Small business owners will be watching the Bank of England at midday with growing frustration. Many rely on borrowing just to keep trading, and with margins already squeezed, they need interest rates to come down. Instead, a cut now looks unlikely after inflation ticked up again last month. Hopes that rates might fall fromContinue reading “Small Firms Squeezed as Rate Cut Hopes Go Cold”
Category Archives: Liz Barclay
E-Invoicing Is Coming. Ignore It Now, Scramble Later
to help businesses as rates relief is phased out. E-invoicing: what is it and what will it mean for me? One of the announcements in the budget that you might have missed was the one about e-invoicing. It’s going to happen by 2029. If that doesn’t excite you, let me tell you more. E‑invoicingContinue reading “E-Invoicing Is Coming. Ignore It Now, Scramble Later”
Government Throws Pubs a Bone With Two-Year Rates Shield
Pubs and Music Venues Get Rates Freeze in Cost-of-Living Lifeline Pubs and music venues in England will be given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April and will not see increases for two years, the government has announced. There’s nothing in the bank for any other hospitality businesses, and many pubsContinue reading “Government Throws Pubs a Bone With Two-Year Rates Shield”
Tell Me Your Story — and I’ll Remember Your Business
Once upon a time…. It was a dark and stormy night but I was thrilled to be judging again for the Elite 100 Business Awards so I hunkered down and snuggled up. I spent a large part of the weekend reading about a group of wonderful businesses: how they were set up, what they do,Continue reading “Tell Me Your Story — and I’ll Remember Your Business”
Inflation Up Again: Shoppers Struggle, Small Firms Caught in the Squeeze
Food Prices Bite as Inflation Jumps — Pubs and Households Feel the Pain Inflation is up to 3.4%. The analysis shows the rise in the rate at which prices are rising it down to tobacco, air fares and food prices mainly. Food inflation is at 4.5% and that matters a lot to UK households.Continue reading “Inflation Up Again: Shoppers Struggle, Small Firms Caught in the Squeeze”