Category
10 articles
The domestic reverse charge changes what a construction invoice looks like and when cash arrives. This plain-English guide covers when the rule applies, how to invoice cleanly, and the record-keeping habits that keep VAT treatment from becoming a payment dispute.
A last-minute email changing a client's or supplier's bank details is now a standard fraud tactic, and smaller trade firms are prime targets. This is a practical routine for confirming payee changes, from call-back checks and dual sign-off to invoice wording and a clear incident checklist.
A discount request is rarely only about money. It tests how clearly a trade firm has framed value, scope and risk. This article sets out a practical way to answer the question in 2026, hold the rate where it matters and keep the relationship intact.
A deposit is not a sign of distrust; it is a working-capital arrangement that lets a small trade firm reserve the diary and buy the materials before the first day on site. This guide sets out how to explain mobilisation payments clearly, what they should cover, and how to keep the client comfortable from enquiry through to commencement.
Retention is deducted quietly and released slowly. For smaller UK trade firms, the difference between a five per cent write-off and a clean recovery is usually a diary entry, a document pack and a polite reminder sent on time.
Most site arguments begin in the gap between what one party remembers agreeing and what the other remembers being told. A short written update, sent every Friday, closes that gap for a fraction of the cost of a dispute. Here is a five-line template that UK trade firms can sustain week after week.
Small jobs can look like easy turnover until travel, setup and admin are counted. This guide sets out how a UK trade firm can calculate a minimum viable job value, explain it plainly and stop low-value work from eroding margin.
An end-of-year planning guide for smaller UK trade and consultancy firms. It sets out a one-page review of client mix, pricing drift, subcontractor reliability, van and equipment costs and cash-cycle lessons, then converts the findings into three concrete changes for 2027.
A request to move a socket or add a small run of work can seem harmless on a busy UK site, but repeated informal instructions often become unpaid labour and later disputes. This article sets out a proportionate way to confirm changes, record them and agree prices without souring the client relationship.
Slow payment remains one of the most serious risks facing UK subcontractors. This practical playbook sets out what to do this week, what to put in writing, and when to bring in external help without damaging key client relationships.