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Group Accounts & Family Structures

multi-company owners, family businesses, HNW entrepreneurs

Why profitable groups still struggle with cash flow

Many groups show strong profits on paper, but cash is locked in the wrong company. One entity pays tax while another carries the costs. Group planning is about where profits sit, not just how much profit you make.

⁠Holding company vs trading company – the £100k mistake

We often see dividends extracted from trading companies when a holding company could have retained profits tax-free for reinvestment. One structural decision can change everything.

⁠How group relief turns losses into cash flow

Losses in one company don’t have to be wasted. With the right group structure, losses can be offset against profits elsewhere — improving cash flow and reducing tax bills.

Non-controlling interest: the silent complication

Minority shareholders affect profit allocation, dividends, valuations, and exits. Ignoring this leads to disputes, blocked decisions, and unexpected tax outcomes.

Associate vs subsidiary – one word, big consequences

Control matters. Misclassifying a company can block group relief, distort accounts, and create tax inefficiencies. HMRC and lenders look closely at this.

⁠Family groups: splitting profits without HMRC issues

Sharing profits with family isn’t illegal — doing it badly is risky. Proper share structures and commercial justification are essential to avoid settlements legislation.

⁠Group accounts are not just compliance

They influence banking relationships, investor confidence, valuations, and exit negotiations. Poor group accounts weaken your negotiating position.

⁠Dividend planning across a group

Dividends should follow strategy, not habit. The order and source of extraction can materially affect personal and corporate tax outcomes.

Selling one company in a group? Watch the CGT trap

Selling a subsidiary without planning can lose valuable reliefs. Timing and structure matter long before the sale conversation starts.

Group structures = exit + inheritance planning

Done correctly, group structures allow flexibility for selling, gifting, and succession planning without dismantling the business.

Require more information?

If you would like more information or would like to speak to us direct then call us on 07878464240. Or if you would prefer, ask us a question online.

Areas we cover

  • Bexleyheath
  • Crayford
  • Sidcup
  • Swanley
  • Gravesend
  • Greenhithe
  • Ebbsfleet
  • Wilmington
  • Longfield
  • Belvedere
  • Erith
  • Orpington
  • Bromley
  • Welling
  • Chislehurst
  • Sevenoaks
  • West Kingsdown
  • Barnehurst
  • Thamesmead
  • Rochester