ByteStart is delighted to announce the launch of a new service to help businesses cut their energy costs. Created in conjunction with the UK’s leading business energy price comparison service, Make It Cheaper, the partnership gives you access to brilliant value business energy, broadband and phone deals.
The area of tax for small businesses is not straightforward, in fact it can be a real minefield for the unwary. However, if you take a little time, and work with your accountant, it’s usually possible to find ways to save some tax. To help you think about ways you and your business could pay […]
Small businesses have a tougher time than their larger and better-established competitors. Unlike the big brands, who enjoy plentiful resources and instant recognition in their industry, SMEs have plenty of hurdles to overcome, so we asked Craig Sams and William Fugard, co-founders of Gusto Organic drinks to share what they have learned from launching Gusto, Green & Black’s and Whole Earth Foods. (more…)
Entrepreneurship is on the rise in the UK, and one of the first decisions you will need to make when starting a business is where to locate your venture.
Even today, the era of the digital nomad, the place you choose to set up shop – figuratively or literally – can have an effect on the prospects of your business, both in terms of profitability and long term success. (more…)
If your business has a physical presence of any kind, or you exhibit or attend branded events, it’s imperative to invest in quality business signage that stands out from the crowd.
The right signage and logo design will help build brand recognition, both offline and online, and ultimately increase footfall and conversions. (more…)
A lot of small businesses start using Google AdWords in the hope that it will help them increase sales with small investment. This isn’t true.
Yes, AdWords can help you increase sales but only with the right investment. To get the return on investment you’re hoping for, you will need to set up your account properly and invest the right amount of money. (more…)
If you need finance for your business, one route you can take is a business loan. Business loans now come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so you’ll need to choose the loan that’s best suited to your situation.
One of the main options you’ll have is whether to take out a secured, or unsecured business loan, so let’s look at what this means. (more…)
You have a small business and you want to keep costs low including book keeping and accountancy fees. But gradually those pesky invoices and receipts begin to take up your evenings and weekends.
So we asked Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA, of The Tax Guys, to reveal how you can save time and money on preparing and submitting your annual company accounts. (more…)
As a business owner, it’s likely that you struggle to find time to do the performance appraisals for your team. You are not the only one.
Surveys have indicated that owners and managers hate doing performance reviews and as many as 58% think it is a waste of time. (more…)
While cyberattacks on companies that are household names are often highly publicised and reported on, attacks on small businesses often go unnoticed by the media despite accounting for 43% of targeted attacks. These attacks might not hit the front page, but they are having a significant impact on small businesses across the globe. (more…)
All workers are entitled to receive a minimum of 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave. Whilst this is a benefit for staff, employers can find themselves struggling to manage staff holidays around their business needs.
To help make sure your business runs smoothly, here is an overview of how to successfully manage staff holidays. (more…)
When you are running a business, it can often feel as though your margins are being squeezed year after year.
Seeing the costs of your supplies, subscriptions and other essentials rising while the prices you charge are being forced down is an understandable cause for frustration. (more…)
In the latest results from the Which? annual survey of the ‘best and worst energy suppliers’ survey, smaller suppliers come out well on top, while the Big Six languish at the foot of the table. But, given the recent spate of small energy suppliers going to the wall, is it safe to switch to a […]
Remortgaging is a popular way to save money on your mortgage – with lower rates available to those that switch. Introductory rates are often available for the first few years of your mortgage deal, but once you get to year 3 or 5, the standard variable rate (SVR) kicks in.
If you need an injection of cash for your business, there are now many different and increasingly flexible alternative finance products available to suit your unique requirements. One of the more recent and most innovative among them is the merchant cash advance. So what exactly is a merchant cash advance, and is it a suitable […]
We are living in an exciting time… a time where technological changes are booming. And with change comes the opportunity for new products and services, and for new businesses to fulfil new needs.
Whatever stage of growth your business is in, there may come a time when you need a fresh injection of cash and you are faced with the uncomfortable prospect of signing a Personal Guarantee.
In April 2020 the Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Act, is due to come into force. This will place legal requirements on businesses to give employees who have suffered a bereavement time off work so we asked HR Consultant, Kirsten Cluer, to explain what businesses should do to prepare for the new legislation.
Virtually every business now relies on technology to trade successfully so need to invest in the right technology. For large businesses, this is rarely an issue, but for early stage and small businesses, these can be big decisions and the wrong ones can cause real problems. This guide aims to help you make the right […]
Even in an age of digital marketing, the use of direct mail as a way of attracting and converting new customers as well as touching base with previous clients remains a tried and tested technique. However, if you make any of these common direct mail mistakes, you will almost certainly be wasting time, paper, ink […]
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is arguably the biggest change to the UK’s tax system for a generation, so here’s a quick walkthrough of what MTD means for small businesses, together with five practical steps to help you tackle the changes.
Equity crowdfunding has flourished as a key form of alternative finance for early and growth stage businesses. It’s become a great alternative to bank loans and other traditional funding sources, allowing entrepreneurs to engage a crowd of passionate investors for financial backing. However, the popularity of equity crowdfunding has left platforms, like Crowdcube and Seedrs, […]
For some people, power (and therefore impact) sits in symbols of power such as a corner office, a nice company car or an executive assistant. Symbols can, at times, play an impactful role but real and lasting impact is so much bigger than that. It’s how you conduct yourself, your actions and behaviours, that will […]
As a small business owner fundraising can be a daunting prospect but digital technology is changing this. You can now raise the funds you need to develop and expand your business in a way which you’ll find more user-friendly and which puts you in control of the process.
Young businesses and start-ups that are looking to raise funding have a dizzying array of choices nowadays. In fact, there has probably never been a bigger range of places to go for early-stage finance, from crowdfunding and angel investors through to government-backed start-up loans and P2P lenders.
5G is the word on everyone’s lips at the moment, with the UK recently taking strides to develop its network infrastructure. The technology is expected to be rolled out properly by 2020 and hit over one billion connections by 2025. The fifth generation of mobile networks promises even faster download speeds, less lag and a […]
Most entrepreneurs really struggle to bring in investment without the proper tools to bolster their proposition. An engaging pitch deck is a key part of any successful fundraising strategy, so it’s vital to get it right. With no clear consensus on what a great pitch deck for raising funds looks like, we asked funding expert, […]
Whether you are pitching for new business, updating a client on their project or doing some face-to-face business networking, you need to act fast. As Lyn Roseaman of Toastmasters International explains, you have less than 10 seconds to grab your audience’s attention, and show them you’re going to talk about something they’ll value or that […]
Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) play a part in improving your business telecoms? Will it impact landline, VoIP, Mobile or fibre/copper broadband services? Mike Ianiri, of Equinox looks at where developments in AI can benefit business telecoms.
The highly controversial payday loans industry is under further criticism, but this time it is not towards the lenders, but the claims companies. With the window to claim for PPI coming to a close in August this year, many claims providers are turning their attention to the potentially lucrative mis-sold payday loans industry.
In a competitive marketplace you can’t always give staff cash bonuses or pay rises. Rewarding employees with other forms of incentives can help you to overcome this and also lead to a more productive workplace where people want to work.
Is your company an authority in its chosen market? If it’s not — it should be. Being seen as an authority in your line of work is a key part of attracting customers, so here are 4 ways you can build your authority and get yourself ahead of the competition.
When it comes to selling your business, there are a number of routes you can take. To ensure your business sale goes smoothly and you get full value for your business, we look at the process of selling a small business and highlight some of the key considerations you will need to make.
Networking is a skill you can acquire just like any other. Sure, while you’re learning you might make some mistakes but the reality is, mistakes are lessons to learn from. To help you quickly master the skills you’ll need, here are 5 networking hacks.
Copper is dead. Long live fibre broadband – or so the ISPs will have you believe. But as Mike Ianiri of Equinox, explains, fibre broadband will soon be overtaken by better alternatives so businesses should not be tempted to install it.
Entrepreneurs usually need investors to stump up the funding to fuel their dreams. The mistake many make is putting a huge effort into persuading investors to back them, only to neglect them once they have invested. This approach is damaging, especially when you need more investment for your next phase of growth, so we asked, […]
Resilience determines whether you succeed or fail in life. It’s true in sport, business, entertainment, and it’s true in your life. Starting and running your own business certainly tests your resilience, so here’s how to develop your positive thinking to help beat the stresses of running your own business.
If an employee is suffering with substance addiction, this can cause real problems for a small business so needs to be dealt with promptly. However, as with all issues relating to employment law, business owners must tackle the problem very carefully, so we asked employment lawyer, Sarah Chilton to explain how employers should navigate the […]