Business advice
10 essential tips to save money on your van insurance
Get an online quote from Rated People Insurance Services Are your insurance premiums going through the roof? You’re not alone. Research has shown that van…
4 of the best types of insurance for electricians
Whether it’s protection for your income, tools or health, insurance cover is essential for any electrician. That’s because when you’re covered, you’ll have…
5 Tips to Write Winning Quotes
Tired of being the second-best bid? As a skilled tradesperson, your job quote represents hours of experience, careful planning, and material calculation. Yet,…
5 ways to protect yourself from tool theft
Having your tools stolen is one of the most common setbacks that a tradesperson can experience. In 2020, tool theft cost tradespeople £17.5 million in London…
Money saving tips for tradespeople
Whether you’re just starting up or you’re a long-timer in a trade, budgeting is a key skill for all self-employed tradespeople. But, with all the other…
Trades business: How to start your own trades business
If you’ve spent time perfecting your trade whilst working for someone else, maybe you’re ready to move on and start your own company. Plenty of benefits come…
Small business banking: A tradesperson’s guide
Managing your income as a self-employed tradesperson is much easier when you’re with the best bank for your small business ’ needs. From loans to bank…
Admin tips and tools to make marketing easier
A tradesperson’s job can seem never-ending at times. You’re completing trades work, sorting out business admin and focusing on providing great customer service…
Apprenticeships in construction: how to hire an apprentice
There are over 2 million people employed in the construction industry currently, and a vast number of those will have started their careers as apprentices. In…
Becoming a sole trader or limited company
Whether you’re just about to start up or you’ve been trading for years, we’re here to help you understand the difference between sole trading and limited…
Buying a new van – what’s the best way to pay?
When you need a new van there are many decisions to be made, but the biggest one will be how you plan to pay for it. Dan Powell of Honest John Vans explains…
Choosing your next van - pros and cons of diesel, petrol and electric
When you’re in the market for your next van, you’ll need to decide whether to opt for diesel, petrol or electric. Dan Powell, of Honest John Vans looks into…
Lockdown lessons about running a business
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has brought about many changes to working life over the past few months, most of which businesses weren’t prepared for. However,…
Digital marketing tips for coronavirus lockdown
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has changed the way we shop. With physical shops closed for a number of weeks, a large number of people have turned to online…
Digital marketing tips for coronavirus lockdown
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has changed the way we shop. With physical shops closed for a number of weeks, a large number of people have turned to online…
Coronavirus government support for tradespeople in winter
Last updated: 3rd March 2021 In the latest Winter Economy Plan, the government has included measures to support UK businesses that are facing decreased demand…
Dash cameras and why every tradesperson should have one
Dash cameras are becoming increasingly popular with tradespeople. Dan Powell, editor of Honest John Vans , explains why. If you’ve ever visited YouTube then…
Data Backup Guide for SME businesses
What would you do if some, or all, of your business data disappeared, just like that? If you were to lose your work phone, spill a cup of tea on your laptop,…
Do I need to be VAT registered? Advice for tradespeople
Whether you operate as a sole trader or a limited company, you must register for VAT (Value Added Tax) when your business turnover exceeds £90,000. Some sole…
Green Homes Grant: How to get your trades business ready to benefit
57% of UK homeowners want to be more eco-friendly, according to The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021 . Right now, homeowners are booking in…
Construction Project Management Guide
When you are running a busy trade business, winning large-scale projects is a massive milestone. Whether it is a multi-storey house extension, a complex…
Four tips for creating a realistic cash flow forecast
We’re working with simPRO Software to bring you all sorts of tips to help you run your business successfully. Here, they share their four top tips for creating…
Gas Safe Register - 2018 guide
Working with gas can be dangerous and the Gas Safe Register is in place to make sure that gas work is carried out legally and safely. Engineers who are on the…
Green Homes Grant: How to get your trades business ready to benefit
57% of UK homeowners want to be more eco-friendly, according to The Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2021 . Right now, homeowners are booking in…
Self employed pensions: advice for tradespeople
Note: All figures are correct at the time of writing (28th January 2021). As a self-employed tradesperson, you’ve got a lot on your plate when it comes to…
How online reviews help tradespeople win more work
Did you know that 88% of people trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations (according to Search Engine Land )? As a tradesperson, customer…
Customer complaints and how to effectively resolve them
If you’re a small business owner, you’re likely to get a customer complaint at some point (if you haven’t already). Your natural reaction might be to get…
How to grow your trades business
Demand for tradespeople is still very high. UK homeowners that re-evaluated their housing priorities during the coronavirus pandemic are enjoying the…
How to prevent van theft
Having your van broken into or stolen can be a nightmare. Not only does it give you the stress of dealing with insurers and police, but it can also mean days –…
How to Scale a Trade Business
Running a successful trade business is a massive achievement, but there comes a point when you want to look beyond the immediate week-to-week schedule. If your…
How to take great photos of your work
Word-of-mouth plays a big part in attracting new customers for most tradespeople. But, with people spending more time on the internet during the coronavirus…
Important admin deadlines for small businesses
From tax to payroll, there are plenty of important admin deadlines that you need to be aware of as a small business owner. This is especially important for…
Insurance for tradespeople: Tips and advice
Getting the right insurance can be a tricky task for tradespeople. Every trade involves some high-risk activity, and therefore, finding the correct cover for…
Insurance for tradespeople: Tips and advice
Getting the right insurance can be a tricky task for tradespeople. Every trade involves some high-risk activity, and therefore, finding the correct cover for…
How Jewson can help your business – everything you need to know
Our guide to all things Jewson, to help with the running of your business. From what to find instore, to a branch locator. As a tradesperson, you need regular…
How to do SEO for trades websites
As you know, being a tradesperson requires you to be out and about meeting and working with people every day. After all of that, where’s the time to think…
Making Tax Digital for VAT - How Do I Get Ready?
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT is now the standard way for VAT-registered businesses in the UK to keep records and submit returns. HMRC has fully…
Tradespeople with no online presence are losing revenue
According to some recent research by Plusnet , 41% of millennial homeowners are unlikely to do their own home improvements, and the majority will only book a…
Professional gardening tools guide
Professional gardeners rely heavily on their tools to make physically demanding tasks easier. Whether you’re sowing seeds, pruning shrubs or maintaining a…
Apprenticeships FAQs for employers
Apprenticeships are an effective way to get new talent into your business, or to upskill an existing employee. With apprentices helping 74% of employers…
Social media marketing: A quickstart guide for tradespeople
For some of your potential customers, your social media presence is the deciding factor when choosing between hiring you or one of your competitors. Get…
Social media videos: Ideas and tips for tradespeople
Did you know that the average person in the UK watches 100 minutes of online videos daily? To reach those potential customers, tradespeople are filming social…
How to Price Building Work & Estimates
In the current UK trade industry, a rough guess doesn’t help anyone. If an estimate is too low, it can lead to project delays; if it’s too high, you lose the…
Talk Of The Trade video series with Nathan Gambling
We’ve brought Talk Of The Trade to life with a new video series that’s all about championing great tradespeople and promoting good practice in the trades…
Taxable expenses guide for tradespeople
What are taxable and allowable expenses? It can be difficult to know exactly which is a taxable business expense and which is an allowable expense (the latter…
The 2026 Trade Survival Guide
As we move through 2026, the UK trade industry is facing a unique set of challenges. While demand for quality workmanship remains high, the ongoing cost of…
The best technology for your trades business
Technology can help transform the way you work and how your business operates. However, sometimes it’s hard to know what kind of tech is out there and which…
TikTok: Which trades have the most views?
TikTok is the latest free social media giant to grab the attention of boomers and millennials alike, allowing them to create and share short-form videos of…
Tips For A Successful One-Person Business
If you’re self-employed, run a small company or own a one-person business, you have to take on multiple roles to make sure everything runs smoothly. From doing…
Customer service tips for tradespeople
Great customer service is so important for helping a job run smoothly. It’s also essential for repeat and continued business – not only from the customer who…
Top tips for running a greener business
To celebrate World Earth Day , here are some ideas to help you reduce your carbon footprint – which is not only good for the planet, but it can help your…
Top 10 marketing tips for small businesses
Marketing your small trades business doesn’t have to be expensive. There are lots of cost-effective ways that you can use marketing to build your business,…
Business admin: Top 5 digital tools to beat business admin
Business admin is one of those tasks that seems simple at first. But, it can quickly snowball into a time-consuming and repetitive process that takes you away…
Van theft: Top tips on reducing the risk
According to Direct Line , over £83 million worth of tools were stolen in England and Wales from 2017 to 2019. Van theft is often not reported so the figures…
What are trade references and why do I need them?
Trade references can help small businesses get trade credit from suppliers so they can buy materials now and pay later. Some business-to-business companies…
Van branding: how to make your van stick out
One way to advertise your services and help get more business is by branding your van. Here are our top tips for making your van stand out to attract new…
Which social media is right for your business?
Social media can be a great way to connect to local customers and boost your business. Plus, 1 in 4 millennials – who spend more than the national average on…
Van insurance: Why consider switching your policy?
Once you’ve secured a good van insurance policy, you might be tempted to stick with it to avoid extra admin work. However, taking that approach could lose you…
Why AI Can't Replace the Trades
In a world where it feels like a new AI tool is launched every week, there’s been a lot of talk about which jobs are at risk of being replaced by machines.…
Winning Work: Boost Your Quote Success
With the April rise in council taxes and a general squeeze on household spending, the UK home improvement market is shifting. Homeowners haven’t stopped…
COVID-19: Working in homes safely during the pandemic
Tradespeople like you have done an amazing job of adapting your working practices to keep yourself and your customers safe during the coronavirus (or COVID-19)…