Step 1: Find a recent bill
One recent bill tells us almost everything: your current supplier, your unit rate and standing charge, your annual usage, your meter numbers (MPAN for electricity, MPRN for gas) and your contract end date. A photo or PDF is enough.
Step 2: Check your contract position
If you are mid-contract, you will normally wait until the renewal window to switch — most contracts let you agree a new deal in the final months. If your contract has already ended and you never signed a new one, you are on deemed or out-of-contract rates and can usually switch immediately. Those rates typically run 40–80% above a negotiated deal, so this is the first thing worth checking.
Step 3: Compare the whole market
Suppliers do not publish their best business rates online — business prices are quoted per customer, based on your usage, meter type and credit profile. This is where a broker earns its keep: we request prices across 35 UK suppliers and show you the genuine best options, including the standing charge, not just a headline unit rate.
Step 4: Sign and let the switch happen
Once you choose a deal you sign a contract and, where needed, a Letter of Authority so the switch can be arranged on your behalf. The new supplier handles the transfer with the old one. There is no engineer visit, no new meter and no interruption to your supply — the gas and electricity come down the same wires and pipes regardless of who bills you. A typical switch completes in a few weeks, or starts from your contract end date if you are switching ahead.
Step 5: Take a meter reading on the switch date
One reading on the day the new contract starts closes your old account cleanly and opens the new one accurately. It takes two minutes and prevents estimated-bill disputes later.
The two expensive mistakes
Missing the notice window. Many contracts need 30–90 days' notice before the end date, or they roll over for another full year at uncompetitive rates. Put the date in your diary the day you sign.
Comparing only the unit rate. A lower unit rate with a much higher standing charge can cost a low-usage business more overall. Always compare the estimated annual total.