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Business bounce back loan - boy on trampoline

Business Bounce Back Loans

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Business Bounce Back Loans – what are they and should you apply for one?

Since the scheme launched in May 2020 (just 3 months ago), more than 860,000 bounce back loans have been issued. This means that thousands of small businesses who are struggling due to the coronavirus have applied for and received financial help; help of which will hopefully get them through this turbulent time. So what are bounce back loans? Here is what you need to know about them including a list of questions to help you decide whether you should apply for one.

Business Bounce Back Loans

While there has been a lot of financial support being dished out due to the impact of the Coronavirus, there are small businesses that can’t access this funding quickly enough; self-employed people who don’t qualify for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and limited company directors who have fallen through the cracks.

For these businesses and individuals, the ones who aren’t covered by other schemes, bounce back loans are a saving grace.

So what are bounce banks loans?

Bounce back loans are 100% government-backed loans which include the following:

  • Loan amount from £2,000-£50,000 or 25% of your annual turnover (whichever is lower)
  • No interest charged in the first 12 months (the Government covers the first year)
  • No repayments needed in the first 12 months
  • After 12 months, all banks charge a fixed 2.5% interest rate/year
  • 6-year loan with no early repayment charges
  • Straightforward application and quick access to funds

Obviously, your business will always remain responsible for the repayment of the whole debt amount, but bounce back loans will provide you with significant support over the next 12 months.

Should I apply?

To help you decide whether you should apply for a bounce back loan, here are some questions for you to consider. If your answer is yes to a number of these questions then you are eligible to receive support.

  • Am I a UK-based business that has been impacted by Covid-19?
  • Was my business established before 1 March 2020?
  • Is this the only support that I am applying for (with the exception of personal support)?
  • Do I need financial help in addition to the self-employment income support grant and universal credit?
  • Do I need to repay existing finance, i.e. lenders?
  • Do I need help to pay investments or working capital for the business – including bills, running costs and wages?
  • Do I need capital immediately (within 24 hours)?

Things to note

If you would like to apply for a bounce back loan, all you have to do is contact a bank directly and fill in a short online application. You will need details of your annual turnover, your account number, the amount you wish to borrow, a copy of your tax return, and proof that your business has been negatively impacted by Covid-19.

In terms of repayments, there are no interest or repayments in the first year but after those 12 months, you will need to make 60 repayments of the amount borrowed. Unlike a personal loan, however, you won’t have fixed payments. Each month, you’ll repay 1/60th of the capital plus the interest that has accumulated that month. This means that the amount you owe will decrease over time and in turn, your repayment amount will decrease too.

If you would like to know more about the Business Bounce Back Loans book in a no-obligation free meeting TODAY!

How to deal with nit-picking clients

How to deal with nit-picking clients who are asking for a discount

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Are you finding that some of your clients, some who have previously been good clients, have suddenly become quite fussy? Maybe they have been getting obsessed with the tiniest of mistakes when previously they would have just breezed over it, or maybe they are finding new issues that have never come up before. Whatever problems that are arising, here is how to deal with nit-picking clients, especially if they are asking for a discount.
Why postet note

The global pandemic has caused a considerable amount of stress. Some obvious, such as financial and health problems, and some not so obvious, emotions that can bubble and brew under the surface affecting our daily lives without us even realising.

As you can imagine, the net result of 3-4 months of anxiety and stress is starting to take its toll and people are trying to take control of what they can to ease some of that pressure.

Finances is a big one. Many people are worrying whether their businesses will bounce back, whether they’ll have a job to go back to, and their financial future, and to try and take control of this, many are now looking for that discount where they can. They are looking to shed overheads and for any opportunity to lighten the pressure of such a tight cashflow.

If you have clients who are asking for discounts, who are highlighting mistakes that you’ve made or who are trying to get more out of you, here are 3 things that you should do:

  1. Apologise – if you’ve made a mistake, acknowledge it. Put your hand up and own it and reassure them that you are investigating how it happened as well as putting in the necessary measures to prevent it from happening again.
  2. Offer additional value – don’t offer a physical discount, unless you’ve made a mistake that is of great magnitude. Always look to offer extra value instead. Is there any other way that you can help your client? Is there an add-on or service that doesn’t require too much from you that you can offer to the client for the same price?
  3. Listen and empathise – with how stressful it’s been, everyone is having a difficult time in their own way and they just want someone who can empathise and acknowledge this. If you can show them that you care and maybe even help them to see that this small mistake or issue they see is causing no material loss to them overall, that might be all they need.

Discount

It’s a difficult situation to be in, to have clients asking for discounts, but be strong. You are providing a service and you deserve to be paid for that service. It might only take an apology or for you to show your client that you want to help them in other ways.

If you start offering discounts, you will start training your clients to ask for discounts every time they see a mistake or if they’re not completely satisfied. Appeasing them now will only cause further issues for you down the line, so offer additional value and listen to their worries. They’ll soon start to value what you’re doing for them and you’ll be remembered for it when you need it most.

Businesses Need To Reinstate VAT Direct Debits

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The deferral of VAT payments due to coronavirus comes to an end on 30 June and businesses need to take action to reinstate their direct debit mandates.

The Institute of Chartered accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Tax Faculty has reminded its members.

The VAT payment deferral means that all UK VAT-registered businesses have the option to defer VAT payments due between 20 March and 30 June 2020 until 31 March 2021.

However, ICAEW is reminding businesses that they need to take steps to reinstate their direct debit mandates so that they are in place in time for payments due in July 2020 onwards. Any outstanding returns should be filed, and three working days should be allowed to elapse before reinstating the direct debit mandate.

HMRC will issue guidance on the end of the VAT deferral period very soon but, to be effective, direct debit mandates usually need to be set up three working days before a VAT return is filed.

We cannot set up direct debit mandates on behalf of our clients; the business needs to set up the mandate through their business tax account.

HMRC has confirmed that it will not collect the outstanding balance of deferred VAT when the direct debit mandate is reinstated. HMRC has made the necessary systems change to avoid this happening for businesses in MTD for VAT.


Click here to find out more

Business news update

C19 Business News Update

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What’s Going On Now?

As time goes on it is getting harder and harder to keep track of all the Government changes. We have put together this blog to summarise the latest changes.

STAYING ALERT AND SAFE (SOCIAL DISTANCING)

Everyone’s actions have helped to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in our communities. Fatalities and infection rates continue to fall.

The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that is safe and continues to protect the NHS. The most important thing we can continue to do is to stay alert, control the virus, and, in doing so, save lives.

This guidance applies in England – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK.


Click here for more information

NEW FUNDING CONFIRMED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AS A RESULT OF CORONAVIRUS

An additional £63 million has been confirmed by government to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to coronavirus.

Local authorities are already working to support those who are vulnerable, and this additional funding will contribute to that work.

Many have existing mechanisms to provide this support in a way that suits the needs of their community. This includes provision of cash payments, food vouchers, or alternative means of support.


Click here for more information

MANAGEMENT OF STAFF AND EXPOSED PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE SETTINGS

This guidance provides advice on the management of staff and patients or residents in health and social care settings according to exposures, symptoms and test results. It includes:

  • staff with symptoms of COVID-19
  • staff return to work criteria
  • patient exposures in hospital
  • resident exposures in care settings

Please note that this guidance is of a general nature and that an employer should consider the specific conditions of each individual place of work and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

There may be further information specific to each country in the United Kingdom, as this guidance was written by Public Health England primarily for an English health professional audience. To see if country specific information is available, please refer to Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, or Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.


Click here for more information

WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO FAQs

This guidance has been updated 12 June.


Click here for the guidance

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How to stay positive for your family and your team

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How to stay positive for your family and your team (even if you are scared and worried too)

Do you run a business where you’re responsible for your employees’ wellbeing? Do you manage a team at work? Do you have children or vulnerable family members who depend on you?

Whether you said to yes to just one or all of the above, having people depend on you, especially during such a difficult time as now, can quickly lead to burnout. If this happens, who will you be able to help then?

To help you stay strong so that you can be there for others during this time, here is how to stay positive even if you’re scared and worried too.

3 steps for staying positive

Step 1: Deal with your fear and anxiety first

You need to let go of the negative feelings draining your energy first before you’re able to feel positive and expend this energy for others. Here are a few ways that you can do that:

  • Seek community and support by talking to friends and family or joining a support group online.
  • Get your news and facts from reputable resources but limit your exposure to news and social media.
  • Plan your daily routine and stick to it to maintain a sense of structure and normality.
  • Prioritise your own self-care and practice mindfulness activities such as yoga and meditation.

Step 2: Train your brain to think positively 

Our brains are wired to protect us, therefore sensing ‘threats’ and thinking ‘negatively’ are often a reflex response. To overcome this, you need to train your mind to think differently. Here are a few ways that you can do that:

  • Believe a positive attitude is a choice and start to focus on positive thoughts.
  • Rid your life of negativity by limiting your exposure to the news and people who think negatively.
  • Practice positivity every day by writing down things that you are grateful for.
  • Look for positivity to reinforce it in your life. You can do this by re-framing things that happen in a positive way (e.g. finding the silver lining).

Step 3: Share this positivity with others 

Only when you let go of negative feelings that are a drain on your energy can you be there for others. Here are some of the best ways you can help others:

  • Check-in regularly and really listen to them.
  • Be empathetic and share what works for you.
  • Help them to be more positive in their lives too.
  • Spread kindness as much as possible and show your appreciation for people with words and gestures.
sole traders to get second grant

SELF-EMPLOYED GET SECOND GRANT FROM GOVERNMENT

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Sole Traders to get second grant from the Government.

The government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended, giving more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months, the Chancellor announced on Friday 29 May 2020. Rishi Sunak announced the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will be extended – with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant capped at £6,570.

  • Individuals can continue to apply for the first SEISS grant until 13 July. Under the first grant, eligible individuals can claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £7,500 in total. Those eligible have the money paid into their bank account within six working days of completing a claim.
  • Applications for the second grant will open in August. Individuals will be able to claim a second taxable grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months’ worth of profits, and capped at £6,570 in total.
  • The eligibility criteria are the same for both grants, and individuals will need to confirm that their business has been adversely affected by coronavirus. An individual does not need to have claimed the first grant to receive the second grant: for example, they may only have been adversely affected by COVID-19 in this later phase.

Further guidance on the second grant will be published on Friday 12 June and we will keep you up to date with the details when we know them.

See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme?utm_source=95036a42-e8c3-49f3-8f73-6300a69ea34a&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

What has changed? ​

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On Sunday Boris Johnson addressed the UK and gave a speech that confused the nation. Stay alert, control the virus, save lives. Full of contradictions the speech lacked clarity and direction leaving the UK feeling lost. Yesterday, in parliament we gained a little more clarity on the road map, however each step is conditional to the spread of the virus and still lacks detail on how business will be able to reopen and when people will be able to see their families. So what has changed? We have written a summery of the changes so far in the roadmap, all of which are subject to change if the virus escalates. For the full documentation please click here. 

Phase One – Effective from 13th May

  • For the foreseeable future, workers who are able to work from home should continue.
  • Workers who are unable to work from home should travel to work where possible.
  • Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open, should be open. This includes food production, construction, manufacturing, logistics, distribution & scientific research in laboratories. These business should follow the new “COVID-19 Secure” guidelines that will be published this week.
  • People should aim to wear a face-covering in enclosed spaces where social distancing isn’t always possible. If your business would like branded face masks please contact Kiiwii Clothing.
  • People may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish. Making sure social distancing is still in effect.
  • People may drive to outdoor open spaces as long as social distancing is adhered to.
  • People can meet up with one other person not from their household to exercise with, providing they stay two metres apart. Paul will be happy as he will be able to play golf again.
  • Vulnerable people to continue to minimise contact with others outside their households, but do not need to be shielded.

Phase Two – Effective from June 1st (at the earliest)

  • A phased return for schools. The department of education will engage closely with schools and nurseries to develop detail and guidance on how schools can facilitate this.
  • Opening non-essential retail. Hospitality and personal care are not included in this phase.
  • Permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed-doors to be broadcasted. 
  • The re-opening of more local public transport. Subject to strict measures.
  • Potentially allow people to expand their household group to include one other household.
  • The Government is also looking into how to facilitate small weddings.

Phase Three – Effective from July 4th (at the earliest)

  • To open personal care businesses, such as hairdressers and beauty salons.
  • To open hospitality, such as restaurants, pubs and accommodation.
  • To open public places, such as places of worship.
  • To open leisure facilities, such as cinemas.

These steps are all subject to following the COVID-19 secure guidelines. Venues that are naturally crowded and cannot execute social distancing may still not be able to open.

Each phase will be monitored and the Government have expressed that they will not hesitate to lock everything down again if the virus escalates. Social distancing must be followed to be able to move forward with the roadmap.

Going ‘back to normal’ seems a long way off. But the most important thing, is for everyone to stay safe and healthy.

Have you got a government gateway?

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The help and advice that is available from the Government is forever changing. This is the latest update we have on how to apply for the self-employed grant. 

For those who are eligible, you will receive an EMAIL, not a letter as we had thought. Be aware that there are lots of phishing emails out there, HMRC’s email does not ask you to click on anything.

If you are unsure if you are eligible please follow this link –  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme. Please make sure to put capital letters for your NI number otherwise it will fail. If you believe you are eligible but the calculator is failing, please get in touch and we will try and help.   

If you qualify you will be able to claim from the 13th/18th of May. To claim you will need a Government Gateway! 

If you do not have one, please follow these steps to set one up. We recommend you do this NOW to avoid any delays. 

https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account

If you have forgotten your username and/or password you can get these reset with HMRC. 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/account-recovery/lost-user-id-password/check-email?state=5eb2c2442100008e90c6e413&ui_locales=en-GB 

From what we have seen, we will not be able to claim your grant through our gateway. This could change, but to avoid the delays in getting your grant please make sure your gateway is set up. 

If you need help applying please email jade@1accounts.co.uk