Check if your business is a microbusiness

If your small business meets certain criteria you might be classed as a ‘microbusiness’. 

Your business is classed as a microbusiness if it has fewer than 10 employees and turns over less than £1.8 million. 

Your business is also a microbusiness if it has more than 10 employees but it:

• uses less than 100,000 kWh of electricity a year

• uses less than 293,000 kWh of gas a year

You might be a microbusiness for one and not the other - it depends on the amount you use. This means you’ll have to get separate quotes for gas and electricity. 

Check your bill or ask your supplier if you're not sure how much energy you use in a year.

Getting a new energy contract

All energy contracts can be agreed over the phone - you don’t need to sign something for a contract to start. Contracts for microbusinesses are different to those for domestic customers - for example, they:

• can last up to 5 years - you should check when your contract ends

• might not give you a cooling-off period after you’ve agreed the contract

• deal with gas and electricity separately

• can include broker costs if you use one - these must be clearly listed in the contract