Summer has drawn to a close, and the so-called ‘quiet period’ is over. This can only mean one thing for you and your business – time to get ready for Q4!

Think of this period as preparing to go back to school and ask yourself: Have I got the best tools in place to finish the year strong? Are all my ducks in a row for tax season? What’s my plan for next year?

We all want to be well equipped to thrive through the final quarter, and getting your accounts in order now is the first step. Here are a few key areas to focus on as you prepare for the home straight…

Prepare for tax returns

The deadline to register for your Self Assessment tax return is 5th October 2025. If you’re sending a paper tax return, HMRC must receive it by 11:59pm on 31st October 2025. Alternatively, if you’re submitting it online, this must be done by 11:59pm on 31st January 2026. Get ahead of the game here to avoid incurring a late filing penalty.

That’s the deadlines out the way. Now you need to ensure you’ve got everything ready for submitting. This includes:

• Details of your untaxed income from the tax year, including income from self-employment, dividends and interest
• Records of any expenses relating to self-employment
• Any contributions to charity or pensions that might be eligible for tax relief
• Your P60 or other records showing how much income you received that you’ve already paid tax on

So start gathering those receipts, and don’t leave it late – because this is when mistakes can happen. Made any major changes or purchases you’re unsure of? Always meet with an expert tax advisor.

Review year-to-date finances

By giving your finances an end-of-year health check, you can set realistic revenue and profit goals for the new year based on what occurred in 2025. With this clear and up-to-date vision, you can make savvy investment or expansion decisions with a budget and cash flow forecast that’s informed by past mistakes and successes. Consider:

• Checking your current budget vs. actual spending/income
• Identifying gaps or overspending categories
• Analysing income streams to see if they’re on track with projections

Need help with the strategic analysis to plot your growth plan? Seek quarterly management accounts and business advice from an expert like Nabarro Poole.

Audit your tools and subscriptions

What are you finding most challenging when it comes to managing your accounts and finances? For many busy business owners, it’s finding the time and/or people-power to complete manual tasks like data entry, payroll and more. These tasks are as tedious as they are essential, so consider investing in automated tools or AI to help.

And when you feel comfortable with the technology, you can look into leveraging it for other aspects of your operations such as:

• Enhancing customer experience
• Improving marketing
• Optimising inventory management

In addition, it’s important to look at the software, tools and subscriptions that you already have and cancel or downgrade any that aren’t working or aren’t being used. Unsure where to begin? Speak to Nabarro Poole for advice on savvy tech investments that actually benefit your business.

Finish the year strong with Nabarro Poole

From tax planning and compliance to the kind of strategic business advice that helps you crystallise the most efficient routes to growth and profitability, Nabarro Poole can help. As an owner-managed accountancy practice, we understand how valuable year-round financial support can be.

Get in touch with us to finish Q4 strong and plan for the future.