Atlantic will go to any lengths to ensure your costs are kept to a minimum.   We’ve identified business rates as a particularly onerous cost where we have been able to save clients hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Business rates are one of the oldest taxes in the country, dating from the poor relief act of 1601.  They are also one of the most complex taxes.  Therefore you need to ensure that your advisor is not only a chartered surveyor but also that they are experts in providing rates advice after all you wouldn't use your GP to carry out brain surgery!  Atlantic have some of the most experienced advisors in the UK.

Business rates are the third largest business cost after staff and property.  However unlike these costs, business rates can be reduced without any detriment to your business.  By providing detailed advice our advisers have saved clients hundreds of thousands.  One client comments “They saved us over £400,000.  This went straight to the bottom line, we would have had to increase our turnover by over £5,000,000 to generate this profit”

The scope of our comprehensive business rate service covers the following main areas:

• Business rate appeal - a formal challenge against the rateable value (the rating assessment set by the Valuation Office Agency and on which your business rate bill is worked out). The rate appeal will be negotiated for you using all the negotiation skills our expertise can deliver. The service is provided on a no saving/no fee basis.

• Empty rate relief - the government announced that they will remove empty rate relief for all properties from 1 April 2008. Currently all factories & warehouses get 100% unlimited empty rate relief. All other classes of property get 50% empty rate relief. Owners of properties that are empty, especially factories and warehouses need to ensure they are taking expert advice to ensure all efforts are being made to reduce/remove this liability. Atlantic can make sure that you are doing everything possible to reduce or remove this liability.

• Business rate relief - many business rate relief are available to ratepayers but identifying the appropriate one and dealing with a successful application can be a nightmare. We have an established and enviable reputation in obtaining successful outcomes. Again this service is done on a no saving/no fee basis. If we do not think it is likely, we will not pursue the opportunity.

• Business rate payment - we can verify and pay rate bills for you. This is most cost efficient on large portfolios (usually 25 or more properties). Our charges for this service are extremely cost effective and we can deliver at a unit cost lower than dealing “in-house”.

• Business rate liability management – we can organise and check your liability but leave you to manage the actual payment of business rate bills. Our charges are set at a level that will ensure the service is provided at a lower unit cost than dealing “in-house”.

• Business rate audit - we can check that all the payments you have made going back a number of years have been correct. Our expertise and bespoke software helps us identify potential overpayments or credits due to you. This service is carried out on a success related basis.

• Business rate budgeting - we can help you with your budgeting of this major expense. This allows you to forward plan on a 'no surprise' basis. Combined with one or more of our other service areas the cost will be negligible.

• Serviced Offices – A specific initiative which may enable serviced offices providers to half their rates liability

Please contact us for a “no obligation” conversation to find out how we can save you thousands.