The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is creating unique challenges for small businesses throughout the UK. As such, we’ve compiled a brief guide to inform you about what 123 Reg is doing as well as any steps you can take to help keep your business going.

If you’re not sure about the best way to operate your business in these changing times, here are some quick options and ideas that you could easily implement:

Re-opening
As the government begins easing the lockdown and allowing non-essential retail shops to open, businesses will need to implement new measures to stay in accordance with social distancing rules. For example, these measures may include providing hand washing facilities or hand sanitiser, cleaning busy areas and limiting how much customers handle merchandise.

Companies will also need to instate measures that ensure customers are kept 2 metres apart from each other, such as floor markings or physical barriers. For further details, including which types of businesses are exempt, be sure to check the government’s official guidance. You can also use this government guide to check what your workplace needs to do to keep people safe.

International business travel
Although travelling internationally is not recommended at this time, if it’s a necessity for your business then you’ll need to take a few precautions. Before and while you’re travelling, be sure to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s travel advice for the country you’re visiting as well as their official coronavirus requirements.

Once you arrive back in the UK, you may need to self-isolate for 14 days, unless the country you visited is on the government’s travel corridor exemption list. If your journey includes any transit stops, this rule also applies should any new passengers get on or if any passengers mix with people outside the transport and then get back on

.

As always, please refer to the government’s official guidance as well as the BBC’s global report for any further developments.

Communications
Make sure that you inform customers about any changes to your service operations, opening hours or delivery options as soon as possible. Furthermore, be sure to announce these changes across your entire website and social media channels.

Honesty and transparency are always appreciated and, given current circumstances, most people will understand if it’ll take longer for them to receive their goods.

In any case, any messages sent out to your customers should be as brief and clear as possible, since many will probably be busy dealing with the effects of the outbreak on their personal lives.


Remote working
If, like us and many other companies, you’re now working from home, it’s worth downloading video conferencing and messaging software to ensure a smooth transition. Some great options include:

• Microsoft Teams – a free version is available that offers unlimited chat and video calling, although you may already have Teams if you’re subscribed to our Office 365 package
• Zoom – host unlimited one-to-one meetings or 40-minute sessions with 3 or more people on a free Basic account. Our Website Builder packages (excluding Starter) include Zoom meeting tools as standard. Zoom has suspended this time limit for schools and you can request to have this restriction lifted by by visiting their site
• Google Hangouts – make free group video calls for up to 10 contacts
• WhatsApp Business – send automated messages and quick replies to potential clients
• Facebook Live – broadcast live events to your customers

Useful tools
With more businesses placing a greater emphasis on their online presence, here are a selection of easy-to-use marketing and design tools that can help you boost your company image and workflow process:

• Over – enhance your social media images and graphics
• Canva – create professional-looking designs for your images, gift vouchers and more
• Pexels – a library of free, high-quality stock photos
• SurveyMonkey – send surveys that collate your customers’ feedback
• Evernote – organise your work and collaborate with your colleagues
• Hootsuite – manage your social media from one place
• Google Ads – get up to £120 in credit for Google ads

Even during these difficult times, you’ve still got a business to run and ongoing costs to meet. At the time of writing, to help with this the UK government has announced that it will offer a 100% Business Rates retail discount for companies whose property’s rateable value is less than £51,000. Businesses that pay little to no rates may also receive a £3,000 grant, provided they’re currently eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBBR) or Rural Rates Relief. For those who are self-employed, you’ll be able to claim a grant worth 80% of your average monthly profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.

In addition to this, the government has launched ‘Business Interruption Loan Scheme that will support small and medium-sized businesses that need access to bank lending and overdraft services, provided they have an annual turnover of up to £45 million. For start-up companies that are unable to apply for this scheme, the government has also announced the Future Fund, which offers these innovative businesses loans ranging from £125,000 to £5 million. This loan is subject to equal match funding from private investors and the business having raised £250,000 in equity investment from third-party investors within the last 5 years.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
If your employees have been placed on furlough, you may be able to claim 80% of their wages, up to £2,500 per month, along with any National Insurance and pension contributions through the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. From 1 July, employers can bring furloughed employees back to work for any amount of time and any shift pattern and will still be able to claim this grant for any normal hours not worked. When claiming for furloughed hours, employers will need to report and claim for a minimum period of a week.

However, this scheme will close to new entrants from 30 June and employers will only be able to furlough employees that have been furloughed for a full 3-week period prior to 30 June. As such, the final date an employer can furlough an employee for the first time will be 10 June. Employers will have until 31 July to make any claims in respect of the period to 30 June.

Bounce Back Loans
Since some businesses have missed out on or don’t meet the criteria for existing schemes, they may apply for a Bounce Back Loan, which serves as a simpler and quicker alternative to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme. To qualify, a firm must be UK based, established before 1st March 2020 and been adversely impacted by the coronavirus, whereupon they could receive up to £50,000. All lenders will charge a flat rate of 2.5%, while the government will cover the cost of fees and interest for the first 12 months and guarantee 100% of the loan if the firm defaults.

Plans for Jobs 2020
In addition to this, the government has unveiled its Plans for Jobs Plan for Jobs which will support the UK’s economic growth, employment rate and public finances going forward. Among the most prominent points of this policy include:

• The Job Retention Bonus scheme, which will encourage UK employers to keep on furloughed workers by rewarding firms with one-off payments of £1,000 for every furloughed employee who remains continuously employed through to the end of January 2021
• Implementing a temporary VAT cut on supplies of food and non-alcoholic drinks, from 15 July 2020 to 12 January 2021, to support jobs and businesses within the hospitality sector, such as bars, restaurants, pubs and cafés. This reduced rate of VAT also applies to supplies of accommodation as well as admission to attractions across the UK
• Temporarily cutting Stamp Duty Land Tax to help protect and create jobs as well as boost confidence in the housing market. As part of it, the Nil Rate Band of Residential SDLT will be increased to £500,000 until 31 March 2021 and cut the tax due for everyone who would have otherwise paid SDLT

Short-term solutions
If, however, you’re facing immediate cashflow issues, you may be able to delay your tax payments to HMRC by calling their helpline on 0800 015 559. Alternatively, you could get in touch with the Small Business Commissioner, an independent office dedicated to assisting small businesses affected by late or unfair payment issues.

It’s also worth checking to see if you’re covered by your business insurance – especially if you’ve purchased supply chain or denial of access cover – since the Chancellor has confirmed that the government’s advice is sufficient for businesses to make a claim, where they have appropriate interruption cover for pandemics in place.

As always, you should stay on top of the latest information and advice for businesses on the government’s gov.uk website and the latest health guidance from the NHS and World Health Organisation.