Running a beauty, hair or aesthetics business means juggling a lot — clients, staff, treatments, stock, marketing and growth plans.
Tax planning often slips to the bottom of the priority list… until a bill lands and causes stress.
But there is one key meeting that can dramatically change how confident and in control you feel financially — and most beauty business owners don’t even realise it exists.
That meeting is your Month-9 Tax Planning Meeting.
What Is Month-9?
Month-9 is the ninth month of your company’s financial year. By this stage:
- Around 75% of the year has already passed
- Your income and costs show clear trends
- Your profit position is no longer guesswork
- There is still time to make meaningful changes before year-end
It’s the ideal moment to step back and ask:
“Where is my business heading — and what can I still influence?”
Why Month-9 Matters for Beauty, Hair & Aesthetics Businesses
The beauty industry grows quickly, and with growth comes complexity.
Month-9 is critical because it allows us to clearly see:
- which treatments are genuinely profitable
- whether your VAT position is correct
- what your Corporation Tax bill is likely to be
- whether your salary and dividends are structured efficiently
- if cashflow pressures are likely later in the year
Once year-end arrives, most of these decisions are locked in.
Month-9 is when you still have control.
What Happens in a Month-9 Tax Planning Meeting?
This is not a box-ticking exercise.
It’s a strategic conversation about your business and your future.
At Hammond & Co, a Month-9 meeting typically includes:
1️⃣ Reviewing your year-to-date performance
We look at how your business has actually performed so far — not just what the bank balance suggests.
2️⃣ Understanding your projected tax position
You’ll receive a clear estimate of:
- Corporation Tax
- VAT liabilities
- how much cash should be set aside
No surprises. No last-minute panic.
3️⃣ Salary and dividend planning
We review whether you’re paying yourself in the most tax-efficient way and whether changes before year-end could reduce your tax bill.
4️⃣ Identifying legal tax-saving opportunities
This may include:
- timing equipment or machine purchases
- training and professional development
- pension contributions
- stock-buying strategies
- reviewing director loan accounts
These opportunities only exist before the year ends.
5️⃣ VAT review for treatments and retail
VAT in beauty and aesthetics can be complex.
Month-9 is the ideal time to spot issues and correct them before they become HMRC problems.
6️⃣ Cashflow planning
We look ahead to quieter periods, busy seasons, payroll changes and supplier costs — so you can plan with confidence.
What Happens If You Skip Month-9?
Without a Month-9 review, many beauty businesses face:
- unexpected tax bills
- cashflow pressure near year-end
- missed tax-saving opportunities
- incorrect VAT treatment
- unnecessary stress and uncertainty
Most of these problems aren’t caused by poor performance — they’re caused by poor timing.
How Hammond & Co Supports You at Month-9
At Hammond & Co, we believe tax planning should be proactive, not reactive.
That’s why Month-9 Tax Planning Meetings are a key part of how we support growing beauty, hair and aesthetics businesses.
We help you to:
- clearly understand your numbers
- plan for tax before it’s too late
- avoid nasty surprises
- make confident business decisions
- feel genuinely in control of your finances
Final Thought
Year-end accounts tell you what has already happened.
Month-9 planning gives you the power to shape what happens next.
If you run a beauty, hair or aesthetics business and have never had a Month-9 Tax Planning Meeting, you may be missing the most valuable financial conversation of the year.
If you’d like to book your Month-9 review or simply find out more, the team at Hammond & Co would be happy to help.