Charity

[Marvo]

I know there's a lot of small business owners on this forum and I wondered how many have a charity budget or give to charity on a regular basis.

I have a small company with a few employees and traditionally we've donated a few grand at the end of every year to a local charity of our choice. A few years ago when times were better we set up an internet cafe with a portacabin and several pc's in the local informal housing area so the less advantaged people had internet access. It's not as noble as it sounds cause it's a tax write off as well and the way I look at it is rather make a donation and uplift the local area than trying to hang onto it and handing 60-odd percent over to the taxman if it stays in the business.

Anyway, looking at the books for the year it doesn't look like there's going to be much money available. Margins have generally been tighter this year so there's little surplus for staff bonuses and even less for the charity.

 

[Knobhead]

Running my photographic business I supported Imperial Cancer Research. As you say it can be written off against tax. But I found it great in promoting business so I won out of the arrangement, as did the charity, the looser was the tax man. Oh dear what a shame :wink5:

 

[trev]

One of our local wholesalers set up a bin for cable offcuts a while back all the proceeds went to wateraid. I'm thinking of doing something similar for uk charites when I get set up.

 

[Marvo]

......But I found it great in promoting business so I won out of the arrangement, as did the charity, the looser was the tax man. Oh dear what a shame :wink5:

It can be a great way to get exposure for your business if you plan it that way. Unfortunately in our line of work it doesn't really generate business but avoiding the taxman is motive enough for me.