- "In the last 20 years our business has changed considerably…and as the focus of our business has changed, Bird Luckin have moved with us."
Alex Tanner, George Tanner (Shalford) Ltd - "Bird Luckin has looked after us incredibly well for over 60 years, they are pro-active and innovational - meeting all our needs to help us achieve our aims."
Richard Stubbings, Cliffords Limited - "I can honestly say that Bird Luckin are the best firm of accountants and auditors I have ever dealt with - and I don't say that lightly!"
Colin Webb, Walthamstow Stadium - "It's important for us to know that we will always be able to contact the right people to give us the right advice and support."
Jane Bennett, Bennetts Funeral Directors - "Although we deal mainly with one Partner … we also know that if we need to contact someone else who is a specialist in another area, we can get the advice we need quickly and easily"
Jeremy Ruggles, J.S. Wright & Sons Ltd - "Bird Luckin got us to a stage which would have taken us months - if not years - to reach on our own, and they got us there in a matter of weeks"
Matthew Sullivan, SNC Ltd - "You can be a good accountant, but if you don't have an understanding of the industry it can be very difficult. "There are two or three people we have regular contact with at Bird Luckin who know our business well, and it makes a difference.""
Robert Church, W A Church (Bures) Ltd - "The work which Bird Luckin has done for Boddingtons over the past few months has helped shape our future direction for the better."
John Warner, Chief Executive, Boddingtons Ltd - "Bird Luckin has acted for us since our inception 10 years ago. They have a very 'can do' yet highly professional attitude - we are very appreciative of their support and advice over the years."
Marlon Fox, Outlook Property Ltd
How to increase your profit
In business, your profits are your reward for your endeavours. In fact, profitability is the only reliable measurement of a business' success. Profits are the very lifeblood of a business. They fuel growth, support the owners, provide for the well being of the staff, and ultimately determine the success or failure of the business. So how can you increase your profits?
Gross profit
The objective is either to expand sales income while controlling direct costs, or reduce direct costs to increase gross profit.
You should ensure that:
- You know your market and your competitors
- Your product knowledge is complete and you are technically able in all aspects of the business
- Your service is of high quality, delivered on time and according to specification
- You take advantage of cost-effective means to increase sales - consider recommendations, promotions, leaflets, press releases, and adverts
Warning - Be wary of dropping prices to boost sales. The increased volume may not be sufficient to cover the reduced gross profit margin
- Your direct costs are kept to an absolute minimum. Most businesses should aim to reduce direct costs by at least 5% every year. Look carefully at material and labour costs, as well as production methods. Be flexible and innovative in seeking more cost-effective solutions
Warning - Before changing your supplier, consider the level of service you are receiving as well as the cost
- If you charge a rate for a job it is important to ensure that you use your working time effectively. On average, a self employed trader should endeavour to charge for 35 hours per week, and receive not less than £450 for that time. Keep a timesheet so you can monitor and adjust your use of time
Overheads
You should aim to keep costs under your control:
- Expenses - Keep your business expenses to an absolute minimum, and ensure that any additional overheads you assume result in increased profitability/efficiency
- Increasing your overheads - Are you satisfied that for all new overheads you have reviewed the market to establish where to place your orders? Reliability and backup service are important factors to take into account. The cheapest may not be the best for your business
- Where assets are acquired on finance - Be sure to obtain quotations for your finance from your suppliers, your bank, and a finance company. Check with us to see if your finance costs could be reduced
- Reviews - Many businesses could benefit from a regular review of their telephone and insurance costs. Even bank charges can often be reduced
- Credit - Control your credit account customers closely to avoid bad debts
Summary
You must be aware of your income and expenditure. Proper books and records are essential for monitoring the trends and patterns in your business.
It is not necessary to produce a full profit and loss account every month, rather select the key factors that will best help you understand how you are doing, e.g. chargeable hours, sales volume, wastage, and materials used. Compare these figures with previous months, and with your targets.
Do call us if you would like further help or advice on this subject.