https://akona.biz/ Practical insight for UK SMEs en Sun, 08 Nov 2026 14:43:33 GMT https://akona.biz/festive-shutdown-risk-register-uk-smes/ https://akona.biz/festive-shutdown-risk-register-uk-smes/ A festive shutdown is a cash and control event, not just a calendar one. This risk register helps UK owner-managers document payment timing, payroll and VAT obligations, insurance cover, access and customer communications before the door is locked. Akona Business Finance & Cash Flow Sun, 08 Nov 2026 13:05:54 GMT https://akona.biz/notice-period-handover-protocol-uk-smes/ https://akona.biz/notice-period-handover-protocol-uk-smes/ A resignation is a knowledge loss event with a fixed deadline. This 30-day protocol helps UK SMEs map critical tasks, record customer and supplier context, assign backup owners and test access before the leaving date. Akona Business Leadership & Advisory Sun, 08 Nov 2026 13:05:54 GMT https://akona.biz/hidden-monopoly-supply-chain-dependency-review-uk-smes/ https://akona.biz/hidden-monopoly-supply-chain-dependency-review-uk-smes/ Single-vendor dependency rarely announces itself until the day the supplier stops answering. This review sets out how UK SME owners can map exposure, price the true cost of switching and negotiate terms that preserve optionality. Akona Business Leadership & Advisory Sun, 08 Nov 2026 09:06:01 GMT https://akona.biz/largest-name-on-invoice-customer-concentration-stress-test/ https://akona.biz/largest-name-on-invoice-customer-concentration-stress-test/ When a handful of customers dominate turnover, the business is only as stable as its largest relationship. This stress test shows UK SME owners how to model the loss of a key client, read the warning signs and build a realistic diversification plan. Akona Business Finance & Cash Flow Sun, 08 Nov 2026 09:06:01 GMT https://akona.biz/ninety-minute-operational-mot-sme-audit/ https://akona.biz/ninety-minute-operational-mot-sme-audit/ Most operational reviews expand to fill the time available. This focused 90-minute audit gives SME owners a practical checklist, common bottleneck patterns and a simple scoring method, so they leave with three prioritised fixes rather than another report. Akona Business Leadership & Advisory Sun, 08 Nov 2026 05:09:31 GMT https://akona.biz/commission-consultancy-without-scope-creep-sme/ https://akona.biz/commission-consultancy-without-scope-creep-sme/ Consultancy can be a sound investment or an open-ended cost. This opinionated guide shows UK SME leaders how to write outcome-based briefs, choose fixed fees, set success measures and exit clauses, and the questions to ask before signing. Akona Business Finance & Cash Flow Sun, 08 Nov 2026 05:09:31 GMT https://akona.biz/raising-prices-without-raising-hackles-six-week-plan/ https://akona.biz/raising-prices-without-raising-hackles-six-week-plan/ Most January price rises fail on sequencing and communication, not on the number. This six-week playbook helps UK SMEs announce 2027 increases to customers with clarity, consistency, and minimal account attrition. Akona Business Finance & Cash Flow Sun, 08 Nov 2026 01:08:59 GMT https://akona.biz/beyond-founders-reach-structural-changes-sme-growth/ https://akona.biz/beyond-founders-reach-structural-changes-sme-growth/ The £1m–£3m turnover plateau is rarely a sales problem. It is a design problem: unclear decision rights, accumulated process debt, and a missing management layer. This diagnostic guide sets out three structural fixes UK SME leaders can apply before the next growth push. Akona Business Leadership & Advisory Sun, 08 Nov 2026 01:08:59 GMT https://akona.biz/november-cash-flow-reset-30-day-plan-uk-smes/ https://akona.biz/november-cash-flow-reset-30-day-plan-uk-smes/ With the final quarter of 2026 underway, cash discipline matters more than another round of generic advice. This week-by-week plan sets out the specific actions SME owners should take between now and the first Monday of December, from debtor triage to VAT timing and a workable 13-week forecast. Akona Business Finance & Cash Flow Sat, 07 Nov 2026 21:12:33 GMT https://akona.biz/fractional-finance-director-established-uk-smes-2026/ https://akona.biz/fractional-finance-director-established-uk-smes-2026/ A fractional finance director is no longer a stopgap for early-stage companies. For established UK SMEs facing tighter margins, refinancing or succession questions, the role can provide board-level rigour without a six-figure salary, provided the engagement is defined properly. Akona Business Leadership & Advisory Sat, 07 Nov 2026 21:12:33 GMT