Giving You More Than Numbers: CASS’s Business Support Podcast

Team CASS

Hosted by Team CASS, Giving You More Than Numbers: CASS’s Business Support Podcast is your go-to resource for practical advice, expert insights, and inspiring stories to help businesses thrive. 

  1. CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E4: Tax Planning Without the Panic

    Jun 22

    CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E4: Tax Planning Without the Panic

    Tax bills don't have to be a surprise. The January panic? Predictable — and avoidable. In this episode, host Paul Barnes is joined by Robert Boland and Dan Chadwick for a calm, reassuring conversation about tax planning done properly. No loopholes, no scare tactics — just the steady, structured thinking that means you never get caught out again. In this episode, we cover: The real difference between tax planning and last-minute tax fixing Why buying equipment in March to save tax isn't always the smart move How salary vs dividend decisions — made at the right time — quietly reduce your bill Why payments on account catch so many growing businesses completely off guard The most common tax myths SME owners still believe Why the best tax strategy starts much earlier in the year than most people think Your challenge from this episode: Do you know what your estimated tax bill is right now — not last year's, this year's? If the answer is no, that's not a problem. But it is a signal. A 20-minute planning conversation today could remove months of stress later. Whether you've ever been hit with an unexpected bill, watched your cash disappear in March, or quietly hoped your accountant would just sort it — this episode will help you feel in control instead of reactive. 💬 Send us the month you're going to schedule your tax planning meeting — not January. 📧 info@cass-online.co.uk 🎙️ Giving You More Than Numbers — the CASS Business Support Podcast

    47 min
  2. CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E3: Busy Is Not a Business Strategy

    Jun 8

    CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E3: Busy Is Not a Business Strategy

    Episode Description: Busy feels productive. Busy feels safe. Busy feels like progress. But what if being busy is actually the thing holding your business back? In this episode, host Paul Barnes is joined by Jacquie Hale (Vector Business Coaching) and Chris Dowen (MorServ) for one of the most honest conversations in business — why constant activity can mask avoidance, and what you might need to stop doing before anything else can change. In this episode, we cover: Why busyness feels productive even when it isn't — and whether it's sometimes an identity issueThe difference between revenue-generating activity and comfort tasksHow to tell if you're measuring effort instead of outcomesWhy a full diary might mean your business can't growHow to create thinking space without revenue droppingThe tasks that should never sit with the owner long-term — and when delegation stops being optionalYour challenge from this episode: Look at your diary from last week. Circle the activities that directly increased revenue or improved profit. Now circle the ones that just kept you busy. If most of your week was survival — not strategy — something needs to change. If you're booked solid but cash is tight, turnover is rising but profit is flat, or you're saying yes to everything and quietly resenting it — this episode is for you. 💬 Send us the one thing you're going to stop doing this month — and we'll check in with you. 📧 info@cass-online.co.uk 🎙️ Giving You More Than Numbers — the CASS Business Support Podcast

    57 min
  3. CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E2: Getting More From Xero (Without Living in It)

    May 25

    CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E2: Getting More From Xero (Without Living in It)

    Episode Description: Ever logged into Xero, clicked around for five minutes, and thought... "I'm not sure that helped"? Xero shouldn't be a place where receipts go to die and VAT returns get submitted. Used properly, it should tell you exactly how your business is doing — and what to do next. In this episode, host Paul Barnes is joined by Paul McKay (Senior Account Manager Lead, Xero UK) and Tim Maycok (Group Finance Director, Allect) for a practical, jargon-free guide to getting real value from Xero — without logging in every five minutes. In this episode, we cover: What businesses using Xero well are actually doing differentlyThe 4 most powerful reports inside Xero that every SME owner should knowWhy Aged Receivables tells you more than your turnover ever willThe most common Xero mistakes that quietly hide problems — from poor coding to unreconciled bank itemsWhy "money in the bank" is the most dangerous metric to rely onWhen Xero is enough — and when you need something more around itYour challenge from this episode: Open your Aged Receivables report today. How much of your sales are over 30 days old? If it's more than 25% — that's not an accounting issue. That's a behaviour issue. Whether you're a long-time Xero user or still finding your feet with it, this episode will help you turn the software from a filing cabinet into a decision-making tool. 💬 Send us the one report you're going to start checking monthly — and we'll hold you to it. 📧 info@cass-online.co.uk 🎙️ Giving You More Than Numbers — the CASS Business Support Podcast

    47 min
  4. CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E1: The Numbers That Actually Matter

    May 11

    CASS - Giving You More Than Numbers - S2 E1: The Numbers That Actually Matter

    Episode Description: Ever looked at your accounts and thought, "I know I made a profit — but I still don't know how my business is really doing"? You're not alone. Most business owners get numbers. What they don't get is clarity. In this season opener, host Paul Barnes is joined by Jacquie Hale (Business Coach & Profit Consultant, Vector Business Coaching) and Andy Horvath (Director, Horvath Accountants) to cut through the jargon and get straight to the numbers that actually tell you whether your business is healthy or heading for trouble. In this episode, we cover: The 3–5 numbers that give you a true snapshot of business health (hint: turnover isn't one of them)Cash vs profit — why profitable businesses still run out of moneyThe early warning signs buried in your management accounts that most owners missHow VAT, PAYE, and invoice timing can distort how safe you feelHow to use your numbers to make real decisions — on hiring, pricing, cutting costs, and investingThe one number every business owner should be tracking every single monthYour challenge from this episode: Check your last three months' bank balances. Are they trending up, flat, or down? That one check alone tells you more than any headline profit figure. Whether you're a sole trader or running a growing team, this episode will help you feel more confident, more in control, and a lot less intimidated by your numbers. 💬 DM us the one number you're going to track from now on and hold yourself to account. 📧 info@cass-online.co.uk 🎙️ Giving You More Than Numbers — the CASS Business Support Podcast

    57 min

  5. 07/08/2025

    S01|EP04|PT2: People, Planet & Profit | Giving You More Than Numbers - CASS Business Support Podcast

    Part 2 of Understanding how sustainability and ESG dovetails with the financials in your business.

    13 min

  6. 06/10/2025

    S01|EP04|PT1: People, Planet & Profit | Giving You More Than Numbers - CASS Business Support Podcast

    Part 1 of Understanding how sustainability and ESG dovetails with the financials in your business.

    20 min

  7. 06/10/2025

    S01|EP04|PT3: People, Planet & Profit | Giving You More Than Numbers - CASS Business Support Podcast

    Part 3 of Understanding how sustainability and ESG dovetails with the financials in your business.

    21 min

  8. 06/09/2025

    S01|EP04|FULL: People, Planet & Profit | Giving You More Than Numbers - CASS Business Support Podcast

    Understanding how sustainability and ESG dovetails with the financials in your business.

    53 min
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Hosted by Team CASS, Giving You More Than Numbers: CASS’s Business Support Podcast is your go-to resource for practical advice, expert insights, and inspiring stories to help businesses thrive. 

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