What is e-invoicing? Advantages and disadvantages

For business owners and finance leaders, improving efficiency and reducing manual work are top priorities. One way to streamline your operations is through electronic invoicing (e-invoicing)—a digital alternative to traditional paper invoicing. Many governments now mandate e-invoicing for compliance, but beyond that, it can help businesses save time and money. So, what is e-invoicing, and … [Read more…]

Accounts Payable Automation: Key Benefits

Finance teams can take nearly three months per year to close the books—time that you could better spend on strategic decision-making. AP automation eliminates manual workloads, optimises cash flow, and minimises financial risk, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: driving business growth. By automating the financial close, our Close the Books research says … [Read more…]

How to start a business

Want to start a business? You’re not alone. Around 832,000 new companies were set up in the UK in 2025, according to the NatWest and Beauhurst New Startup Index—part of a wave of activity that has pushed the total number of active companies to a record 5.66 million. If you want to join their numbers, … [Read more…]

A business owner’s guide to borrowing money

When running a business, it’s essential to have enough cash to cover your working capital—paying suppliers, employees, and tax—as well as to invest in equipment and fund your growth. There are many ways to borrow money, and more options today than there have ever been. Borrowing is also more expensive than it was even five … [Read more…]

10 steps to grow your customer base

Customers are the lifeblood of any business, so it’s vital you can keep generating leads and retaining your existing customers. But doing so is often a concern for businesses, with more than one in three companies saying that generating new business is their biggest worry. We spoke to two small business owners and asked them … [Read more…]

How to identify useful growth opportunities for your business

Growth is a tricky business. Companies must continuously strive to identify new growth opportunities to achieve long-term business success. That’s why it is essential for your business to develop fresh insights that will ultimately help to generate ideas that the competition has failed to see. This fascinating subject is what we cover in this article, … [Read more…]

What is sales order management?

If you sell products or services, keeping your sales order management running effectively is key to your business success. Tracking orders is just the start. From order creation to fulfilment and invoicing—you’ll need to ensure the complete order lifecycle is efficient and all the parts are working in unison. This guide breaks down what sales … [Read more…]

Sales Order vs Purchase Order: Key Differences

The main difference between a sales order and a purchase order is right in the name: you use purchase orders to make purchases of goods, and the seller agrees to fulfil the purchase by confirming the details with a sales order. This article looks at sales orders versus purchase orders in more detail, breaking down … [Read more…]

Strategic budgeting explained for finance teams

You may have several departments steering your company towards a bright future. Some deal with the product offering, some with staffing, others with marketing. Let’s see where your finance team’s fiscal expertise fits into the overall game plan. There’s an argument that all budgeting is strategic because it always involves scenario-based planning and allocation of … [Read more…]