The Starling app is designed to help you manage your business finances from anywhere, at any time of the day. Our app-based accounts can be applied for in minutes and there are no monthly fees. We’re here to help you weather the storm with 24/7 customer service and a range of features to make money management simpler.
We’re posting regularly on our blog with tips and support for businesses and freelancers during this difficult time. Recently, we published a webinar on tips to help small businesses , in collaboration with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Track your costs
You need a clear picture of your costs whatever the situation. But in the current climate this is especially important. The Starling app can help answer questions such as: What are my largest outgoings? Is my spending this month higher or lower than my monthly average? What is my most important income stream? You may wish to use that information to cut down on non-essential spending, meet key payments and monitor income streams.
Your business income and outgoings are automatically categorised in the app under the Spending Insights tab. The business spending categories have been designed to help you and your accountant (if you have one) get a clearer picture of business expenditure. You’ll be able to see how much you spend on Admin or Equipment, both as a percentage of total spend and as its own amount. You can change the categories of certain transactions if needed and also see a breakdown of your revenue. It’s essential to understand your average monthly takings and outgoings and take stock of any cash reserves you may have, as well as outstanding invoices or loan repayments.
Digital tools
In the Starling Marketplace, you’ll find third party providers of products and services to help your business run smoothly. It’s where you’ll find partners like Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent to help you connect your real-time bank transactions with your accounting or bookkeeping. They can help make reconciling payments more efficient, so you spend less time on financial admin and more time on your business.
There are also several insurance options. We’ve partnered with so-sure for phone insurance and Anorak for life insurance. Business specific insurance for invoices comes from Nimbla or you can look into cybersecurity cover from CyberSmart.
There are more partners coming and we’ll never charge you more to connect with their services, than if you’d gone direct. It’s our Starling promise.
Manage your invoices and tax
For extra tools to manage your business finances, take a look at our business toolkit. You’ll be able to create invoices and match them to incoming payments, as well as upload bills, estimate tax and VAT, and pay VAT with a Making Tax Digital submission.
Please be aware that on the 20th March, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak announced that if you’re a UK VAT registered business and have a VAT payment due between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2020, you can defer payment, if you wish, until the end of the 2020/21 tax year.
Deposit cheques via the app
We’re now rolling out mobile cheque deposits via the latest version of the Starling app. This was one of our most requested features by customers. It will make managing income from cheques easier, whether you’re at the kitchen table or typing away in the garden shed.
For cheques up to £1,000, you will no longer have to post them, although you can if you want to. Instead, you can take a photo of your cheque in the app and our team will process it within two working days.
Keep money organised with Goals
To help organise your finances, you can separate your money into different Goals in the Starling app. To make each one stand out you can label them, for example, Tax or Cash Reserves. You won’t be able to spend the money in your Goal unless you move it back into your everyday account. This way, your finances are kept organised and visible.
Starling is always here to help and provide support. Our customer service team is on hand 24/7 - you can reach us through the app, on the phone or via email.
Article updated: 13th October 2022