Eat Sleep Blog Repeat
Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
I'm Dean Shepherd, a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and Fellow of the AAT, with approaching 30 years in UK tax and accountancy.
I run ESXR, a deliberately small accountancy practice for established service-based businesses — from creative agencies to consultants — who want their finances handled properly by someone who genuinely has time for them.
Before going out on my own, I spent eight years in the tax software industry, shaping how the products actually worked and helping build the software your accountant uses every day. I also lecture on tax and speak at industry conferences, which keeps me at the front of the profession rather than catching up with it.
I write these articles to make tax and money a little less stressful: plain English, no jargon, grounded in what actually works for real businesses rather than textbook theory.
If something here raises a question about your own situation, I'm always happy to help — drop me a message, or book a chat.
I run ESXR, a deliberately small accountancy practice for established service-based businesses — from creative agencies to consultants — who want their finances handled properly by someone who genuinely has time for them.
Before going out on my own, I spent eight years in the tax software industry, shaping how the products actually worked and helping build the software your accountant uses every day. I also lecture on tax and speak at industry conferences, which keeps me at the front of the profession rather than catching up with it.
I write these articles to make tax and money a little less stressful: plain English, no jargon, grounded in what actually works for real businesses rather than textbook theory.
If something here raises a question about your own situation, I'm always happy to help — drop me a message, or book a chat.
Recent Articles
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 11, 2025
Most creative business owners don’t ditch their accountant because of one big disaster. They leave because of a slow,...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 10, 2025
Most creative business owners hear about the cash accounting scheme for VAT and think: “Sounds great — I only pay VAT...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 8, 2025
Hitting £90,000 in rolling 12-month turnover is a milestone. A sign your creative business is growing. But it also...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 5, 2025
Some creative business owners are brilliant at bringing ideas to life — but less brilliant at keeping hold of the...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 3, 2025
Engaging Freelancers Based Outside the UK: Do You Need to Worry About Employment Status and Payroll?
Creative agencies increasingly hire global talent. From illustrators in Poland to video editors in South Africa and UX...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 2, 2025
Christmas is a brilliant time for creative businesses — client gifting, team socials, seasonal campaigns, and the...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- December 1, 2025
For many creative agencies, payroll feels like one of those admin tasks you should be able to handle internally. After...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- November 26, 2025
There comes a moment in almost every creative business where cashflow gets tight. Maybe a big client paid late, maybe a...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- November 25, 2025
This month marks the start of a new era of corporate transparency in the UK. Driven by the Economic Crime & Corporate...
- Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience
- November 24, 2025
Creative businesses love flexibility. You scale up for a project, bring in the right talent, plug the gaps and keep the...
