Optimum: LIVE! – Details, episodes & analysis

Optimum: LIVE Episode 20 – Things to Consider Before Selling a Business

Thinking of selling your business? In this episode of Optimum: LIVE, Chris and Michael explore the essential steps every business owner should take before starting the sale process.

Selling up isn’t just about agreeing a sale price — it's about preparation, structure, and understanding the tax and legal implications. Whether you're looking to retire, cash in, or move on to your next venture, this episode is packed with practical insights.

They discuss:

• Why timing matters when planning a business sale
• The importance of financial clarity and tidy accounts
• How your business structure can impact tax and legal outcomes
• What buyers really want to see during due diligence
• When to involve accountants, solicitors, and advisors in the process

Whether you’re planning to sell in a year or five, it's never too early to start thinking ahead.

For tailored advice on business exit planning, visit www.optps.co.uk to speak to our team today.

Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments — we may cover them in a future episode.

#SellingABusiness #BusinessExitPlanning #TaxAdviceUK #OptimumLive

The episode can be watched and listened to from any of the following locations:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xHt43HDhn7SipOn9euUTx?si=bd239b1d0dc2497d

This is a Visual PR Productions broadcast – “At Visual PR Productions, we produce authentic, engaging, conversation-led video content and broadcasts. No scripts, no hard sell, just genuine, credible dialogue. Whether it’s for marketing, podcasts, training, panel shows, live events, or inductions, we help everyone feel at ease on either side of the camera. Then, with smart automation, we repurpose and share your content across the platforms that matter.”

https://www.visual-pr.co.uk/
enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

Companies House New ID Checks Are Here – Are You Ready? – Optimum: LIVE Ep. 19

In this must-watch episode of Optimum: LIVE, Chris is joined by Operations Director Tracey Heath to break down new ID verification rules from Companies House that affect every UK company director and person of significant control (PSC).

From April 2025, these changes began rolling out - but by Autumn 2026, compliance will be mandatory. If you’re a company owner, director, or accountant, this one’s essential viewing.

You’ll learn:

• What identity verification at Companies House actually means
• Who needs to take action (and when)
• What documents you’ll need and how to get your unique code
• How this change links to economic crime prevention and business transparency
• Why it’s better to act now, not later!

Optimum Professional Services are here to help – from our Cheltenham to Swindon offices, we’ll support you through the process with clear guidance and in-person support if needed.

Need advice or want to book a session? Visit https://www.optps.co.uk/companies-house-verification to check out our latest blog post for step-by-step info.

https://signin.account.gov.uk/sign-in-or-create to create or log in to your account.

👍 Like, subscribe, and drop your questions in the comments – or tag someone who needs to see this!

#CompaniesHouse #CompaniesHouseIDVerification #BusinessCompliance #UKDirectors #OptimumLive

The stream can be watched and listened to from any of the following locations:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xHt43HDhn7SipOn9euUTx?si=bd239b1d0dc2497d

This is a Visual PR Productions broadcast – “At Visual PR Productions, we produce authentic, engaging, conversation-led video content and broadcasts. No scripts, no hard sell, just genuine, credible dialogue. Whether it’s for marketing, podcasts, training, panel shows, live events, or inductions, we help everyone feel at ease on either side of the camera. Then, with smart automation, we repurpose and share your content across the platforms that matter.”

https://www.visual-pr.co.uk/
enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 10 – Case Study: Open Door to Growing Group

Wednesday 7th August 2024 – 1:00pm

Episode 10 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live at 1:00pm on Wednesday 7th August from out Cheltenham offices, and we welcome our special guests from The Site; our landlords at this site, and our long-term client. A relationship that started from the free access to come and chat that we pride ourselves in offering, through simple assistance, to the benefits of Optimum Professional Services combining both accounts and legal assistance under one banner, The Site continues to grow and is already now around 6 active companies in the group. - www.thesitecheltenham.co.uk

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Rob Stokes (Accounts) and Iain Mason (Legal), and The Site’s Charley and Jamie, as they discuss how the two companies have worked together over the years, the benefits of legal and accounts being joined together to have aided the growth of the group, and how the services continue to evolve between the two parties to this day.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Connecting the dots between PR and Marketing with authentic, credible, and engagingly natural conversational video content and resulting assets from each episode – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 9 – The Future of the Limited Company?

Wednesday 10th July 2024 – 1:00pm

Episode 9 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live from 1:00pm on Wednesday 10th July. We will be looking at what the future of the limited company might look like with the list of changes that have, will, or may happen on the commercial landscape.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Accounts Director, Michael Blaken, and Rob Stoke, Optimum’s Head of Accounts & Audit, as they discuss the impact of elements such as dividend tax (and if better to be salaried for the first 12 months of starting the business), payments on account, rule changes to associate companies in 2023, full state pension qualification, and if becoming an LLP is starting to become more attractive than being a Limited Company.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Connecting the dots between PR and Marketing with authentic, credible, and engagingly natural conversational video content and resulting assets from each episode – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 8 – Busting the Myths of Business Plans

Wednesday 12th June 2024 – 1:30pm

Episode 8 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1:30pm on Wednesday 12th May delving into business plans to bust myths about things such as their complexity, timing, and the “one and done” assumption.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Accounts Director, Michael Blaken, as they look at when and how to use business plans, how they should be done more than once (even for established businesses), could be granular for each revenue stream, don’t need to as complicated and scary as often perceived to still be helpful, and can even be assisted with by Optimum.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Taking podcasts to the next level! – Live Interactive Branded Video Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 7 – Owning A Property With Another Person

Thursday 9th May 2024 – 1:00pm

Episode 7 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1pm on Thursday 9th May and will be covering a topic that is valid and important to consider for both residential or commercial property.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Head of Legal, Iain Mason, to explore considerations such as the difference between “joint tenants” and “tenants in common”, which might be the best, and situations we need to manage in the future with either of these routes. It isn’t just a consideration for romantic couples, but so many other joint purchases of residential or commercial property, so it is a very important subject.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Taking podcasts to the next level! – Live Interactive Branded Video Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 6 – Knowing Your Business

Wednesday 3rd April 2024 – 1:00pm

Episode 6 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd April and will be covering a topic that is vital for the future but can seem challenging in the here and now.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Accounts Director, Michael Blaken, to explore the knowledge of our businesses that we need to have to be able to achieve the earnings owners dream of, and/or the value that they would consider or like to sell it for. The challenge of working back from that dream point that we hope is in the future, and what we need to know and consider now to be able to achieve it, is not an easy one on the face of it, but it is possible and an important planning exercise.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Taking podcasts to the next level! – Live Interactive Branded Video Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 5 – 2024 Spring Budget Review

Thursday 7th March 2024 – 2:00pm

Episode 5 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 2pm on Thursday 7th March and welcomes Optimum Professional Services’ Michael Blaken (Accounts Director), Jon Lacey (Finance Director), and Iain Mason (Head of Legal) for a rounded review of the key points; good and bad; of the Spring Budget which will have been announced the day before (6th March) this live episode.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will take the opportunity to interview and chat with the trio, who will probably all have slightly different priorities, details, and opinions to take from the Government’s latest announcements and thus really enable us to take a deep look into what it all actually means.

If you are watching the LIVE broadcast, then make sure you get your questions or comments in by commenting from wherever you are watching it and it can be put on screen and answered or responded to appropriately.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube and LinkedIn, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam).

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optimum-ps

This is a Visual PR production – Interactive Branded Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 4 – Understanding Personal Tax Payments and Tax Efficiency of Electric Cars

Thursday 1st February 2024 – 2:00pm

Episode 4 of Optimum LIVE! will be broadcasting live from 2pm on Thursday 1st February after the first episode of 2024 needed to be slightly delayed due to the typically manic January for Accountants… But we made it at last and wish everyone a happy new year (even though it feels late to be saying that still…)

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be speaking with our very own Michael Blaken (Accounts Director) and Hannah Matthews (Head of Accounts and Assurance) about two interesting subjects in the world of taxation. The first will be trying to help you understand personal tax payments, including how it works and how to save. For those who have to “pay on account”, we all know it can get confusing at times, so we take a deeper look and help you feel and be a lot more in control of your personal tax payments.

We will also be going into the tax efficiency of electric cars for you and/or your organisation. It is something that we are being pushed more and more towards, so it is only fair that we take a more detailed look at this subject and see who it can be more efficient for.

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or “Interested” on the Facebook event, or “Notify me” on the pending live video on YouTube, to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam) with your own questions and input.

We’re delighted to continue our monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!”, which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

This is a Visual PR production – Interactive Branded Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 3 – Tax Rules for Christmas Gifting & Parties (whilst toasting Christmas)

Wednesday 20th December 2023 – 12:00pm

Episode 3 of Optimum LIVE! will be broadcasting during Wednesday lunchtime to provide us with the opportunity/justification to also raise a lunchtime toast to the Christmas festive period nearly upon us whilst talking about a couple of subjects relevant to this time of year.

Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be speaking with our very own Michael Blaken (Accounts Director) about the thorny (not just the holy…) topic of the tax rules for providing Christmas gifts and Christmas parties to help us not fall foul (turkey? Surely that is a Christmas cracker?) of the requirements and expectations and avoid the naughty list…

We will also be touching on the subject of getting company and personal finances in as early as possible rather than leaving it to the last minute, and how that would benefit all sides of the tasks required to get them filed for the end of the year. There are even rumours that another Optimum Director, Rob Stokes may join us for this festive “fireside chat”…

Don’t forget to Click “Going” or ”Interested” (Facebook) or “Notify me” (YouTube) to make sure you catch the live broadcast so that you can get involved (off-cam) with your own questions and input.

We’re delighted to continue our new monthly conversational series, “Optimum: LIVE!” which will provide the opportunity for you to join members of our team and special guests each month as they delve into a variety of subjects in light-hearted, fireside-chat style productions.

Each episode will be live, which means that it is not scripted or edited and has a more natural and engaging tone. This enables viewers to type questions or provide comments/input whilst watching the live broadcast on either YouTube or Facebook, which will be put up on the screen (with your profile photo and name) and responded to by the episode’s guests to make it immersive and interactive.

The stream can be watched live (and recorded) from any of the following locations: Facebook: www.facebook.com/OptimumProfessionalServices/live

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@OptimumPS

This is a Visual PR production – Interactive Branded Broadcasts – Elevating your Brand and Igniting Audience Engagement!

www.visual-pr.co.uk

enquiries@visual-pr.co.uk

www.youtube.com/@VisualPRUK