Small business. Big support.

Small business support services

Books to catch up on, admin that never ends, or a gap in your office team? I’m Sarah, and I help sole traders and small businesses in Derby and across the UK get the work behind the business done.

Choose one service or combine several, as a one-off project or ongoing support. I don’t just advise. I roll up my sleeves and help.

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Practical help, shaped around what your business needs rather than a one-size-fits-all package.

Experience you can put to work

30+

years in business support

10+

years winning bids

Xero & Sage

Certified bookkeeping support

Fully insured

HMRC AML supervised

Xero Certified Associate Sage Application Specialist

Bookkeeping

Less time with receipts. More time for your business.

I’ve been bookkeeping for almost 30 years and qualified for over 20. I help keep your books up to date, so deadlines don’t have to mean a last-minute scramble.

What I can take off your hands

  • Sales invoicing and purchase ledger
  • Credit control and chasing late payments
  • Bank reconciliations
  • VAT returns and Self Assessment
  • Liaising with your accountant at year end
Talk to me about your books

Operations, administration and interim cover

Keep the everyday work moving

Whether your admin has slipped down the list or a key person has left, I help keep the essentials on track and make your processes easier to follow.

Operations and administration

I take care of the admin and put proper systems in place, so work can carry on while you’re on site, with a client or on holiday.

  • Correspondence and inbox management
  • Writing standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • Document creation, templates and formatting
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Organising files, systems and processes

Interim and handover cover

If someone leaves suddenly or takes long-term leave, I can step in to keep the office running and prepare a clear handover for your next permanent hire.

  • Office cover at short notice
  • Keeping invoicing, payments and admin on track
  • Documenting processes as I go
  • Creating a handover pack and training your permanent replacement

You don’t have to wait for a gap in the team. I can also help get your office processes written down before they’re needed.

Compliance: ISO and SSIP

Make sense of what’s required

Clients and tenders increasingly ask for ISO standards or SSIP schemes. I help you understand what’s needed and prepare the systems and documents, without drowning you in jargon.

Discuss compliance support

Understand the requirements

Practical support with the ISO or SSIP requirements relevant to your work.

Put the essentials in place

Help preparing documents and systems that fit how your business operates.

Keep things up to date

Support maintaining your documentation rather than leaving it until the next deadline.

Hands-on business consultancy

A plan is useful. Putting it into practice is better.

If your business feels stuck or stretched, I’ll look at how it runs, spot where time and money are leaking, and work alongside you to put things right.

  • Review how your business currently operates.
  • Identify bottlenecks, gaps and quick wins.
  • Create a clear, practical action plan with hands-on help to make the changes.
  • Manage projects, using PRINCE2 methods where they help.
Get to know how I work

Specialist help and useful resources

Find your next step

From bid writing to building your own skills, explore the support that suits your next challenge. You can also find my downloads and important website information here.

Bids and Tenders

Bid writing and tender support, drawing on my 10+ years winning bids.

The Bid Zone®
a Smallbizbod® brand

Training Courses

Explore training to build practical skills and confidence in your business.

Power Hours

Focused time to talk through a business challenge and work out your next steps.

Free Downloads

Useful resources you can explore and put to work in your own business.

Plans and pricing

Support that fits the job

You might need a few hours to clear a backlog, a fixed-term project or regular support. I’ll help you work out a sensible starting point.

Free, no-obligation initial consultation

For Consultancy Services, Tailored Packages, Fixed Term Projects, and Day rates, please get in touch to discuss what you need.

Let’s talk about your workload
Ad-hoc rate
from £36.00 per hour
Fixed-price retainer packages
Micro Package (5 hours)
£180.00
Small Package (15 hours)
£540.00
Standard Package (20 hours)
£720.00
Power Hours
£120.00 per session

A few useful answers

Before we get started

Can I combine services or start with a one-off job?

Yes. You can choose one service or combine several. I offer one-off projects and ongoing support, so we can start with the work that needs attention most.

Why do you ask questions about my identity and business?

I’m supervised by HMRC under the anti-money laundering regulations. For bookkeeping work, this means carrying out checks to understand who I’m working with and the nature of their business. I may need identity documents and information about ownership or business activity. These checks are part of my responsibilities, not a judgement about you.

I’m thinking about becoming a virtual assistant. Where should I start?

Start with the skills you already have and the tasks you can confidently deliver. Think about who needs that help, how you’ll agree the scope of work, and how you’ll handle client information securely. My training courses and free downloads are useful places to explore, or we can discuss your questions in a Power Hour.

Can you help if I have difficulty accessing information?

I want information about my services to be easy to use. If something on the website is difficult to read or navigate, or you need information in another format, please get in touch. Tell me what you’re trying to access and what would help, and I’ll discuss a practical alternative with you.

A friendly starting point

What would you like off your plate?

Tell me what’s taking up your time or keeping you stuck. We’ll have a free, no-obligation chat about where I can help. No pressure to decide on a package first.