Running a plumbing and heating business is hard. Together We Count are fortunate to look after the accounting function for plumbing and heating businesses of all shapes and sizes. Over the years we have identified a few key traits that separate the men from the boys or ladies from the girls. I’ve written this blog to provide you with exactly what these key traits are. We are sharing this information so you can not only learn from what we have seen works wonders but also so you can develop your business. The key traits are mainly tips for plumbing and heating businesses, but the traits can apply to all trades and industries. 1. Have solid terms and conditions in place. It’s one of those things that you normally realise in hindsight. After a client has complained or pointed the finger. It’s important that you have your terms and conditions in place before that happens. Together We Count can give clients’ access to Markel Law Hub where they can download standard templates for terms a...

Systems, processes, and standard operating procedures are vital for all businesses. It is something I tell my clients time and time again. Bulletproof systems are the key to growing your business. After all, as your business grows, there is no way you can be around to supervise everything that goes on. There are simply not enough hours in the day! There are many examples of well-systemised businesses that you encounter on a daily basis but perhaps you’ve never given it a thought. Fast-food chains are a great example. After all, no matter which Mcdonald’s you go to, you know what to expect. The fries always look and taste the same, the burgers are built in the same way and the process of using the drive-through is a well-rehearsed and foolproof system. The same goes for coffee shop chains like Starbucks and Costa. Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited dives into the importance of systems for any business and it is a book I highly recommend for any business owner or someone loo...

Do you get disheartened when a small job comes through? Do you feel disappointed when you have maintenance jobs come in instead of big boiler installation jobs?  Well, you shouldn’t! Have you ever stopped to think about the lifetime value of a client? Mrs Jean Bloggs calls every year for a boiler service. That’s £100 a pop. Mrs Bloggs has been using you for 10 years now. That’s £1000. Her boiler may need a few parts over the decade and may even need replacing. Mrs Bloggs would certainly use you for another job in the future because you have built up the ‘know, like, trust factor’. She may have only spent a few hundred pounds here and there over the years but over the lifetime of your business, she is a highly valued and reliable customer. You know that every year without fail, you will get the call to service her boiler. What if you could have a whole database of Mrs Jean Bloggs’? A regular source of income that’s predictable. That’s the kind of stability that comes with employme...

Who does this affect? Unincorporated businesses (sole-traders, partnerships, and limited liability partnerships) whose accounts year does not end between 31st March and 5th April.  What is the present position? For a particular tax year, you are normally taxed on the net profit per the accounts which end in that tax year. Example of the Present Position Tom has been self-employed for several years and draws up accounts to 30th April each year. His accounts to 30th April 2021 show net profit of £30,000. That is taxable in the 2021/22 tax year. What may change? The Government intend that all self-employed will pay tax and national insurance based upon net profit aligned to the tax year itself and not the accounting year end. Do I have to move my accounting date? No, you can retain your present accounting year end if you want. However, if the change comes into effect, for tax purposes, you will need to report your self-employed income and expenditure incurred based upon the tax year a...

Employer Update End of Year 2020/21 and P60 End of Year Certificate The final submission for the tax year is due this month. Please ensure all payments made to employees have been recorded through the payroll. If this is not the case please let us know straight away as we may need to submit an amended submission for the year. If you have not yet received the P60 End of Year Certificates for your staff, we will be sending these to you shortly. These need to be given to your employees by the deadline of 31st May 2021. Working Patterns and Weekly Hours It is important that we know the working patterns and weekly hours for your employees. We need these details when calculating statutory payments, such as Statutory Sick Pay, in order to calculate the correct weekly amount due. This also aids us when calculating the hourly rate for your employees and ensuring that you meet the National Minimum Wage requirements. Increase in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage The National Min...

Together We Count are delighted to announce that we are now active partners of SimPRO What is simPRO? simPRO (which is short for ‘simple processes’) is a leading job management software solution for service, maintenance and project contractors. Connect the office to the field, deliver exceptional customer service and gain invaluable business insights with automated processes, streamlined workflows and in-depth business reporting. Trusted by 7,000+ business globally, simPRO has offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. A cloud-based solution, simPRO offers a range of features for the management of service jobs, project work and asset maintenance, including: Comprehensive scheduling, estimating and invoicing Real-time office to field connectivity Streamlined inventory management Supplier catalogue and pricing from a single system Integrations with industry-leading accounting packages, Xero, QuickBooks and Sage. 70+ reports for accurate business insig...

Last month Aaron appeared as a guest on Wayne Bettess’ ‘Off The Tools’ podcast to discuss his new book, The Quote Handbook- Essential Steps to Building the Perfect Boiler Quote . We recommend you subscribe to Wayne’s podcast, especially if you are a tradesperson, or business owner. The topics covered in his regular podcasts are always on point and relevant to current economic circumstances and are full of insight and fresh ideas from real business owners, making the content so authentic. You’ll find ‘Off The Tools’ on Spotify , Apple Podcasts, or whatever podcast app you like to use and for the link to the episode featuring Aaron click here .  Here’s some of what you can look forward to in the podcast………. Ever wondered what an accountant could possibly have to say about quoting for a boiler installation? Well Wayne gets straight to the point and asks exactly that. Aaron’s years of experience as a finance director for a large plumbing and heating firm has given him an alternative ...