Why small businesses struggle

[woodsieboy]

I have just opened the post, and we have the notification of our business rates for 2025/26

The weekly payment has gone from £16 to £46

In the scale of things it is not a huge cash amount, but it has to be found

If we as a small business are facing this increase, imagine what pubs etc must be facing

 

[Mr Plodd]

That's £120 (4 weeks worth) that has to be found from somewhere, be that less profit, or higher costs to your customers. Of course these higher costs will add a little bit to HMRC's VAT take as well.

My council tax has gone from £256 per month to £270. That's for a 3 bed semi on an estate. So that's £140 per year less in my pocket, then there the £200 winter fuel payment we no longer get, plus the increase in energy costs, higher food bills and so on. Oh happy days!