Financial advice for business owners

Helping you turn business success into lasting personal wealth for you and your family.

Why business owners need a different plan

Running a business blurs the line between work and home. Cashflow can be lumpy, tax rules are nuanced, and most of your wealth may be tied up in the company. That’s why typical ‘personal finance’ advice doesn’t cut it.

At Abode Financial Planning in Cirencester, we help business owners connect their hard work to their personal goals, giving straightforward advice so you and your family can enjoy the future with confidence.

How Abode Financial Planning
in Cirencester can help you

What financial planning challenges
do business owners face?

Being a business owner means juggling many moving parts. Here are some key financial questions we help entrepreneurs address:

Pensions and investments for business owners

If most of your wealth is tied up in your business, a large part of your financial future depends on it.

We help you turn surplus profits into personal wealth, via employer pension contributions, ISAs and a diversified investment strategy, so your future isn’t pinned on a the sale of your business.

Exit and succession

Whether your goal is a clean sale, a management buyout or passing on to family, the best outcomes come from early, calm preparation.

We’ll model numbers (your ‘magic number’ after fees and tax), assess reliefs, and run ‘what ifs’ so you can choose your timing with confidence.

Protection and continuity

We’ll check the weak spots most business owners overlook: life and critical illness cover, key person insurance, and shareholder protection with a robust agreement so ownership ends up in the right hands at the right time.

Personal planning that fits your life

Tax efficient gifting, school fee planning, property decisions, and long term estate planning. We keep the plan human: what each pound is for, when you’ll need it, and how to balance today with tomorrow.

Benefits of financial advice for business owners

Working with Abode Financial Planning in Cirencester gives you clear, joined up advice designed around the realities of running a business. Here’s how our financial advice can help business owners:

Holistic planning
Business and household finances on the same page, so decisions aren’t made in silos. This holistic approach means your tax strategy, investments, retirement planning, and business goals all work in harmony towards your overall success.
Tax efficiency
Sensible structuring of pay and contributions; timely use of allowances and reliefs; clarity on what is worth doing (and what isn’t).
Reduced concentration risk
A pathway to wealth outside the company — so one bad year doesn’t derail your future.
Time and headspace
We handle the complexity so you can focus on running the business, with fewer surprises at year end. Business owners tell us they appreciate carving out time solely for their personal financial planning.
Exit readiness
The business and your household are both saleready, with a plan for proceeds and life after work .

Why choose Abode Financial Planning?

At Abode Financial Planning in Cirencester, we know you have choices when it comes to advice. Here’s what sets us apart for business owners:

Chartered independent financial advice

We’re not tied to any providers and we hold the profession’s gold standard accreditations. Our duty is to you, full stop.

Local insight and expertise

Based in Cirencester, we work with business owners across the Cotswolds. Family businesses, professionals, and growing companies.

Specialists in business owners’ needs

We don’t offer one size fits-all advice. Our team has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs, company directors, and family business owners, so we appreciate the mindset and complexities that come with the territory.

Plain English, no fluff

We explain why as well as what, and we document every recommendation in simple language.

Collaboration built in

Wr're happy to work alongside your accountant and solicitor so everything joins up.

Long term thinking

Our focus is on helping you build lasting personal security, through good years, challenging periods and eventually, life beyond the business.

Who you’ll work with

We are Chartered Independent Financial Planners who understand the realities of running a business, having built and run a business ourselves.

You’ll be looked after by a close-knit team who take the time to get to know you and your business. While you’ll have a clear point of contact, everyone involved understands your situation and works together to support you.

Ready to get started?

If you’re a business owner in Cirencester, we’d love to help you turn hard won profits into lasting personal security. Contact Abode Financial Planning today for a FREE initial consultation.

What our clients say...

How we do it

Here we explore if we are the right fit and can add value to your situation.

We meet (ideally) in person or on a video call and discuss your objectives, concerns, and priorities. We only move forward when we have really understood your situation.

The numbers have been crunched and, together, we discuss your financial future. You can expect clarity and a comprehensive strategy.

We take action to put your plans into place. We liaise with your pension and investment providers, to make the process simple for you and keep you informed along the way.

We meet at least once a year to review your situation and keep your plans on track. We are always on hand for anything in between.

Let’s start your financial journey

Take the first step towards shaping a solid financial future with us by your side.

Frequently asked questions

I pay myself a small salary and top up with dividends. Is that still sensible?

Often yes, but it depends on your profits, other income and personal goals. For example, the right mix can affect mortgage affordability, pension funding and longer term tax planning. Your accountant will advise on what’s appropriate for the business, and we help you understand how those decisions fit into your wider personal plan.

Can my company pay into my pension and how much?

Yes. Employer pension contributions can be a very effective way for business owners to build personal wealth and are usually deductible for the company if they meet the business purpose test. Annual allowance and carry forward rules still apply. We’ll help you set a contribution level and timing that works with cashflow and longer-term goals.

We’re thinking about selling the business in three to five years. When should we start planning?

Now. Strong exits are rarely last minute. Early planning gives you time to tidy accounts, strengthen management, improve key metrics and make sure your personal finances are ready for the proceeds. Starting early can also help preserve access to valuable reliefs and ensure money lands in the right place after a sale.

Do I need shareholder protection or a cross option agreement?

If there’s more than one business owner, usually yes. Insurance provides the funding; the legal agreement sets out what happens to the shares if someone dies or becomes critically ill. Together, they help ensure the business stays in the right hands and families receive fair value. We’ll work alongside your solicitor to put this in place properly.

My business is my pension. Why build investments outside the company?

Because relying on one asset carries risk. Building pensions, ISAs and other investments outside the business gives you flexibility w,hether that’s stepping back gradually, funding retirement if a sale is delayed, or reducing pressure to sell at the wrong time.

How much money should I keep in the business versus personally?

We’ll help you strike a sensible balance. That usually means setting appropriate cash buffers for both the company and your household, then directing genuine surplus towards what matters most, pension funding, ISA investing, paying down debt or keeping capital available for opportunities.

What happens to my business if something happens to me?

This is a key part of business financial planning. We’ll review insurance, ownership structures and check that wills and lasting powers of attorney are in place, so there’s a clear plan for continuity. Protecting your family, your team and the business itself.

Is financial advice worth it for business owners?

For many business owners, yes. Running a company often means complex tax decisions, irregular income and a lot of wealth tied up in one place. Good financial advice helps you make joined up decisions across pensions, investments, protection and exit planning, so your personal finances aren’t left to chance while you focus on the business.