The Powered Now Blog

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webinar

Discover the benefits of Powered Now's Diary

With Powered Now's diary, you can schedule work, assign jobs and keep your customers updated. Watch our webinar Discover the Benefits of Powered Now...

best apps for electricians

Best apps for electricians in the UK

The electrical industry has come a long way with the advent of technology, in this blog we share the best apps for electricians in the UK.

Adventures in trade

Plumbing & Social Media with Todd Glister

In this podcast we talk about how Todd Glister got started in the trade, he shares his tips for using social media and some funny stories along the...

Adventures in trade

How Travis Perkins is going digital

In the second episode of Adventures in Trade, we spoke to John Godwin, the director of digital and marketing at the UK's largest trade brand Travis...

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

MTD for ITSA practical tips

The deadline for MTD for ITSA compliance is fast approaching, but there are still several things you can do now to prepare your business.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

When does MTD start?

MTD for VAT starts for the first VAT return that any business does for the first period starting on or after 1st April 2018.

skilled workers

5 benefits of upskilling in the trades

Why upskill? Mick Fitzgerald, Director of Options Skills, shares his top five benefits of upskilling in the trades industry.

Podcast

Should I get an electric van?

In the first episode of Adventures in Trade, we spoke to Paul Thorley from Solent Vehicle Consultants to learn if Electric Vans are the future of the...

Top Tips to reduce Van Theft

Recent years have seen a major rise in theft from vans owned by installers and other trades people. For those that have been hit, the result is major...

tools

Tool theft breaks businesses

Despite the grim statistics on tool thefts, Powered Now members can protect their business easily with ARMD, explains Duncan Jackson, co-founder of...

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)

Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) FAQs

In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about CIS (the Construction Industry Scheme).

MTD for ITSA

MTD for ITSA software explained

What is MTD for ITSA software? MTD for ITSA requires landlords and self-employed who earn more than £10,000 a year to use MTD-compatible software. 

legal essentials for small trade businesses

Legal Essentials For Small Trade Businesses

There are several types of legal essentials a small trade business owner must address and we try to cover them here as simply as possible here. 

going green

What Going Green means for trade businesses

Having a green trade business shows your company has made sustainability an integral part of its culture. What does going green mean for tradespeople?

Job sheet software

Job Sheet Templates - Free Guide for trades

Job sheet templates are key for trades. They provide business owners and workers with essential information about the job that needs to be completed.

quoting software

Why quoting software is essential for trades

Is it worth investing in Job Quoting Software?  The short answer is, yes! To win the job, your customer will expect an accurate and professional...

business

Meet the Supplier: Book A Builder UK

As part of an ongoing series of blogs, we interview suppliers from the UK Trade and Construction Industry. Today its Book a Builder UK!

diary management software

The benefits of diary management software

For busy small business owners, keeping track of their diaries is not an easy task. Here are some of the benefits of diary management software.

installer

News for installers! The Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Are you an installer wondering what the Boiler Upgrade Scheme means for your business? Here we explain everything you need to know and how you can...

How to Guide

How to grow a small electrical business

While growing a small electrical business is challenging, it's not impossible. Here are some ideas on how to make this happen!

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

Making Tax Digital FAQs

Wondering what Making Tax Digital is and how it will impact your business? Here we answered the most frequently asked questions about MTD.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

Making Tax Digital deadlines - key dates to know

Deadline applies to most VAT registered businesses although you don't currently have to comply if you voluntarily registered & are below the VAT...

product update

Spring 2022 Updates

We've some updates to help you make your life easier without slowing your business down in the process.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

Pros and cons of voluntary VAT registration

From April 2022, Making Tax Digital for VAT will apply to all VAT-registered businesses. Here we explain the pros and cons of voluntary VAT...

bitcoin

Will Build for Bitcoin

In a story we love at Powered Now, Scottish company Orocco now accepts all major cryptocurrencies for completed projects. 

product update

Whats New in Powered Now: Sumup Online

As part of our new v8.5.0 release we have a number of new and highly requested features including a new integration, SumUp online.

Carbon Saving

Off-Grid BioLPG Can Yield 81% Carbon Saving

Off-Grid BioLPG Can Yield 81% Carbon Saving: BioLPG as the primary fuel source, they can attain a potential savings of 81% on carbon emissions.

Biofuels

Biofuels: Future for Home heating?

Biofuels: Future for Home heating - there has been much advancement over the years and Biofuels have managed to gain quite a foothold.

Electrician

Qualities That Make a Great Electrician

Being an Electrician can be challenging but a rewarding career if you have proper skills. Trained electricians are in high demand, and they get paid...

remote

How to Manage your Mobile Workforce

How to Manage your Mobile Workforce: To find different ways can be challenging, especially when your firm relies on a mobile workforce.

business

Meet the Supplier: SumUp

As part of an ongoing series of blogs, we interview suppliers from the UK Trade and Construction Industry. Today its SumUp a Powered Now partner!

Field management software

How to Keep Your Engineers On Time

How to Keep Your Engineers On Time: Effective scheduling, meeting consumer demands, promote productivity and efficiency of technicians, and many...

green home

Top 5 Net-Zero Construction Techniques

To reduce their carbon footprints, contractors are using sustainable and net-zero construction techniques to transform the way buildings use energy.

business

Mental Health: Support for the trade industry

The social stigma around discussing mental health is quickly fading. Unfortunately, the construction and trade industry still has some catching up to...

women

Women in Trade: The UK Needs More!

A lot of innovations that we use today owe credit to women engineers. The engineering profession is attracting more women day by day.

heating

UK Boiler Companies Back New Hydrogen Pledge

UK Boiler Companies Back Hydrogen Pledge - To boost the shift from fossil fuels to hydrogen, the Heating and Hot water Industry have supported the UK...

Managing your business

Cowboy Customers, featured on ITV

Powered Now, the Field Service Management Software was featured on ITV News talking about our recent Cowboy Customers survey.

apprentice

How to hire an apprentice

Powered Now the Gas Engineer Software looks at the process of hiring an apprentice.

black friday

Black Friday Bundle for £25

This black Friday we have a huge sales offer for the whole month of November. Worth over £250 it includes: A SumUp card reader.

black friday

Powered Now & ITS Prize Giveaway!

Powered Now, UK Field Service Management Software always like to do something interesting for Black Friday.

product update

New features: v8.4.5

Whats new in version v8.5.4?

We’ve got some new reports and a new project feature that means you can now number your projects instead of naming them.

product update

August 2020 Product Update

It's encouraging to hear that the construction and trade industry is busy bouncing back from COVID-19, read more here.

leads

4 ways to win more leads

Ever lost a job, project or contract after expending lots of effort in pricing? Our tips can help you get more leads.

offer

Black FRI-YAY '19

What its Black Friday! Or black Fri-YAY depending on your point of view. We've decided to do something a little

How to get paid faster

There are a surprising number of ways that can help you to receive payment more promptly. The following article outlines some of the ideas to try.

Using technology to get your evenings back

This article examines the way that plumbers and electricians can get their evenings back with the help of technology, even if technology turns them...

Welcome to the independent state

Every competent tradesperson has the choice of trying to go it alone. Many do and even more think about it. The following article talks about some of...

Dodging the employment law minefield

Employment law can be a pain. There is a lot of detail and traps for the unwary. This article provides some thoughts on how to make it work for...

MTD for VAT - Now the Dust has settled

The start of mandatory reporting involving MTD for VAT came in on 1st April. Benjamin Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, looks at the current state of thi

The basics of VAT in the trade industry

There are a host of challenges that electrical contractors face in running their companies. Benjamin Dyer of Powered Now looks at one of them –...

So what do customers want?

Seeing things your customer’s way is one of the keys to succeed in business. The following article suggests 6 key ways that can help you set yourself...

Getting Pricing Right 5 top tips

Competing on price is one of the easiest ways to make you poorer. That statement may seem strange so this articles will explain how 5 tips on smart...

3 top tips in understanding GDPR

GDPR seems to be on everyone’s lips and a recent business survey revealed that it’s overtaken Brexit as the top concern of businesses.

Turbo charging your business with tech

Powered Now believes that trade businesses including installers, locksmiths, glaziers and other trades all have a lot to gain from using computer...

Will your job be terminated by robots?

There is a lot of noise in the press at the moment about the rise of robots and what this will mean for jobs. The following article looks at the...

How to be a winner using tech

To start up an installation business, you need to be great at the job as well as having a good business head. But if you are to grow your business,...

The tricky ones, when customers turn bad

Problem customers can go a long way to spoiling your enjoyment of work. This article looks at some simple tips for solving them and for heading off...

product update

Now supporting Making Tax Digital (MTD)!

Good news, Powered Now UK Field Service Management Software is fully MTD compliant, meaning that you can submit your quarterly VAT return via our...

Low cost ways to grow your business

Installers with ambition tend to be constantly seeking new ideas on how to grow their businesses. The following article looks at some of the lowest...

product update

Whats new in Powered Now - January 2019

Happy New Year from Powered Now!

It’s been a long time since we updated you on the changes we've made to Powered Now, so we've

Managing your business

Tricky customers, whats the secret?

In all businesses problem customers are a fact of life. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make things easier.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

What will be the problems with MTD?

The biggest problem with the MTD for VAT implementation is the short time in which this is expected to happen. There is a big chance that companies...

MTD

Are there any benefits from using MTD?

Although it’s easy to be cynical, there are likely to be benefits to businesses using the MTD platform, alongside of the pain of implementing a new...

MTD

How MTD works and how to comply with it

To comply with MTD a business or its agent (typically their accountant) must keep their records electronically. In other words, when a tax return of...

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

How to calculate MTD for VAT?

MTD for VAT returns are calculated exactly the same way as the current 9 Box return.

Making Tax Digital (MTD)

Who does MTD apply to?

MTD will eventually apply to all individuals that do tax returns as well as companies with sales of more than £10,000 per annum.

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