The deadline is fast approaching for businesses using a Companies House WebFiling log in to switch over to the GOV.UK One platform.

From 13th October, owners of limited companies will need to use the GOV.UK platform to get access to services that they use the WebFiling platform for. 

These include filing annual accounts; registering a company; making changes to the company’s directors or secretary roles, and authorising who can file for the company online. It is a quick change for companies, but it is also one to be done with some urgency. 

How do companies change their login?

Business owners need to sign into their WebFiling account and make sure that their email address is up to date. If necessary, they can select the ‘Change account details’ option to change this. 

If your business already has a Companies House account for ‘Find and update company information’, this is the email address you’ll need for the changeover, so make sure this email matches up with the WebFiling platform. 

Businesses must create a GOV.UK login if they don’t have one already, and the guidance is to do this ideally before 13th October. This, again, must use the same email address as your WebFiling account. 

The guidance also suggests that this is a great time to check “the list of companies you are authorised to file for in your WebFiling account”, via the ‘Your companies’ tab’ and remove any companies you no longer file for.

Connecting accounts

Once businesses have the basic admin done, they can then connect their WebFiling account to GOV.UK One Login. From 13th October, visitors will be automatically redirected in order to be able to do this. 

Before then, when you create a GOV.UK One Login, you’ll be able to sign in and connect your account. You don’t need to verify your identity to do this, but the guidance adds: “You may need to enter each company’s authentication code to confirm that you are still authorised to file for the company.”

There is the caveat that if you share a WebFiling account with others, each individual will have to create their own GOV.UK One Login using a different email address. They will also no longer be able to access the information in the accounts.

ID verification changes coming in too

There are also other changes afoot in how Companies House interacts with businesses. 

From 18th November, identity verification will become a legal requirement for new and existing company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). 

Business owners can use the ‘Verify your identity for Companies House’ service or use through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider to comply now. Failure to comply could see filings being rejected, so businesses are being encouraged to act now. 

The move is part of a bid to tackle fraudulent business registrations and improve corporate transparency. The ECCTA reforms have also given Companies House given power to reject suspicious filings, query company names, remove inaccurate information from the register, and reject disqualified company directors. It can also now levy financial penalties for non-compliance.

With the deadlines looming for both the log-in and ID changes, businesses need to get a handle on what they need to do so that they can keep operational during the shake-up. 

From 1st October, new laws will come into effect that alter the power of non-disclosure agreements or NDAs.

The law is an update of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024; and is relevant to anyone who “…has suffered harm as a direct result of being subjected to conduct which constitutes a criminal offence in England and Wales.” 

The changes are centred upon crime, and in particular, make it explicit that the victim of a crime (or someone who believes that they are a victim of a crime) does not have to be bound by an NDA when it comes to reporting.

Businesses need to pay heed, though, too, as this also has ramifications for those who regularly use NDAs to protect their IP. 

What are the changes?

The law now clarifies the list of “permitted disclosures”. These are disclosures that can be made to a specific list of people by the victim of a crime. The Ministry of Justice adds: “There does not have to be a formal investigation or a conviction for someone to be a victim of crime or to reasonably believe they are a victim of crime.”

The list includes the Police or “other bodies which investigate or prosecute crime”; qualified lawyers and a victim’s close family. For businesses, it is essential to note that this list also includes regulated professionals and regulators. 

How do they affect businesses?

The changes mean that if someone within a business believes themselves to be a victim of a crime, they can report their concerns, whether or not they have signed an NDA. 

For businesses, it is important to note that the list of organisations that can be approached includes:

• The Health and Safety Executive
• Competition and Markets Authority
• Environment Agency
• Gambling Commission
• Financial Conduct Authority
• Information Commissioner’s Office
• Serious Fraud Office

Businesses can continue to use NDAs – and for many businesses, these are key to protecting their innovations – but they just need to be aware that there is now a limit to their level of protection.

How can businesses prepare for the changes?

Firstly, businesses should make sure that they understand the changes; and then look at their NDAs to ensure that they reflect the new rules. 

This isn’t a blanket ban, so action doesn’t need to be onerous; but businesses can use the Government resources accessible through their Companies House WebFiling account to review and update any templates they use as NDAs for employees and collaborating ventures. Accurate wording to reflect the changes is important here so that all parties understand their rights. 

For those businesses that haven’t, this is also a chance to make sure that trademarks and patents are up to date. It might also be the time to check that all of the relevant information is connected to your GOV.UK One Login ahead of the switch to this platform from the Companies House WebFiling platform on 13th October.

Many employees suspect their bosses are watching them, and in many cases, they’re right. In the UK, nearly a third of employers use software to track staff behaviour or performance, the Guardian reports.

This rise in so-called “bossware” is often justified as a way to prevent employee theft, boost productivity in remote environments, or keep an eye on customer experience.

But while employers may see these as legitimate business concerns, constant surveillance isn’t without its risks. Snooping on your team can not only damage trust but also leave your business on the wrong side of GDPR compliance.

Why more firms are using bossware

Nearly a third of UK employers now use “bossware” to monitor staff, most commonly by tracking emails and web browsing. One in seven has gone further, recording employees’ screen activity.

The findings, based on a UK-wide survey of hundreds of managers by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and reported by The Guardian, suggest a sharp rise in digital surveillance across the workplace.

Several factors are driving the rise in workplace surveillance. For some employers, theft might be a problem, whether it’s unexplained stock shortages or missing cash. For others, the shift to remote working has made them more inclined to monitor staff from afar.

Not all motivations are based on suspicion, though. Some managers use monitoring to simply keep an eye on customer service quality, ensure regulatory compliance, or uphold health and safety standards.

The form that “bossware” takes will, of course, depend on your industry. A café manager might rely on CCTV, while an office employer is more likely to track computer use or monitor attendance by scanning passes.

Does bossware comply with GDPR?

Since monitoring staff activity involves processing personal data, GDPR rules will apply in full. Employers could argue a lawful basis under “legitimate interests,” but this only stands if the monitoring is proportionate and staff are properly informed.

In response to the findings, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), speaking to the Guardian, said bosses “must make their employees aware of the nature, extent and reasons for monitoring,” warning that excessive surveillance “can undermine people’s privacy, especially if they are working from home.” The regulator added that it will “take action if necessary.”

So while employers may feel they have a valid reason to use bossware, crossing the line carries serious risks. Breaches of GDPR can cause fines, reputational damage, and even employee claims if workers feel their rights have been violated.

Bosses beware

Even if you follow the rules, using bossware has additional company culture risks. Over-monitoring your team is a surefire way to hurt morale, erode trust, and drive up staff turnover. 

It can also lead to jumping to false conclusions. For example, fewer keystrokes or less mouse activity doesn’t always mean someone isn’t working hard. 

The safest approach is to set out a clear, written policy, explain to employees what is being monitored and why, and limit tracking to what’s strictly necessary.

Ultimately, bossware is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it may stamp out concerns around theft, productivity, and compliance. But the potential fallout, from legal penalties to disengaged staff, means employers should tread carefully.

A growing practice, known as ‘phoenixing’, is costing HMRC millions in lost tax revenue, the Financial Times reports.

The term refers to the tactic of repeatedly liquidating a limited company and then re-registering under a new name, sometimes deliberately, to dodge tax bills and other debts. One visible example might be the constant churn of sweet shops on Oxford Street.

The impact of this phenomenon on HMRC is significant. In the 2022–23 tax year alone, phoenixing companies accounted for an estimated £836 million in lost revenue—the most recent year with available data.

What is phoenixing?

Phoenixing is a phenomenon where company directors liquidate a failing business and immediately set up a new one under a different name. Essentially, they’re offering the same goods or services and following the same business model, just with a fresh identity.

Many phoenixing companies do this deliberately to avoid paying taxes or other debts, which often go unpaid because the old company’s assets have been dissolved. Unsurprisingly, HMRC ends up feeling the impact.

When done intentionally, phoenixing is illegal and considered tax evasion. Directors caught in the act can face disqualification, prosecution, and reputational damage, consequences that will take more than a name change to fix.

Which companies are phoenixing?

Phoenixing can happen in any sector, but a typical real-world example is several of the US-themed sweet shops you might see walking down Oxford Street. 

It’s also common in construction and retail businesses. These industries often have high turnover, tight margins, and a business model that can be easily re-established, making them more prone to phoenixing.

It’s important to note, however, that not every business that rises from the ashes counts as phoenixing. Genuine closures and restarts happen all the time, for example, when entrepreneurs pivot, restructure, or launch new ventures. 

Serial entrepreneurs are free to legally start new businesses, but they must make sure not to appear as though they are “dumping” debts by leaving liabilities behind in the old company.

Insolvency vs liquidation – what’s allowed?

It’s easy to mix up insolvency and liquidation, but they are two separate things. 

Insolvency happens when a company can’t pay its debts when they are due, while liquidation is the formal process of closing a company and distributing its remaining assets. 

In both cases, directors have legal duties to act responsibly, prioritise creditors, and avoid taking shortcuts that could break the law.

Legally, directors are within their rights to start a new business after filing for insolvency. However, there are rules: you can’t reuse the same or a very similar company name within five years without permission from the court.

For SMEs, the safest approach is to seek professional advice, maintain transparent records, and steer clear of taking shortcuts. Following the rules protects both your business and reputation, plus it keeps you on the right side of HMRC and the law.

If your side hustle is reselling old clothes, you’ll want to pay attention to the upcoming Autumn Budget. 

eBay, along with a coalition of marketplaces including Vinted, Etsy, and Depop, and business groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, techUK, and Enterprise Nation, are campaigning for the Trading Allowance to be increased from £1,000 to £3,000.

The Trading Allowance gives individuals tax relief on income generated through small sales or freelance work. However, it has remained fixed at £1,000 since 2017, rather than rising in line with inflation. Therefore, sellers and marketplaces are keenly awaiting a review of the allowance in the Autumn Budget on 26th November.

What is the UK Trading Allowance?

The current UK Trading Allowance is set at £1,000, meaning self-employed workers can deduct that amount from taxable income. In theory, this means that you aren’t taxed on smaller earnings from side hustle income streams, like selling clothes online. 

But since the allowance has remained at £1,000 since its introduction in 2017, rising costs and inflation have diminished its value significantly. 

Like many, lower earners and self-employed workers have been struggling to stay afloat amid cost of living pressures. So much so that there was a petition to raise the Personal Allowance from £12,570 to £20,000 — but that’s a different threshold to the Trading Allowance. 

The current campaign to raise the Trading Allowance was initiated by eBay. Backed by other marketplaces and business groups, eBay is pushing the government to triple the allowance from £1,000 to £3,000.

This would give sellers on platforms like eBay, Depop, Etsy and Vinted profits that feel more in proportion to their earnings, rather than squeezed by outdated thresholds. But at £3,000, the allowance isn’t a big bonus; it’s just a fairer reflection of today’s economy, catching up with years of inflation and rising costs.

How likely is an increase in the Trading Allowance?

Businesses across the UK are anxiously awaiting November’s Autumn Budget, with tax rises widely expected.

For SMEs, possible measures on the table include investment in infrastructure, funding for digital transformation, energy cost relief, and long-overdue reform of business rates. Other anticipated announcements might involve an increase in the National Minimum Wage, new protections under the Employment Rights Bill, and a rise in Capital Gains Tax.

But for side hustlers on eBay, Vinted, Depop and Etsy, the outlook is less rosy. With income tax thresholds frozen for years, the Trading Allowance is unlikely to be touched this year, despite calls to raise it in line with inflation.

Side hustle getting harder

More young people are starting side hustles, drawn by the flexibility, creativity, and extra income they can generate. And for many, these small-scale projects can turn into running a fully-fledged business, such as an online clothes shop or selling handmade crafts.

That said, new guidance from HMRC dubbed the Side Hustle “Tax” at the start of 2024 has made it harder for side hustlers to keep hold of their earnings. HMRC indicated that those who make fewer than 30 sales a year, or who earn less than €2,000 (around £1,700) per year from sales, do not have to file a tax return — but others would need to.

With this in mind, eBay’s campaign argues that raising the Trading Allowance to £3,000 would not be a luxury; it would signal that the government values small-scale work and is serious about fostering an entrepreneurial culture in the UK.

Selling through social media or social commerce is set to boom in the UK, with predictions that the sector will double in value by 2028.

However, a new survey of senior marketers is suggesting that influencers – whether virtual or real – may not be worth the spend for small businesses.

The survey reveals that not only are businesses struggling to determine whether they are getting a return on investment from influencer deals; but actually find it hard to build meaningful partnerships with influencers from the get go.

Blind investment

In a survey of marketers by the influencer marketing agency, SAMY, exactly half of those interviewed said they were unable to prove a return on investment from influencer marketing.

The survey was carried out among senior marketers at 70 global consumer brands.

However, and perhaps reflecting the work that SAMY does, the survey suggests that the failure lies not with the effectiveness of using influencers for marketing a business; but with the marketers, who need to get clued up on how to maximise their relationships.

The survey says that just under half (44%) of respondents say they’re running campaigns “without clear KPIs in place”.

The data also reveals that just under a third of the marketers say “they’re unsure how to gauge the power of influencers to grow a brand’s community” .This is “making it harder to measure success or scale what works”, says the SAMY team.

Lack of connection

However, according to the survey, the key hurdle affecting marketers is not measuring effectiveness, but simply managing to find the right influencer to work with in the beginning. In fact, 60% of respondents said that this had proved difficult for them.

Even among those businesses who did employ an influencer, 40% said that long-term loyalty had proved an issue. “Many still rely on one-off posts instead of deeper, ongoing collaborations with influencers that drive sustained engagement,” wrote the report’s authors.

SAMY has created a framework to help companies select the right influencer; integrate this relationship into their marketing strategy and then measure performance.

Influence and power

The UK social commerce market is projected to more than double, reaching £16bn by 2028. As the TikTok data reveals, social media marketing is where community, engagement and shopping all collide – and inspiration plays a key part in all three of these.

According to a Digital 2025 report from We Are Social, annual social media advertising spend is now £9.02bn, which is an increase of 13.8% year-on-year. It adds that influencer investment has hit £930m, which is a similar year-on-year increase (13.6%).

These survey results confirm that influencer power isn’t waning but that companies just don’t know how to find it, nurture it and then track it.

As brands like Tony’s Chocolonely have proven, there is huge potential for customer growth if they get it right. On the flipside, there is also the potential to damage a brand if the influencer relationship goes sour as a restaurant in San Francisco found out the hard way.

Change of strategy

Businesses must drill down to decide what they want their brand ethos to be and who they are targeting to find the right influencer partner.

They then need to set KPIs for the relationship that they can track. They may even have to completely rehaul their strategy, said Juliet Howes, Influencer Marketing Director at SAMY.

As she explained: “Brands that are treating influencers as long-term partners and strategic collaborators, supported by the right tech, a clear framework, and KPIs that go deeper than vanity metrics are the ones most likely to solve the ROI conundrum.”

Sellers on social commerce platforms such as Vinted and AirBnB are warning of a new scam in which AI-created images are being used to leverage refunds.

The rising trend is a worrying one for ecommerce business owners who could face not only the cost of refunds for items that aren’t actually damaged, but are also likely to not get the allegedly damaged stock back.

The reports come at a time when ecommerce firms are scrambling to protect their website traffic from AI-powered search, which is causing dramatic drop-offs for many businesses.

Fake images for fake claims

The Times is among those documenting this latest AI scam trend. It quotes experts arguing that items must be returned to prove the damage as AI can easily be used to produce fake images. Amazon sellers are also reporting a rise in these claims; and are urging caution.

However, reports suggest that this issue is being felt beyond ecommerce. In August, The Guardian reported on a case in which an AirBnB owner falsely accused a customer of damage to their property, and used AI-generated images as evidence.

The customer – a London-based academic – had booked a two-and-a-half month stay in the apartment in Manhattan but left early because she felt unsafe. She was then hit with a slew of charges after the AirBnB host accused her of a litany of damages, including splitting a wooden coffee table; and staining a mattress with urine.

The customer refuted all claims but AirBnB initially told her to reimburse the host a total of £5,314. She then fought the decision, has now been refunded and the rental company has promised an internal review.

Fake images for fake products

There is also rising dissatisfaction that AI is also being used to either change products to give a false impression of quality or to turn them into something else entirely.

Science Feedback reported on finding products on Vinted that are claimed to be vintage but are actually, in reality, from fast-fashion brands including Shein and Temu.

The article describes the images as “highly aestheticised”, lending the clothes an appearance of “high quality” that, in reality, they simply won’t have. The researchers even found corresponding products on the Chinese ecommerce websites and noted that they were being listed for twice the price – if not more – on Vinted.

This is a sinister twist on the dropshipping model; and the article adds that there are even websites that can help scammers make clothes “look worn” with AI technology; but obviously not too worn to sell.

To counter this issue, customers are urged to do a reverse image search to see if the item is, in fact, vintage or fresh out of a Chinese factory.

AI for streamlined sales

As with all technology, businesses will have to take the bad with the good. AI is being deployed to spot defects in products before they are sent out by Amazon; but is also helping businesses streamline their logistics and speed up their interactions with customers.

Virtual influencers and AI-generated models (created with the consent of real models) can allow fashion businesses to produce thousands of images for far lower outlays to get more products online.

The key seems to be transparency. Customers need to know if an image has been AI-generated or manipulated in order to make a purchase in faith.

Scammers may be using AI to dupe; but businesses can use AI to enhance the customer experience. As with all technology, the key is honesty and trust.

HM Treasury has launched an investigation into the impact on Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) when a company opts to buy a second site.

HM Treasury published a report last week revealing the Chancellor will explore fixing the sudden jumps in business rates that appear when a firm expands. Known as “cliff edges”, these can discourage small business investment and growth.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “Our economy isn’t broken, but it does feel stuck. That’s why growth is our number one mission. We want to see thriving high streets and small businesses investing in their future, not held back by outdated rules”.

Stunting growth

SBRR is a national discount scheme administered by local councils on behalf of the UK government. In England, you can get SBRR if your property has a rateable value of £15,000 or less.

However, as outlined in the Treasury’s report, firms currently lose SBRR the moment they add another property, which can turn a modest move into a costly leap.

As The Treasury writes: “That means that a local bakery would have to pay thousands of pounds more for opening a small shop in the next village.”

Kate Nicholls, Chair of UKHospitality, agreed, pointing out that this system has been “…unfairly punish[ing] hospitality businesses”.

She added: “These measures to remove punitive cliff-edges and barriers to investment are positive and will help to rebalance the system, as will the government’s commitment to lower business rates bills for hospitality businesses.”

The report suggests change could be imminent but there is a caveat that this is an “exploration” and we are unlikely to see confirmation of changes until the Autumn Budget.

“A rare moment of common sense”

The report has been received positively by business owners and organisations alike.

Eamonn Prendergast, chartered financial adviser at Bromley-based Palantir Financial Planning Ltd said that the current system is no less than a “tax trapdoor” for business, “one step too far and small firms are hit with bills they can’t sustain”.

He stated: “Smoothing these jumps would give local shops, cafés, and start-ups the confidence to grow without fearing financial freefall.”

There are, however, views that the Government needs to do more, not least among hospitality business owners who have been hit hard by changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

As Samuel Mather-Holgate, independent financial adviser at Swindon-based Mather and Murray Financial, said: “Although business rates are in need of a restructure, most businesses are pleading with the Chancellor to look again at employers’ National Insurance as it’s this that is killing off growth for businesses desperate to expand.”

Others pointed to the current Corporation Tax rates and the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill as contentious with businesses.

It will be the unveiling of the Autumn Budget that will give SMEs a clear view of the future. It looks like positive changes will be on the cards; but as Tina McKenzie, FSB Policy Chair, said: “…the proof will be in the pudding at Budget.”

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and President of the Board of Trade is now Peter Kyle. He takes over the role from Jonathan Reynolds, who has become the chief whip.

A member of parliament (MP) since 2015, Kyle comes into the role as firms reel from the employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) hike as well as mounting costs.

He will be watched intently by SMEs to see how he treads the line between fiscal discipline and creating an environment in which businesses can thrive.

Kyle takes the role just months before the Autumn Budget is announced and predictions of more bad news for SMEs are already mounting.

There are, however, suggestions that relief may be provided in the form of energy subsidies, business rate reforms and support for businesses trying to move towards digital technology – something Kyle asked the last Government about in Parliament.

Who is Peter Kyle?

Kyle is the MP for Hove and Portslade, where he has been elected three times and has lived for 25 years. From July last year, he also held the role of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The 55-year-old political veteran studied geography, international development and environmental studies at University of Sussex.

After gaining a PhD, Kyle was deputy chief executive of ACEVO, which is the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, and whose trustees include Mark Norbury, chief executive of UnLtd, the UK’s leading foundation for social entrepreneurs.

He then moved on to heading up the charity, Working for Youth, which is aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Kyle is also the first openly gay MP for Hove and Portslade.

What will Kyle do for small businesses?

Kyle has toed the party line when it has come to fiscal decisions. He appears to have been pro the National Insurance rise for employers, which has been controversial among business owners and economists alike.

Kyle also voted to raise Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for business owners and to make Investors’ Relief less generous.

However, Kyle did also vote to give special discounts to draught beer and cider under 8.5% to help pubs and small breweries, as hospitality firms claim they are being “taxed out”.

So, can we expect more of the same then? With his voting record, it is unlikely that Kyle will push to roll back the NICs changes; nor will he likely block tax rises over borrowing.

Technology champion

However, what we are likely to see is Kyle championing measures to help businesses upgrade their technology. He is a vocal advocate of AI – and hit the headlines for using ChatGPT to help him brainstorm in his previous role.

In July, in a speech at CityWeek 2025, Kyle stated: “An economy that, like ours, knows that the key to staying competitive is being squarely focussed on the future.”

He added: “…talking about the power of AI to grow the economy is all well and good. But unless companies use it, that growth only exists in theory.”

Kyle will likely push for measures to allow SMEs to upgrade their technology and upskill their staff; but in the beefy matters of NICs and potential tax increases, he will vote with his pack.

While many shoppers rely on the opinions of fellow consumers before hitting ‘buy’, government data indicates that around a third of customer reviews on major platforms could be fake. And, as one CEO has learned, these fake reviews can cause real harm.

In addition to being useless in guiding shoppers, fake reviews may lead to significant reputational damage for small businesses. Adam Collins, CEO of Ignite SEO, found that out the hard way when his agency was targeted with one-star reviews by spammers.

With the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill coming in this year, fake reviewer posters may be stopped in their tracks. Under the new law, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has greater powers to clamp down on fake reviews.

Why fake reviews are a growing threat

For many of us, customer reviews are a significant factor in decision-making when we’re choosing where to shop online. Research from the Department for Business & Trade states that they influence a huge £23bn of UK consumer spending annually.

And while reviews might exist online, it’s also brick-and-mortar businesses that are affected by ratings. It’s become almost second nature for customers to check out Google Business profiles or social media posts surrounding restaurants, pubs, and hotels before booking.

But, while major retailers may be able to absorb the blow of a few lower ratings, for SMEs, this can tank their rankings. A one-star review can skew an average overall rating, which can scare off potential customers and cause lasting damage to both reputation and profits.

Of course, not all fake reviews are negative. Some businesses may also inflate their own ratings with artificial praise to drown out criticism, as investigated by Which?. Either way, the issue seems to be rampant and causing trouble for both businesses and consumers alike.

How to spot a fake review

Fake reviews don’t always appear gradually. Sometimes, they arrive as part of a concentrated effort designed.

Adam Collins said he woke up to “a string of one-star reviews” and spam messages on WhatsApp, in what he called “a coordinated attempt to shake trust.”

For business owners like Collins, the key to stopping fake reviews is first recognising them. “If someone vandalised your storefront, you’d clean it up quickly”, points out Collins.

“Online reputations deserve the same care. The good news is the law is catching up, but SMEs need to stay alert and proactive.”

If you notice a sudden spike in reviews that doesn’t align with your actual sales or bookings, that could be a red flag. Generic or vague complaints, suspicious reviewer profiles, and clusters of posts arriving outside normal business hours are also common warning signs.

These signals can easily be mistaken for genuine customer dissatisfaction, but often they have little to do with your real business performance. By recognising this, SMEs can avoid wasting valuable time and energy chasing the wrong issues.

What small businesses can do about it

If you find yourself on the receiving end of fake reviews, don’t panic. Respond calmly, flag and report suspicious posts on the relevant platforms, and encourage genuine customers to share their feedback to counteract the negativity.

It’s also wise to train staff early on. Team members managing social media, customer care, or review platforms are often the first to spot suspicious activity, so equipping them with the right awareness means your business can respond more effectively.

As Collins warns: “For small businesses, even a handful of fake reviews can damage rankings, scare off new clients, and create real financial loss.”

Next month, ecommerce businesses that send packages through a Royal Mail business account could be charged up to £1.40 more to send parcels, after the postage service announced its latest price rises last week.

Costs will rise for customers sending personal items or selling on marketplaces like eBay. But deliveries will also become more expensive for business account holders, which will have a knock-on effect for online shops.

Below, we’ll explore how the planned price increases will affect firms specifically using the tracked Royal Mail 24® and Royal Mail 48® services. Here’s what’s changing.

What’s changing in Royal Mail’s 2025 price update?

Royal Mail regularly ups its prices as the cost of delivering items creeps upwards, with the most recent major increases occurring in April 2025. 

From Monday 6th October, costs across the organisation’s portfolio will increase by varying amounts. Notably, the compensation amount for consumer tracked services will be reduced from £150 to £75.

There will also be big price hikes when sending parcels with Royal Mail 24®, a business service from Royal Mail that aims for next-working-day delivery.

Compared to August 2025 prices, firms will pay 40p more to send small parcels weighing 1kg or less through Royal Mail 24® from October 6th. The heaviest parcels weighing 20kg will cost up to £1.40 more per item.

Costs for Royal Mail 48® (which aims to deliver parcels within two working days) have also gone up slightly, though not by as much as the quicker service.

As well, there will be a peak surcharge introduced for business accounts sending items over the Christmas period. This applies to domestic parcels and international products from 17 November 2025 until 9 January 2026.

What does this mean for ecommerce sellers?

For many ecommerce businesses, the latest Royal Mail price increases will put further pressure on already tight profit margins. 

Firms using Royal Mail Tracked 24® / Tracked 48® must sell at least 1,000 items a year to qualify for the services. That means account holders sending the smallest, 1kg parcels will spend an extra £400 a year at least from October 6th.

Sellers that offer free shipping as an incentive to customers may find themselves absorbing more of these costs, cutting into profits even further. 

How can small sellers adapt to higher delivery costs?

Reviewing shipping policies, such as free shipping thresholds or minimum spend requirements, can help manage additional expenses without alienating your customers. 

It doesn’t hurt to compare Royal Mail rates with other courier services or use aggregator platforms, as you may find a cheaper alternative. 

Even just making small adjustments to your packaging can reduce costs over time, such as using lighter materials or optimising parcel dimensions.

Looking ahead, delivery costs are likely to continue evolving. By planning ahead, especially for the Peak Surcharge period, you can be better positioned to protect your profit margin and stay competitive during the busy holiday season.

The Autumn Budget 2025 is officially set for Wednesday, November 26th, and SMEs across the country are anxiously waiting to find out what will be announced.

Last year’s Budget was a particularly bad one for small businesses with the announcement of a rise in employer National Insurance Contributions and a drop in business rates relief for retail, leisure, and hospitality. Sadly, this year’s statement could be similarly sour.

It will mark the end to a difficult year for SMEs, who have had high inflation, hiked taxes, and digital transitions to contend with. In July, the government’s Small Business Plan provided some hope in the form of further funding and powers to tackle late payments.

Aman Parmar, Head of Marketing at SME flexible workspace provider BizSpace, praised the plan, but added “without targeted tax relief measures – such as enhanced capital allowances – SMEs may struggle to invest in growth.”

What will happen on Autumn Budget day?

The Autumn Budget is an annual event where the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will outline the UK government’s plans for public spending, taxation, and economic policy.

Traditionally, the Budget is delivered in the House of Commons and lasts around an hour, usually following Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).

You can tune into the Budget live on the BBC Parliament channel, as well as online via the UK Government’s official channels.

Ahead of the announcement, experts are speculating that the Chancellor will choose tax rises over borrowing. After her proposed welfare bill cuts were watered down in July, she will need to raise about £20bn.

Possible measures under consideration include a new National Insurance charge for landlords, changes to inheritance tax, and adjustments to the VAT threshold, though the specifics remain uncertain.

What’s likely on the table for SMEs?

SMEs are anticipating some level of financial relief to be announced in the Autumn Budget. Possible measures might include investment in infrastructure, funding for digital transformation, energy cost relief, and much-awaited business rates reforms.

Regarding business rates, Labour has previously pledged to permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values below £500,000 in 2026.

Parmar argues that the current business rates system is “outdated and disproportionately burdensome, especially for retailers and hospitality businesses still struggling post-pandemic.

“If Reeves can align her proposals with a reform of business rates that eases this burden, it would demonstrate a significant commitment to supporting the SME sector”, he adds.

Other circulating possibilities include a rise in the National Minimum Wage, anticipated changes under the Employment Rights Bill, and a potential increase in Capital Gains Tax.

What do small businesses want?

Many UK founders are calling for a rollback of the recent hikes in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) and a commitment not to raise taxes further.

Tony Redondo, Founder at Newquay-based Cosmos Currency Exchange, echoed this sentiment, saying that the Chancellor should, “Recognise the economy is on its knees and don’t bury it completely with yet more tax rises.

“We need to promote economic growth, which means encouraging businesses, not tying them up in ever more taxes and red tape.”

Industry groups such as UKHospitality have compiled a similar list of requests. It includes urgent reform to business rates and employer NIC rates, as well as a lower rate for VAT for the industry, as already demonstrated by many EU countries.

However, a ban on tax rises is unlikely given the current economic pressure. While calls for relief are warranted, with the government under strong pressure to increase revenues, SME owners who expect a generous Budget will no-doubt be disappointed.

Being back-to-school ready can mean many things, but for business owners, it’s also the perfect time to learn how to do small business accounting.

You’re probably groaning at the thought, and we don’t blame you. Business accounting is never an easy task, but it’s something that you can’t ignore and staying on top of it can save you time, stress, and costly mistakes down the line.

However, it can be even harder when you’re a new entrepreneur or business, and don’t have a clue about how accounting works, or have the funds to gain a costly qualification.

Luckily, there are plenty of free online courses that can teach you the essentials and give you the practical skills you need to keep your finances on track — all without spending a penny.

To save you time, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best free accounting courses in the UK that you can start today.

1. Open University (OpenLearn): Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Bookkeeping and accounting

If you’re totally new to accounting and have little to no experience in how it works, then the Open University’s introductory course is the perfect starting point. 

Offered by the university’s OpenLearn platform, this free online course walks you through the basics of accounting, including the essential numerical skills, how to keep track of financial records, and measuring profit and loss. 

Whether you’re interested in becoming an accountant or just need basic accounting skills for your small business, this course is a great way to pick up the essentials.

2. Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC): AI for Financial Analysis Course

• Level: Beginner and professional
• Specialism: AI in accounting

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game for business accounting, with the top free accounting software, including Sage and Xero, implementing AI features to make it easier than ever to handle bookkeeping and manage cash flow.

But understanding how to utilise these features can be a challenge. That’s why the Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC) is offering a free course for both beginner and professional-level candidates to learn how AI can streamline financial operations, improve decision-making, and offer real-time insights.

The course covers three main modules: introduction to AI in financial analysis, using AI for data collection and pre-processing, and using AI for financial forecasting and trend analysis.

3. Activate Learning Adult Education: Computerised Payroll Level 1

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Payroll

Paying your employees properly is essential when running a business, yet 48% of SMEs have admitted to calculating wages incorrectly.

If payroll is something you’re new to, then Activate Learning’s free course on computerised payroll offers everything you need to learn about managing payroll. It includes entering employee details correctly, calculating gross pay, processing the first payroll, and running those all-important reports (e.g. payslips).

4. Alison: Accounting for Inventory

• Level: Intermediate
• Specialism: Inventory management

If you’re a retail business or starting an ecommerce store, then you should know that inventory management is a crucial part of your business operations.

Alison, a free online learning platform, offers multiple accounting courses for all levels (beginner to advanced) for free. This free online course teaches you the essentials of keeping your inventory in check.

In this course, you can expect to learn several areas of inventory accounting, including how to identify and analyse accounting transactions, how a company uses Last In, First Out (LIFO) or First In Last Out (FIFO) to calculate inventory cost, and how to use efficiency metrics to monitor inventory.

5. ACCA: Introduction to Bookkeeping

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Bookkeeping

Much like the Open University, ACCA’s free bookkeeping course is ideal for new businesses and entrepreneurs looking to get a solid grasp of bookkeeping, understand their finances, and set up reliable systems from the start.

This course covers several important topics, such as business transactions, double-entry bookkeeping, payroll and ledger accounts, and reconciliation. There are also no entry requirements, and you can start the course whenever you want. 

6. Oxford Home Study Centre (OHSC): Profit and Loss Accounts

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Profit and loss accounts

A significant part of accounting is calculating your profit and loss statements. These show exactly how much money is coming in and going out, and whether your business is actually making a profit.

As part of OHSC’s variety of free online accounting courses, this curriculum is all about teaching you everything you need to know about measuring your profits and losses.

Covering essential topics like measuring income, preparing profit/loss accounts, and foundational terminology, it’s designed to give you a clear understanding of how to manage your business finances.

7. Open University (OpenLearn): Fundamentals of accounting

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Accounting and bookkeeping

As the title suggests, OpenLearn’s four-week course is all about teaching you the essential concepts and skills of bookkeeping. Here’s a quick rundown of the topics the course will cover:

• Week 1: Introduction to the key differences between financial accounting and management accounting.
• Week 2: Essential skills for accounting, including manipulating equations, using percentages and ratios, and understanding rounding.
• Week 3: The concepts of double-entry accounting, including the accounting equation and the rules for recording transactions in ledger accounts.
• Week 4: How to prepare a trial balance and balance sheet, and how your income statement fits with the accounting equation.

8. Alison: Cash Flow Management Basics

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Cash flow management

Another fundamental aspect of managing your business accounts is your cash flow. Knowing how money moves in and out of your business helps you stay on top of bills, plan for growth, and avoid any nasty surprises when expenses pile up.

Alison’s Cash Flow Management Basics course helps you understand cash flow management, including liquidity, efficiency, profitability, and leverage ratios. It’ll also teach you the most important types of financial ratios (and how to apply them), and the relationship between the value of sales, costs, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity to get a better understanding of your financial position and your business’s performance in the future.

9. Alison: Understanding and Managing Tax in the UK

• Level: Advanced
• Specialism: Taxes

Income tax, corporation tax, value-added tax (VAT) — all of these terms can be a huge headache if you don’t understand what they are or how to calculate them.

This is where Alison’s free tax management course can come to the rescue. Designed to give you a better understanding of tax systems in the UK, this free course covers a range of fundamental areas, including how it impacts the economy, VAT rates, the different types of National Insurance Contributions (NICs), and important dates for reports.

10. KBM Training & Recruitment: Practical Self-Assessment Tax Return Training

• Level: Beginner
• Specialism: Self-Assessment Tax Return

KBM Training & Recruitment offers several government-funded short courses for those looking to learn or improve their accounting skills. And for sole traders and freelancers specifically, the course on Self-Assessment tax returns is useful if you’re new to self-employment.

In this 8-hour course, you can expect to cover a variety of core subjects. This includes the meaning of Self-Assessment tax returns, the different types of income (e.g. employment, self-employment, rental, investments), how to calculate income, deductions and allowances, and how to file and submit your first tax return.

In a case that all the tech world has watched intently since it was filed in 2020, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has made its judgement that Google does not have to spin off its Chrome search engine.

It was the rise of AI technology that experts suggest swayed Judge Mehta towards a decision, which many argue is in Google’s favour.

The judge determined that while Google did have a monopoly in traditional search engines, AI companies have the financial and technological clout to fight Google’s dominance now as search becomes increasingly AI-powered.

However, the judgement leaves ecommerce businesses unsure of where they stand, as Google Zero – the company’s AI-powered search summary functionality – cannibalises their content and cuts their traffic.

What did the judge rule?

A revised judgement is due today, but the core result is that Google does not have to “divest” Chrome or the Android operating system, which is what the Department of Justice (DOJ) had been pushing for.

The judge determined: “Plaintiffs overreached in seeking forced divestiture of these key assets, which Google did not use to effect any illegal restraints.”

However, Judge Mehta rules that Google must not have exclusive contracts that condition payments or licensing. The DOJ had pushed for the company to be forced to stop what it called “compelled syndication” – or making its browsers the default choice for money.

Mehta ruled: “Google will not be barred from making payments or offering other consideration to distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or its GenAI products.” However, these deals must not be exclusive.

Google has also been told to loosen its grip on its search data and the tech giant is already complaining.

What does this mean for Google Zero?

With Google compelled to share data – and with its exclusivity deals now not allowed – more players could potentially enter the AI-powered search field.

However, the truth is we don’t know how this is going to play out for ecommerce businesses yet as Google is dominant in this arena and will continue to be so.

This judgement might not be tough enough to stop what many businesses are already reporting – a significant drop in their website traffic as Google’s AI Mode summarises their content and keeps users on its pages.

Research from AccuRanker has revealed a significant decline in mobile click-through rates (CTR) for ecommerce. Any new players fighting for search dominance may do exactly the same, so it looks like zero-click searches are here to stay.

How can businesses protect themselves?

Businesses are facing an ‘adapt or die’ moment. Gone are the days in which businesses can rely on SEO optimisation (and over-optimised FAQs or keyword stuffing) and now, says Google, they must deliver content for “higher quality clicks”.

To keep website traffic from tanking, eCommerce businesses are being encouraged to:

• Optimise for Google’s AI Overviews
• Ensure product pages, reviews and resources deliver genuine value to shoppers
• Analyse how Google Zero is impacting the traffic to their website by tracking key visibility metrics, such as impressions and the appearance of AI features
• Look at other marketing opportunities beyond their website using diverse channels

While Google has definitely had a dressing down, the tech behemoth will still dominate, even as pretenders to its throne hustle in the AI space.

In the meantime, businesses must adapt to Google Zero – and any competitors that launch – as the technology is not going to disappear but will keep evolving.