PHAM NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2025 Business Matters Problems with tax management


Almost a third (28%) of plumbers are not confident in managing their taxes, according to new research undertaken by Wavin. The survey, conducted as part of the company’s ‘Behind the Pipes’ campaign, has found a signifi cant rise in sole traders and younger plumbers lacking confi dence in managing their taxes, with four in ten (43%) plumbers who work alone said they lacked confi dence. The findings follow the increase in


National Insurance contributions for employers which came into eff ect in April, as well as a string of business and personal tax changes in recent years. Almost half (46%) of plumbers said financial management, such as tax guidance and pricing strategies, was the business support they would fi nd the most useful from the government and fi nancial institutions. The wider research also pulls out some


interesting insights – whilst client communication is the area plumbers were most confi dent in (83%), a number are still lacking confi dence in other areas of their business. As the cost-of-living crisis continues for many, one in fi ve (20%) are worried about pricing, while the same proportion aren’t clear on the best approach for marketing their businesses.


Plumbers also expressed their view on


what tax changes would help their business. Almost half (48%) said reduced VAT on materials would make the most diff erence. Meanwhile almost four in ten (39%) said increased tax relief for tools and simplifi ed tax processes would be helpful changes by the government. Dan Scott, vice president of Northern


Europe at Wavin, comments: “Sole traders in particular face big challenges ahead, as they juggle client demands and business fi nances in economically uncertain times. It is vital plumbers have access to business support, especially those at the start of their career or too busy with client work. ” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/32


QR code to retain service history


A simple and effective way to retain an appliance’s service history and encourage customers to contact their installer to arrange for a repair or their next service is offered in the form of new ‘smart service stickers’, available online or from a limited number of independent merchants. The smart service


sticker displays a QR code which the user simply scans for details to appear in their browser. The customer can see a log of previous work before contacting their engineer and it will only display the details for the


A smarter way to stay on top of cash fl ow


Designed for tradespeople who may be tired of juggling paperwork and waiting weeks to get paid, Fergus Pay is said to provide a smarter way to stay on top of cash fl ow. On-site or on the move, this fl exible payment solution helps to collect payments quickly and cuts the hassle of chasing invoices. Fergus Pay makes it possible to wrap up


each job and send an invoice instantly by text or email. Customers can then simply click ‘Pay Now’ to settle up securely with their card.


There is also the option of taking payments


on-site using the Fergus Go mobile app and Scan to Pay. Customers simply scan the QR code and pay using their own iPhone or Android device. As soon as the job’s completed, so is the payment, allowing tradespeople to move onto their next project.


The payment system can be set up in a


matter of minutes, after which each invoice can be tracked and managed in one place. Fergus Pay accepts all major credit cards so customers can pay in the way that suits them best. According to Fergus, as well as saving time


and reducing paperwork, users of Fergus Pay will typically get paid more than twice as fast compared to traditional methods. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/34


Come and join us!


Designed for gas engineers by gas engineers, Gas App Uk is consistently supported and updated to ensure that users have all the information they need to do a fi rst class job. So why not join our community? 80,000+ members can’t be wrong! Simply visit the Apple or Google store and search for Gas App Uk.


company that purchased the sticker. No subscription is required after the sticker has been purchased


(currently available for 50p per sticker), and the customer will receive two SMS reminders free per sticker (email reminders are unlimited). For the installation company, as well as


providing a service history, it offers an easy way to access all relevant installation documents and enables the option to provide the customer with a branded company profile. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/925/33


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