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!

 

[otherclive]

Our Council Tax has gone up to £3100 and thankfully Wiltshire Council has managed to keep just below 5%. But the generous triple lock payments over two years combined with pension increases have pushed me up a tax band.

 

[RogerL]

Our Council Tax has gone up to £3100 and thankfully Wiltshire Council has managed to keep just below 5%. But the generous triple lock payments over two years combined with pension increases have pushed me up a tax band.

If your retirement income is high enough, over £50,000, to be in the higher tax band you may not get much sympathy here.

 

[otherclive]

If your retirement income is high enough, over £50,000, to be in the higher tax band you may not get much sympathy here.

Not looking for sympathy just a plain statement of fact as to how taxes go up in a backhanded way.

 

[Buckman]

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!

Don't forget that it is all being done for the working man to put more money into the pockets of that person! Problem is that those pockets now have a big hole.

 

[RogerL]

Not looking for sympathy just a plain statement of fact as to how taxes go up in a backhanded way.

It's the freezing of HMRC personal allowance that's hurting everyone.

 

[otherclive]

It's the freezing of HMRC personal allowance that's hurting everyone.

Not everyone, as there are those that are working few hours or not working etc that do not reach the threshold for basic tax.

 

[Len W]

Our business shop rates have gone from £700 to 1700 per month. Remaining on the high street is becoming nigh on impossible as many customers just can't afford further increases - we've decided not to pass it on. We only employ three people, so not a great loss but it all adds up. We are also having conversations as to what the future looks like and all I can say is it looks bleak. I dislike conversation about recession but it will be eventually be what it looks like, whether we give it a name or not.

 

[Dustydog]

Our Council Tax has gone up to £3100 and thankfully Wiltshire Council has managed to keep just below 5%. But the generous triple lock payments over two years combined with pension increases have pushed me up a tax band.

Steady on Clive , the Occupant of No 11 may be reading this. Your OAP may be means tested soon😉
59% of Wiltshire Council Rates goes on Adult and children’s care. My sister in the West Midlands is far worse off with her rates😢