Pricing for Profit: How SMEs Improve Gross Margin & Profit

By Paul Gibbins on Dec 19, 2025 10:00:00 AM

Pricing for Profit: How SMEs Improve Gross Margin & Profit

For many SMEs, improving profitability doesn’t require more customers — it requires better pricing. Yet pricing is often one of the least structured parts of a small business. Many owner-managed businesses rely on historic rates, gut feel, or “what we’ve always charged”, without a clear pricing stra …

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Accountant vs Part-Time Finance Director: Understanding the Difference and How They Work Together

By Paul Gibbins on Feb 17, 2025 9:30:00 AM

Business owners sometimes misunderstand the different roles of Practising Accountants and ‘part-time’ or ‘outsourced’ Finance Directors (FDs) / Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). Our blog provides a helpful explanation. As an SME business owner, you understand that managing your finances goes beyond s …

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How to Use Management Accounts Effectively

By Paul Gibbins on Sep 2, 2024 9:15:00 AM

A graph showing financial analysis taking place

Why Every Business Should Have Management Accounts Management accounts are a vital tool for businesses to make informed decisions and plan strategically. Unlike financial accounting, management accounting focuses on providing internal financial information to key decision makers such as CEOs / Manag …

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The Benefits of Management Accounting: Why Every Business Should Use Management Accounts

By Paul Gibbins on Jul 3, 2023 10:00:00 AM

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The Purpose of Management Accounts Insightful management and financial information is crucial for effective decision-making in business. Gut instinct or intuition alone is never enough – the best business decisions are based on fact. Management accounting plays a vital role in providing directors wi …

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The Benefits of an Interim CFO: Exploring the Role, Services, and Advantages

By Paul Gibbins on Jun 12, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Platform sign saying mind the gap

The Benefits of an Interim CFO In today's dynamic business landscape, companies often encounter the need for specific financial expertise and leadership at various stages of their growth. This is where an Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) steps in. An Interim CFO brings temporary but impactful f …

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The Value of an Interim Finance Director

By Paul Gibbins on May 10, 2023 11:00:00 AM

Mind the gap platform sign

Bridging the Gap in Financial Leadership Strong financial leadership is essential in every business so when the CFO / FD is missing, the company and its executive team can really suffer. That’s where an Interim CFO / FD comes in, bridging the gap between finance executives. By providing financial ex …

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Financial Forecast Modelling for SME Businesses

By Paul Gibbins on Dec 20, 2022 8:30:00 AM

A finance director working a a laptop computer

Financial Forecast Modelling for SME businesses Do you wish your business had a financial crystal ball? Sadly they don’t exist but the closest thing in reality is a detailed financial forecast covering your medium to long-term plans. By creating a financial forecast to quantify your business plan yo …

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Why Every SME Business Should Have a Finance Director

By Paul Gibbins on Dec 15, 2022 10:30:00 AM

A part time finance director standing in a warehouse talking to a business owner

Why Every SME Business Should Have A Finance Director Every business, irrespective of its size needs financial strategy, clarity and control. Ultimately this is the responsibility of the board of directors but is usually delegated to a specialist Finance Director (FD) due to the technical knowledge …

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How to Control Costs in Your Business?

By Paul Gibbins on Mar 28, 2022 12:45:00 PM

Cash

Controlling Business Costs In the current climate of inflation every company owner and director must urgently look at business cost control as a means of improving profitability and preserving cash. In this article we examine how to control cost in business. Prepare a budget The important first step …

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Achieving the Dream Business Exit

By Paul Gibbins on Jan 17, 2022 9:00:00 AM

Chocolate Truffles

The Dream Exit Business owners may often think about how to exit their business and what it might be worth. For some it is just a dream, for others, a business exit strategy is their key driver & business vision. The journey may last a few months, a few years or 10 or more years. For one client …

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