Small firms face a series of new costs from Monday

While some firms in England will benefit from cuts in business rates, other changes mean additional costs.These include new rules on accounting under the Make Tax Digital programme and auto-enrolment pension costs."This truly is blue Monday for small business owners" and it comes at a time when confidence is already low, said the FSB small firms' trade body.From 1 April, there is some relief for small retailers, pubs and restaurants who will share cuts in their business rate bills worth about £500m.In last year's Autumn Budget, the government announced a business rates discount scheme for small-sized High Street properties in England which have a rateable value below £51,000.