Methodology

Show the thinking, not just the answer.

MoneyCue is designed to be understandable. These V1 tools use transparent planning assumptions and deliberately avoid pretending that an estimate is a filed account, tax return, lending decision or professional opinion.

Affordability

MoneyCue separates protected money from the current bank balance, then looks at the cash cushion and monthly room after a proposed commitment. Users choose the cushion they want to protect.

Hiring

The employee tool uses the 2026/27 standard employer National Insurance rate of 15% above the £5,000 annual secondary threshold. It also estimates a 3% minimum employer pension contribution on qualifying earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 where the annual salary reaches the £10,000 automatic-enrolment earnings trigger. Employment Allowance is not automatically deducted.

Tax reserve

For limited companies, V1 uses the 19% small-profits rate up to £50,000, the 25% main rate at £250,000 and above, and the standard marginal-relief fraction between the standard limits. It assumes no associated companies or exempt distributions. For sole traders, V1 uses the 2026/27 Personal Allowance, UK or Scottish Income Tax bands as selected, and Class 4 National Insurance of 6% between £12,570 and £50,270 and 2% above £50,270.

Health score

The score is a MoneyCue planning signal built from four simple dimensions: cash buffer, monthly surplus, overdue customer money relative to sales, and debt repayment pressure. It is not a credit score, solvency test or valuation.

Accounts readiness and formal accounts

The free Accounts Readiness Check is deliberately not statutory accounts. It uses the user's own rough figures and record checklist to create a branded planning summary. Formal accounts require appropriate accounting adjustments, disclosures, approval and filing format.

For accounting periods beginning on or after 6 April 2025, the current micro-entity size thresholds are turnover no more than £1 million, balance-sheet total no more than £500,000 and no more than 10 employees on average; at least two must normally be met, subject to exclusions and other rules.

From 1 April 2026, Company Tax Returns should be filed using commercial software. Companies House has announced software-only annual accounts filing from April 2028.

Accounts-service controls

Paid accountancy work is subject to client acceptance, identity and anti-money-laundering onboarding. The website's static enquiry flow does not itself constitute acceptance of a client or submission of accounts.