The Persistent Great Tit

The Persistent Great Tit

 

There is an old holly tree outside our kitchen window in which we hang a number of bird feeders.  These days, we mostly put out sunflower hearts and fat balls as they seem to be sufficient to attract all the birds in our area.  We have a family of goldfinches and a greater spotted woodpecker who regularly visit … but I digress.  Amongst our visitors is a healthy looking great tit.  He is very keen to ensure that his breakfast is always readily available.  On days when the feeders are empty, he does the round tapping all the metal feeders with his beak.  This continues until they are refilled.

 

Now, you might be beginning to wonder what this has to do with Small Business Saturday?  Well, it struck me when I was watching him determinedly hammering away, that he is a bit like the HMRC who are continually knocking at our doors trying to ensure that we pay every last coin into their coffers! 

 

Believe me, it’s officers aren’t just doing this with very large companies and organisations, but with very many small and medium-sized enterprises as well.  This can and does include tiny businesses, sometimes with just one careful owner.

 

I have met many an anxious small business owner who has unwittingly come up against the might of HMRC and become the subject of an unexpected investigation into their business affairs.  The problem for some small business owners, the vast majority of whom have no idea that they are not compliant with legislation, is that ignorance is no defense.  This means that HMRC can penalise any of us for not keeping within the letter of the law.

 

For a small business, this is most often worrying and unhealthily expensive and can even jeopardise the future of the business.  In this day and age when the government is trying its hardest to gather in every penny of available tax, and when HMRC looks into every corner, whether for a business’s millions or a widow’s mite, I can categorically say that each and every small business owner needs to be very thorough and extremely careful.  The very best path to take is to ensure that all ‘i’s are dotted and ‘T’s crossed. 

 

If you have chosen to go it alone and not to use a professional such as an accountant to assist you, then please take the time to read up on all relevant rules and regulations.  Sometimes it can be helpful just to take an hour of professional time to get good advice to help you to keep safe.  If you don’t have all the information at your fingertips you are much more vulnerable.

 

So, from one small, local business owner to all others out there, happy Small Business Saturday, and my very best wishes for a successful and positive year ahead!  Oh, and if you do have a persistent Great Tit-like ours, my best advice is, keep your feeders full!

 

Take care!