John K Mitchell's Misc Blog

Save money when driving on business trips
How To Save Money When Driving on Business Trips


Many business people spend a lot of time driving, whether it's visiting clients or delivering goods. The cost of fuel seems to be increasing all the time, caused by high taxes in the UK, demand for oil from the developing countries and political troubles around the world. This means that fuel costs are an increasingly large part of a businesses expenditure.

This article aims to help you reduce those costs by suggesting driving tips and simple vehicle maintenance. It's been suggested by some people that by combining all of these tips you could save up to 30% of your fuel costs. And of course, by applying these tips to your personal driving you could save money there as well.


Driving tips


Drive steadily and keep to the speed limits.

Increasing your speed obviously increases the amount of fuel you use. By driving at 70mph the average car uses 38% more fuel than it does at 50mph. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2010/04/save-money-when-driving-on-business-trips/

How an Echo Show Can Make Your Small Home Office Smarter, Safer and More Organised
How an Echo Show Can Make Your Small Home Office Smarter, Safer and More Organised


Running a business from home? An Echo Show can act as your digital receptionist, security desk, wall planner and quick-answer assistant all in one. From doorbell monitoring to office calendars and security cameras, it’s a simple way to bring big-business convenience into a small home office.

Working from home sounds simple. No commute. No office politics. No awkward shared fridge. But once you’re actually running a business from your spare room, things can get messy fast. Deliveries arrive while you’re on calls. Clients turn up early. You forget a meeting because it’s buried in your inbox. The dog barks at the door just as you’re about to press “Join Meeting”.

This is where an Echo Show quietly becomes one of the most useful bits of kit you can own. It’s not just a smart speaker with a screen. It’s a live dashboard for your home office. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2927

Is SEO Still Worth It for Small UK Businesses in 2026?
Is SEO Still Worth It for Small UK Businesses in 2026?


Short answer? Yes. But it’s not the same game it was five years ago.

Search has changed. AI is answering questions. Google is showing more information without sending people to websites. Social media is noisy. Ads are expensive. So it’s fair to ask: is SEO still worth the time and money for a small UK business in 2026?

The honest answer is this: SEO still works, but only if you understand what’s changed and stop chasing old tactics. If you’re still thinking it’s about stuffing keywords into pages and waiting for magic to happen, you’ll be disappointed. If you treat it as building trust, visibility and authority online, it’s still one of the best long-term investments you can make.

Let’s break it down properly and look at what’s really going on.


The Big Shift: AI Overviews in Search Results


If you’ve searched for anything recently, you’ll have noticed it. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2923

Why Search Phrases are Important for a Small Business Website
Want more of the right people finding your website? It doesn’t start with clever design or fancy features. It starts with understanding what your customers actually type into Google when they’re looking for help.  Although this article talks about accountancy sites and "tax" the same can can apply to almost any site - so when reading the article replace "tax" with "plumber" / "electrician" / "pub" or what ever your business is and see how you can apply the guidance to your web site.


I want to be found for tax


“I want to be found for tax.” I hear this a lot when I talk to firms of  Accountants, and I get why. Tax feels like a big, valuable word. People search for it all the time. It sounds important. The problem is, it’s also completely wrong.

Let’s be honest for a moment. When someone says they want to be found for tax, what do they actually mean? Are they talking about council tax? road Tax? income tax? corporation tax? VAT? capital gains tax? self assessment tax returns? https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/02/why-search-phrases-are-imporant-for-a-small-business-website/

Charging Per Hour vs Charging Per Job: What’s Best for Your Small Service Business?
Charging Per Hour vs Charging Per Job: What’s Best for Your Small Service Business?


Per hour or per job? It sounds like a simple choice. It isn’t. The way you price your work shapes how customers see your value, how much you earn, and how stressed you feel at the end of the week. If you run a small service business, this decision can change everything.

Whether you’re a plumber, designer, gardener, consultant, cleaner, developer or coach, you’ve probably wrestled with this at some point. Do you charge for your time? Or do you charge for the outcome? On the surface, hourly pricing feels fair. You work an hour, you get paid for an hour. Simple. Charging per job feels cleaner. The customer knows the price upfront, and you know what you’ll earn if the job goes well.

But, and this was touched on in yesterday's post, here’s the real twist. Most customers don’t actually want your time. They want results. They want the leak fixed. The website live. The garden sorted. The stress gone. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/02/charging-per-hour-vs-charging-per-job-whats-best-for-your-small-service-business/

How to Raise Your Prices in 2026 Without Losing Your Best Clients
How to Raise Your Prices in 2026 Without Losing Your Best Clients


Yes, you can raise your prices in 2026 without scaring off your best clients. In fact, if you do it right, you can boost your profits, improve your service, and earn even more respect. This guide shows small service business owners exactly how to increase prices with confidence, clarity and care.

Let’s be honest. The idea of putting your prices up can make your stomach flip. You picture long-term clients walking away. You imagine awkward phone calls. You worry someone will say, “That’s too expensive,” and disappear.

But here’s the truth: most small service businesses undercharge. They set prices years ago and never revisit them. Costs creep up. Energy bills rise. Software subscriptions go up. Insurance jumps. And somehow, you’re still charging 2021 rates in 2026.

If that’s you, you’re not greedy for wanting more. You’re running a business, not a charity.

Raising your prices is not about squeezing clients. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/02/how-to-raise-your-prices-in-2026-without-losing-your-best-clients/

Using Audiobooks to Learn New Techniques for Your Small Business
Using Audiobooks to Learn New Techniques for Your Small Business


Short on time but big on ambition? Audiobooks let you learn new business skills while driving, walking the dog, or making tea. Here’s how small business owners can turn listening time into growth time.


Why Audiobooks Make Sense for Busy Small Business Owners


Let’s be honest. As a small business owner, your to-do list never ends. You’re answering emails, chasing invoices, dealing with suppliers, posting on social media, and somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re supposed to “work on the business” too. That usually means learning new skills. Marketing. Sales. Leadership. Finance. Tech. The list goes on.

The problem? Finding the time.

This is where audiobooks come in. Instead of needing a quiet hour with a paperback (which rarely happens), you can listen while you live. In the car. On the school run. At the gym. While doing the accounts. Even while cooking dinner. It turns “dead time” into learning time. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2913

Why ‘Being Busy’ Isn’t the Same as Being Profitable for Service Businesses
Why ‘Being Busy’ Isn’t the Same as Being Profitable for Service Businesses


Stop wearing your 'busy-ness' like a badge of honour. If you are running a service business in the UK and you are constantly 'flat out' but your bank account is looking a bit thin, you are likely stuck in the Busy Trap. This guide explains why working more hours doesn't actually mean making more money and how you can flip the script to start earning what you are actually worth.

We have all been there, haven't we? You meet a mate for a quick drink on a Friday—if you can even find the time to get away from the laptop or the van—and they ask how things are going. You puff out your chest and say, "Oh, I’m absolutely slammed, mate. Haven't had a minute to myself in weeks!" It feels good to say it. In the world of small business, being busy is often treated like a gold medal. We think if the phone is ringing and the diary is full, we must be winning at life. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2911

Why Search Phrases are Imporant for a Small Business Website
Want more of the right people finding your website? It doesn’t start with clever design or fancy features. It starts with understanding what your customers actually type into Google when they’re looking for help.  Although this article talks about accountancy sites and "tax" the same can can apply to almost any site - so when reading the article replace "tax" with "plumber" / "electrician" / "pub" or what ever your business is and see how you can apply the guidance to your web site.


I want to be found for tax


“I want to be found for tax.” I hear this a lot when I talk to firms of  Accountants, and I get why. Tax feels like a big, valuable word. People search for it all the time. It sounds important. The problem is, it’s also completely wrong.

Let’s be honest for a moment. When someone says they want to be found for tax, what do they actually mean? Are they talking about council tax? road Tax? income tax? corporation tax? VAT? capital gains tax? self assessment tax returns? https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2906

Managing Remote Workers - 7 Simple Tips
Managing Remote Workers - 7 Simple Tips


Remote work isn’t going anywhere. If you run a small business, you need simple, practical ways to manage staff who aren’t sitting in the same room as you. Get it right and you’ll boost productivity, loyalty and profits. Get it wrong and you’ll drown in confusion, missed deadlines and awkward Zoom calls.

Let’s be honest. Managing remote staff can feel strange at first. You can’t glance across the office to see who’s busy. You don’t overhear quick chats that help you spot problems early. You might even wonder if work is actually getting done. That uncertainty can play on your mind, especially if you built your business on face-to-face relationships and hands-on management.

But here’s the good news. Remote teams can be brilliant for small businesses. You can hire talent from anywhere. You can cut office costs. Staff often enjoy better work-life balance, which means they stay longer and work harder. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2011/03/managing-remote-workers-7-simple-tips/

Should Small Service Businesses in the UK Be Using WhatsApp for Customer Communication?
Should Small Service Businesses in the UK Be Using WhatsApp for Customer Communication?


Customers hate waiting. They hate forms. They really hate being put on hold. That’s why so many of them now expect to message you instead. WhatsApp feels quick, familiar, and human – but is it actually right for small service businesses in the UK?

This is not a hype piece and it’s not a scare story either. It’s a straight-talk look at where WhatsApp genuinely helps, where it can quietly cause problems, and how small service businesses can use it without it taking over their life.


The Big Shift: Why Customers Expect Messaging Now


Not that long ago, customers expected to ring you, leave a voicemail, and wait. Then email took over, and waiting a day or two felt normal. Now? Waiting feels broken. Customers live in messaging apps all day, every day, and they carry those expectations straight into how they deal with businesses. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2903