11 Questions Small Businesses Should Ask Their Next Business Energy Broker
As a small business, there are several crucial considerations to take into account when you're choosing your new energy broker. It is essential to know the basics, such as whether opting for a specific energy broker will provide a reliable and cost-effective service. However, you may also want to ensure that you will be provided with a bespoke service for your company and that the energy provider understands your industry.
In this guide, you will find a list of vital questions to ask your energy broker to ensure that you get the right deal that suits your requirements.
1. How Are Your Charges Calculated?
Price transparency is extremely important when choosing your energy supplier. Small business energy brokers should be able to give you a comprehensive overview of whether they charge a one-off fee or whether there are commission charges involved too.
2. Are There Any Additional Services On Offer?
Finding out whether there are any beneficial additional services can help when you are searching for the right energy contract for your small business.
3. Can You Offer Impartial Advice?
Business energy brokers should be able to provide you with unbiased and clear advice on subjects like costs and contracts.
4. Are You An Independent Broker?
Ensuring that they are independent is very important as you can have more confidence you will get the best deal. It is also worth finding out the number of suppliers that they work with to gauge the scope of their price quotations.
5. Do You Offer A Tailored Bespoke Service?
In your Service Level Agreement, you will be able to find a list of the specific services offered by the broker and it is important to be aware of exactly what is on offer so that you can avoid paying for extraneous services that are not relevant to your business.
6. Will A Dedicated Account Manager Be Designated For My Business?
Having a specific individual who is available for the duration of your contact to answer queries or resolve disputes can be helpful and give you peace of mind.
7. How Will You Understand My Energy Usage?
The best business energy brokers based in the UK are the ones that take the time to try and understand your energy usage and they are more likely to provide the advice and support that it takes to optimise it. Consequently, you may save time and money.
8. Are Any Of Your Existing Clients From My Industry?
It can be reassuring if your broker has previous experience of the needs and requirements that your industry presents.
9. What Type Of Contracts Can You Offer?
Finding out more about the range of available contracts, such as those that are flexible or fixed-price, gives you an increased range of choice and it is easier to know that you will get the lowest price from your supplier.
10. Are All Your Fees And Charges Shown?
When you're looking for the best business energy broker, it is essential that they are transparent about any added fees or charges so you will not get hit with a nasty surprise further down the line.
11. Do I Need To Sign A Letter Of Authority (LOA)?
This gives brokers permission to work with the suppliers for you. If there is no LOA, then the contract may not be above board.
At Central Power, we can provide you with a comprehensive and supportive service to ensure that you optimise your energy usage and keep your costs as low as possible. For more information, please visit us at Central Power.