Business challenges and how you are doing (no politics)
Discussion
As a continuation of the other thread that did get political the thread was really interesting and I think it would be a great to continue the thread for business owners to update how you are getting on in these turbulent times.
Please no politics!
So stupid plastic sports cars we're not doing too bad we're hoping for a bit of an uplift after tomorrow's absolutely none political event in London with the red suitcase. Whatever is decided it's an even that I've over and done with should release some pent up demand.
105.4 has been quiet for a while he was always a great barometer for what's happening on the coal face!
Please no politics!
So stupid plastic sports cars we're not doing too bad we're hoping for a bit of an uplift after tomorrow's absolutely none political event in London with the red suitcase. Whatever is decided it's an even that I've over and done with should release some pent up demand.
105.4 has been quiet for a while he was always a great barometer for what's happening on the coal face!
Edited by fridaypassion on Tuesday 29th October 21:26
acer12 said:
Shame all the history was lost. Always found it interesting to read back over the last few years of posts.
The other thread is in NP&E which is an area of the forum I prefer to avoid! Hopefully we can keep the discussion on track it's really interesting to see the ebbs and flows of the different sectors. Domestic Cleaning here.
Thankfully, we are doing ok. We've been doubling down on growth, marketing etc.
We've increased our sales 70% in the last 30 days, compared to the previous 30 days. We're continuing to push hard to try and increase our profit margin on what we do, as turnover isn't everything - the profit needs to be there too.
In the new year, we are projecting an increase to our cleaning rates to £25/hr plus VAT. We will be significantly more expensive than 95% of our competitors, but we are confident we can make it work.
The event tomorrow that cannot be named is butchering small and medium sized businesses. Three main concerns:
1) NMW increase - 6.7%. We simply have to pass this (plus a bit more) on to our clients
2) NI increase - again, this just gets passed on
3) SSP from Day 1 - I can predict this having an impact on sickness rates, reducing our consistency of providing a service
All in all, I can only control what I can control. Those elements I feel confident about. The government seem hellbent on trying to undo all the hard work of small business owners and that is the bit I am worried about - the bit I cannot control
Thankfully, we are doing ok. We've been doubling down on growth, marketing etc.
We've increased our sales 70% in the last 30 days, compared to the previous 30 days. We're continuing to push hard to try and increase our profit margin on what we do, as turnover isn't everything - the profit needs to be there too.
In the new year, we are projecting an increase to our cleaning rates to £25/hr plus VAT. We will be significantly more expensive than 95% of our competitors, but we are confident we can make it work.
The event tomorrow that cannot be named is butchering small and medium sized businesses. Three main concerns:
1) NMW increase - 6.7%. We simply have to pass this (plus a bit more) on to our clients
2) NI increase - again, this just gets passed on
3) SSP from Day 1 - I can predict this having an impact on sickness rates, reducing our consistency of providing a service
All in all, I can only control what I can control. Those elements I feel confident about. The government seem hellbent on trying to undo all the hard work of small business owners and that is the bit I am worried about - the bit I cannot control
Agree with much of the above.
Increases in NI will result in lower pay increases for our employees, and a hit on profitability in the short term.
Changes to SSP mean that no-one is going to get employed.
I can see businesses increasing the use of sub contractors if possible - that's what we are thinking of doing if we can.
However, these are small problems compared to the amount of money in the economy - there doesn't seem to be any.
For me, if there was to be a business friendly change, I would like to see the small claims court system get faster and grow some teeth. As a business it is nigh on impossible to enforce debt against an individual, and that seems immoral and unbusinesslike to me.
We rent cars BTW, mainly on a long term basis to people generally towards the lower end of the market. Demand is strong, but the challenges are significant.
Increases in NI will result in lower pay increases for our employees, and a hit on profitability in the short term.
Changes to SSP mean that no-one is going to get employed.
I can see businesses increasing the use of sub contractors if possible - that's what we are thinking of doing if we can.
However, these are small problems compared to the amount of money in the economy - there doesn't seem to be any.
For me, if there was to be a business friendly change, I would like to see the small claims court system get faster and grow some teeth. As a business it is nigh on impossible to enforce debt against an individual, and that seems immoral and unbusinesslike to me.
We rent cars BTW, mainly on a long term basis to people generally towards the lower end of the market. Demand is strong, but the challenges are significant.
Reposting my latest comment from the other thread on 21st October:
Foreign Exchange
Ongoing business steady (pensions, bank account top ups etc).
"Smaller" (< £500K) property transactions dropped off but good potential pipeline of business thanks to continued overseas interest in the >£2m UK property market.
Now teaching myself about social media posts!
Foreign Exchange
Ongoing business steady (pensions, bank account top ups etc).
"Smaller" (< £500K) property transactions dropped off but good potential pipeline of business thanks to continued overseas interest in the >£2m UK property market.
Now teaching myself about social media posts!
Engineering here, still very quiet in new machinery purchases, no enthusiasm from our clients to spend money at the moment but hopefully the budget might not be as bad as expected and maybe more automation needed to save employing as many people. We are down 80% on average years turnover!
Wing Commander said:
Domestic Cleaning here.
Thankfully, we are doing ok. We've been doubling down on growth, marketing etc.
We've increased our sales 70% in the last 30 days, compared to the previous 30 days. We're continuing to push hard to try and increase our profit margin on what we do, as turnover isn't everything - the profit needs to be there too.
In the new year, we are projecting an increase to our cleaning rates to £25/hr plus VAT. We will be significantly more expensive than 95% of our competitors, but we are confident we can make it work.
The event tomorrow that cannot be named is butchering small and medium sized businesses. Three main concerns:
1) NMW increase - 6.7%. We simply have to pass this (plus a bit more) on to our clients
2) NI increase - again, this just gets passed on
3) SSP from Day 1 - I can predict this having an impact on sickness rates, reducing our consistency of providing a service
All in all, I can only control what I can control. Those elements I feel confident about. The government seem hellbent on trying to undo all the hard work of small business owners and that is the bit I am worried about - the bit I cannot control
Can you give example of when business do swallow increases in costs? Same for things like ULEZ, congestion charges, parking charges etc. People complain in impacts business but in my experience the costs just get passed on to the customer. Thankfully, we are doing ok. We've been doubling down on growth, marketing etc.
We've increased our sales 70% in the last 30 days, compared to the previous 30 days. We're continuing to push hard to try and increase our profit margin on what we do, as turnover isn't everything - the profit needs to be there too.
In the new year, we are projecting an increase to our cleaning rates to £25/hr plus VAT. We will be significantly more expensive than 95% of our competitors, but we are confident we can make it work.
The event tomorrow that cannot be named is butchering small and medium sized businesses. Three main concerns:
1) NMW increase - 6.7%. We simply have to pass this (plus a bit more) on to our clients
2) NI increase - again, this just gets passed on
3) SSP from Day 1 - I can predict this having an impact on sickness rates, reducing our consistency of providing a service
All in all, I can only control what I can control. Those elements I feel confident about. The government seem hellbent on trying to undo all the hard work of small business owners and that is the bit I am worried about - the bit I cannot control
Type R Tom said:
Can you give example of when business do swallow increases in costs? Same for things like ULEZ, congestion charges, parking charges etc. People complain in impacts business but in my experience the costs just get passed on to the customer.
I have priced many projects, I cannot go them now and re-negotiate the terms! In an industry where we work on single figure %of profit it results in me/owners swallowing the cost. I work in building, the £200k + projects usually take a year from initial contact to starting on site, this usually means 6 months between my price going in and me starting. 7 - 9months from pricing I have to start paying for materials and labour. I have to swallow the difference in what I quoted and what I may end up paying!
joshcowin said:
Type R Tom said:
Can you give example of when business do swallow increases in costs? Same for things like ULEZ, congestion charges, parking charges etc. People complain in impacts business but in my experience the costs just get passed on to the customer.
I have priced many projects, I cannot go them now and re-negotiate the terms! In an industry where we work on single figure %of profit it results in me/owners swallowing the cost. I work in building, the £200k + projects usually take a year from initial contact to starting on site, this usually means 6 months between my price going in and me starting. 7 - 9months from pricing I have to start paying for materials and labour. I have to swallow the difference in what I quoted and what I may end up paying!
Type R Tom said:
I can see how that would be an issue but if costs went down, would you give any money back? The contracts I deal with are over 5-10 years but have an agreed indices up lift every year on the rates so not so much of an issue.
No but you asked when businesses have to swallow the increase in costs, I gave a real world example. Also costs generally do not go down. Post covid has been the one exceptional time that costs have decreased, other than that every year materials and labour increase.
We're accountants and it's been busy with "one off" requests, mostly around CGT and IHT due to red box day.
We've also had our best year in terms of business consulting, especially around partnering with clients, which is like providing a very part time FD to their business.
Seeing clients improving their position does bring an awful lot of job satisfaction.
We've also had our best year in terms of business consulting, especially around partnering with clients, which is like providing a very part time FD to their business.
Seeing clients improving their position does bring an awful lot of job satisfaction.
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