Little things mean a lot…

Written by Richard Baldwyn ATT, CTA
August 5, 2015

One of the biggest problems I come across when talking to business owners is that they think they have such a mountain to climb to improve their business, that they never even start.

And it's really easy to fall in to that trap.  Very similar to having too many ideas in your business - and ending up like a rabbit in headlights.

Well, one way to get yourself out of that trap is realising that it isn't about making big changes.  It's all about making small changes.

So let's imagine your sales are £100k, your gross margin is £50k and your net profit is £40k.

If you increase the quantity you sell by 3%, the price you sell it for by 3% and decrease your costs by 3%, your net profit will increase by £6,435 - an increase of 16%.

And if you change those increases from 3% to 10% then your profit will increase by £22,500 - an increase of 56%.

We give all our clients a report showing the potential in their business each year - we call it a possibilities report.

Because when you realise the small steps you can take which make a big difference, you'll suddenly realise exactly how achievable that increased profit really is!

PS Stuck for ideas on what to do to achieve that increase?  That's why all our clients get access to the Business Growth System - full of ideas about improving your marketing and your results.

About the author

Richard Baldwyn ATT CTA

Richard is Co-Founder of The Friendly Accountants and has more than 30 years' experience in tax, including 3 years spent inside HMRC before moving into private practice. He advises individuals and owner-managed businesses on a wide range of UK tax issues, including the tax challenges created by digital platforms and online business models.

Richard has specialised in UK crypto taxation since 2016 and was one of the first UK tax advisers to write publicly about the taxation of cryptoassets. His work includes advising individuals, investors, founders and owner-managed businesses on complex crypto transactions, HMRC disclosures and enquiries, DeFi, NFTs and the tax issues facing businesses operating with digital assets.

He also has first-hand experience of cryptoassets and Web3 projects, combining practical knowledge of how crypto is used with wider UK tax experience.

He particularly enjoys making complex tax transactions easier to understand and helping clients apply tax rules to transactions and technologies that do not always fit neatly within traditional tax categories. More about Richard and the TFA team

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