Employment Rights Act: the 2027 changes SMEs need to prepare for
Small employers have already had the National Living Wage rise, higher employer National Insurance and Making Tax Digital this year. The biggest parts of the Employment Rights Act come next. Two changes take effect on 1st January 2027. Staff will be able to claim unfair dismissal after six months instead ...
Small business confidence on the up
Small business owners are becoming increasingly optimistic about the next few months. According to Lloyd’s latest business barometer, confidence among smaller firms with turnover below £1m rose by 11 points to 48% in July. And even more positively, this is reflective of a wider trend. Overall, business confidence rose by ...
Never had a proper holiday since you started? It probably has more to do with cashflow than commitment
Be honest. The last time you went away, did you take your laptop? And did you open it? If you did, you're far from alone. More than a third of business owners have never managed a proper two-week break, according to research by insurer InsureandGo. When asked why, most pointed ...
6 Practical Tips for Scaling Your Small Business
Every business owner wants to grow, but scaling is about more than increasing sales. It's about building a business that can handle more customers, more work and more revenue without becoming harder to manage. If you're thinking about taking the next step, these six practical tips can help you scale ...
10 reasons why business loans might get rejected and 10 ways to improve your chances
Whether you're looking to purchase new equipment, expand your business, hire additional staff, or simply improve your cash flow, a business loan can provide the financial support you need. But submitting an application doesn't guarantee you'll be approved. Lenders carefully assess every application to make sure you can comfortably repay ...
Does the hosepipe ban apply to businesses?
Eight water companies have introduced hosepipe bans in recent weeks, with Thames Water's restrictions coming into force on 23 July across London, the Thames Valley and the Home Counties - making it the biggest ban this summer. South East Water has since extended restrictions to Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, ...
Public wants more support for London’s small businesses
People in London want the government to offer more support to the city’s small businesses, a new poll has found. According to Novuna Business Finance, 96% of Londoners would like small businesses in the capital to get more help, with action taken to ease various financial pressures. Among the priorities ...
Is it time to raise your prices?
With ongoing economic uncertainty, fluctuating interest rates and rising business costs, maintaining a profitable business isn't always easy. Every increase in your overheads can put pressure on your margins, making it harder to invest, grow and even maintain the same level of service. At the same time, raising your prices ...
How to write a business plan
Got a great business idea and desperately want to start your own business, but are unsure where to begin? Start with a business plan. A business plan is one of the most valuable tools for turning an idea into a real, sustainable business. It helps you clarify what you offer, ...
Pubs and music venues handed 20% business rates cut - worth £1,100 a year for the typical pub
Pubs, social clubs and live music venues will get a 20% cut to their business rates bills, the new prime minister announced this morning, in a move the government says will save the typical pub around £1,100 a year. Nearly 32,000 venues across England will benefit from the cut, which ...
What you can (and can’t) claim on a business loan
If you’re running a small business, borrowing money is often part of keeping things moving. Around half of UK SMEs use some form of external finance, according to the British Business Bank. It’s commonly used to manage cash flow, cover gaps, or invest in growth. But one question comes up ...
The smartest way to pay yourself as a business owner
Starting a business comes with plenty of surprises. One of them is realising you can't simply transfer money from your business account into your personal account whenever you need it. How you pay yourself depends on how your business is set up, and getting it right can make a big ...
Two thirds of small firms are putting their prices up. Most of them are dreading it
Ask a small business owner what they've rewritten more times than anything else this year and there's a fair chance it's the price rise email. Drafted, softened, put off until next month. The costs behind it are not imaginary. A survey of 500 small business owners found their outgoings had ...
Will new PM change the game for small businesses?
The UK has a new PM and the small business community is eagerly waiting to see what Andy Burnham’s arrival at Downing Street means for them. This comes at a tough time for many small business owners. Figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) show that just one in ...
The pension shake-up nobody told small businesses about
The government has just published the timetable for what it's calling the biggest pension reforms in a generation. League tables for pension schemes. Public ratings from red to green. A promised £29,000 boost to the average saver's pot. You'd be forgiven for scrolling past. Pensions announcements are written for pension ...