Fees for Trading Standards' business advice services

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards' fee structure for business advice and information services for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 is set out below.

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Business advice and information

Buckinghamshire and Surrey based businesses can access half an hour of free business advice or information on first contact with Trading Standards. Requests for advice from a third party acting on behalf of your business, for example discussions with lawyers or consultants, will be chargeable.

Where you are signposted to freely available information, this service will remain free of charge.

Subsequent tailored advice or information is charged at the prevailing hourly rate. After a minimum half hour, charges are calculated in 15 minute units.

The submission of food or cosmetic samples to the service's public analyst are charged at cost payable to analyst plus one hour's consultancy at the prevailing hourly rate.

See also additional charges applicable to all partnerships.

Business training

We can provide regulatory training on specific topics or tailor a course to your business' needs. Where bespoke training is designed for you, development time will be charged at the prevailing hourly rate. Please enquire for an estimate.

Charge description Fee chargeable
Business training 1/2 day - one officer £360
Business training 1 day - one officer £720
Training events eg allergen training Various

Primary Authority partnerships

All Primary Authority advice and support is classified as VAT exempt. We recognise that businesses' needs and priorities change over time and therefore all partnerships will be reviewed annually and can choose a different payment model at renewal.

Easy 1 2 3

Designed for smaller, new or prospective businesses, an Easy 1 2 3 partnership introduces the concept of Primary Authority advice. Businesses must meet the qualifying criteria:

  • be located at premises within Buckinghamshire or Surrey; and
  • have been operating for less than two years; and
  • have less than three full time equivalent employees (including owner).

Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Fire Safety advice can be provided by this route.

Formal set up of an Easy 1 2 3 Primary Authority partnership together with three hours of regulatory advice/information will cost £220

Additional hours of advice and support can be purchased at the prevailing hourly rate.

Easy 1 2 3 is valid for the first year of a partnership after which the business can decide whether to proceed with the partnership. Renewal is by selecting one of the below options.

See also additional charges applicable to all partnerships.

Single point of contact

All Primary Authority partnerships are offered and established with Trading Standards as the primary regulator. As an addition, our Single Point of Contact option delivers advice from multiple regulators through a single access route. You may, therefore, choose to add the following to your partnership:

  • Environmental Health, Fire Safety, Welsh devolved legislation.

Ancillary to Primary Authority advice, general advice and information can also be added through access to regulators in:

  • Scotland and The States of Guernsey.

National Regulators participating in Primary Authority can be accessed through the Single Point of Contact route and will be recharged at cost based on their individual charging models.

Charge description Fee chargeable
Set up charge for each additional regulator as part of partnership £160
Renewal charge for each additional regulator as part of partnership £80

Pay as you go

An agreement established using standard contract terms and a fixed set up fee and subject to an annual renewal fee. We will need to agree a rough outline of what you want to achieve through the partnership.

Charge description Fee chargeable
Set up charge for Direct partnership £375
Renewal charge for Direct partnership £126
Set up charge for Coordinated partnership £560
Renewal charge for Coordinated partnership £163

See also additional charges applicable to all partnerships.

Prepay Fixed fee Mini

To be a successful partnership there is a minimum expectation of activity including communication, meetings and advice during the year. Therefore, this bundle provides enough time to complete those minimum activities and a little advice.

Including an agreement established using standard contract terms and a fixed minimum amount of 5 hours of activity, set up fee and subject to an annual renewal fee. Additional hours of advice and support can be purchased at the prevailing hourly rate.

Charge description Fee chargeable
Set up charge for Fixed Fee Mini Direct partnership including 5 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months) £875
Renewal charge for Fixed Fee Mini Direct partnership including 5 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months) £626
Set up charge for Fixed Fee Mini Coordinated partnership including 5 hour of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months) £1060
Renewal charge for Fixed Fee Mini Coordinated partnership including 5 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months) £663

See also additional charges applicable to all partnerships.

Prepay/fixed fee

An agreement established using standard contract terms and a fixed minimum amount of hourly advice, set up fee and subject to an annual renewal fee. By prepaying for 15 hours of advice you will benefit from one extra free hour of advice.

Charge description Fee chargeable
Set up charge for Direct partnership including 16 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months)£1,875
Renewal charge for Direct partnership including 16 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months)£1,626
Set up charge for Coordinated partnership including 16 hour of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months)£2,060
Renewal charge for Coordinated partnership including 16 hours of advice or consultation (valid for 12 months)£1,663

See also additional charges applicable to all partnerships.

Bespoke

We are experienced at tailoring our services to meet individual business' or organisation's needs. Therefore, we offer a bespoke option where we will work with you to build an appropriate proposal incorporating all relevant fees, such options are quoted individually on request.

Additional charges applicable to all partnerships

In accordance with the Primary Authority Code of Practice, certain bespoke activities may attract VAT, you will be notified if this is the case.

General charges regarding mileage, travel and third party charges apply.

Analysis and consultancy as part of business advice and/or Primary Authority services - charged at cost of analysis plus 1 hour.

About our services for businesses

Full details about our business offers are set out in our terms and conditions for business advice.

Contact us

For more information, please contact our Business advice line Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

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