Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What legal and accounting services do members recommend for small drinks businesses?
Members consistently recommend a handful of specialist providers that offer good value for small businesses needing employment contracts, tax advice, and corporate structuring. **Legal services:** - **Seed Legals** — Multiple members praised this service; used for employment contracts, share transfers, director's agreements, and fundraising documentation. Members offer referral introductions. - **iLaw (Justin Ellis)** — Highly recommended by at least one member who cannot recommend enough and will introduce interested parties. **Accounting services:** - **Donald Reid Group** — Several members use this firm. - **Specialist F&B/hospitality accountants** — At least one member uses a newer accountancy firm that specialises in hospitality, food & beverage, and e-commerce, described as well-priced after trying several solutions. **Employment law:** - Members have access to personal introductions to employment lawyers; if you need specific employment law support, ask in the group for a direct introduction. The consensus is to ask for private introductions rather than cold-contact these firms, as several members have referral relationships and may offer deals. Seed Legals appears most frequently recommended across multiple use cases.
What accounting and VAT services do members recommend, and which accountants specialise in the drinks industry?
Members recommend outsourcing VAT returns and accounting to specialists familiar with the drinks sector. The main recommendation that emerged from the community is: - **Chipchase Manners** — contact Graeme at this firm (chipchasemanners.co.uk). Members have used them for VAT returns and report positive experiences. Members also note that several accountants within the Kindred network offer these services and are happy to make introductions to their own providers if you reach out directly. The community practice is to ask for personal recommendations via direct message rather than relying on public discussion.
How can I challenge my business rates assessment, and should I hire a specialist consultant?
Challenging business rates assessments can be done independently, but members found it complex and recommend considering specialist help. **Imbibe** was specifically named as a recommended business rates consultant by the community. Members suggest reaching out to the group directly if you need an introduction to specialists they've worked with, as several members indicated they know advisors they can recommend on a one-to-one basis. The process requires significant time and expertise if tackled alone, so assessing whether professional support is worth the cost relative to potential savings is worth considering early.