Business Without BS

Oury Clark

Your weekly dose of real-world business intelligence. No gurus, no fluff - just practical lessons from people who’ve built, scaled, failed, adapted, celebrated, and done it all again. We don’t admire success from afar - we dissect it, decode it, and deliver the lessons straight to you. Subscribe for weekly insights and free resources that strip away the jargon and deliver the real-world lessons you wish you'd got at business school.

  1. 10h ago

    Tax Havens Aren’t What You Think | Tom Dugdale

    Everybody has an opinion on tax havens. But how many people actually understand what they do? This week on Business Without B******t, Andy and Gemma are joined by Tom Dugdale, a lawyer who has led Harneys’ Offshore Funds team in the UK for the last eight years, working across jurisdictions including the BVI, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Jersey and beyond. Together, they get beyond the headlines and ask what tax havens — or international finance centres, are actually for. Are they simply places for the wealthy to hide money? Or are they an important piece of the plumbing behind international business, investment funds and the global economy? They discuss why offshore structures exist, the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion, why “zero tax” doesn’t necessarily mean no tax is ever paid, the role offshore jurisdictions play in investment funds and pensions, and whether tax competition actually puts a useful limit on governments. They also get into the Panama Papers, offshore secrecy and transparency, regulation and anti-money-laundering rules, America’s unusual position in the system, and the surprising history of Britain’s own offshore territories. And there’s a bigger question underneath it all: What would global finance actually look like without tax havens? No slogans. No easy villains. Just a proper look at how the system actually works. 🎙️ Business Without B******t Featuring Tom Dugdale, Andy and Jemma.

  2. Jul 31

    Can Andy Burnham Fix Britain's Economy? | Special Episode

    The UK has a new Prime Minister. Now come the big questions.In this special episode of Business Without BS, Chartered Tax Adviser Andy Oury and commercial lawyer Jemma Hotta discuss the policies they hope Andy Burnham will prioritise to help Britain become a stronger place to build businesses, attract investment and drive long-term economic growth. Think of this as a conversation with your lawyer and your accountant—you just don't have to pay for it. Honest opinions, practical insights and no political spin. In this episode: How can the UK attract more foreign direct investment?What incentives should Britain offer entrepreneurs?Can Britain compete globally in AI and innovation?Should wealth creation be encouraged or taxed?How can SMEs become the engine of economic growth?What should Andy Burnham's first priorities be?What policies would actually encourage businesses to invest?How can Britain become more competitive internationally? About the guestsAndy OuryAndy Oury is a Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Oury Clark. Through The Rebel Accountant, he helps entrepreneurs understand tax, build stronger businesses and challenge common misconceptions about the economy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewoury/ Jemma HottaJemma Hotta is a commercial lawyer specialising in corporate law, international business and complex legal structures. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jemma-hotta/ Listen to Business Without BSApple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/business-without-bs/id1528844106 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6J1YMncmYCLODOKi8A0CFU Website https://withoutbs.com Subscribe for more conversations with the experts you'd normally have to hire.

  3. Jul 29

    Tax Havens: A Deep Dive into Legitimacy and Ethics

    The focal premise of this podcast episode centers on the pervasive misconceptions surrounding tax havens and their perceived utility for affluent individuals. I elucidate that the notion that wealthy citizens are evading taxes through offshore accounts lacks substantive foundation, as contemporary regulations have significantly curtailed such practices. We explore the historical context of tax havens, tracing their emergence to post-war fiscal policies, and discuss the intricate balance between legal tax optimization and ethical considerations. Furthermore, I emphasize that while there may exist specific scenarios where offshore entities could be beneficial, these instances are exceedingly rare and fraught with complexity. Ultimately, we advocate for a nuanced understanding of taxation, underscoring that the current UK corporate tax framework offers several advantages that should not be overlooked. Takeaways: The common misconception that wealthy individuals exploit tax havens to evade taxes is largely unfounded.Tax havens are not as beneficial for individuals and businesses as public perception suggests.The increasing regulation surrounding offshore accounts has made it exceedingly challenging to utilize tax havens effectively.The UK provides a favorable corporate tax environment, which can serve as an attractive alternative to offshore tax planning. Companies mentioned in this episode: Gary StevensonTom DugdaleJimmy Carr

  4. Jul 22

    Why AI-first firms will outrun many UK SMEs with Ben Thompson, Employment Hero founder

    EP 430 — Investors are betting AI-native businesses will outrun traditional operators by stripping out human overhead. Ben Thompson argues that the real divide in business is now AI-native versus everyone else. Legacy companies are still structured with humans at the centre, while fast moving AI-native firms start with agents and add people only where judgement is required. This episode breaks down how AI-first businesses are built, why investors are pricing SaaS firms like they will not keep up, and what SMEs should actually do as AI shifts employment, recruitment and productivity. It also digs into UK and Australian policy choices that shape hiring. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build an AI stack that puts agents at the centre of operations • Rethink recruitment workflows using AI screening and interviewing • Spot where employment regulation increases risk for SMEs • Prepare for labour market disruption without panicking about automation • Understand how tax policy influences where founders build companies This episode is for founders and operators who want a grounded, practical view of how AI is reshaping work and where SMEs can still win. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 AI native businesses 02:00 Early work, first jobs 05:00 Building Employment Hero 10:00 Employment complexity and trust 15:00 Unions, awards and compliance 22:00 AI replacing labour 27:00 Building an AI stack 33:00 Recruitment, screening and agents 40:00 Remote work and scaling globally 48:00 Tax, capital gains and policy 55:00 Culture, work and incentives 1:02:00 Business or BS Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  5. Jul 17

    Why most UK marketing fails without data, with Simon Leadbetter, former Knight Frank CMO

    EP 428 — Simon Leadbetter argues that most UK businesses are running on guesswork instead of evidence. Marketing, he says, only works when you start by admitting the customer doesn’t care about you. In this fast, sharp conversation, Simon breaks down why instinct-led decisions misfire and why most firms operate without even basic knowledge of their audience. Andy and Simon cover data, attribution, surveys, brand dilution, influencers, and why most online stats are bots talking to bots. It’s a full tour of how to actually understand a market before spending money on it. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Use research instead of hunches to choose channels • Avoid cognitive bias when deciding who your customer is • Apply the five‑stage ISTAR marketing process • Test ideas cheaply with real UK sampling • Improve your Net Promoter Score and act on detractors Perfect for UK business owners who want marketing that works because it’s grounded in evidence, not noise. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Customers don’t care about you 02:00 Data vs instinct 05:00 What marketing actually is 09:00 Surveys, sampling and bias 13:00 Property, portals and real behaviour 17:00 The five‑stage ISTAR model 22:00 Channels, talent and capability 27:00 Bots, ad fraud and bad data 32:00 PR, email, social and direct mail 37:00 Brand complexity and consolidation 43:00 Mental availability and sales activation 49:00 Creativity, crazies and guerrilla ideas 55:00 Influencers, niches and trust 1:02:00 The one thing to do this week Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  6. Jul 15

    The real cost of scaling a food & drink business with Kit Newell, Great Taste award winner

    EP 429 — Two brothers turn British honey into a fast‑growing drinks brand while fighting cheap imports and scaling on a shoestring. Hive Mind Mead Co went from brewing in a garage to landing listings with Selfridges, Co‑op and top restaurants — all while protecting UK beekeeping and battling a drinks industry full of shortcuts. Kit explains the real cost pressures, the rebrand fight, and the constant juggle of production, stock and authenticity. They dig into the practical decisions behind scaling a physical product: pricing under duty pressure, navigating retailers, managing 180 hives, and avoiding the traps that sink early‑stage drinks businesses. No fluff — just the reality of turning a hobby into a viable UK brand. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Price a craft product when duty dwarfs ingredients • Decide when to rebrand and how to manage the pain • Spot BS in food and drink manufacturing • Use small batches as a smart marketing tool • Scale a physical product without wrecking margins Perfect for UK founders building a physical product or anyone curious about growing an authentic drinks brand without losing your soul. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Starting with too many products 02:30 From geologist and designer to mead makers 06:30 What mead actually is 11:00 Turning a hobby into a business 14:00 The rebrand fight: Y Valley Meadery to Hive Mind 18:00 Retailers, awards and credibility 23:00 Honey sourcing, supply and UK provenance 27:00 Bee health, climate and the rural economy 32:00 Alcohol duty and margins 34:30 Launching honey‑based soft drinks 38:00 Industry shortcuts and authenticity 43:00 Courses, community and brand building 46:00 Business or BS 55:00 Scaling a physical product 57:30 Where to find Hive Mind Mead Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  7. Jun 29

    The hidden cost of going US GAAP with Katrina Nacci, cross‑border accounting specialist

    EP 427 — Preparing UK founders for the shock of needing US GAAP fast when American investors arrive. Most founders only discover the real cost of US GAAP when an investor demands it. Katrina Nacci explains why the pain isn’t the accounting rules, but the sudden need for better systems, documentation and proper consolidation. This episode breaks down the operational gaps that derail UK and European scale‑ups: revenue treatment, data hygiene, legacy systems, multi-entity chaos and how to avoid a six‑month panic. Practical decisions, not theory. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Map when US GAAP is actually triggered • Fix weak processes before an investor audit • Build documentation US auditors expect • Handle multi‑entity, multi‑standard consolidation • Decide when IFRS vs US GAAP matters commercially For founders eyeing US money or expansion, this episode helps you avoid an avoidable mess. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 The hidden problem behind “we need US GAAP” 1:00 When US GAAP is actually triggered 4:00 Why statutory audits don’t prepare you 8:00 Revenue recognition and documentation gaps 12:00 What US auditors expect 16:00 How conversions really work inside a group 20:00 Systems, ERPs and multi‑GAAP reality 24:00 Cost, timelines and team size 28:00 IFRS vs US GAAP in practice 33:00 Cultural realities of US expansion 38:00 Preparing early and avoiding traps 45:00 War stories and common pitfalls Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

  8. Jun 24

    Why Teams Fall Apart and How to Fix Them with Kevin Gaskell, Turnaround CEO

    EP [number] — Kevin Gaskell argues that clarity, accountability and attitude drive real organisational performance — not slogans or bureaucracy. Kevin Gaskell explains why most struggling companies aren’t failing on product or market, but on leadership clarity. He argues that teams follow certainty, not noise — and that avoiding the ‘difficult bits’ is what actually sinks performance. He breaks down how small teams outperform bigger rivals, why culture beats clever strategy decks, and the practical routines leaders can use to remove noise, raise standards and get their team moving in the same direction. What You'll Learn in This Episode: • Build leadership clarity that teams actually follow • Diagnose dissonance in a senior team • Create accountability without fear • Remove noise from daily operations • Make difficult decisions faster This episode is for UK founders and leaders who want to run a sharper, calmer, better‑aligned organisation. *For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player* Spotify Video Chapters: 0:00 Opening: why leaders fail 1:06 Extreme rowing and mental endurance 8:29 Resetting the mind through extreme challenges 10:02 Entrepreneurial intensity and burnout avoidance 10:42 Why companies really fail 14:32 Brand experience and operational clarity 15:40 Leadership dissonance and team alignment 18:02 Fixing culture through shared experience 20:22 Building visible plans and priorities 22:03 Respect, accountability and people management 26:20 Creating inspiration, not motivation theatre 30:59 Turning around a failing manufacturing business 38:34 Hard work, standards and UK working culture 44:19 What leaders should do this week 55:54 Business or B******t game Watch and subscribe to us on YouTube Follow us: Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Facebook If you'd like to be on the show, get in contact - contact@withoutbs.com

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About

Your weekly dose of real-world business intelligence. No gurus, no fluff - just practical lessons from people who’ve built, scaled, failed, adapted, celebrated, and done it all again. We don’t admire success from afar - we dissect it, decode it, and deliver the lessons straight to you. Subscribe for weekly insights and free resources that strip away the jargon and deliver the real-world lessons you wish you'd got at business school.

Information

  • Creator
    Oury Clark
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    400
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Oury Clark
  • Show Website
    Business Without BS

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