Financial expertise and accountancy services within easy reach of Dorset, the South Coast and the South West
Our experienced team take the time to fully understand the aims and ambitions you have for your business. With a combined 40+ years of owner-managed business, accounting and consulting experience, we offer an extensive range of services to help our clients get the best out of their business. Whether this is year-end taxation and accounting, strategic planning, developing your business or raising new finance, we will tailor our services to meet your needs.
We can assist you in putting together robust strategic plans and use our industry skills to help you to achieve your business goals and see your business flourish.
We are committed to providing expert, objective and timely advice, delivered in an efficient and effective manner so our clients can truly thrive.
The DFD team have one major focus – helping you and your business be everything you want to be.
Year-end compliance
Accountancy services
We use top-of-the range accounting software to deliver high quality accounts, including for companies reporting under FRS102, the new UK GAAP.
Sole traders
We keep up-to-date on tax developments in the small business arena so can advise confidently on issues such as trading structure and the availability of tax deductions and allowances to optimise your tax affairs.
Corporate
In addition to our high-quality software for preparing and filing your accounts and corporation tax return, we can assist with tax issues such as P11Ds, company vehicles, R&D tax credits and Making Tax Digital. We also offer a full range of Company Secretarial services.
Partnerships
In certain circumstances, a partnership could be the most suitable trading structure for your business. We can help you identify if this is the case and then help you with the associated tax and reporting requirements.
Personal tax affairs
Whether you are a Company Director or need to file a tax return for another reason, we can help. We communicate clearly when asking for relevant information and then use our software to prepare and file your tax return in a timely manner.
Consultancy services
Strategic planning
Business owners often benefit from matching their aspirations to a medium-term strategic plan. For example, if you want to achieve an eventual exit at a specific valuation, do you know what the business & its profitability and cash-flows need to look like to maximise your chances of achieving this. Working confidentially alongside you, we would be delighted to help build a relevant plan.
Budgeting
We help businesses set annual budgets for profitability and cash-flow. These should tie into the business’ strategic plan so that progress towards owner’s aspirations can be regularly measured.
Management accounting & analysis
Has your business reached a point where it needs to start producing meaningful management information, rather than waiting for the year end accounts? We can use our experience and pragmatism to generate monthly or quarterly management accounts from whatever accounts system your business is using. We can also provide supporting analysis to identify and measure the business’ key performance drivers.
Forecasting
Has your business reached a point where it needs to start forecasting profitability and cash-flow on a regular basis? We can use our suite of in-house templates and skills to implement a be-spoke solution for you.
Profit & cash-flow improvement
We have a track record of being able to identify significant improvements to business’ operating models including gross margin improvement, overhead reduction and improved working capital efficiency.
Director-level and finance team recruitment
Does your finance team or board of Directors need strengthening or restructuring to help achieve your objectives? We are happy to work with you to identify the relevant skills gaps and then advise on a plan to fill them.
Corporate finance services
Preparing businesses for sale
Do your business’ financials support your exit aspirations? Are other key factors in place including a succession plan, high quality management information and a future growth plan? We can advise on all of these aspects of positioning a business for sale.
Brokering deals
Having researched the potential market, we can help you approach the short-listed buyers and, if successful, advise on structuring a suitable deal that delivers on your aspirations.
Finding buyers
Trade or Private Equity is often the quoted choice. Perhaps an exit to a family member or a partial exit to a growth partner would make more sense? Whatever the particular circumstances of your business, we are happy to advise on the optimal route and use our deals database to research potential acquirers.
Due diligence support for exiting owners
Potential acquirers’ information needs can feel overwhelming when you have a business to run. We have a track record of rolling up our sleeves and producing meaningful management information to support the information flow during sale processes.
Sector Specialisms
Food Manufacturing
Bakeries
Multi-site restaurants, including Coffee & Bakery Chains
Premium Brands
Consumer Business
Contract accounting for Construction, Project Management etc.
Charities
Multi-academy Trusts
University Spin-Offs
To find out more about how we could help you, call and talk to one of our friendly experts or send us a message.
