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Small biz MoneySaving

Archives for July 2019

Freelance work and not being paid
Hi, I'm relatively new to the freelance world and have hit a problem.......not being paid!! I have completed some work for a company (Ltd company) for a total of £120. I submitted my invoice the day later and asked for confirmation that they received it and got no reply. I waited a few days and sent another email and again…
Website/Online shop
Hi I've been running a small business selling scented wax melts via Instagram for around 6m and want to create a website for customers to buy the products online (I'm currently just taking orders via direct message and paypal). I don't want to spend a lot and it doesn't need to be anything too sophisticated, just a basic…
Insurance for small online pet product business?
Hi all, In the very early stages of a new start up. Will be buying pet products from manufacturers and wholesalers and selling them online on eBay to start with. These products to start with will be mainly things like dog harnesses and leads and beds, maybe some toys. Generally a wide range of accessories for mostly dogs…
Marketing a sports centre
Some friends have opened an ice sports centre, with a small rink and off ice training for hockey and figure skating. They provide group and one on one courses, and hire out the facility too. Obviously they wish to grow the business. Do people here have good advice on marketing their centre? Obviously we are talking about a…
New Business Ideas for £400K Budget
Hello MSE friends, So I find myself in a rather peculiar position where I have the opportunity to start a business with a capital of ~£400K. I am tech-savvy in my early 30s, midlands based, love gaming, good food and have a background in healthcare. I have been trying to explore various business ideas and I would welcome…
County court claim and slander
Got myself into a bit of diffculty with my business financially. I owe a subby some money for work hes done i have paid nearly a 1/4 of it but now hes saying he will take me to small claims court because he wants it now. I am trying my hardest to raise the money by selling some of my machinery and doing work. But now its…
Goodwill gesture/compensation for a client
Hi, we run our own LTD company and realised that we made a mistake on a client's order. The client is a regular client so it makes sense to send them a gift card of some sort. Just wondering if the cost of the gift card is an allowable expense for corporation tax or is it treated as entertainment? Many thanks
Burger van/ food vans for events
Hi, I am organising a charity event, and was wondering how to get a burger/food van to the event. Is this possible please? If so, how? Thanks
Self Employed and sole trader etc...
Hi all, It's a relatively simple question, and I feel like a fool asking it here; however, the advice I am getting on the internet is slightly conflicting. My wife runs a small property management business that brings in roughly GBP 7,000 per year - There is an additional GBP 4,000 that she gets in fees from managing…
Leasing a shop - contract
Hi all, we are hoping to set up our first business and hoping to lease a small premises . The cost will be £1400 PM and no council tax due to size and first time business. Lease is around 15 years and comes with a built kitchen and toilet which is ideal for us as we are hoping to convert it in to a cafe. What else should I…
Shredding raffle ticket stubs after use
My husband helped organise our annual charity village fete on Saturday, a feature of which was the village draw to help rise money for village good causes. Somebody just remind him that now the draw has taken place he needs to destroy all the stubs because they contain personal information such as a phone number or email…
Tax return forms
We have run as a side (partnership) business for 24 years and always completed manual tax returns. For the last few years we have had problems with forms missing / not being sent by tax office, this year we have had nothing at all, no partnership form or individual tax forms. Is anyone else having this problem ? I have…
Will switch business account affect my future mortgage?
Hello, please give me advice. I’m not British, so sorry if I cannot explain well. My background and situation. I live with the VISA, Indefinite leave to remain in the UK. I bought a flat 4 years ago, and I remortgaged 2 years ago. I set up my small business (limited) a year ago. My personal account, mortgage, business…
Business bank account opinions
Hello I'm debating which bank to open a new business account with. I had issues with Barclays before so I'm dubious about using them again but have seen that Natwest seem ok. Does anyone have personal opinions based on their experiences as small business owners? Many thanks
Company name change
Can you add the symbol '+' anywhere within the name of a company?
eBay and VAT on ending fees
Hello:) , I wonder if someone could clarify if I am being correctly billed by eBay and put my mind at ease. I have a small business account on ebay and a private ebay account. Invoices on my private account show the final valuation fees for each item line by line at a rate of 10% of the selling price (VAT is built in to…
Company car leasing
We currently run a small Ltd company, we turnover 50-60k. At the moment we use our personal car which is on finance and claim back the 45p per mile, we pay for fuel on the business card and claim the difference between the two figures. We do 10-12000 business miles. Is leasing a car worth it? We are thinking longer term…
Won at small claims defendant issues additional claim
Hi, Can I get advice. I’ve recently been to small claims court for non payment of invoice and had the judgment in my favour. Money for invoice to be paid. The Defence was substandard workmanship that wasn’t upheld. No counterclaim was made at the time despite the defence stating there would be as apparently…
Youth Football Club - Tax?
Hi, I help run a large Youth Football club. We do not make any real profits as any suplus at the end of the year gets ploughed straight back into the club. Do we need to register for VAT or pay tax on anything. Is there a way we can claim back VAT on our purchases/expenses. Thanks
Non profit
Hi I recently registered with Companies House with the guidance of a CIC Director telling me what options to pick as we went through the registration. At the moment it is just me as the PSC and Director but there is a small handful of us looking into becoming a CIC we currently a Limited Company by guarantee with share no…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Small biz MoneySaving

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