According to the government, a trusted trader scheme will launch in September. Businesses will be able to sign up to an approved code that shows they meet a set standard.
A second measure changes how customers pay for building work. The government said the new system lets customers avoid large payments up front, linking payments to project milestones instead.
The same announcement covered private bailiffs. In England and Wales they will need accreditation from the Enforcement Conduct Board.
01Why it matters to a small trades business
According to Citizens Advice, more than 25% of adults have had a problem with home improvement work. A visible standard should help the businesses that do the job properly.
There is a cash flow side to it. Milestone payments protect the customer, and they also move a trade's money later in the job. Materials still get bought first.
The announcement did not set out which UK nations the trader scheme will cover.
02What to do this week
Three things are worth sorting before the scheme opens. Split your quotes into priced stages. Get proof of insurance and qualifications together. Work out what one typical job costs you before the first payment arrives.
We have written a longer guide on the cash flow side, including where funding fits and where it does not: the trusted trader register and your cash flow.
Where funding does fit, our funding for growth page is the place to start.
