🚨EMERGENCY Blog: How to prepare for the April 6th NI increase

This April, National Insurance (NI) increases- if you're stressing, read this... 

📌 National Insurance Is Increasing—Here’s How to Protect Your Profits Without Cutting Staff 

🔥 On April 6th, National Insurance is increasing in the UK. 

For many business owners, this isn’t just a small financial change—it’s a direct hit to profit margins that could impact hiring, wages and long-term growth. 

Some businesses may absorb the cost, others may pass it onto customers, but the real question is: 

👉 How do you tackle this WITHOUT harming your business or your staff? 

Here’s how I'm thinking about it. (My last tip is the most important!)👇 

1️⃣ Start With Your Existing Clients—Maximise Their Value 

The first instinct might be to go hunting for new business—but the easiest way to increase profits without raising your costs is to maximise the clients you already have. 

💡 Think: How can you increase their average spend? 

This is where cross-selling & profit pumps(from our G.P.C.P method) come in. 

🔹 Look at all your services—what add-ons or upgrades could clients benefit from? 🔹Bundle existing services together to offer more value while increasing revenue. 🔹Incentive urgency—if you know a client will eventually need something, add incentives to help them decide sooner. (Couple ways I did this was to do bundle discounts or inform the client of a price increase coming soon) 

📢 Example: In my garden company, we offer seasonal add ons, (right now it's late winter, so we're informing our clients of planting ideas, scarifying lawns & mulching beds) 

💰 Higher spend per client = More revenue with minimal extra cost. 

2️⃣ Audit Every Overhead—Check You're Not Wasting Money 

Most businesses assume they’re already running lean. But when was the last time you did a deep dive on every outgoing expense? 

💡 The reality? Even the most careful business owners overlook waste. 

🔹 Check all subscriptions & software tools—are you paying for things you don’t need?  

🔹 Negotiate supplier rates—bulk purchases or loyalty can get you better pricing.  

🔹 Audit staffing efficiency—can some tasks be automated or outsourced for less? 

📢 Personal Example: I used to check expenses every month… yet somehow, I was paying for a domain I hadn’t used in 2 years- imagine how much of an idiot I felt in that moment! Even if you think you’re being careful, small leaks add up. 

🚀 Take 30 minutes this week & cut the waste. 

3️⃣ Raise Prices—But Do It Strategically 

⚠️ Raising prices across the board can scare off customers. 

Instead, here’s how i've done it: 

🔹 Introduce price increases for new business first.  

🔹 For existing clients, offer added value (more perks, improved service) instead of a sudden jump.  

🔹 Offer incentives for clients to stay ahead of price increases (e.g., discounts for long-term commitments). 

📢 Example: An accountant I worked with wanted needed to raise prices, so we timed it with tax return season. Instead of a blanket increase, we created an early submission incentive—clients who submitted their documents ahead of time locked in the old pricing. If they left it late? They paid more. 

💰 The result? Clients saw value in paying sooner, cash flow improved, and price increases felt fair- AND it helped them get all the info they needed on time. 

4️⃣ Reduce Cost Without Reducing Quality 

Most businesses equate cutting costs with cutting quality. That’s NOT the case. 

🔹 Can certain tasks be automated?  

🔹 Are there lower-cost alternatives to certain suppliers?  

🔹 Is office space essential, or can remote work reduce expenses? 

📢 Example: Shrink office space down, move the team to hybrid with adjusted start times when they are in the office.  

🚀 Saving money is just as powerful as making more. 

5️⃣ Focus on Cash Flow—Not Just Revenue 

More revenue is great, but cash flow is king. 

💡 A profitable business can still fail if cash flow is tight. 

🔹 Offer discounts for upfront payments instead of extended credit terms.  

🔹 Set up automated payment reminders (late payments kill cash flow).  

🔹 Consider retainer or subscription models for consistent monthly income. 

📢 Example: In my garden company I struggled with late paying customers & flaky customers (wanting to drop a random visit at short notice). Instead of per-visit invoicing, I moved them to a year-round retainer model—spreading payments over 12 months. Clients preferred predictable payments, and winter profit doubled. (there was a few other strategies to lead to that- we cover those on our workshop) 

📌 Just be sure to—Take Action Now 

🔥 National Insurance increases are coming. But that doesn’t mean your profits have to take a hit. 

🚀 By implementing just ONE (but try more) of these strategies, you could offset the increase & even come out more profitable. 

✅ Cross-sell to existing clients to increase revenue without high acquisition costs. 

✅ Cut unnecessary expenses—even small leaks drain profits.  

✅ Raise prices smartly—without scaring customers away.  

✅ Optimise operations & cash flow to protect long-term stability. 

NOW is the time to act. 

And for my BIGGEST tip.... 

Talk to your team about it. Be honest, upfront & dont pretend it's all fine.  

You're all in this together & many employed people won't be aware of the implications the NI increase has.  

We'd love to give bonuses, pay rises & more perks (some maybe not) but the reality is this year will be one of the hardest- be open with your team, let them know what's happening behind the scenes & allow them to get involved in brainstorming.  

You never know, they may just have a great idea.  

Helpful?  

Let's see how effective your marketing is to ensure you're drawing in your ideal clients, team & partners. Take our 2-minute quiz HERE