Company · Guides & FAQ

Straight answers.

Practical guides for UK SMEs comparing energy, broadband, phones, insurance, finance and banking. What to check, what to prepare, and how the comparison is paid for.

Business energy

Independent cafe owner reviewing business bills before opening

Guide 01 · Energy

Compare business energy quotes without getting stung

A practical UK SME guide to comparing business energy quotes, understanding suppliers, broker commissions, contract terms and how to switch without nasty surprises.

Business owner checking contract dates and utility paperwork

Guide 02 · Energy

When can you switch business energy supplier?

Know when a UK business can switch energy supplier, what contract end dates mean, how renewal windows work and what to check before accepting a new deal.

Cafe owner reading an energy bill at a small kitchen desk

Guide 22 · Energy

Business energy contract ended? Check what happens next

Understand deemed, out-of-contract and rollover energy terms, check your renewal position, and gather the evidence needed to question a bill or compare.

Joinery business owner reading an energy contract at a workshop desk

Guide 23 · Energy

Business energy broker commission: what you can ask

Find out how energy broker commission works, where suppliers must disclose it, and what to ask before signing a contract or raising a complaint.

Salon owner reviewing complaint letters on a laptop after closing time

Guide 24 · Energy

Micro and small business energy rights: a clear guide

Check energy thresholds for micro and small businesses, the protections attached to each, and how to take an unresolved supplier or broker complaint further.

Print workshop owner checking an energy bill beside idle production equipment

Guide 25 · Energy

Business energy bills explained: charges, tax and meters

Learn how to check usage, standing charges, VAT, the Climate Change Levy and pass-through costs, then gather the evidence needed to correct a bill.

Business broadband

Small business team working online with laptops and broadband connection

Guide 03 · Broadband

Business broadband comparison: speed, reliability and contract traps

Compare UK business broadband properly by checking availability, upload speed, reliability, support, contract length, price rises and phone or VoIP needs.

Business team discussing phone and connectivity options

Guide 04 · Broadband and phones

Business phones and VoIP: what SMEs should compare first

A practical guide to comparing business phones, VoIP, mobiles, landlines and broadband together so SMEs can avoid paying for the wrong setup.

Shop owner checking a telephone socket beside an alarm panel

Guide 11 · Broadband and phones

PSTN switch-off: what your small business needs to check

Check which phones, alarms and payment devices rely on analogue lines, what the January 2027 retirement means, and how to plan your business migration.

Office worker highlighting a contract with a router on the shelf

Guide 12 · Broadband

Small business broadband contract rights: what applies

Check which broadband contract protections apply to your business, including price changes, contract length, renewal notices and independent complaints.

Engineer using a laptop beside neatly installed network equipment

Guide 13 · Broadband

SoGEA, full fibre or leased line: compare business broadband

Understand business broadband connection types, upload needs, installation checks and backup options before choosing between SoGEA, full fibre or a leased line.

Salon owner making a call beside a card terminal and desk phone

Guide 14 · Broadband and phones

Switch business broadband and keep your phone numbers

Plan a business broadband switch without overlooking number transfers, notice periods, equipment dependencies, overlap testing or the final bill.

Receptionist writing in a diary beside a phone and backup power unit

Guide 15 · Broadband and phones

Cloud phone systems: 999, power cuts and call recording

Check emergency calling, backup power, call recording and payment handling before moving your business phones to a cloud service or adding new features.

Business insurance

Business owner speaking with adviser about insurance cover

Guide 05 · Insurance

What business insurance does my company actually need?

A practical UK SME guide to common business insurance types, including public liability, employers' liability, professional indemnity, stock, tools and premises cover.

Small business management team comparing cover options

Guide 06 · Insurance

Public liability vs employers' liability vs professional indemnity

Understand the difference between public liability, employers' liability and professional indemnity insurance before comparing UK business cover.

Two joinery workers at benches with an insurance certificate by the door

Guide 26 · Insurance

Employers' liability insurance: the legal requirement

Check who may count as an employee, how the main exemptions work, and what employers must do about insurance certificates and ongoing records.

Design studio owner checking an insurance proposal while speaking on the phone

Guide 27 · Insurance

Business insurance and the duty of fair presentation

Understand what to disclose before buying or renewing business insurance, how a reasonable search works, and what can happen if material facts are missing.

Bakery owner counting ovens and equipment with a clipboard beside bread racks

Guide 28 · Insurance

Business underinsurance: how the average clause works

Understand why a partial claim can be reduced, how rebuild values differ from market prices, and what to check in stock and business interruption cover.

Mobile hairdresser reviewing an insurance renewal at a kitchen table

Guide 29 · Insurance

Paying business insurance monthly: how the plan works

Understand premium finance, instalment terms, cancellation and missed payments, so you can check both the insurance policy and the payment agreement.

Business finance

Business owner reviewing finance dashboard and growth numbers

Guide 07 · Finance

Business loans: how to check eligibility without wasting time

A practical guide to business loan eligibility for UK SMEs, covering amount needed, use of funds, turnover, trading history, documents and how credit checks are handled.

Finance paperwork, invoices and calculator on a business desk

Guide 08 · Finance

Cash flow finance: invoice finance vs business loans

Compare invoice finance and business loans for UK SMEs, including use cases, costs, repayment structures, eligibility and what to prepare before enquiring.

Plant hire owner reviewing a facility letter at a desk overlooking the yard

Guide 30 · Finance

Personal guarantees for business loans: what to check

Understand the liability a personal guarantee can create, the clauses that change your exposure, and the questions to take to an independent legal adviser.

Engineering owner and machine operator reviewing equipment together in a workshop

Guide 31 · Finance

Asset finance, hire purchase and leasing: a business guide

Compare ownership, end-of-term obligations and the questions behind asset finance, including the lease accounting changes for periods beginning in 2026.

Food production owner and colleague inspecting a stainless steel bottling line

Guide 32 · Finance

Growth Guarantee Scheme: what business borrowers should know

Understand who the Growth Guarantee Scheme protects, who makes lending decisions, and which published terms still apply while announced changes are introduced.

Wholesale business owner reviewing records on a laptop in a stockroom

Guide 33 · Finance

Business credit files: what lenders look at and why

Understand business credit records, the information lenders assess beyond a score, and the practical checks to complete before making a finance application.

Business banking

Florist checking a phone beside a card terminal between customers

Guide 16 · Banking

Switch business bank accounts: what moves and what stays

See what the business bank switching service transfers, what needs separate action, and how to prepare payments, overdrafts, card terminals and accounts.

Founder reviewing incorporation paperwork beside a laptop and passport

Guide 17 · Banking

Opening a business bank account: checks and refusals

Prepare the documents and ownership information a business bank may request, understand identity checks, and know what to ask if an application stalls.

Online retailer checking account details beside parcels on a packing bench

Guide 18 · Banking

Bank or e-money account: what protects business funds?

Understand the difference between bank deposits and safeguarded funds, what changed in May 2026, and how to check the firm behind a business account.

Architecture practice partner reviewing cash flow papers beside architectural drawings

Guide 19 · Banking

FSCS protection for business accounts: the current limit

Check the business deposit protection limit, how company and sole trader balances are treated, and why accounts under different brands can share one limit.

Cafe owner reviewing bank statements with a highlighter beside a till roll

Guide 20 · Banking

Business current account fees: how to read the charges

Understand account fees, transaction charges and introductory periods, then use your own statements to compare the cost and features your business needs.

Courier business owner calling the bank from a busy yard office

Guide 21 · Banking

Business account closed or frozen: what to do next

Understand account closure notices, restrictions and complaint routes, including the April 2026 rule change and why a freeze has no single release deadline.

Switching

Small team reviewing business admin checklist

Guide 09 · All comparisons

The SME switching checklist: renewals, notice periods and proof

A practical switching checklist for UK SMEs comparing energy, broadband, phones, insurance and finance, with renewal dates, documents and proof to prepare.

Business owner on a phone among moving boxes in a half-empty shop

Guide 34 · All comparisons

Moving business premises: your service change checklist

Plan broadband, phones, energy, insurance and banking around your move, with a practical timeline, document checklist and checks for the old premises.

About CostQuote

Modern office desk with laptop showing comparison process

Guide 10 · Trust

How CostQuote works: free comparison, one named partner and your data

A clear explanation of how CostQuote handles your enquiry, how the service is funded, who receives your details and what happens to your data.

Before you compare

The questions everyone asks.

Yes. If you take a service through the partner we introduce you to, they pay us a referral fee. You never pay a penny.