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Business Budgeting: Why it’s Important & How to Get it Right
Money makes the world go round and keeps the cogs firmly turning within our businesses. This is why it is important to keep a budget and stick to it – especially if you’re a small business or if you’re just starting out. While budgets are fundamental for smooth sailing within a company, they can be… Continue reading Business Budgeting: Why it’s Important & How to Get it Right

What is a cash book, and why do I need one?
The importance of using a cash book for accounting and cash flow management if you are a small business owner or a sole trader. What is a cash book? A cash book is a simplified way of recording all financial dealings, particularly if you receive regular cash-based transactions. It is effectively a financial journal that… Continue reading What is a cash book, and why do I need one?

Taking Care of Your Cash Flow As a Small Business
When you run your own business, bookkeeping is more than just entering invoices and reconciling the bank, it is also about analysing the data to ensure debts don’t outweigh your profits. Did you know 82% of businesses experience cash flow problems? In this guide we outline 4 easy tips to help you improve your habits… Continue reading Taking Care of Your Cash Flow As a Small Business

How Can I Keep Track of Policy & Licence Renewals?
Expiration and Renewal Reminders Running a business on is no mean feat, especially when you’re a one person team. Knowing when policies and licenses are up for renewal can be time consuming and complicated. From vehicle insurance renewals, to first aid training expiration dates – wouldn’t it be easier to have a clear view across… Continue reading How Can I Keep Track of Policy & Licence Renewals?

Downloadable Bookkeeping Checklist
Manage your business with ease using our free downloadable bookkeeping checklist.

YGF Celebrates a Year in Business
Your Girl Friday – A Year of Business This month, Emma & Alice celebrate a year of trading under Your Girl Friday! Starting a business in a pandemic is no mean feat, as many new start-ups and self-employed will tell you. Although it’s presented some unique challenges, there’s been a lot of positive too. Here’s… Continue reading YGF Celebrates a Year in Business

Should I Hire or Outsource? A Small Business Owner’s Guide
Hiring Vs. Outsourcing We all remember the news that broke on 29th January 2020, when the first two people in the UK tested positive with COVID-19. We could never have predicted the impact the pandemic has had on the economy. Whilst many businesses have faltered as a result of national and local lockdowns, and the constant financial demand to pivot their business strategies; many have been able… Continue reading Should I Hire or Outsource? A Small Business Owner’s Guide
Great Bookkeeping, and How to Recognise It
Whether you’re at a point where you’re re-evaluating your current bookkeeping situation, or you’re newly set up and need to find one, you need to know what to look for. Knowing the characteristics to look for in a bookkeeper will mean you attain a strong and quality partnership on your next hire. In this blog… Continue reading Great Bookkeeping, and How to Recognise It
Why Hubdoc is your best asset as a Xero user!
Hubdoc is a dynamic tool integrated into your Xero subscription. It captures data and creates the necessary transactions in Xero, all with the click of a button. Why should you use Hubdoc? Hubdoc allows you to capture your purchase invoices & receipts in Xero, taking away the amount of time you’d usually spend manually entering… Continue reading Why Hubdoc is your best asset as a Xero user!
How to Chase Overdue Invoices
Effectively managing your cash flow is paramount during these unsteady times. But unfortunately, late payments are a long-standing issue for small businesses and employed. In the majority of cases, clear communication is all it takes to settle an invoice. Issuing late payment letters is a critical part of the debt recovery process, especially if the situation escalates later down the line. I know too… Continue reading How to Chase Overdue Invoices
How to Set Yourself Up For Success
Every Monday is a new opportunity to start again. No, I haven’t always been such an optimist. But building my own business has seen me overcome hurdles, and its this repetitive learning which leads to good habits. In my last post I talked about ways to stay organised, and today I want to highlight the… Continue reading How to Set Yourself Up For Success

8 Ways to Stay Organised!
Running a business is hard work. There’s no getting around that. Throw in managing your household, childcare, and general life admin – things can get overwhelming! When I’m feeling like this, you’ll find me trying not to freak out and frantically trying to tick off all of my to-do list at once! So after a… Continue reading 8 Ways to Stay Organised!
Frequently Asked VAT Registration Questions and Answers
In this blog we use the term ‘businesses’ often. But the word ‘businesses’ also covers sole traders. Most businesses know that the threshold for compulsory VAT registration is a taxable annual turnover of £85,000. What this figure is made up of can often cause confusion on when and how a business should register for VAT. With all the advice, it can be difficult to know… Continue reading Frequently Asked VAT Registration Questions and Answers
Email Signatures – Why are they important?
I know what you’re thinking. “An email signature? Really?” Yes! A lot of messaging by businesses is done via social media nowadays, but emails have long been (and will remain) a crucial way to communicate between businesses and clientele. Having an email signature is an opportunity to promote your business further. How does this work… Continue reading Email Signatures – Why are they important?
Accounting mistakes which could be costing you
By Emma @ YGF Like most things, accounting is easy when you know how. But mistakes that run undetected for months, or even years, can cause your business to lose money! Your accounts give you basic information upon which you make decisions about your business. For example, “What are my sales?”, “How much money is in the bank?”, “How much money am… Continue reading Accounting mistakes which could be costing you
8 Common VAT Errors Made by Small Businesses & Sole Traders
By Emma @ YGF As a fully qualified AAT member, I have been working on VAT for more than 20 years. Despite my experience, like others I’m sure, there are still areas where I need to look a little deeper into the rules for some advice. In this blog you’ll see me using the word ‘business’. This covers both companies and sole traders.… Continue reading 8 Common VAT Errors Made by Small Businesses & Sole Traders
Who are we, and why do you need us?
Your Girl Friday – a mother daughter team of virtual assistants/miracle workers in administration support and bookkeeping services. Read more about us here. If you own a business, you already know that making your dreams viable requires precious time, which is all too often taken up by essential (but tedious and time consuming) to do’s.… Continue reading Who are we, and why do you need us?
Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Virtual Assistant
Have you been wondering how a virtual assistant could help you and your business? Here’s our top 5 favourite reasons.. 1. Flexibility – you don’t need to commit to providing enough work for a full time employee. Meaning you can increase your outsourced work and pull back as and when needed! 2. Increased productivity –… Continue reading Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Virtual Assistant
The Virtual Assistant: the secret to keeping your small business afloat
So many of us are feeling the pressure and impact of the Coronavirus outbreak. Unfortunately, small businesses and the self employed have taken the biggest hit, such as your favourite local independent cafe. Many are working so hard to either adapt their offerings to bring in more customers, or are trying to find ways to… Continue reading The Virtual Assistant: the secret to keeping your small business afloat
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About Us
Cheltenham & South Wales based administration & bookkeeping professionals – relieving you of your to do list, giving you more time to focus on your business.