Small businesses must contact their town hall to make sure they are claiming all the money they are entitled to, according to one expert.
In news that might be of interest to business insurance customers, Margaret Eaton, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), believes that cooperation between small firms and councils is vital to community cohesion.
She said: "Businesses must contact their town hall to make sure they are claiming every penny that they are eligible for.
"Recent research shows that uptake of small business rate relief is surprisingly low."
Some councils might also offer grants to help shops improve their facades and encourage more shoppers through the doors, she added.
For their part, local authorities must make sure that they are buying from near-by providers whenever it is possible, Ms Eaton stated.
Recently, the Forum of Private Business urged the government to make sure that banks it has bailed out offer lending to small businesses.
