Cottons Group

Stop leaving tech decisions to IT.

Technology isn’t just an operational decision. It shapes how teams work, how clients are supported, and how the firm grows.

In this article, Emma Reid shares what changes when partners at Cottons take a more active role in those decisions: https://bit.ly/4sKgtZG

Congratulations on 15 years at Cottons, Oli Vale! 👏

Oli joined us as a trainee back in 2011 and is now an experienced and reliable Senior Accountant – and a big part of the team.

Looking back, Oli said:

“My manager tested my knowledge of T accounts on paper – something that would probably be unheard of now with Xero and FYI.”

Alongside his day job, he's also a founding member of our football team, the Cottons Cobras ⚽

15 years is no small thing. It reflects consistency, trust, and the relationships built over time – with clients and with the team around you.

So, for the first time, we’re marking milestones like this by planting trees in our team’s names in partnership with the National Trust 🌳

We look forward to many more years working with Oli.

Most small firms don’t think they need corporate finance.

Until a client asks about selling, buying, raising funds… or valuing their business.

That’s usually when things get tricky.

This article explains why corporate finance isn’t just for larger firms – and how having the right support in place helps you handle those conversations properly (without overstepping).

Read the full article: link in bio.

With insights from our Corporate Finance Manager, Adam Schofield.

MTD for income tax is now live.

If you’re a sole trader or landlord over £50,000, the biggest change isn’t the tax – it’s how you stay on top of your numbers. Quarterly updates, digital records, and no more last-minute catch-ups.

If it’s not running smoothly yet, that’s normal.

This Spotlight guide walks through what should be happening now and a few simple checks to keep things on track.

Read the guide: https://bit.ly/4veXoBl

Our April news round-up is here:

📉 Pay growth slows to a five-year low
🏠 Mortgage rates jump again
🔥 £50m support for heating oil users
👥 Grants to boost hiring

A quick scroll gets you up to speed on what’s changing – and what to keep an eye on.

Read the full update here: https://bit.ly/4rGIf9y

Planning for retirement can feel like something to deal with later.

But the earlier you start thinking about it, the more options you have.

It’s not just about pensions – it’s how you build income and keep it as tax-efficient as possible.

Our latest Spotlight explains the basics in a clear, practical way.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/4taBAFX

Most firms want to grow advisory. Fewer actually make it work.

In this article, our Partner Emma Reid looks at why advisory often falls flat – and what needs to change for it to stick.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/47pt8tf

Sometimes the small things matter most 🌻

For International Women’s Day, our team sent out thank you cards and sunflower seeds to women they wanted to recognise – including some of our clients.

Not long after, we received this lovely message from Everley Studio for our Partner Sarah Kite:

“Thank you… that really brightened the start of our week.”

We’re really glad it had the impact we hoped for.

Thank you for the kind words – and we’re looking forward to seeing what we grow together 🌱

⚽ Team Cottons took on 13 other firms at the Blusource Recruitment Accountancy Tournament last week – and made it all the way to the final 🥈

Just missed out on the win, but a great game against Mark J Rees LLP to finish 🤝

Our team: Josh, Curtis, Karl, James, Kavi & Oli
📸 with Greg Emmerson from Blusource and basketball pro Jamell Anderson

Safe to say we had a good time.

Running an online business means juggling a lot – sales, fees, refunds, different platforms.

A common mistake we see is using payouts as sales figures. They’re not the same, and it can cause problems later.

With platforms now reporting income to HMRC, it’s important your records actually match what’s happening.

Our latest Spotlight explains what to keep, what to watch, and how to stay on track.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/4qfJH14

Audit often gets seen as a box-ticking exercise – but it shouldn’t stop there.

A good audit should help highlight risks, spot opportunities, and support better decisions.

That’s where it becomes genuinely valuable for clients.

Our Partner Callum Veasey shares how to get more from audit and why it should be more than just compliance.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/47PkrZ6