The GraftG blog

Practical guides to running the admin side of a UK small business — from the WhatsApp you already use all day.

HMRC mileage rates, explained in plain English
What the 45p per mile rate actually covers, when it drops to 25p, and how to log business miles so HMRC is happy. A plain-English …
20 April 2026 · 5 min read
Making Tax Digital for sole traders, without the panic
MTD for Income Tax is coming for sole traders. What it means, who it hits first, and how to get your records digital without buyin…
4 May 2026 · 5 min read
How much deposit to ask for (and how to ask without awkwardness)
Deposits protect you from cancellations and cash-flow gaps — but how much is fair? Typical percentages by job type, how to ask, an…
18 May 2026 · 4 min read
Day rate vs fixed price: pick per job, not per identity
Day rate or fixed price — each rewards a different kind of job. How to choose per job, price the risk, and stop losing money on “q…
1 June 2026 · 4 min read
The expenses tradespeople forget to claim
Tools, mileage, phone, workwear, training — the allowable expenses sole-trader tradespeople most often miss, and the capture habit…
11 June 2026 · 5 min read
No-shows and late cancellations: a fair system that protects you
Every cancelled job is a day you cannot resell. Deposits, confirmations and a fair cancellation line — the system that cuts no-sho…
20 June 2026 · 4 min read
Word of mouth, systematised: more work without an ad budget
Referrals and reviews win trades work more cheaply than any ad. How to systematise word of mouth: the ask, the timing, and the fol…
30 June 2026 · 4 min read
Run your entire paperwork system from the van
Receipts, mileage, quotes, invoices — the five-minute-a-day system that keeps a sole trader’s paperwork done from the driver’s sea…
8 July 2026 · 4 min read
The VAT threshold: what tradespeople need to know before they hit it
When must a sole trader register for VAT, what the threshold cliff does to pricing, and how to stay ready with clean records. Plai…
16 July 2026 · 5 min read
The quote follow-up: easiest jobs you are currently not winning
Most trade quotes die of silence, not rejection. A simple follow-up rhythm — and the WhatsApp wording — that converts quotes you h…
24 July 2026 · 4 min read
How to send quotes via WhatsApp in the UK
Send professional PDF quotes via WhatsApp in the UK in about 30 seconds — no app, no spreadsheet. How it works, what a good quote …
14 July 2026 · 6 min read
How to send invoices via WhatsApp in the UK
Send professional PDF invoices via WhatsApp in the UK — with your bank details, VAT, a pay-online link and automatic late-payment …
15 July 2026 · 6 min read
How to manage your small business with WhatsApp
Run the admin side of your UK small business from WhatsApp — quotes, invoices, mileage, receipts, jobs and chasing — with no app t…
16 July 2026 · 8 min read
WhatsApp admin for tradespeople: mileage, receipts and jobs
A practical look at running trade admin from WhatsApp in the UK — HMRC mileage, MTD receipts and job tracking — for plumbers, elec…
17 July 2026 · 6 min read
Is it safe to send invoices over WhatsApp in the UK?
Is invoicing over WhatsApp safe, legal and professional in the UK? What HMRC needs on an invoice, how payment works, and how to ke…
18 July 2026 · 5 min read
The easiest way to track mileage when you’re self-employed
How to track business mileage as a self-employed tradesperson in the UK — HMRC 45p/25p rates, what counts as a business trip, and …
19 July 2026 · 6 min read
CIS invoices explained: deductions, rates and a worked example
How CIS invoices work in the UK — 20% vs 30% deduction rates, why materials are exempt, a worked example, and how to raise a CIS i…
19 July 2026 · 7 min read
The best invoicing app for tradespeople might be no app at all
Comparing invoicing options for UK tradespeople — accounting software, trade job apps and WhatsApp-based invoicing — on speed, cos…
19 July 2026 · 7 min read
How to chase late payments politely — and actually get paid
A proven escalation for chasing late invoices in the UK — what to say at 1, 7, 14 and 21 days overdue, your legal right to 8%+ int…
19 July 2026 · 7 min read
How to get more Google reviews as a tradesperson
Why Google reviews win tradespeople more work than any advert, the right moment to ask, exact wording that works, and how to autom…
19 July 2026 · 6 min read

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