Ellis Bennett ACCA

Have you given up on managing accountancy & taxes for your business?

Setting up a business is no walk in the park, let alone managing the financial aspect of it.

It requires intense efforts to make sure you’re on the right track.

Miss one tax deadline, and you might end up paying double in penalty.

I know it’s overwhelming as a founder.

Now imagine you have an expert who takes care of all your accountancy and tax situation.

You don’t have to worry about taxes.
You don’t have to panic while planning your budget.
You know where you stand in terms of profits and losses.
You have someone you can rely on to manage the financials.

Amazing, isn’t it?

That’s what getting an expert feels like.

I’m Ellis, an ACCA Chartered Accountant, Director at EA Accountancy, and Author of The Solopreneur Start-Up Bible.

I help, advise, and guide start-ups, businesses, and young entrepreneurs through the whirlwind of accountancy and taxes.

I’ve served over 300+ satisfied clients, and I’m all in to help you!

Now, I’m not the accountant who speaks to you once a year in a robotic tone.

I’m more like your business partner.

I help you every step of the way (even acting like a therapist if you need one).

My services include:

• VAT
• Accounts
• Payroll
• Pensions
• Tax Advice
• Tax Planning
• Personal Tax
• Bookkeeping
• Accounting Software
• Company Incorporations
• Registered Office Address
• Capital Gains Tax Disclosures
• Business Planning And Advice

I also offer consultation for new business owners or people looking to hire an accountant so you have clarity for your next steps.

If you think I can help you with any of the above or would like to connect over a Discovery Call, feel free to drop me a DM.

Chartered Accountant

Went skiing recently.

Good news: I survived.
Bad news: I’m awful.

No natural ability.

No transferable skills.

Just me falling over while kids flew past me like it was nothing.

Very humbling.

Also weirdly enjoyable.

Being bad at something you don’t tie your identity to is underrated.

10/10 would embarrass myself again.

Ellis Bennett FCCA

Simplifying Accountancy and maximising Tax Efficiency for Business Owners | Director - EA Accountancy 👨🏼‍💻 💸

We said no to a client this month.

On paper, they were perfect:
– Good revenue
– Decent margins
– “Urgent” need for an accountant

But the red flags were obvious in the first conversation.

They wanted speed over clarity.

They wanted reassurance, not honesty.

They wanted someone to *clean things up*, not change how decisions were made.

That’s not a bad client.

It’s just not *our* client.

We’ve capped new work because I’d rather:
– Reply properly
– Think clearly
– Give advice that actually improves the business

Than grow for the sake of it.

Being selective isn’t arrogance.

It’s the only way professional services stay good.

Last year I made a conscious decision to simplify my life.

Not because I burned out.
Not because I had to.

Because I wanted to perform better.

Less noise.
Less forced social plans.
Less doing things out of obligation.

More:

– Work I actually care about
– Training properly
– Time with family
– Headspace

I’m taking the same approach into this year.

Probably even stricter.

It won’t look exciting to everyone.
It doesn’t need to.

If I want to humble myself emotionally, I’ll just watch Man Utd.

Job done.

We closed the books to new clients recently.

Not as a growth play.
Not as a marketing tactic.

Because unlimited growth is how service firms lose quality.

I like being able to:
– Reply without rushing
– Think before answering
– Give advice I’d actually stand by

That only works when capacity is respected.

Most firms chase “more”.

We protect standards.

And yes, that means saying no more often than saying yes.

Most accountants are paid to keep you calm.

Not to tell you the truth.

“You’re fine.”

“Nothing to worry about.”

“We’ll look at it at year-end.”

That isn’t advice.

It’s sedation.

If your margins are drifting, cash is tight, and decisions feel reactive, silence isn’t helping you, it’s delaying the problem.

Good advice is sometimes uncomfortable.

It forces trade-offs.

It challenges behaviour.

If your accountant has never made you pause and think,

they’re probably not advising, they’re just filing.

Just back from a stag do.

Here’s what it taught me about B2B sales:
1️⃣ Drink water
2️⃣ Pace yourself
3️⃣ Know when to leave the bar
4️⃣ Don’t trust the quiet bloke
5️⃣ Always have a plan

Only joking.

Not every life event is a “B2B sales lesson”.

Sometimes you just went on a stag do, got battered, and spent £11 on a vodka Red Bull.

LinkedIn… relax.

I keep seeing the same thing.

Agencies doing £400k–£600k turnover…
…but the founder still feels underpaid for the responsibility they carry.

The numbers usually look like this:
– Decent gross margin
– Team costs creeping up
– No forecasting
– Founder pay decided last, not planned

Revenue hides the problem.
Cash exposes it.

Turnover doesn’t fix poor structure.
And scaling a messy setup just makes the gaps bigger.

I don’t care if a business hits £1m.
I care how it got there.

If margins are thin,
decision-making is reactive,
and the founder can’t take money out consistently,
the number means nothing.

I run the firm the same way I train:
– Sustainable pace
– Clear limits
– Long-term thinking

Impressive screenshots don’t build good businesses.
Disciplined systems do.

Last week felt like everything that could’ve happened, happened.

Nothing went wrong.

Which somehow made it worse.

Just one thing after another:
“Oh and this as well.”

Inbox full.
Calendar stacked.
Brain running on low power mode.

Running a business is basically solving problems until you go to bed.

Then thinking about them anyway.

Still wouldn’t swap it.

Karla McNeilage

Making your brand memorable through story-led marketing. Using creative content strategies to drive growth • Social Media | Copy & Content Writer | Founder of Wave Socials 🌊 Mental health and wellness advocate

In 2014, my passion for writing and storytelling led me to study English Literature at uni.

I loved it so much that it influenced my career:

→ 2016: Started dabbling in copywriting jobs to see if I enjoyed it.

→ 2016: Created a Wordpress blog as a creative outlet. Fell in love with content writing.

→ 2018: Graduated. No grad job. Wanted to work in marketing but didn’t know what niche. Ahh. Spent 8 months working 14-hour days, juggling different unpaid internships.

→ 2018-19: Landed an internship and eventually became Head of Social Media & Influencer Marketing for an e-com start-up.
Sold out every launch with my marketing strategies, my content reached millions of impressions p/m and took our IG from 3K > 80K+ followers in <10 months.
I loved creating marketing campaigns. But I didn’t get to write much. I missed it.

→ 2020: New job. Head of Social Media for another e-com start-up.
Brought the same energy and sold out every product launch, reached millions p/m and grew a loyal community of superfans.
This time, more copy & content writing opportunities: email marketing, website & landing pages, paid ads.
I started ghostwriting as the founder. I loved stepping into someone else’s shoes.

→ 2022: Quit my job. Started my business, Wave Socials. Never looked back.
Services: social media marketing and copywriting/ content writing for 40+ CEO’s & founders, e-com businesses, agencies and big corporates.

→ 2024: Pivoted my services to LinkedIn personal branding. 
Took my own strategy seriously. Became a content creator on LinkedIn. Have a fully inbound business as a result. Also grew an amazing community and network.

Realised personal branding is the perfect blend of social media marketing and writing- all the skills I’ve been honing for nearly a decade.


Now, I help 6-8 figure C-suite execs, founders & creators amplify their voices on LinkedIn to grow their businesses.

I’ve carved out a career that feeds my love for writing, creative content, connection and storytelling.

-

SERVICES:

• LinkedIn Ghostwriting & Personal Brand Management:
For those who lack time, knowledge and/or expertise to create outcomes and impact.

• LinkedIn Workshops & Masterclasses:
Teaching you and your team how to leverage your personal brands on LinkedIn for business growth.

• LinkedIn Coaching:
Master the art of creating a personal brand that gains authority, builds trust and attracts quality leads and opportunities.


Want to work together? Fill out this form and I’ll be in touch!

https://forms.gle/Qf7vPL4ed53tSrPf9

My DM’s are open if you have any questions :)

Owner

Karla Mcneilage

One thing I'll never change in business: making time for IRL connection.

I flew to London to spend 4 days strategising with clients and catching up with friends I met on LinkedIn.

After moving to Bali last year, I promised myself I'd make an effort to see clients when I was back in the UK.

We communicate via Zoom which works.

But real relationships are built when you meet the people behind the screens imo!

So I extended my visit home and ran around London in a storm ☔️

Here's what I got up to:

→ Met Louby Mcloughlin, founder of Dream Lab Studio - a fab creative marketing agency.

Her clients include Tommy Hilfiger, Westfield and Selfridges!

We had a creative brainstorming and strategy session over pasta, mocktails & tea.

→ Visited StudioB - a creator-led studio and production agency founded by Brandon Baum.

Brandon is Europe's largest VFX creator with 24.5 million followers.

He's a trailblazer in the creator economy, having just taken to the stage at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.

His HQ was like falling into a Hollywood studio - brainstorm room and writer's room included!

I got to catch up with the amazing team building campaigns that get 1 billion views per month (for brands like Netflix, Adobe, Universal, MrBeast & LEGO).

Thanks so much to Samantha Diamond for showing me around.


→ Chatted business, goals and the creative industry over Italian with John Mouratis.

We first met 2 years ago when I hired him to produce content I was creative directing.

Loved chatting about the creative industry and our future plans.


→ Ate my bodyweight in Lebanese food with Tommy Hatto.

We chatted about 2026 business plans, the creator economy & wellness.

Our lives have changed so much since we first met 3 years ago on LinkedIn!

He’s one of those friends that just wants to see you win which is v special.


→ Met Marcus Grip who I first met in Bali when he filmed a docu-series on me.

He then joined me and Shoaib's 5-week programme with cnnctd.

He's an AI storyteller and currently in beta launch for his own diabetes app.

Cool af!


→ Co-worked with Danielle Theobald (first LinkedIn friend 4 yrs ago!), Jo-Rémi Saada and Jordan Underwood.

I introduced Dani to my ex-client Jordan because their businesses aligned.

Now they're collaborating to create a B2C product range together - stocked by a major retailer.

I love when my business friends partner and collab!


→ Spent time with Kesheba Evans who I first met at Semrush’s marketing event in Amsterdam.

We yapped about content marketing, personal branding and our huge goals for this year!

-

I left with such a full cup!!

Wish I stayed in London longer as there were so many incredible people I didn’t get the chance to catch up with.

But grateful to everyone for squeezing me in last minute before I came back to Bali ❤️


Reminder to show up offline more.

Nothing better than exchanging energy with people who inspire, uplift and challenge you!

Building impactful, authoritative LinkedIn personal brands for high-growth founders and creators | Ghostwriter, strategist & coach | Content marketing specialist |📍Bali

Want to quit on your goals? Quit today.

You’ll be like most other people.

Today is the 2nd Friday in January - aka ‘Quitters Day.’

The moment you're most likely to give up on your resolutions.

Here’s why:
→ You maybe haven't seen results yet
→ The "new year, new me” buzz has worn off
→ Life got busy and your goals got pushed aside
→ You're comparing your day 9 to someone else's year 5
→ Your goals aren’t clear, so you don’t know how to start

If you want to be like the 99% of people, quit today.

Or…

Be the 1%.

And show up anyway.

Keep the promises you made to yourself.

Even when you're tired, it’s hard, the weather is awful, or you just don’t feel like it.


I feel like I can advise on this because I’m a quitter.

Only... I quit all my bad habits, and stuck with it!

- 48 months ago:
quit my toxic job (best decision!)

- 46 months ago:
quit waiting & worked on my brand

- 36 months ago:
quit TV and cheap dopamine loops

- 33 months ago:
quit spending time with toxic people

- 31 months ago:
quit alcohol, junk food & being sedentary

- 28 months ago:
quit all excuses and invested in a PT

- 9 months ago:
quit being scared & moved abroad alone


Motivation doesn't keep you going.

Systems and discipline is how you stay consistent.

It’s about sticking to the plan, not the mood.

That’s how you refuse to settle for a life you don’t want.


8 ways to stay consistent with your goals:

1. Dream big, but set smaller goals

Be realistic.
Start with 1% improvements.
Instead of ‘post on LinkedIn every day,’ start with:
“Post on LinkedIn 4x per week: Mon - Thurs, no matter what.”


2. Stack your habits

Pair a new habit with an existing one.
Want to implement journaling?
Do it with your morning coffee.


3. Plan ahead

Schedule in your non-negotiables.
Don't compromise on your goals.
I use the app ‘Time Tree’ - if it’s not in my calendar, it’s not happening.


4. Track your progress

Measure what matters.
Set  milestones and document your performance:
Journal, use spreadsheets, make it visuals.
And remember to celebrate wins!


5. Gamify it

Mage progress & working towards goals fun!
This helps with dopamine (esp for ADHDers like me). 


6. Get accountability

Find an accountability partner.
Or share your goals publicly:
Post on LinkedIn/ socials, document your journey, join a community.


7. Expect setbacks

Even if you miss a day, don’t write yourself off.
We’re human and life gets in the way.
It doesn’t mean you’re a failure.
Just start again immediately. 


8. Remember your why

Why did you set this goal in the first place?
Write it down, revisit it and ask:
"What's the cost of staying the same right now?"


If you're serious about building your dream life, business or brand…

You have to do the work to get there.

Your dreams don’t work unless you do!

And no one's going to do it for you.

The people who win aren't the ones who never wanted to quit.

They're the ones who did, but kept going anyway ❤️

Reminder: you have the power to change your story.

Me and my brother grew up as part of the “underclass.”

Definition:
​​”The group of people at the lowest possible level of the socioeconomic hierarchy, characterised by persistent poverty, lack of upward mobility, and social marginalisation.”

We’re lucky that we had a stable upbringing and 2 parents that would give us their left arms.

But we still come from one of the most deprived housing estates in Scotland.

An inner city that’s filled with abject poverty. 

“It's not somewhere you’d want to live”
- countless news articles.


I bloody loved my upbringing in Glasgow, but here's what ‘home’ looks like:
>20% of children in poverty
>35% of the population unemployed
<10% of people from an ethnic minority

+ Highest homicide & violent crime rate in the UK.

Meaning we’re kinda desensitised to gang fights, knife crime, theft and assaults.

My high school was ranked as one of the worst in the country (bomb threats and violence galore).

There was even a shooting across from our childhood house.

-

Like most council estates, or ‘schemes’ as us Scots call it, your life typically goes one way or the other:

Some people make it through.
Some get stuck in the scheme.

They feel they have no hope for the future or sense of purpose because of poverty, deprivation and unemployment.

The escape is drugs, alcohol abuse and/ or crime.

Which results in estrangement from loved ones, imprisonment or death.

I’ve seen it all first-hand, and it’s devastating.

-

We both grew up with:

•⁠ Feelings of inferiority and self-doubt
•⁠ An acute awareness of class politics
•⁠ The ability to shapeshift to mask our background
•⁠ A deep sense of embarrassment, rooted in social stigma 

Even if you make it 'out,' you still have a limiting mindset.

People like me don’t have decent education.
People like me don’t use eloquent language.
People like me don’t become entrepreneurs.
People like me don’t sign high-ticket clients.
People like me don’t get to travel the world.

“People like me don’t get to be successful or make something of their lives…”


But that’s a pre-written narrative.

And one that my brother and I both refused to accept.

Yes, we have to work harder than a lot of peers because we didn’t have the contacts, resources, network or opportunities that they did.

But instead of letting our origin story define us, we take pride in our working class background.


Statistically - loving & supportive family aside - me and my brother never should have made anything of our lives.

Yet despite the odds, we’re 2 siblings that have:
•⁠ Economic resilience
•⁠ Escaped the ‘matrix’
•⁠ Built our own businesses
•⁠ Travelled the world
•⁠ Moved abroad to SE Asia
•⁠ Great social circles
•⁠ Created our own opportunities

Early last year, he moved to Thailand and I moved to Bali.

We both came home for Christmas, now we're back living our best lives on the other side of the world.

Work hard, take action & believe in yourself ❤️

Struggling to build influence or convert on LinkedIn?

You’re probably overcomplicating your content!


Quick authority check:

-I've been in marketing for 10+ years
-I build brands for 6, 7 & 8-figure founders
-I was rated 3rd top Content Marketer in the UK
-I have a fully inbound business through content


Here's the strategy and framework I swear by!

It only uses 4 types of content:


1. EDUCATIONAL

Solve a problem.
Teach something.
Share your expertise freely.

Give people something they can use today.

Don’t post generic, vague, samey advice that they can get anywhere.

Write from your knowledge and your experience, with unique angles and perspectives.

→ How-tos
→ Frameworks
→ Lessons learned
→ Industry insights

This is how you become the go-to person in your space!


2. CONNECTION

We’re all sick of the phrase “be authentic.”

But to build a great community, you do genuinely need to be yourself.

Use your personality and values to attract/ repel an aligned audience.

And remember that your story is your USP.

So use it strategically!

Let people into your world, but always bring it back to the reader.

Your audience should alwaysss see themselves in your words.

Make them laugh, smile or cry mid-scroll.

That's what makes people stop and think:

"Wait, how are you in my head right now?”

If your content isn't making people feel something, it's forgettable.

Connection is what builds trust and loyalty, and that’s what drives action.


3. ENGAGING

Make us part of your journey! 

Involve your audience:

Ask questions.
Start conversations.
Prioritise community.

Content is a two-way street.

→ Hot takes that spark debate
→ "What do you think?" prompts
→ “Tell me your opinion on [post topic]
→ Inviting people to share their experiences

The more people interact, the more they invest in you!


4. PROMOTIONAL

Sell yourself and your services.

But find ways to captivate while you do it.

Get clear on your USP.
Nail your narrative.
And sell with confidence!

Make it crystal clear why someone should work with you.

Then add proof!

You also need to meet people where they’re at.

Then share the outcome they can expect by investing in you..

→ Testimonials, authority builders
→ Client wins and case studies
→ BTS of your process

Instead of writing:
“Here’s what my client had to say about working with me.”

I hooked people in from the beginning:
“I made my client cry. Actually, I’ve made 3 of them cry.”

= instant impact.


You essentially need to master the art of peacocking.

But in a humble, non-narcissistic way.

(Easier said than done, right?)



TL;DR:

Looking to build your brand and grow your business? 

Don’t just post for the sake of posting.

Create with intention.

And write content *you* would actually want to consume too.


Every post should have a purpose:

Educate, connect & engage - 80% of the time.

Promote - 20% of the time (unless it's a big selling season).


Happy writing!!! ❤️

I've built personal brands for 6, 7 & 8-figure founders.

Here are 18 limiting beliefs that hold them back on LinkedIn:


•⁠ Voice & visibility fears

"I'm scared of being judged"
Most people are too busy worrying about themselves.
→ Post once and see what happens. Fear shrinks with action.

"I don't want to come across as salesy"
LinkedIn is a B2B platform - playing it small won’t make money!
→ Help first, sell second. Value builds trust.

"Drawing attention to myself is cringe"
You can't grow a brand/ business in hiding.
→ Use this opportunity to open doors.


•⁠ Identity & authenticity blocks

"No one will care what I have to say."
People need to hear your expertise & experience!
→ Write for those 2 steps behind you.

"I want to be real, but I'm not 'professional’ enough"
People crave human connection more than ever.
→ Write like you speak - add personality & colloquialisms.

"I don't want to post content I hate just for the algorithm."
Please don’t! Build for the people behind the screen.
→ Create content YOU would want to consume.


•⁠ Fear of failure

"What if no one engages with my post?"
Low engagement ≠ low impact.
→ Detach from vanity metrics, focus on showing up.

"What if I post consistently and still don't grow?"
Every post is an experiment.
→ Treat content as data - test, learn & refine.

"My content isn’t converting"
Address pain points, handle objections and connect.
→ Pair content with convos: DMs, comments, calls.


•⁠ Imposter syndrome

"I'm not expert enough yet to post"
You don't need to be the best - just start!
→ Document your journey, teach what you're learning.

"My industry is oversaturated. Why would people listen to me?"
Your story is what sets you apart.
→ Lean into what makes you different: your USP is *you.*

"I don't feel legit because I'm still building"
Everyone's figuring it out - that’s what’s relatable!
→ Sharing the messy middle builds connection.


•⁠ Content paralysis

"I'm not a good writer"
You don’t need be perfect.
→ Write how you talk. Practice makes you better.

"I don't know what to post"
You do - you're just overthinking it.
→ Use AI, look at post comments, DMs, client calls, ‘competitor’ content.

"I have too many ideas"
You need a strategy and systems.
→ Pick 3-4 content pillars and rotate them.


•⁠ Lack of clarity

"I don't know who I'm talking to or what I offer"
Knowing your offer and ICP is crucial…
Unless you’re just here for the buzz.
→ Don’t speak to everyone. Attract/ repel with content.

"I haven't nailed my USP or message"
Your message evolves, start posting now.
→ Don’t procrastinate because you’re a perfectionist!

"I don't know how to turn followers into clients."
Followers ≠ leads. You need a path from content > conversion.
→ Add CTAs, start convos, make offers.


Which one is holding you back?!


P.s. I'm opening up 3 spots in January for 1:1 coaching calls!!

If you're ready to finally get out of your own way and build a brand that drives real opportunities - DM me "story" ❤️

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Ellis Bennett ACCA

Karla Mcneilage

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The Battle

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Karla Mcneilage

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ellis Bennett ACCA's LinkedIn Performance

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