How much does it cost?

Fees are typically 0.75% to 1.5% of turnover, depending on the services you need and how many units you run. A like-for-like internal finance team costs roughly 4% to 7% of turnover, so you get the same capability for a fraction of the cost — with no recruitment, no sickness cover and no payroll admin. We confirm a fixed monthly fee after a free introductory meeting, so you know exactly what you are paying before you commit.

Do you work with single sites or only groups?

Both. We typically work with hospitality and retail businesses from one to five sites. The common thread is not size — it is that the owner is ready for proper financial reporting and wants a finance partner rather than someone who files the tax return.

How is a fractional CFO different from an accountant?

An accountant tells you what happened. A fractional CFO helps you decide what to do next. Ours sits on top of the virtual finance department for board meetings, funding rounds, lender conversations, growth decisions and financial models. A full-time CFO costs £150k+ before you start; this gives you the same experience only when you need it.

Yes, tronc schemes and payroll are handled as standard. Tronc distributes tips to staff in a National Insurance efficient way, and the rules changed in 2024: tips must be allocated fairly, with new requirements on how they are handled and taxed. Getting it wrong has a real cost.

Which software do you work with?

We are a Xero Silver Partner and a Xero Retail & Ecommerce specialist, and we work with Dext and ApprovalMax alongside it. We connect to your rota and EPOS systems so information flows automatically rather than being retyped.

Do we have to switch to Xero?

It is our recommendation and where we work fastest, but it is a conversation, not a condition. Tell us what you run now at the introductory meeting and we will be honest about whether moving is worth the disruption.

How quickly can you onboard us?

Most clients are fully live within two to three weeks of signing. Onboarding covers connecting your bank feeds, EPOS and rota systems, agreeing the reporting pack and introducing your named team.

Can you take over mid-year?

Yes. Mid-year is a perfectly normal time to switch. We handle the handover with your outgoing accountant, pick up the year to date and carry on — you do not need to wait for your year end.

What if we are behind on our bookkeeping?

That is one of the most common reasons people call us, and it is not a problem. We will scope the catch-up separately, tell you what it costs up front, and get you current before we start the monthly cycle.

Do you do payroll for hourly staff?

Yes — weekly or monthly, for hourly and salaried staff, including auto-enrolment pensions and tronc. We link to your rota system so hours flow through rather than being re-keyed.

Do you help with funding and landlords?

Yes. We have raised finance from banks and institutions many times, and we help with grant applications, insurance claims, emergency loans, landlord negotiations and HMRC Time To Pay arrangements.

Yes. A UK team, based in Hungerford, working with clients across the UK and heavily in London. You deal with the same named people every time: an Accounts Assistant, an Account Manager and a Director.

The April cost crunch: four cost drivers every operator faces

Aug 19
2 min read

April 2026 has brought four cost increases to hospitality and retail businesses, and there is not a huge amount anyone can do to avoid them. Minimum wage is up, business rates are up, the first Employment Rights Bill changes have landed, and energy prices have jumped on the back of the conflict in the Middle East. We have covered the first two before, so the interesting new ground is the Employment Rights Bill.

THE FOUR DRIVERS

1. Minimum wage increases, plus the knock-on wage inflation across the rest of your team. 2. Business rates up around 30% for most, with hospitality and retail rates relief removed. 3. The Employment Rights Bill, two changes landing in April and more to come. 4. Energy prices, surging on the conflict in Iran.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BILL?

The Morning Advertiser has run a piece where operators describe the reforms as a "field of landmines", and you can see why. On the plus side, several changes due in April have been pushed back to October or beyond. Two have landed on time.

Sick pay from day one. The three-day waiting period and the minimum earnings threshold for SSP are gone. Someone calls in sick, you're paying from day one, and many operators expect sickness levels to rise as a result. Record any shift where someone has called in sick and tell your payroll provider. We are also seeing businesses update their sickness and attendance policies, worth a conversation with your HR advisor.

Day-one parental leave. Employees no longer wait a qualifying period for maternity or paternity pay. In our experience not many people miss the qualifying period, so it's rarely a big hit, but it is one to be aware of.

WHAT ELSE IS COMING?

The right to unfair dismissal after six months, down from two years. New duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment. Further tightening of the tipping rules. The Government has published a timetable for the whole rollout, worth a read, because most of it hits before the end of the year and you don't want to be updating policies in December.

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ENERGY PRICES?

The conflict in Iran has sent wholesale prices surging and suppliers have pulled many fixed-price deals. The number of fixed-term deals on the market has more than halved in a week, and there is no sign of government intervention on commercial contracts, the caps only cover households. If the conflict stays short, prices should settle, but expect an increase in the short term either way. If your contract is up for renewal, talk to your broker, and if the quotes look crazy, you may be better off holding on. Prices did the same after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and they settled.

It is not a fun set of increases, but price it in early, update your policies, and you will ride it out. If you want to talk through any of these cost drivers, get in touch.

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