Running a business in Dunoon isn’t always easy. Between rising costs, patchy infrastructure, and the unique challenges of life on the Cowal Peninsula, it’s easy to let the small stuff slide. But sometimes it’s those “small” things—your mobile bill, your broadband, your insurance—that quietly chip away at your bottom line.
At Cowal Accountants, we’re not just here to file your returns. We’re based in Dunoon, we understand how businesses here operate, and we believe that good accounting should help you spot savings—not just tally expenses.
So, we took a closer look at five everyday business costs. These are the kinds of bills most Dunoon businesses are paying month after month, often without reviewing. And in nearly every case, there’s a cheaper alternative on the market. The total savings? Over £500 per year, for no drop in service. Here’s the breakdown:
📱 1. Mobile: SIM-Only Savings
If you’re out of contract or still with one of the big four (EE, Vodafone, Three, or O2), there’s a good chance you’re paying more than you need to.
Let’s take EE’s entry-level SIM-only deal: 50 GB for £18 per month, rising to £21 by the end of a 24-month contract. That’s £252 a year—or more.
But similar or better data bundles are available:
- O2: 45 GB for £8.50
- Three: 40 GB for £8
- Vodafone: 80 GB for £8
- Talkmobile (on Vodafone): 60 GB for £7.95
- Smarty (on Three): 10 GB for just £5
If your usage is average (around 10 GB), switching from EE to Smarty saves you £13 a month—£156 a year. Even doubling your data allowance to 20 GB only costs £6 with Talkmobile, saving £144 annually.
🌐 2. Broadband: Same Fibre, Smaller Price
In Dunoon, Lochgoilhead, and across Cowal, we all rely on Openreach for broadband infrastructure. Providers like BT, Sky, PlusNet and EE don’t run their own networks—they just supply customer service. So if you’re paying more, you’re really just paying for branding.
For example:
- Uswitch currently lists fibre broadband (38 Mb) for £21/month
- BT’s new customer deal is £28/month
That’s £7/month saved, or £84 a year, for the same broadband service. Unless you’ve got a house full of people streaming 4K video, 38 Mb is plenty for most homes and small businesses.
🛡️ 3. Insurance: Same Cover, Smaller Premium
Insurance is another quiet expense that often gets auto-renewed without a second look. But there can be massive savings—if you know where to look.
At Cowal Accountants, we use a specialist provider recommended by our professional body. That gives us the required professional indemnity cover for just £72 a year.
Some of the big-name providers charge up to £250 for the exact same cover—based on the same conditions and the same licensing requirements. That’s a £178 difference for no added benefit.
⚡ 4. Home Energy: Domestic Rates Still Worth Checking
If you work from home—as many Dunoon sole traders and small business owners do—you’re likely on a domestic tariff. These are cheaper than commercial rates, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still shop around.
Right now:
- Cheapest electricity rate: 23.363p per kWh
- Price cap: 26.987p per kWh
At 3,000 kWh per year (a typical home-based business usage), that’s a £109 annual saving. Not huge, but every bit counts—and you don’t have to change anything except who you pay.
📋 5. Accounting: Fees That Reflect Your Bookkeeping, Not Your Turnover
Let’s be honest—some accountants charge more simply because your turnover has increased. But that’s not how we work at Cowal Accountants.
What makes our work easier isn’t your revenue—it’s your records. If you can give us a tidy trial balance and clear bookkeeping, it really doesn’t matter whether your income is £10,000 or £1 million.
That’s why we offer fixed-fee packages:
- Sole traders: from £379 per year
- Limited companies: from £629 per year
These prices are transparent and based on what we actually do for you—not how much you make.
💡 Total Savings?
If you haven’t reviewed your mobile, broadband, energy or insurance in a while—and if your accountant charges you based on turnover rather than time—then switching today could save you:
Over £527 a year — for no difference in service.
🤝 Want Help Reviewing Your Costs?
We don’t see our role as just keeping you compliant. If we can help you identify practical savings—without any gimmicks—we will. That’s part of what being an accountant in Dunoon means to us.
If you’d like a quick review of your current business expenses—or a no-obligation quote to switch to Cowal Accountants—just get in touch. A few smart changes could put hundreds of pounds back in your pocket this year.