Entrepreneurial Focus

Start up, stay up and scale up!

As the nation which gave birth to products and technology as diverse as telephones, televisions, tarmac and the thermos flask, Scotland has an impressive back catalogue of entrepreneurship and innovation across centuries of progression.

Even today, we brim with innovative minds, both homegrown and to those who now call us home, as an outward looking nation. Our thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and ambitious entrepreneurs are constantly pushing the boundaries - supporting each other to grow and develop. Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely and challenging journey but surrounding yourself with likeminded peers and champions will go a long way to playing a part in your success – no matter which stage of the journey you are at.

Our team of business advisers and accountants are at the cutting edge. We immerse ourselves within the ecosystem and collaborate with other key organisations who nurture and support the next generation of Scottish start up and entrepreneurial success.

We’re proud of our own innovative approach to the work we do for clients in this space.

Believe it or not, it isn’t the excitement of the audit or the accounts which we get our kicks from but from working with inspiring people who believe anything is possible.

Shaun Millican

Head of Technology & Life Sciences and Business Advisory Partner

Where are you on the lifecycle timeline?

At each stage of the entrepreneurial timeline there are key elements to digest, plan and action; enabling your business to launch to the next stage. Our team of experts from a range of backgrounds are on-hand to help you chart your course. Take a look at the stage that you're at or take a ride through the full journey. Inside each stage you'll find insightful videos, content and guides - helping to you re-focus and re-ignite your direction.

It’s vital to lay the right foundations for your business from the get go. Understanding and taking action on your financial and legal responsibilities is essential.

Our small business guide covers the key basics in-depth. Making sure these are done right can have a huge impact on the success of your start-up.

Once the basics are taken care of, we help you focus on what the next steps might look like and really turbo charge, your business growth.

There are various ways to raise funds for your growing business: from government grants, to getting involved in fantastic investment competitions like Scottish EDGE, to taking on external funding through angel investors and other groups.

The angel network in the UK does a brilliant job supporting early stage growth companies.

There are also number of tax incentives that can be of value to companies in the early growth stage. We help innovative and creative companies access R&D Relief, Patent Box Relief and Video Games Tax Relief.

Scaling too early can be a costly mistake. Also, don’t be tempted to invest heavily in sales & marketing too quickly; understanding the sales process and buying behaviour is critical in the first instance.

Do not lose sight of your personal objectives - these are the reasons you started on this journey in the first place.

Whilst growth will create opportunities and add value, it will also create pressure that can drive success, but can also lead to unforeseen challenges. Our Business Advisory team is here to help, every step of the way.

A key part of scaling-up is beginning to look outside your domestic market and there’s some important considerations to review, before you start to expand internationally.

As part of the Moore Global network we have colleagues in over 113 countries around the world, with a great deal of expertise in their local markets and the regulations.

As the levels of your overseas presence develops, early planning is vital to reduce the tax burden both now and in the future.

An exit from a business can often create considerable wealth. Before exiting your business consider your goals for the future.

Laying the groundwork for your exit strategy is a key part of your long-term planning.

It’s at this stage where our Corporate Finance, Tax and Wealth teams come together. From helping you to plan the exit and sale of your business, to effective tax planning and investing your money for your future.

Key partners

Across the entrepreneurial ecosystem we have partnered with various groups who we believe are aligned to the values of entrepreneurship. Partnering with them means we can build relationships that benefit our clients in achieving their goals.

Scottish EDGE is a biannual funding competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s innovative, high growth potential entrepreneurial talent.

Find out more

Entrepreneurial Scotland is a network and leadership development organisation providing opportunities for like-minded ambitious people to share experiences and develop their leadership skills.

Find out more

UKIE is the trade body for the UK's games and interactive entertainment industry. A not-for-profit, it represents businesses of all sizes from small start-ups to large multinational developers, publishers and service companies.

Find out more

Scottish Games Week is a series of events focusing on videogames that take place across Scotland. Created by the Scottish Games Network, with support from the Scottish Government’s Tech Ecosystem Review fund, SGW positions the sector as a key part of Scotland’s digital future.

Find out more

Foras are expert facilitators in immersive international experiences for entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders. We have partnered with them for 2024/25 to help support the work they do and the people and businesses they help grow.

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Game Republic Ltd runs the two largest networks in the North of England – Game Republic and GaMaYo. A strategic partner for us that takes us to the core of the Gaming sector in the UK.

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What we bring to the party

Over 16,000 SME businesses

We act for over 19,000 SME businesses as Scotland’s largest independent accountancy and business advisory firm.

R&D tax relief

Our dedicated R&D team help businesses operating across a range of sectors. Our team has a scientific, engineering and tax expertise to help ensure that a holistic approach is taken to every claim.

Our people are based across Scotland and from offices in Newcastle and London

Our talented team of over 900 staff are based across 11 UK offices including a dedicated Technology & Life Sciences, Food & Drink team, Infrastructure & Renewable Energy team and much more.

300 share schemes

We’ve recently set up for our clients helping them to incentivise and retain high calibre staff.

6 strategic partnerships

We have established 6 strategic partnerships including Scottish EDGE, identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent. Keeping us at the heart of the ecosystem.

£350 million in new equity

Has been raised by our high growth clients in the last five years in order to aid their growth and innovation.

We initially chose to work with JC after meeting their tech team at an EIE networking event and a recommendation from a founder of another start-up company. It is clear from the first engagement that they are used to working with high growth tech companies and bring real expertise into the team. JC provide us with payroll services, management accounting services, R&D tax advice and have recently helped us set up our EMI Share Options pool for our fantastic team. Suffice to say we’ve been delighted since we joined the JC stable.

Allan Cannon

CEO and Co-founder, R3 IoT

The support we’ve had from JC has been invaluable; whether doing our payroll, providing specialist regulatory advice or doing core tax work, it’s great to know that the JC team will make things happen and I don’t have to think about it any further so can concentrate on running the business. It was a calculated decision to move to JC which stemmed from our awareness of the firm’s expertise in the Scottish food and drink industry, and their ability to guide us through the growth of the of the company.

Matt Gammell

Co-founder, Pickerings' Gin

The benefit of Johnston Carmichael being part of the Moore Global international network is of real value to Orbital Marine Power; both as the business starts to grow and participate in international market opportunities, and for dealing with an international workforce and ensuring compliance with all UK and overseas tax authorities.

Chris Milne

Chief Financial Officer, Orbital Marine Power Ltd

JC provided the management team at Ontic with clear and concise tax advice on their participation in the management buyout. They demonstrated significant technical knowledge and experience of working with private equity structures which was crucial in highlighting tax reliefs available to management and preventing unexpected tax charges from arising.

Gareth Hall

CEO, ONTIC Engineering

Get in touch

Our team are on hand to help. Wherever you are on your journey, get in touch with a member of our team now to find out how we can help you realise your business ambitions.

Shaun Millican

Business Advisory Partner

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Neil Wilson

Business Advisory Partner

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David Ward

Tax Partner & Head of Specialist Taxes

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Alan Hamilton

Corporate Finance Partner

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Yvonne Irwin

Consulting Director, and Head of Client Service and Professional Services

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Andrew McMillan

Tax Partner & Head of Innovation Taxes

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Mari McCrossan

Innovation Taxes: Science & Technology Lead

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Start up, stay up and scale up!

Where are you on the lifecycle timeline?

1 / Start-Up

Our small business guide covers the key basics in-depth. Making sure these are done right can have a huge impact on the success of your start-up.

2 / Early Growth

The angel network in the UK does a brilliant job supporting early stage growth companies.

3 / Scale Up

Do not lose sight of your personal objectives - these are the reasons you started on this journey in the first place.

4 / International Growth

As part of the Moore Global network we have colleagues in over 113 countries around the world, with a great deal of expertise in their local markets and the regulations.