For many business owners, a vehicle is an essential tool. Whether it is for visiting clients, delivering goods, or simply keeping things moving, choosing how to finance a vehicle can have a big impact on cash flow and tax planning. There are several routes to consider, each with its own advantages.

Buying outright

The simplest option is to purchase the vehicle in full. This means your business owns it from day one. Buying outright avoids ongoing finance costs, but it does tie up capital. The tax advantage is that you may be able to claim capital allowances on the cost, reducing taxable profits. Cars with low CO₂ emissions attract more generous allowances, while commercial vehicles such as vans can often qualify for the full Annual Investment Allowance.

Hire purchase

Hire purchase spreads the cost of the vehicle over a fixed term. You make monthly instalments and become the legal owner once the final payment is made. Interest will be payable, but this option gives certainty over repayments and allows you to claim capital allowances on the vehicle as if you had bought it outright.

Finance lease

With a finance lease, your business pays to use the vehicle but never actually owns it. Instead, you may be able to extend the lease at a reduced cost or sell the vehicle on behalf of the finance company and keep part of the sale proceeds. The rentals are tax deductible, which helps to reduce taxable profits.

Contract hire

Contract hire is often called leasing. You agree to use the vehicle for a set period and mileage, paying fixed monthly rentals. At the end of the agreement, the vehicle is returned. This option keeps vehicles off your balance sheet and helps with budgeting, as servicing and maintenance can be included. The rentals are usually deductible for Corporation Tax, but restrictions apply if the car has high emissions.

Personal contract purchase (PCP)

Some directors use PCP agreements through the company. These combine monthly payments with the option to buy the vehicle at the end for a lump sum. The tax treatment is similar to hire purchase if the business owns the agreement, but careful thought is needed if it is held personally.

Final thought

There is no one best option. The right choice depends on cash flow, tax position, and how long you intend to keep the vehicle. Speaking with your accountant before committing can ensure the vehicle is financed in the most efficient way for your business.

During the State Visit by President Trump, the UK secured a record-breaking £150 billion of inward investment from US firms. The package is intended to boost jobs, support growth, and advance the UK’s key industrial sectors, especially life sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biotech, AI and other future-facing industries under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Key components of the deal

Here are some of the flagship commitments:

• Blackstone pledged around £100 billion over the next decade into the UK.
• Prologis will invest £3.9 billion, including use in the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and upgrading Daventry Rail Freight Terminal.
• Palantir agreed to invest up to £1.5 billion to help make the UK a defence innovation leader and create up to 350 jobs.
• Amentum will invest £150 million, creating over 3,000 jobs across areas like Glasgow, the Midlands and Warrington.
• Boeing committed to converting two 737 aircraft in Birmingham for the USAF, bringing about 150 high-skilled jobs.
• STAX, a US engineering firm, will commit around £37 million to expand UK operations, especially in emissions-reducing technology at ports.

Where the jobs and benefits are headed

The investment is forecast to create more than 7,600 high-quality jobs throughout the UK, covering not just London and the South East, but also Belfast, Glasgow, the Midlands and the North East. It includes major commitments in research and development and support for start-ups, particularly in biotech, AI and clean energy sectors.

Why it matters

This is the biggest commercial investment package ever secured during a UK state visit. It signals confidence from US firms in the UK’s economic strategy and global competitiveness. For business, tax, infrastructure, jobs, and innovation policy, it gives strong backing to the government’s plans.

Working capital is a simple but powerful measure of a business’s financial health. It is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. In other words, it shows what is left when a business’s short-term debts are taken away from its short-term resources such as cash, stock and money owed by customers.

If the result is positive, the business has money available to cover day-to-day operations. If it is negative, the business may struggle to meet upcoming bills or need to rely on borrowing.

Why is working capital so important? First, it gives a clear picture of liquidity. A profitable business can still fail if it runs out of cash to pay suppliers, wages, or rent. By keeping a close eye on working capital, owners can see whether they have enough resources to keep the business running smoothly.

Second, working capital affects flexibility. A business with strong working capital can take opportunities such as bulk-buying stock at a discount or investing in new projects. A business with weak working capital may be forced to delay decisions or turn down growth opportunities because it cannot afford the risk.

Third, lenders and investors often look at working capital when deciding whether to support a business. A healthy balance suggests stability and good management, while a weak position may raise concerns.

Improving working capital does not always mean cutting costs. It can involve speeding up customer payments, negotiating longer terms with suppliers, or keeping a closer watch on stock levels. Even small changes can make a big difference to cash flow.

In short, working capital is about making sure a business can meet today’s needs while staying ready for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Every business has a duty to pay tax, whether that is Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, or personal tax liabilities for the owners. While these payments are predictable, many businesses still find themselves short of cash when the due dates arrive. One way to reduce this risk is to create a cash deposit reserve specifically set aside to cover past and current tax liabilities.

The idea is simple. Each time profits are made, or taxable income is earned, a proportion of cash is transferred into a separate bank account. This money is not touched for day-to-day trading but held back until HMRC requires payment. By treating tax as an ongoing expense rather than an occasional shock, businesses can avoid last-minute scrambles to find funds.

There are several benefits. First, a reserve provides peace of mind. Business owners know that when the tax bill lands, the money is ready and waiting. This reduces stress and allows management to focus on running and growing the business.

Second, a tax reserve supports cash flow planning. By separating tax money from working capital, it becomes clearer how much is genuinely available for wages, suppliers, or investment. Mixing tax liabilities with general funds often leads to overspending and unnecessary borrowing.

Third, building up a reserve shows financial discipline. It reassures banks, investors, and other stakeholders that the business takes its responsibilities seriously and manages risk sensibly.

Even small, regular transfers can make a big difference. By keeping tax reserves in a deposit account, businesses may also earn some interest before payments fall due.

In short, creating a tax reserve is a practical and prudent step. It reduces surprises, improves cash flow visibility and ensures that tax obligations are met without disrupting business operations.

From 13 October 2025, access to Companies House WebFiling will require GOV.UK One Login. This replaces the older Government Gateway sign-in and is part of the wider move towards a single, more secure login across government services.

When you next log into WebFiling after that date, you will be prompted to connect your existing account to GOV.UK One Login. Without doing so, you will not be able to file company documents. This shift follows the earlier transition of the “Find and update company information” service in 2024.

The new login system provides additional benefits. It brings stronger security through two-factor authentication, reducing the risk of fraud and misuse. It also allows you to use one set of login details for multiple government services, cutting down on the need to manage different usernames and passwords. Over time, GOV.UK One Login will replace all other government login systems.

To prepare for the change, users should check that their WebFiling email address is up to date and accessible. If they also use the “Find and update company information” service, they should ensure both accounts use the same email address. It may be worth creating a GOV.UK One Login in advance using that same email. Companies House is also advising that users review and clean up their “My companies” list to remove any businesses they no longer file for.

Looking further ahead, identity verification becomes compulsory from 18 November 2025 for all new and existing directors and Persons with Significant Control. This can be completed voluntarily now via GOV.UK One Login or, alternatively, through an authorised agent.

In short, from mid-October WebFiling accounts must be connected to GOV.UK One Login. Preparing early will help avoid delays and ensure users are ready for the new identity checks that follow in November.