SMART Budget Summary – More Support For Businesses Announced
March 5, 2021
The budget
yesterday seemed relatively well received ahead of the big reopening of many salons and clinics in April. Here are the key highlights we felt are most relevant;
- NEW Recovery Loan Scheme – From 6th April 2021 the Recovery Loan Scheme will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on eligible loans between £25,000 and £10 million. This will be available to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes.
- NEW Restart Grants to Help Businesses Reopen
–
Non-essential retail businesses will receive grants up to £6,000 per premises. Hospitality and leisure (which includes personal care and gyms) can each receive grants of up-to £18,000 (where they are impacted by restrictions and may not open until later this year).
- Furlough
– extended to the end of September 2021
Workers can continuing to receive 80% of their current salary for hours they don’t work due to being furloughed. This will come in the form of a grant to employers who will make a contribution of 10% of the worker’s salary for unworked hours in July and 20% contribution in August and September. The £2,500 monthly limit for the grant remains - Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
are closing as planned this is closing on 31st March 2021
- Minimum wage – increasing to £8.91 an hour from April 2021
- Corporation Tax – will remain at 19% for business profits up-to £50,000. There will be a tapered increase to 25% for profits over £250,000 from April 2023.
- VAT Threshold – This remains at £85,000 until 2024
- Business Investment Tax Relief & Loss Relief – A new “super-deduction” tax relief was announced. The normal loss carry-back rules extended from one year to three years for losses of up to £2 million.
- Rates Relief – Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England will continue to receive 100% business rates relief from 1st April 2021 to 30th June 2021. 66% business rates relief will be applied for the period from 1st July 2021 to 31st March 2022, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 5th January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties.
- Support for the self-employed – This has been extended until September
- Credit updates – £20 weekly uplift in Universal Credit worth £1,000 a year to be extended for another six months. Working Tax Credit claimants will get £500 one-off payment
- Tax-Free Allowance – Basic allowance will increase to £12,570 from April 2021, and then it will stay at that level until 2026. The Higher Rate threshold will increase to £50,270 and will then also be frozen to 2026.
- National Insurance – In the 2021/22 tax year the new National Insurance thresholds are: Primary Threshold/Lower Profits Limit increases to £9,568, Upper Earnings Limit (UEL)/Upper Profits Limit increases to £50,270, No changes were announced to the rates of Income Tax or National Insurance
We hope that the news of further grants and on-going support via schemes such as Furlough and Rates relief, this is positive news ahead of the re-opening. With further discretionary grants available from local councils, the key is having a strong business plan for when you open your doors.
If you’re looking at ways to maximise your profits, our SMART
Consultants are available to show you how our range of products can completely transform your business. Offer more treatments for a higher price, taking less time. That’s SMART
thinking!
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For years, aesthetic treatments have focused on improving the skin's current condition, addressing concerns such as fine lines, pigmentation and loss of firmness.
The aesthetics industry has spent years talking about laser hair removal in terms of technology. More power. Faster treatment times. Better cooling. Larger spot sizes. While these innovations have undoubtedly improved clinical outcomes, they've also distracted attention from a far more important question: What actually drives growth for a clinic? The answer isn't simply owning a better laser. In today's market, where many clinics have access to excellent technology, competitive advantage is shifting away from the device itself and towards how that technology is used to improve profitability, efficiency and client retention. That's a significant change in thinking, and it's one that many businesses are still overlooking. Laser Hair Removal Has Become a Business Strategy For many clinics, laser hair removal is the treatment that introduces a client to the business. A course typically involves six to eight appointments, creating months of regular contact rather than a single transactional visit. That's a commercial opportunity that shouldn't be underestimated. Every appointment allows practitioners to strengthen relationships, educate clients and identify other concerns they may not have originally booked to address. The clinics generating the greatest long-term value are no longer viewing laser as a standalone treatment; they're using it as the beginning of a wider patient journey. As client acquisition costs continue to rise and competition becomes increasingly local, maximising the lifetime value of existing clients is often more profitable than continually chasing new enquiries. Faster Treatments Don't Just Benefit Patients When manufacturers talk about speed, the conversation usually centres around patient convenience. While shorter appointments are undoubtedly attractive, the commercial impact for clinics is arguably far more significant. Reducing treatment times creates additional capacity without increasing staffing levels or extending clinic hours. Over the course of a year, those seemingly small efficiencies can translate into hundreds of additional appointment slots, improved utilisation of expensive equipment and greater revenue potential from the same physical space. Technology should therefore be assessed not only by how quickly it treats a patient, but by how effectively it improves the productivity of the business behind it. Stop Buying Technology. Start Solving Problems. One of the biggest misconceptions in aesthetics is that growth comes from continually investing in the latest device. In reality, successful clinics rarely buy equipment simply because it's new. They invest because it solves a commercial challenge, whether that's increasing capacity, improving patient satisfaction, reducing treatment times or opening opportunities for complementary treatments. The question isn't "Is this better technology?" It's "Will this make our business stronger?" That shift in thinking often separates clinics that consistently grow from those that continually compete on price. Looking Ahead Laser hair removal will continue to evolve, and advancements in speed, comfort and technology will remain important. However, the clinics that lead the next phase of the industry are unlikely to be those with the longest list of devices. They'll be the businesses that understand technology is only valuable when it delivers measurable commercial outcomes. The future of laser hair removal isn't simply faster treatments, better experiences and smarter technology. It's using those advancements to build a more profitable, efficient and resilient clinic.
You’ve Built a Successful Laser Business… What Comes Next? For many salon owners, laser hair removal has been a game-changing addition to their business. It attracts committed clients, creates opportunities for treatment programmes, and generates reliable recurring revenue. But once your laser offering is established and performing well, an important question often follows: What comes next? As the aesthetics industry continues to evolve, many successful laser businesses are looking for ways to expand their treatment menu, increase client spend, and strengthen client retention. For some, the answer lies in a natural next step: skin. Is Skin Your Thing? If you've already built a loyal client base through laser hair removal, chances are many of those clients are interested in more than just hair reduction. They're also concerned about skin health, ageing, pigmentation, acne scarring, texture, redness, and overall skin quality. By introducing advanced skin treatments, salons can begin serving a wider range of client concerns while building on the trust they've already established. The beauty of adding skin treatments is that you're often speaking to the same client. Instead of constantly searching for new customers, you're expanding the services available to the people who already know and trust your business. Increase Client Spend Without Increasing Footfall Growing a business doesn't always mean attracting more clients. Sometimes the biggest opportunity comes from increasing the value of each client journey. Advanced skin treatments can help create treatment plans that span multiple appointments, support ongoing maintenance programmes, and introduce complementary retail opportunities. This allows salons to increase revenue per client while delivering a more comprehensive treatment experience. Rather than being known for one service, you become a destination for results-driven aesthetic treatments. Strengthen Client Retention The most successful aesthetic businesses understand that retention is often more valuable than acquisition. While laser hair removal naturally creates repeat visits, advanced skin treatments can provide even more opportunities for long-term client relationships. Many skin concerns require ongoing treatment plans, seasonal maintenance, or progressive treatment journeys. This creates regular touchpoints with clients and helps keep your business front of mind long after their laser course has finished. When clients can achieve multiple goals under one roof, they're less likely to look elsewhere. Become a Destination Salon Today's clients are increasingly looking for clinics and salons that offer expertise rather than individual treatments. They want personalised recommendations, treatment plans tailored to their concerns, and a trusted professional who can guide them through their aesthetic journey. Expanding into skin allows your salon to position itself as a destination for advanced aesthetic treatments rather than simply a laser provider. This not only enhances your reputation but can also help differentiate your business in an increasingly competitive market. Why Advanced Skin Treatments? For salons considering their next move, advanced skin technologies can offer several advantages: High-value treatment programmes Strong profit margins Growing consumer demand Opportunities to treat multiple skin concerns Increased client retention Enhanced business positioning Treatments such as RF microneedling, skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, collagen stimulation, and advanced facial treatments are becoming increasingly popular as clients seek visible, long-term results. Building on Your Success The skills, consultation process, and client relationships you've developed through laser hair removal have already laid the foundation for growth. Adding advanced skin treatments isn't about starting again—it's about building on what's already working. For many salon owners, expanding into skin has become the natural next chapter in their business journey. It's an opportunity to increase revenue, strengthen client loyalty, and position your salon as a leader in advanced aesthetic treatments. So if your laser business is thriving and you're thinking about the future, perhaps it's time to ask yourself: Is skin your thing?
