Three Financial Pillars for 2025
Sustainability isn’t all about green talk, it’s other meaning keeps your business alive. A staggering number 63% of UK tech startups fail in their first five years (Founders Forum Group). Strong money habits are key. Pressures like 3.6% inflation add risk (per Bank of England, at time of writing). But, good habits offer a chance to grow strong. In my 25 years of accounting, R&D and tax work, I’ve seen founders succeed by choosing progress over perfect. Here are three money pillars to beat market ups and downs. Scale smart. Sustainability means change with ease. Start small today.
Pillar 1: Master Cashflow – Forecast and Adapt Fast
Cashflow kills 29% of startups (CB Insights, often seen in UK data). No cash means even great ideas fail under high costs. For example, a big mistake is missing costs like cloud fees that jump. Plan 12 months ahead. Additionally, test for delays. Build in a buffer, add extra for supply issues or funding waits. Use rolling budgets too. Furthermore, update them each week to catch problems early. Tools like Xero and Syft make it simple.
Try real changes. Act now: Take 15 minutes. Map your next three months’ money in and out on a sheet. If it’s hard, do one month first. Progress beats perfect. Afterwards, walk for 5 minutes. This builds mind strength for hard choices.
Pillar 2: Use R&D Tax Credits – Get Free Money for New Ideas
In 2025, HMRC’s R&D scheme gives back real cash on R&D costs (Gov.uk, 2025). Spent £100,000? Potentially £18,600 back. But bad claims lose millions each year. Founders miss out by not tracking well. For tech, this covers code work, AI tests, and more. Know the rules though. Moreover, make sure pay and test costs count.
Don’t miss the power. Add this to your plan soon. Act now: Check last three months’ work. List tasks like code changes in 10 minutes. Discuss your list with your advisor, who can guide you through the conditions and technical side of claiming. If new, start with one task. Then, write one win in a note. It builds a growth view during money hunts.
Top Tip: Keep good records of projects, it could pay later!
Pillar 3: Strengthen Operational Systems – Automate for Efficiency
Bad systems slow growing tech firms. Good tools and steps keep things smooth. This frees time for growth. For instance, auto-send bills, invoice reminders, and KPI reports to cut errors. Start with scalable tech like CRM or cloud accounting early.
Skipping this creates blockages and delays when growing.
Act now: Check one process today, like billing. Map it and find auto tools like Xero. Then, think for 10 minutes: What slow spot will you fix?
Add these pillars to make a strong tech business. Our Founders Freedom Navigator™ leads founders through them for £250k+ sales and freedom. DM me for a free cashflow list to begin. What pillar will you try next? Share below. Let’s team up on lasting wins.