Business rates - how to minimise?

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Monty's Mum

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Hello

I am new to this forum & undertaking business planning considering a DIY livery yard; no labour except a.m. feed put in; water, electric & school use included (yes I know from reading previous threads - don't do it!)

It appears that business rates will be a huge chunk out of profits & wondered if other YO / YMs had found any ways of minimising these at all

There will be 24 boxes, small indoor (poor surface presently) school & 'smart' 60x40 m outdoor school - both lit; tackroom, feedroom, wash area, WC etc
The most I could do is run a small flock of sheep too as its about 20 acres

any idea welcome (including those that didn't work!) from those that are or have been clobbered by these rates

Many thanks
 
Can you find out how the rates are worked out ie per stable or per sq metre of stabling area or of the covered area. you might be able to rationalise a bit, I know a farmer who had to knock down his hardly used stabling in one shed, to save on rates. He also had to use portable heating rather than central heating in his cattery, btw have you thought about cats, very easy to do and profitable, also you know when customers will be appearing.
Organic chickens maybe have a look at "Smallholder"
 
Don't forget you will end up having to keep the place tidy and do bigger jobs like muck heap removal, and yard sweeping, especially if kids are involved..
There are Easycare sheep which don't need shearing.
And micro pigs are all the rage for breeding and selling as pets, just be aware that there are easier ways to make money!
You would need to ask others about automatic watering for horses, as no doubt you will be on a water meter, but you might be able to collect roof water for swilling down etc.
 
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Dont know if this helps at all, but ensuring you source your electricity from a business supplier opposed to residential - business rates are on the whole cheaper and a fixed price for a fixed term...
 
The valuation office website http://www.voa.gov.uk/ should have a valuation for how the rates are worked out on the property, you can also search for other similar properties on the site (by postcode, address, property type) so you will be able to see what values the district valuer has attached to each element in the yard and how these compare with other similar properties.
 
Hi MrsD123
thank you for your thoughts - we will certainly explore other uses for the land, as though I would love to run a yard, it needs to work financially for all involved, not least the liveries, if they want a permenant 'home' rather than a cheap one that closes due to being broke.
I have emailed the VOA people to try to get figures
Any other thoughts welcome & thanks again
 
your indoor school will be the biggest drain on your rates, I have known other establishments use the indoor school as a storage facility during the summer months (grain) depends on buliding, type of floor and access. However these buildings may have been constructed as storage in the first instance and used as a school in the second instance. However might be something to look into.

Look at your waste water collecting - lots of water can be saved and used for washing muddy feet, washing out feed and water buckets, and washing down the yard, trailer, car etc. You will be surprised at how much water you will use and how much water is wasted!! Treat it like 'liquid gold!' - Liveries have a habit of leaving taps running, or leaving the water gushing out of the hosepipe while they nip back to the tack room to collect a bottle of forgotten shampoo etc !

On my yard the amount of electricty used boiling the kettle is quite beyond belief but I just can't seem to cut this particular cost !!! ;-) lol
 
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