Simple Start Programme (£14/m.o) will suffice
  • Customisable options with mobile app
Cons: 
  • Requires an upgrade for additional users
  • Can suffer from syncing problems with banks and credit cards

Xero

Another popular accounting tool, Xero is rapidly growing into a bookkeeping giant. And like QuickBooks, Xero is designed to grow with your business across its different subscription options.

It also integrates with hundreds of third-party business solutions, many of which you may already use, like Gusto, for payroll.

Here’s the full lowdown:

Pros:
  • Cloud-based and available on mobile
  • 3rd party payroll integration through Gusto and app marketplace
  • Integration with 3rd party services allows online payment collection
  • Simple inventory management
Cons:
  • Limited customer service and reporting
  • Fees charged for ACH payments

FreeAgent

Another cloud-based software, as a FreeAgent partner, we recommend it for freelancers, consultants, and project-based businesses.

Pros:
  • Cloud-based and available on mobile
  • Doesn’t limit transactions behind a paywall
  • Supports unlimited users, clients, invoices and transactions for one monthly price
  • Ideal for keeping track of billable hours and expenses
  • Runs fully RTI-compliant payroll
  • Allows you to create and send estimates and invoices
  • Uses personalised Tax Timeline of upcoming deadlines and amounts due, cash flow, and profitability
  • Files VAT, RTI payroll and Self Assessment tax returns directly to HMRC (ideal for sole traders and limited companies)
Cons:
  • App development and compatibility for Android is lacking, but underway
  • Tax Timeline doesn’t offer a comparison of year-on-year comparison

Sage

Sage is one of the bigger brands, and it’s been around a lot longer than most.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting is specifically geared towards the needs of small to medium-sized corporations and offers two plans for small business owners.

However, it has been described as overly complex and difficult to use.

Here are the pros and cons:

Pros:
  • Cloud-based and available on mobile
  • Offers a free trial or demo before buying
  • Offers invoicing, expense management and reporting, as well as the creation of quotes, estimates, tracking, and inventory management
  • Provides monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports and reports. These include balance sheets and income/cash flow statements
  • Produces comparison of financial statements, e.g. year-to-year.
  • Many features are preset  and ready for the user to make management streamlined, but also offer multiple customisation opportunities
  • Offers capabilities for budgeting or cash flow forecasting, job costing, auditing, and automated workflows, as well as industry-specific features.
  • Uses a central dashboard to access information and data in one place
  • Link your credit cards and bank accounts
  • Integrates with third-party apps
Cons:
  • Difficult to use and set up. May need a Sage expert to support you. (Luckily, we are!)
  • Features can be complicated to use and need expert support
  • Homepage can become cluttered if not customised
  • Geared towards larger businesses.
  • Lack of documentation and support, often necessitating further support

How Rosemary Bookkeeping helps your business

Each online bookkeeping aid offers something different, with both strengths and weaknesses.

And many can be difficult to use without the right support.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we work with accounting tools and offer bespoke support to get the most out of each software.

By regularly consulting your local Rosemary bookkeeper, you’ll be able to receive support specially tailored to you and your business, and we can take care of your bookkeeping for you.

From helping you choose the right software to use, software supply, training and data migration to a complete outsourced bookkeeping service – we can help.

Whether you’re just starting or looking to hire a bookkeeper to support your growth, the best bookkeeping tool for any small business is still a Rosemary Bookkeeper.

To take your first step towards stress-free bookkeeping, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping branch to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with your local expert today.

Fall in love with your bookkeeping

Rosemary’s green. Violets are blue; we adore bookkeeping… how about you?

Happy Valentine’s Day from Rosemary Bookkeeping!

We understand that bookkeeping might not be at the top of the things you love to do in your business.

That’s where we come in.

This blog post explores all there is to love about Rosemary Bookkeeping.

What people love about us

The owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke and winner of the 2023 Rosemary Franchisee of the Year award, TJ Sutherland attests that our clients love us for our dedication to great bookkeeping and pinpoint accuracy and attention to detail.

“At Rosemary, we’re besotted with bookkeeping, devoted to debtors and passionate about paperwork!” She says.

“We take away all the hassle of bookkeeping, collating paperwork, processing and filing it all as part of the service. Accountants love us because we save them time and headaches of dealing with untidy inaccurate books.”

How a bookkeeper can help you

Whether you’re an account or business owner, bookkeepers like Rosemary Bookkeeping can help with all aspects of your bookkeeping and finances.

This includes:
  • Taking the hassle out of sorting all your invoices, receipts and bank statements
  • Having your VAT return prepared for you in good time
  • Liaising directly with your accountant
  • Having reports and figures every month that help you make decisions on your business growth
  • 121 bookkeeping support

See how a Rosemary Bookkeeper can help you

Whatever your need, Rosemary and your books are sure to be a match made in heaven.

Find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can support you today.

Celebrating one year of new ownership at Rosemary Bookkeeping in Exeter

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Zoe Barnard-Rowland celebrates one year as the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter.

A year ago, we welcomed Zoe Bernard-Rowland to the Rosemary Bookkeeping family as the new owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Exeter, after taking over from the previous owner.

This year adds to Zoe’s already 25 strong years of experience in accounts, having worked in multiple sectors, from insurance to energy supply, media and home care, in roles from accounts assistant to financial controller.

With a background in optimisation, Zoe has spent the past year helping new and existing clients across Exeter streamline their bookkeeping practices and processes so they can focus on their businesses.

An FCCA-qualified accountant, Zoe is adept at using solutions such as Xero, Sage, Free Agent and Intuit Quickbooks to help automate and optimise how her clients approach bookkeeping.

On a personal level, she has also brought her husband, Lee, into the business to help with data entry.

Need a bookkeeper?

So, whether you are:

  • A small/medium business owner
  • A sole trader
  • An accountant
  • A letting agent
  • An online retailer

And you’re in the Exeter area, Zoe is here to help.

With expertise, know-how and the tools to take the stress of your bookkeeping off your hands, you can rely on your local Rosemary Bookkeeping expert.

Call Zoe on 01404 819151 or email exeter@rosemarybooks.co.uk to see how she can help you today.

Autumn Budget 2024: What It Means for UK Businesses and Your Bookkeeping

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The Autumn Budget 2024 is here, bringing updates that could significantly affect businesses across the UK. Whether you’re a sole trader, small business owner, or part of a larger organisation, understanding these changes is key to staying compliant and making informed financial decisions.

In this blog, we’ll break down the main points from the budget, explain how they impact your business, and highlight how good bookkeeping can help you stay on top of it all.

1. Corporation Tax Adjustments

One of the big headlines this year is a change to corporation tax bands. While the main rate remains at 25% for businesses earning over £250,000, relief measures for small businesses earning under £50,000 have been clarified, with tapered rates for those in between.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

Accurate profit tracking is more important than ever. If you’re in the tapered band, precise bookkeeping can help you calculate your taxable profits correctly and avoid paying more tax than necessary.

2. Changes to Business Rates

The Autumn Budget also introduces updates to business rates, with some relief schemes being extended for small retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses. This could mean reduced rates for qualifying businesses, depending on their property value.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

Bookkeeping helps you identify and record eligible properties and relief amounts. By maintaining proper records, you can ensure you’re applying for and benefiting from all available reductions.

3. Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

The Chancellor announced increased support for SMEs, including grants for energy efficiency upgrades and digital transformation. If you’ve been thinking about improving your business operations, now might be the time to act.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

Properly recording grant applications and their usage is vital. Bookkeeping ensures you’re tracking these funds correctly to comply with grant terms and demonstrate how they’ve been used.

4. National Minimum Wage Increase

Another key update is the rise in the National Minimum Wage. From April 2025, businesses will need to adjust their payroll systems to accommodate the new rates.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

Payroll is a critical component of bookkeeping. Updating your payroll records to reflect these changes will ensure you remain compliant and pay employees correctly.

5. Investment Incentives Extended

The budget has extended certain investment incentives, such as the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of qualifying assets in the year of purchase.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

Recording these qualifying purchases accurately in your books will help you maximise your tax savings. A well-maintained asset register is key to taking full advantage of this allowance.

6. VAT Threshold Maintained

The VAT registration threshold remains at £85,000, giving businesses clarity for the upcoming tax year. However, HMRC is increasing its focus on VAT compliance and reporting accuracy.

The Bookkeeping Angle:

If you’re nearing the VAT threshold, keeping precise income records is crucial. Good bookkeeping ensures you register for VAT on time and report accurately to HMRC.

Why Bookkeeping Is Your Best Friend This Budget Season

The Autumn Budget brings opportunities and challenges for businesses. Regardless of whether it’s tax bands, relief schemes, or grants, one thing remains clear—accurate bookkeeping is the backbone of staying compliant and making informed decisions.

Here’s why:

  • Stay Compliant: With HMRC increasing its focus on compliance, accurate records can help you avoid penalties.
  • Maximise Savings: Good bookkeeping ensures you claim all available reliefs, deductions, and incentives.
  • Plan Ahead: Understanding your financial position allows you to adapt to budget changes and plan for the future.

How Rosemary Bookkeeping Can Help

Navigating the financial landscape post-budget can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we specialise in helping businesses like yours stay organised, compliant, and stress-free. Whether it’s maintaining accurate records, managing VAT, or preparing for tax season, we’ve got you covered.

Call 0345 862 0072 to see how we can help you today or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper here.

The benefits of outsourcing your bookkeeping as a small business owner

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Six ways outsourcing your bookkeeping can help your small business to flourish.

Small business owners wear many hats and take on multiple responsibilities.

This often includes doing your own bookkeeping above and beyond any sales, marketing and operational activities you do daily.

This can be time-consuming and complicated, taking away time and resources better spent on growing your business.

Outsourcing your bookkeeping means hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm to handle your financial records and transactions.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we deliver local bookkeeping services backed by the expertise of a national brand.

You benefit from the support of someone who knows your area and community, bolstered by a UK-wide network of bookkeeping experts.

In this blog post, we’re discussing the benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business.

  1. Saving you time

Outsourcing bookkeeping frees up your time so you can focus on running your business.

You needn’t worry about managing financial records or performing time-consuming tasks like data entry, reconciling bank statements or generating reports.

  1. Access to expertise

Professional bookkeepers have know-how and experience that are uncommon for the average person.

They are familiar with financial statements, tax laws and regulations like MTD and can offer valuable financial advice from a place of understanding and expertise.

  1. Cost saving

Outsourcing bookkeeping can be more cost-effective than hiring an in-house bookkeeper or accounting team.

You can save money on salaries, benefits, and training costs.

As such, outsourcing generally saves between 30% and 75% of your current costs.

  1. Scalability

Outsourced bookkeeping services can scale to meet the needs of your growing business.

You can adjust the level of service you need as your business expands.

  1. Accuracy

Professional bookkeepers are less likely to make errors compared to non-professional bookkeepers.

This can help you avoid costly mistakes and penalties.

  1. Security

Outsourced bookkeeping services can offer greater security for your financial data.

They use secure online portals to share financial information and have security measures to prevent data breaches.

Outsource your books with Rosemary Bookkeeping

Outsourcing bookkeeping is an excellent option for small business owners who want to save time and money while ensuring accurate financial records.

By hiring an external bookkeeper or accounting firm, you can benefit from their expertise, reduce costs, and scale services as needed.

When outsourcing bookkeeping for your small business, choose a reputable provider with a proven track record of success, like Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping expert can eliminate the stress and hassle of managing your books.

Through meetings scheduled at your discretion, receive 1-to-1 advice from a qualified professional who understands you, your business, and your community.

Take the hassle out of your business and give yourself the time to focus on what matters with Rosemary Bookkeeping.

Call 0345 862 0072 to see how we can help you today.

The importance of accurate record-keeping for small businesses in the UK

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Why keeping accurate financial records is essential for your small business, and how to do it.

As a small business owner in the UK, you know that managing your finances carefully is crucial for the success of your business.

However, many small business owners overlook the importance of accurate record-keeping.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss why accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK and offer tips on how you can improve your record-keeping practices.

Accurate record-keeping means keeping detailed and organised records of your business’s financial transactions.

This includes things like sales, expenses, invoices, and receipts. But why is this so important for small businesses in the UK?

Legal Compliance

Accurate record-keeping is essential for complying with UK tax laws.

As a small business owner, you must keep accurate records of your financial transactions for at least six years.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) may ask to see these records if they audit your business or review your tax returns.

Tax Benefits

Accurate record-keeping can also help you claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to.

By keeping detailed records of your expenses, you can claim tax deductions that can reduce your taxable income and save you money.

However, if you don’t keep accurate records, you may miss out on some deductions or reliefs.

Informed business decisions

Accurate record-keeping can help you make informed business decisions.

By regularly recording your income and expenses, you can accurately track how your business performs over time.

This information can help inform decisions about pricing, marketing, and other essential aspects of business.

How can you improve your record-keeping practices?

  • Use accounting software: Many affordable accounting software options are specifically designed for small businesses in the UK. These software options can help you manage your finances and keep accurate records.
  • Keep receipts organised: Categorise your expenses. (E.g. by office supplies, travel expenses), And keep them in a secure location.
  • Record transactions promptly: Ensure you record your income and expenses as soon as possible to avoid errors and ensure accuracy.
  • Reconcile accounts regularly: Reconciling your bank and credit card statements regularly can help you catch errors and ensure accuracy.

So, what’s the best way to keep accurate records?

Accurate record-keeping is essential for small businesses in the UK.

By keeping detailed and organised records of your financial transactions, you can comply with UK tax laws, claim all the tax deductions and reliefs you’re entitled to, and make informed business decisions.

By following these tips, you can improve your record-keeping practices and ensure the accuracy of your financial records.

However, the best way to ensure you keep up-to-date and accurate records of your accounts and transactions is by enlisting the help of a qualified expert.

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, our local experts are expertly placed to provide professional booking services informed by your local market and community, backed by a national brand.

Whether you need regular support or to outsource your books to the expert, you can liaise with our experts at your discretion to ensure you feel in control of your finances without worrying about doing the work yourself.

To see how we can help you, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business or call 0345 862 0072 today.

Meet the owners: TJ Sutherland and Steve Brown – Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke

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Meet the father-daughter duo at the heart of Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke. 

Father and daughter duo Steve Brown and TJ Sutherland are the longest-serving franchisees in the Rosemary Bookkeeping network.

By purchasing Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke in 2010, they were the third-ever franchisee to buy into the franchise and have driven business for the brand for 14 years since.

TJ oversees all of the operation with the support and guidance of Steve who has now taken more of a back seat.

Thus, the business epitomises one of the pillars of franchising: to invest in the future with a legacy passed down to ensure the security and success of one’s family.

Hence, the business is steeped in the family’s values, creating a workplace where staff thrive by maintaining a positive culture that ripples across the entire operation, from staff welfare to customer care, brand relationships, and growth.

Together they live and breathe Rosemary Bookkeeping.

As TJ herself says, it’s been her lifeblood for so long that if “you cut [her] open, there’d be Rosemary in [her] veins.”

Overcoming challenges and driving innovation

The business even maintained well through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by exploring new business avenues and supporting local businesses trying to stay afloat like takeaways during the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme.

Highly respected amongst their staff, fellow franchisees and ServiceMaster Ltd Head Office staff, Steve and TJ are trusted to innovate and drive Rosemary Bookkeeping forward through trailblazing ideas and their deep understanding and care for the brand.

TJ is the head of the Rosemary Bookkeeping Development Taskforce – a trusted collective of franchisees chosen by our Head Office to innovate the brand by discussing challenges and solutions and trial initiatives that support our development strategy.

For example, TJ was a long-term advocate for our mascot Teri Cotta!

They have been vital in introducing a fully remote working, manager-owned model and software to benefit our compliance and operation efficiency.

As the bookkeeping sector continues to be shaped by technological advancements, TJ ensures that we stay ahead of the curve by finding advanced high-tech solutions for the Rosemary brand to utilise.

She has been active in helping us to work closely with our (now) partners at Xero and Intuit Quickbooks to allow our bookkeepers across the brand to become qualified in this software and provide bespoke and expert support to their clients.

Supporting their peers, staff and clients

TJ’s extensive knowledge of the Rosemary model means she is trusted to support the training of any new franchise business and mentor them to be the best they can be.

She always voyages to our head office for multiple days of the two-week training academy to support recruits to understand the ins and outs of our unique Rosemary System.

She also uses her experience to give advice that must be lived to be taught, to equip them on their journey.

This helps her in turn, as while looking to recruit more staff to help with their growing capacity, she has outsourced a handful of clients to two franchisees she has trained to help with her team’s workload.

Alongside franchisees she has mentored, TJ manages a large team of professionals.

One of TJ and Steve’s longest-serving employees has been on the team for eight years and was recently named Rosemary’s “Bookkeeper of the Year”.

This employee was ‘home-grown’ and was trained by TJ to develop her skills and achieve qualifications and training on bookkeeping software and processes.

Their highly skilled staff allows for a fully remote model which creates, the opportunity to manage individual clients, with TJ and Steve’s support.

The larger team means the business has expanded alongside many of its clients.

One has even chosen to remain with Rosemary Bookkeeping rather than hire in-house staff to manage their accounts as their business grows, as the expansive team means Rosemary can offer almost 365-day coverage if necessary.

Need an expert bookkeeper?

If you’re in Newbury, Basingstoke and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact TJ on 01256 371173 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

How Rosemary Bookkeeping Bristol can help you

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How Rosemary Bookkeeping Bristol can help you with expert and professional bookkeeping services.

Nilusha Thayanthurage, the owner of Rosemary Bookkeeping Bristol has been delivering smart, friendly bookkeeping services to local businesses across Bristol since 2021.

Here’s how she can help you.

Nilusha’s Expertise

Nilusha is dedicated to offering her customers only the very best services.

She offers clients unparalleled expertise, garnered both in Sri Lanka and in the UK.

Since moving here with her family, Nilusha has racked up multiple high-profile qualifications including AAT Level 3.

Who is Rosemary Bookkeeping?

Rosemary Bookkeeping Bristol is a local name you can trust for all your regular bookkeeping through to trial balance.

Backed by a UK-wide brand, Nilusha and her fellow Rosemary Bookkeepers across the UK offer the resources, hours and capabilities your business requires to make confident and well-informed financial decisions.

Through the expert Rosemary system, Nilusha and the other Rosemary Bookkeepers can help you with your bookkeeping woes and wonders by building bespoke packages and service support to best suit your business and what you require from its finances as an owner.

Whether you’re a novice, constantly being questioned by your accountant, or missing deadlines that now cost you money – we’re on hand to take the hassle completely off your hands.

Staying compliant

Part of the work of any business is staying up-to-date and compliant with regulations like MTD (Making Tax Digital).

At Rosemary Bookkeeping, we work closely with you and your accountant to ensure your business complies with evolving UK legislation.

Reporting

More than just a bookkeeper, we provide regular reports in a visual, easy-to-digest format and explain them to you, so you can be sure you’re getting the most out of your business finances.

Software Support

We’re also silver partners with Xero one of the UK’s leading accounting software programmes.

Whether you’re looking to switch or onboard, we’re here to support you through that process, with access to partner-level resources, solutions and discounts, helping you save each month.

Our friendly approach to bookkeeping is fully cloud-based, meaning that we can guide you on best practices across the full suite of accounting software and adopt smarter ways to bookkeep.

Need an expert bookkeeper?

If you’re in Bristol and the surrounding areas and would benefit from support from a local bookkeeping expert backed by over 20 years of expertise, call Nilusha today on 01454 821545.

Or nationwide, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business today to see how we can help you.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke awarded bookkeeper and franchisee of the year

Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke picked up two prestigious awards at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping held its annual spring forum recently, allowing business owners from across the UK to get together and discuss key successes and ways to overcome shared obstacles – topped off with a spot of afternoon tea!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2023.

This included TJ Sutherland and April Fost from Rosemary Bookkeeping Newbury and Basingstoke, who won two highly coveted awards: bookkeeper and franchisee of the year!

Franchisee of the Year

As Franchisee of the Year, TJ displayed the highest achievement in the pursuit of excellence and professional management of her Rosemary business.

Upon receiving the awards, TJ said:
“Our Basingstoke and Newbury Franchise are delighted to have been awarded the highly regarded Rosemary Bookkeeping Franchisee of the Year award 2023, after a year of dedication and hard work from the whole team. It’s fantastic to be recognised by the Rosemary franchise of ServiceMaster.”
“To have been awarded this on numerous occasions, reflects how we consistently perform and assist the Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible clients, accountants and or families, who without their support we would not have won this award. We continue to work very closely with our clients and the accountants and we look forward to more successes in 2024/25.”

Bookkeeper of the Year

April has continued to excel as a long-serving member of staff.

When collecting the award on April’s  behalf, TJ said:

“April is amazing in every way and is so passionate about Rosemary and her job. She goes above and beyond with all our clients to help the team, works long hours and will always go that extra mile to meet all our deadlines. April assists wherever possible and I could not run the business without her, as she has been with us coming up to 9 years!”

April, upon finding out she won, added:

“It feels amazing to be recognised for all my hard work. I love working for Rosemary and hope to continue for many years to come.”

Yasmin Chaudhari, Marketing Manager for Rosemary Bookkeeping added:

“It’s great to see the network reach new heights and push the boundaries on what their investment is capable of. A huge congratulations again to all our award winners; I can’t wait to see what the next year brings us and see some new faces on the orange carpet.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Newbury, Basingstoke and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact TJ on 01256 371173 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury wins two prestigious awards

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Karen Mann from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury picked up two coveted awards at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping held its annual spring forum recently, allowing business owners from across the UK to get together and discuss key successes and ways to overcome shared obstacles – topped off with a spot of afternoon tea!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2023.

This included Karen Mann from Rosemary Bookkeeping North Dorset and Salisbury, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

Despite only joining Rosemary Bookkeeping in December 2022, Karen’s development through key initiatives helped her to grow by over £35,000 in a single year!

This exceptional feat also saw her recognised as the Rookie of the Year as she has displayed the highest achievement in the pursuit of excellence and professional management of her Rosemary Bookkeeping business.

Yasmin Chaudhari, Marketing Manager for Rosemary Bookkeeping said:

“It’s great to see the network reach new heights and push the boundaries on what their investment is capable of. A huge congratulations again to all our award winners; I can’t wait to see what the next year brings us and see some new faces on the orange carpet.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in North Dorset and Salisbury and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Karen on 01202 094387 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest awarded for business growth

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Fiona Perks from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest picked up the coveted Growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping held its annual spring forum recently, allowing business owners from across the UK to get together and discuss key successes and ways to overcome shared obstacles – topped off with a spot of afternoon tea!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2023.

This included Fiona Perks from Rosemary Bookkeeping Wyre Forest, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2023, Fiona’s development through key initiatives helped her to grow by over £30,000!

Yasmin Chaudhari, Marketing Manager for Rosemary Bookkeeping said:

“It’s great to see the network reach new heights and push the boundaries on what their investment is capable of. A huge congratulations again to all our award winners; I can’t wait to see what the next year brings us and see some new faces on the orange carpet.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Wyre Forest and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Fiona on 07421 703891 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford awarded for business growth

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Sarah Connop from Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford picked up the coveted Growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping held its annual spring forum recently, allowing business owners from across the UK to get together and discuss key successes and ways to overcome shared obstacles – topped off with a spot of afternoon tea!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2023.

This included Sarah Connop from Rosemary Bookkeeping Shrewsbury and Telford, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

Sarah’s development through key initiatives helped her to grow by over £20,000 in a single year!

Yasmin Chaudhari, Marketing Manager for Rosemary Bookkeeping added:

“It’s great to see the network reach new heights and push the boundaries on what their investment is capable of.”

“A huge congratulations again to all our award winners; I can’t wait to see what the next year brings us and see some new faces on the orange carpet.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Shrewsbury, Telford and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Sarah on 01743 650687 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading awarded for business growth

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Waqas Chughtai from Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading picked up the coveted Growth award at this year’s Rosemary Bookkeeping Spring Forum.

Rosemary Bookkeeping held its annual spring forum recently, allowing business owners from across the UK to get together and discuss key successes and ways to overcome shared obstacles – topped off with a spot of afternoon tea!

The day also saw some business owners awarded for their successes in 2023.

This included Waqas Chughtai from Rosemary Bookkeeping Reading, who won an award for significant business growth in the last year.

In 2023, Waqas’ commitment to delivering excellence helped him to grow by over £50,000!

Yasmin Chaudhari, Marketing Manager for Rosemary Bookkeeping said:

“It’s great to see the network reach new heights and push the boundaries on what their investment is capable of. A huge congratulations again to all our award winners; I can’t wait to see what the next year brings us and see some new faces on the orange carpet.”

Need an award-winning bookkeeper?

If you’re in Reading and the surrounding areas and could benefit from professional bookkeeping services from a local expert, contact Waqas on 0118 324 0322 or find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.

Say hello to the new Rosemary Bookkeeping Business in Croydon

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Meet Dean Kokshun, the bookkeeping expert opening a new Rosemary Bookkeeping business in Croydon.

In need of a bookkeeper in Croydon?

Rosemary Bookkeeping has expanded its expert bookkeeping services into Croydon and the surrounding areas for the first time under the expert supervision of Dean Kokshun.

Dean’s expertise in bookkeeping is unparalleled.

He holds multiple prestigious qualifications and decades of experience supporting him in helping business owners with their bookkeeping needs.

Who is Dean Kokshun?

Dean’s journey in accountancy began in 1985.

This began with him joining the bookkeeping and external audit departments of KPMG Mauritius – then known as Peat Marwick.

He then qualified with the ACCA in the UK in 1993.

Dean was later admitted as a member in 1996 and achieved fellowship (FCCA) status in 2001.

As a qualified accountant, he has held senior positions within small UK accountancy practices, accumulating 30 years of experience.

Throughout his career, Dean has excelled in external auditing of small to medium-sized entities, financial reporting, and management reporting.

This has taken him across diverse industry sectors, including retail, services, manufacturing, hospitality, and investment.

Outside of his professional life, family caring duties and social commitments, Dean loves to relax and recharge by spending time out in nature.

Whether it is” a stroll in the local parks and gardens, exploring the countryside or enjoying the serenity of the coastline,” Dean has “a deep fascination with the beauty of the natural world and appreciates the simplicity and tranquillity that nature offers.”

“I also enjoy various individual and team sports, but if I must pick one which I practice the most, it has to be badminton,” he says.

Expertise

Dean’s extensive background and experience in accountancy have also provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of financial reporting and external auditing.

Moreover, having worked with businesses in various sectors and clients in the UK and EU, he has developed a versatile skill set in navigating different accounting systems and processes.

His expertise in preparing financial statements following the UK GAAP and conducting external audits for small to medium-sized companies has equally equipped him with “a keen eye for detail and a commitment to compliance,” he says.

This experience has provided Dean insight and directly informs his approach to providing professional bookkeeping services for local businesses in Croydon and its surrounding areas.

Bookkeeping in Croydon

Drawing on his deep familiarity with the London Borough of Croydon, where he has lived since 1987, Dean is uniquely positioned to understand the local business landscape.

His decision to enter the bookkeeping industry stems from his passion for numbers and problem-solving.

“With 30 years of experience at the senior level in accountancy practices, I want to leverage my skills to provide essential financial services to businesses in my local area, Dean says.”

“The bookkeeping industry allows me to combine my expertise with the opportunity to support businesses in maintaining accurate financial records, ultimately contributing to their business success,” he adds.

“My commitment to delivering excellence in bookkeeping services aims to provide local businesses in Croydon and its surrounding areas with the support they need with their books and records.”

Furthermore, with the introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) from 6 April 2026, bookkeepers will play a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the new system as they will be responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date financial records, ensuring that the data is entered correctly into the MTD-compliant software, and submitting quarterly updates to HMRC.

Dean’s clients in Croydon can expect a comprehensive range of bespoke bookkeeping services tailored to their unique needs.

These services include:

  • Accurate financial record-keeping
  • Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of bookkeeping
  • Preparing and submitting VAT and CIS returns
  • Timely preparation of periodic and annual management reports
  • Coordinating with accountants and external auditors
  • Providing reports and information to prepare (and audit) year-end financial statements and tax returns
  • Provide support with their books and records and assist and ensure compliance with filing obligations with HM Revenue and Customs.

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

Dean says his adaptable nature and passion for learning have prepared him to embrace his new business.

“I believe that my strong work ethic, effective communication skills, and dedication to finding solutions to complex problems will contribute to the success of the venture, ensuring that clients receive high-quality and tailored bookkeeping services,” he says.

“I’m excited to bring this wealth of expertise to my franchise business, eager to provide top-notch bookkeeping services to the local businesses in Croydon and its surrounding areas, helping business owners with their books, saving them time and money and allowing them to focus on the things they do best – like running their businesses.”

Dean’s aspirations for his business align with the opportunities presented by Croydon’s strategic development plan.

As the area undergoes urban regeneration and economic growth, Dean promises to be a key player in supporting businesses to thrive amidst these positive changes.

In line with the Croydon Council’s four-year business plan, he envisions expanding his portfolio of clients and contributing to the economic opportunities flourishing in the area.

“My commitment is to stay attuned to the evolving needs of the local business community, providing exceptional bookkeeping services and contributing to the economic vibrancy of Croydon and its surrounding areas.”

Yasmin Chaudhari, Commercial Marketing Manager for ServiceMaster Brands UK, says,

“We’re so excited to have Dean join the Rosemary Bookkeeping network as we expand our services to the local businesses of Croydon and surrounding areas.”

“Dean joins us with a wealth of experience in finance, and we wish Dean all the best with his new venture with Rosemary Bookkeeping.”

“For businesses based within Croydon looking for smarter ways to manage their books, maximise their investments and get the support they need to scale up their businesses, it’s your lucky day!”

Need a bookkeeper?

If you’re in Croydon and the surrounding area and need support on your bookkeeping, contact Dean on 0208 191 2958.

Or, nationwide, find your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeping business to see how we can help you today.