John K Mitchell's Misc Blog

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

Content Security Policy (CSP): What Small Businesses Need to Know
Content Security Policy (CSP): What Small Businesses Need to Know


Worried about website security but not sure where to start? Content Security Policy, or CSP, is one of those behind-the-scenes tools that can quietly protect your business website from nasty surprises. It can boost trust, reduce risk, and help keep your site and customers safe — but it is not always plain sailing.


Introduction: Why CSP Is Suddenly on Every Website Owner’s Radar


If you run a small business website, chances are you already wear too many hats. Sales, marketing, customer service, and somewhere in the mix, “website security” sits quietly on the to-do list, often untouched. CSP tends to pop up when something breaks, a browser warning appears, or a developer casually mentions it and moves on far too fast.

At its heart, Content Security Policy is a set of rules that tells a browser what is allowed to run on your website and what is not. Think of it like a very picky bouncer on the door of your site. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2901

The Hidden Website Costs That Catch Small Businesses Off Guard
The Hidden Website Costs That Catch Small Businesses Off Guard


When small business owners talk about website costs, the conversation usually sounds something like this:


“It’s fine, I only paid £500 for the site.”


And on the surface, that sounds reasonable. Job done. Website sorted.

Except… that £500 is very rarely the full story.

For many UK small businesses, the real costs of having a website don’t show up until months (or years) later. They creep in quietly, often in small amounts, and before you know it you’re paying far more than you expected — sometimes without even realising why.

This post breaks down the hidden website costs that regularly catch small businesses off guard, what they’re for, and how to avoid getting stung.


1. Hosting That Gets More Expensive Over Time


Cheap hosting is tempting. £3–£5 a month sounds like a bargain when you’re starting out.

The problem? That price is rarely permanent. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2899

Why Small Businesses Trust Accountants and Lawyers – But Not Specialist Website Designers
Why Small Businesses Trust Accountants and Lawyers – But Not Specialist Website Designers


Your website is often the first handshake with a customer. Yet many small businesses trust experts with their money, contracts, and tax – then leave their website to chance. That mismatch costs more than most owners realise.


Introduction: The Professional Gap No One Talks About


Most small business owners are sensible people. You know what you’re good at, and you know what you’re not. That’s why you hire an accountant to deal with tax, a solicitor to deal with contracts, and maybe even a bookkeeper to keep things tidy. You wouldn’t dream of “having a go” at your own accounts after watching a few YouTube videos, because you know the risk. Get it wrong and it can cost you real money, real stress, and sometimes real trouble.

But then there’s the website.

For some reason, websites live in a different mental box for many business owners. They feel approachable. Familiar. Almost harmless. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/?p=2895

Beyond the Hype: How Do You Really Know if Your Website is Working?
Beyond the Hype: How Do You Really Know if Your Website is Working?


Let’s be honest. When you first launched your small business website, the success metric was pretty simple: Did it load without error? Did the contact form actually send you an email? Victory! Champagne (or a stiff cup of tea) all round.


But fast forward a few months or years, and that initial relief has morphed into a low-level, nagging question. A question you probably ponder while making another brew, staring at the analytics dashboard like it’s a modern art piece you don’t quite understand.


“Is this thing actually doing anything for my business?”


We’ve all been fed the same lines. “You need a website!” “It’s your digital shop window!” “Drive traffic! Generate leads!” It’s true, of course. But once you’ve got the thing live, the goalposts shift. Now you’re not just a business owner; you’re a part-time digital strategist, wondering if the time and money you’ve invested is paying off. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/02/beyond-the-hype-how-do-you-really-know-if-your-website-is-working/

Beyond the Hype: How Do You Really Know if Your Website is Working?
Beyond the Hype: How Do You Really Know if Your Website is Working?


Let’s be honest. When you first launched your small business website, the success metric was pretty simple: Did it load without error? Did the contact form actually send you an email? Victory! Champagne (or a stiff cup of tea) all round.


But fast forward a few months or years, and that initial relief has morphed into a low-level, nagging question. A question you probably ponder while making another brew, staring at the analytics dashboard like it’s a modern art piece you don’t quite understand.


“Is this thing actually doing anything for my business?”


We’ve all been fed the same lines. “You need a website!” “It’s your digital shop window!” “Drive traffic! Generate leads!” It’s true, of course. But once you’ve got the thing live, the goalposts shift. Now you’re not just a business owner; you’re a part-time digital strategist, wondering if the time and money you’ve invested is paying off. https://www.forestsoftware.co.uk/blog/2026/02/beyond-the-hype-how-do-you-really-know-if-your-website-is-working/