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Built for SMEs.
Here for every big (and small) question.

Simple answers. Confident business.

AskSME is a friendly business assistant that handles tax, HR, contracts, compliance, and more. Built for SMEs who want plain English, trusted sources, and a heads-up before deadlines hit.

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Meet Watt-son

Watt-son, the AskSME mascot
Do I need a privacy policy?
Yes, if you collect personal data. I can explain exactly what it should include.
Should I be VAT registered?
I can help you understand the rules, thresholds, and whether it makes sense for you.
Can I make an employee work on a bank holiday?
It depends on their contract. I can explain your options and what the law says.
What happens if a customer doesn't pay?
There are clear steps you can take. I can walk you through them in order.

The problem

Running a business in the UK means navigating tax rules, employment law, contracts, and compliance, none of which you were ever formally taught.

You're paying for this every day: in fines you didn't know were coming, reliefs you never claimed, and hours lost piecing answers together from gov.uk pages that assume you already know the question. There's no handbook. Until now.

What it does

Two things no other tool does in combination.

Ask anything.

Plain-language answers with cited sources from HMRC, legislation.gov.uk, and other trusted bodies, tailored to whether you're a sole trader or limited company.

Watt-son searching for answers

Know what you don't know.

A personalised feed surfaces deadlines, reliefs, and rule changes filtered to your business profile, not the questions you thought to ask.

Watt-son staying ahead of change

Real escalation.

When stakes are high, AskSME routes you to a qualified human advisor, not another chatbot loop. We know when to hand over.

Watt-son escalating to a professional

Why businesses trust AskSME

Trusted Sources

HMRC, legislation.gov.uk, Companies House

Plain English Answers

No jargon. No small print.

Signpost to Professionals

We know our limits and tell you when to call one.

Here for You

Built by people who care about small business.

What we cover

12 areas. Every angle covered.

Ask anything across these topics and get a sourced, plain-English answer tailored to your business.

1

Starting & Running a Business

Structures, registrations, and clear guidance at every step.

2

Employment & HR

Contracts, hiring, discipline, redundancy. Know your obligations.

3

Tax & Finance

VAT, expenses, PAYE, dividends, deadlines. Stay compliant.

4

Contracts & Legal

NDAs, client contracts, terms and conditions, explained simply.

5

Data Protection & Privacy

GDPR made simple. Policies, consent, breaches, your responsibilities.

6

Health & Safety

Risk assessments, workplace safety, training and compliance essentials.

7

Insurance

What cover you need, what's optional, how to stay protected.

8

Disputes & Complaints

Customer disputes, employment issues, and how to handle them.

9

Growth & Funding

Grants, loans, investors, and scaling with confidence.

10

Invoicing & Cash Flow

Late payments, credit control, cash flow challenges.

11

Digital & Cyber Security

Protect your data, your customers, and your business.

12

Close Down or Change

Closing, selling, passing on, or changing structure. Know your options.

Who it's for

Built for small businesses. Not for enterprise.

Sole traders
Freelancers & consultants
Limited company directors
Trade & construction businesses
Retail & hospitality owners
Health & wellbeing practitioners

What AskSME is not

Not a replacement for your accountant on complex matters, and we'll always tell you when to call one. AskSME handles the everyday questions so the expensive conversations are the ones that count.

What's coming

Building in the open.

We're starting small and building fast. Join the waitlist and you'll be the first to know as each milestone lands.

Waitlist open

You're looking at it. Signups open now.

Sheffield pilot

Launching first in Sheffield, working with local small businesses.

UK-wide rollout

Expanding to all UK small businesses after the pilot.

Proactive alerts & personalised feed

Deadlines, rule changes, and reliefs surfaced to your business profile automatically.

Join the waitlist

Be first in line.

Sign up now and I'll be in touch as soon as I'm ready to help. No spam, no list-selling.

Step 1 of 2 (takes 10 seconds)

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Help us build this for you. 5 quick questions, about 60 seconds.

You're on the list.

I'll be in touch as soon as I'm ready to help. Keep an eye on your inbox.

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Common questions

FAQ

AskSME is being built by a small team who care about making business compliance accessible to everyone who runs a small business. We're based in Sheffield and building in the open. Your early feedback directly shapes what we build.

We're running a pilot in Sheffield first, then rolling out UK-wide. Join the waitlist and you'll be first in line. We'll give you a heads-up well before we go live.

AskSME draws on official UK sources: HMRC guidance, legislation.gov.uk, Companies House, and other trusted government and professional bodies. Every answer is cited so you can verify it yourself. We don't make things up.

Your waitlist data is only used to contact you about AskSME and keep you informed about the product. We don't sell it, share it, or use it for anything else. Full details in our privacy policy. You can unsubscribe with one click at any time.

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