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 […]
When fashion chain, Ted Baker, hit the news last year among stories of ‘forced hugging’, it’s likely that many businesses across the country began to look at how practices in their own organisation’s culture may be received by its staff.
And the key question many business owners will be asking is, can hugging at work constitute sexual harassment? (more…)
Many businesses now allocate much of their marketing budget to raising their online profile. However, this does mean that some of the more traditional methods of marketing risk being side-lined.
The printed brochure is one of those valuable sales tools that can sometimes be overlooked. Yet one of the reasons that brochures have been such an integral part of marketing for so long is that they do work – as long as you get them right. (more…)
Your domain says a lot about you and your company. It’s your address on the internet, the place people go to find you, and a name intrinsically associated with your brand.
But is one domain name enough, and what options do small businesses have when it comes to deciding on a domain strategy? (more…)
Fundraising for your business is rarely a walk in the park. It’s a tough process, regardless of the industry you’re in, it can take up vast amounts of time, and more often than not, ends in failure.
Communicating effectively with investors will really boost your chances of success, so we asked funding expert, John Auckland, to reveal which buttons you need to press to get investors onboard. (more…)
In light of the launch of the Certificates of Tax Position tool, there has never been a more important time for entrepreneurs to be aware of the risk on any undeclared offshore income or gains.
We asked Mark Wilson, a Partner at Richard Nelson LLP and specialist in resolving tax investigations, to explain what entreprenurs need to know about Certificates of Tax Position, and the steps to take. (more…)
Changes in telecoms, that are already in motion, will be developing at an even faster rate over coming months. To help you understand what’s happening, we asked Mike Ianiri of independent telecoms brokerage, Equinox to explain what business owners need to know about the telecoms changes heading our way. (more…)
Whether you’re an ardent protestor or you prefer the status quo, it’s hard to deny that society is rapidly shifting power to the people and away from traditional institutions.
Populist politicians are seizing on the mistrust of ‘the establishment’, #MeToo is cracking down on men misusing their power, while the recent plastic straw ban show the powerful effect of a coordinated social media campaign. (more…)
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance cyber security is already on your radar. That’s a good place to have it, because cybercrime is relentlessly on the up.
Data breaches, phishing scams and ransomware attacks fill the digital headlines. All of which begs the question: How do you protect your business from hackers and their devious, money-grabbing, data-stealing ways? (more…)
We are at a significant moment in our history when there is momentum building, putting increasing pressure on businesses to act in the right way. Our staff want us to change, our children need us to change and our customers expect us to change. (more…)
Cyber-attacks aren’t letting up, with corporate giants such as Facebook, British Airways and Marriott International all hitting the headlines in the last 12 months.
Yet, despite publicity around these high-profile cases, for small businesses, it’s still tempting to think that cyber attacks aren’t something that you really need to worry about. (more…)
As business leaders, it’s easy to get consumed in the pressures of running your business. It’s stressful, but there is a consequence to that stress, and it can be damaging for business, as well as your own health.
Whilst most employers will be well versed in dealing with under-performing staff, the situation can be trickier when faced with those who appear to be coasting at work. Given the increasing demands placed on business owners it can be easy to overlook staff who are doing just enough to get by, however failing to recognise […]
Environmentally conscious businesses are rapidly gaining much larger audiences by providing a different kind of value, as consumers are now more likely to pay more for products with an ethical incentive. A forward-thinking mentality can set you apart from the crowd, especially in a time where sustainability and social responsibility have become top purchasing drivers.
It’s no secret that most startups struggle to build a solid, scalable and remarkable business. Most remain stuck fighting for the attention of their audience, investing time and money trying to convince buyers and often engaging in price races to the bottom that leaves everyone exhausted and defeated. The solution? Simple! Not easy, but simple […]
Businesses are responsible for more than half of the UK’s energy consumption, so it’s important every business looks to reduce the energy it uses and considers using renewable sources for its energy needs.
The most successful bands are now the ones that engage their fans. These fans don’t just bring recognition – they bring financial success too. They are what allows the band to make money and prosper. Businesses want to do the same, so we asked Mark Jennings, founder of Subba Media, to reveal how musicians are […]
Having a data network has become a requirement for all modern businesses, regardless of size. An IT network gives your workforce access to the internet and other services like VoIP, allowing employees to communicate and share files with clients, customers and each other.
If you are looking to make sales online, tackling the specialist subject of ecommerce SEO is vital to your long-term success. With SEO for ecommerce websites requiring such specific expertise, we asked Joe Cox of Superb Digital to share his knowledge on how to grow sales through ecommerce SEO.
Airbnb’s revolutionary business model — which ranked the home-sharing company third in 2018’s Disruptor 50 list — has now dominated a total of 191 countries. And with its more than 5 million listings, 300 million customer reservations, and a value of $31 billion, it’s not surprising that a lot of would-be short term let landlords […]
Savvy entrepreneurs seem to make more money, yet find legal ways to optimise their taxes. So what do they know, and do differently to cut their tax bills? We asked Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA, of The Tax Guys, to explain how some entrepreneurs manage to keep more of their hard-earned cash.
New analysis of data from over 3 million SMEs up and down the country has revealed the areas of the UK where late payment is at its worst. 121 areas of the UK were scored and ranked based on how quickly businesses pay their invoices, highlighting which regions are the highest and lowest risk for […]
When it comes to starting up a business, London has itself a new rival. With more and more entrepreneurial spirits being drawn to the North, cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield have developed strong technology cultures, making them popular locations for tech start-ups.
The UK is the third largest e-commerce market in the world and for good reason. The internet has allowed innovative small businesses to reach a much wider audience, while cutting down on overhead costs. Plenty of UK entrepreneurs and startups have capitalised on this and built a lucrative business out of selling their products online. […]
Devising new products and bringing them to market are vital parts of growing a business, but successful new product development rarely happens by accident. Product design is a complicated area, so we asked Chris Flynn, founder of product design consultancy Flynn Product Design to take us through the key phases of product design.
Anyone who decides to launch their own company is bound to experience challenges along the way, and these challenges will all be different depending on what sector you decide to tap into. For me, I knew launching a tech start-up in one of the most rapidly changing industries would be an exciting prospect. I knew […]
We are addicted to stories. A good story evokes emotion within us. Since the Stone Age, we have been telling stories to teach, to engage, to create laughter, to inspire and to influence behaviour. So why when we go into business meetings do we often abandon stories and instead vomit facts on power point slides?
There’s never been a better time to start or grow a business in the UK, with more funding options and tax incentives (for companies and investors) than ever before. Crowdfunding is an option that more businesses are turning to, so if you’re looking to turn a great entrepreneurial idea into a reality, or to scale […]
Make It Cheaper, the business energy switching service, is urging UK business owners to switch to a better business energy deal and lock prices in for as long as possible, as energy prices could soar when the UK leaves the EU.
We’ve all been there. The team meeting where nothing is achieved. The group discussion where it feels like you can cut the air with a knife. The team that is actually a team in name only, where it’s everyone for themselves and only the most vocal, political or best-connected survives. So how can you get […]
Every employee that has worked for you for more than 26 weeks has the statutory right to request flexible working.
Here’s what every small business owner needs to know about flexible working rights, and how to handle flexible working requests from staff so that you don’t end up in front of an Employment Tribunal.
If your business involves selling goods to customers you will, inevitably, need to deal with a percentage of customers that want to exchange items, or are seeking a refund. As a small business, it’s really important to know what your legal rights and duties are when it comes to customers that have bought your goods.
When it comes to business profitability, you’ll know that keeping overheads as low as you can is vital. But countless companies end up unwittingly paying more than they should for their business energy. And with energy prices on the rise, this can add up substantially, especially during winter months. But how do you know if […]
With each passing year, we are barraged with more and more stories of corporate scandals and wrongdoing. Recent examples include a global carmaker rigging their vehicles to cheat on emissions tests, a major bank illegally foisting accounts and credit cards on millions of customers without their knowledge or consent, and innumerable stories about sexual misconduct […]
If you are thinking of starting out as a freelancer or a contractor, you will very quickly need to get a basic understanding of the IR35 rules.
One of the key attributes of projects is that they are not structured in the same way as ordinary business departments. A number of people, possibly including contractors or consultants, are brought together to deliver a project. This lack of a corporate structure leads to a need for clearly defined roles in the project structure.
Starting a new business is exciting but can often be stressful too. Keeping costs at a minimum and budgeting effectively is a sure-fire way to get you through those difficult patches. One of the quickest and easiest methods is to compare your energy tariff and switch to a better deal. A quick business energy price […]