When you need to find business funding fast, what are your options and what are the quickest ways for you to secure more finance? We talk you through the most viable fast funding options for SMEs who need finance in a hurry, and include practical tips on how to ensure your funding application goes as […]
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 […]
In recent years there has been a big rise in the number of individuals working for themselves.
Becoming self employed is a new and exciting chapter of life, but it does come with extra responsibilities. With so much to think about, we asked David Genders, author of The Daily Telegraph Tax Guide to explain the key financial and tax points you need to consider when going self-employed. (more…)
As a start-up, every piece of data; whether it’s information about a new customer, a networking contact, your sales brochure or invoicing data, is hard won and valuable. As your business matures much of this can be re-purposed and re-used to save time, and cut costs – but only if you’ve kept it safe.
So, what happens if you have a critical failure and lose some, or all, of this data? (more…)
Savvy business owners are always looking to keep their costs down by ensuring they get the best deal possible. Savings made on everything from stationery to electricity can add up over the year and allow spare cash to be invested in areas that can really make a difference to the business.
But where in the UK are the savviest business owners? (more…)
As a smaller business or startup, it is important to be economical in all of your actions and processes. That way, the money you save can be spent elsewhere to help expand your business.
However, sometimes it can be difficult to know in which areas it’s possible to save money; especially if they aren’t frequently talked about. (more…)
If you’re starting a new business, then the bookkeeping requirements are unlikely to be at the forefront of your mind. At this stage there are more pressing things for you to think about.
However, once your business is taking shape, you will need to start thinking about keeping up-to-date and accurate accounting details of your income and expenses. But what kind of records do you need to keep? (more…)
For new and growth-stage businesses, an equity crowdfunding campaign can be a catalyst to a successful future. The long-term backing from investors, the accompanying marketing boost and, of course, the investment itself, can really help propel a business to the next level.
However, to run a successful crowdfunding campaign, you’ll need to carefully plot the journey ahead. (more…)
A number of the world’s largest companies were founded by ambitious and determined university students who weren’t afraid to dream.
Most people know that Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room, but were you aware that FedEx, the global courier service, was first imagined by Frederick W. Smith in an undergraduate paper while he was studying at Yale? (more…)
Managing cash flow, hiring new employees, delivering top quality customer service, these and many others, occupy the minds of small business owners.
Innovate? That is number 50 on the To Do list, when headspace allows. Yet innovation, creating value out of ideas that are new to you – is the only way to ensure you are relevant for every stage of your company’s growth. (more…)
Fintech company Capital on Tap is celebrating the major milestone of lending over 1 Billion pounds to small and medium sized businesses across the UK.
Since its creation, less than 7 years ago, Capital on Tap has helped more than 65,000 small business owners fund their business ambitions. (more…)
Loyalty programs have been around for decades and are still very popular with the public.
More than three-quarters of UK customers surveyed were a member of a loyalty program and roughly half agree that a loyalty program encouraged them to return to a particular brand. (more…)
Content is at the heart of every modern marketer’s toolkit. But aligning this material with sales departments is a common problem many organisations face. Your marketing team might be well-armed with blog posts, case studies and whitepapers to generate leads and brand awareness, but you need a well-equipped and driven sales team to nurture leads […]
To stay on the right side of UK employment laws, employers must understand how to carry out the redundancy procedure correctly, so here’s a step-by-step guide to the redundancy process, and how to negotiate it safely.
For entrepreneurs with new food or beverage products, getting listed by a supermarket can feel like a watershed moment for your brand. Your brand awareness is likely to skyrocket with sales following. You also get positive brand association by being seen in a major supermarket, which can help secure more stockists.
Stress, business failure, differences of opinion and personal clashes can all contribute to SME businesses relationships breaking down. But where do you stand if you co-own a business with your partner and you are facing a shareholder dispute? Louise Hebborn, Commercial Partner at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, looks at shareholder’s legal rights when the relationship between […]
Whether you’re starting a business, or taking it to the next level, the right finance can be a significant factor in driving growth. Perhaps the growth of your business depends upon the purchase of new equipment to enable you to increase capacity, provide additional services, or win a particular new contract. In that case, asset […]
In the minds of many an entrepreneur, equity crowdfunding should be a shoo-in. You’ve had the spark of a bright idea, built a remarkable product, and a strong business model – the crowd would be mad not to invest, right? Sadly, the reality is often very different so we asked crowdfunding expert, John Auckland, to […]
Feedback is critical in every arena of life. For good or ill, it can permanently alter our self-perception, businesses and relationships. Failing to take on board good feedback can lose companies customers, investors and revenue, whilst a preoccupation with negative feedback can do just as much damage.
A failed business can have a devastating impact on a business owner. But, the lessons learned can also make an entrepreneur stronger, wiser and more determined to succeed next time. Author and international speaker, Jonathan MacDonald, was floored by a business failure, but after the initial despair, he picked himself up and used the experience […]
When asked whether SME businesses need to protect themselves from cyber attacks, the response is easy: 43% of cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses. If you are a small business and aren’t protecting yourself, you need to review this and put suitable protection in place. Mike Ianiri, Redsquid explains what you should do.
Aside from the sole trader route, the limited liability company is the most popular business structure in the UK. With a limited company, the liability of company directors is ‘limited’ in that the company’s finances are separate from the personal finances of the business owner. This is not the case for those who run their […]
Early-stage businesses have a great opportunity to use equity crowdfunding to raise funds, grow brand awareness, and build a loyal crowd of supporters, even before the product launch. However, while it may look simple to set up and run an equity crowdfunding campaign on a platform like Crowdcube or Seedrs, it actually takes a lot […]
Everyone wants to get the best deal on their telecoms – but buying just on price, is unlikely to give you a great return. Not all telecoms solutions are the same; so, it’s important you ask the right questions to ensure you get the best deal. We asked, telecoms specialist, Dave Millett to reveal the […]
Most business cards are about as much use as a scrap of paper with a name and number scribbled on it. That’s fine if you are looking for a date, but not so good for showcasing your business. With a little thought, however, it’s easy to create a business card that packs a real promotional […]
“Let me tell you a story.” These are six very powerful words. Six powerful words which immediately invoke curiosity and anticipation. Six powerful words from which multi-billion-dollar industries have been built. Beyond film, TV and books, storytelling has become an intentional tool in many of the most successful organisations. How can you use it in […]
You’ve done your market research, you’ve got a solid business plan, you’ve registered your company and pulled together funding, suppliers and everything else you need to start your new business. You’re ready to trade – you just need some customers. However, not all customers are created equal; some are a delight to deal with, while […]
Equity crowdfunding requires a lot of preparation, which means business owners have to find some significant time ahead of a campaign. And after putting weeks of effort, it can be devastating to see a lacklustre response from the crowd. So, if your crowdfunding campaign isn’t going to plan, here are the steps you should take […]
There are lots of things to think about if you’re considering taking out a business loan. The UK’s business lending market includes a wide range of providers offering subtly different types of business loans. If your business needs to borrow money, here are some of the key considerations you need to bear in mind when […]
The Summer is half over but British weather means that you’re never actually sure when the warm weather will come and go. Summer holidays can cause staffing problems for small businesses, so we asked Gary Young of Equinox to share some ways you can use technology smartly to keep staff and customers happy when the […]
If you are dealing with a new customer or supplier and want to check whether the VAT registration number (VRN) they have supplied is valid, there are two ways you can do so. One method is to call the HMRC VAT Helpline, the other is to use the online VAT Information Exchange System (VIES) run […]
Delegation should be easy to do, or so you might think, however it can be very challenging in certain situations particularly for owners of small businesses. As a business owner with a very small team, I have found it can be even harder to let go. It’s my baby.
As a small business owner, your legal responsibilities when taking on staff can be somewhat daunting but with a little help you can soon get your head around what’s needed. One of your first duties as a new employer is to ensure you comply with employment contract law. To help you understand your legal obligations, […]
Small business accounting software has changed massively in recent years. Thankfully, the advent of cloud computing has consigned the days of buying book-keeping software in a box and installing it on your own computer to history.
There’s no denying telecommunications play an important role for businesses. Your telecoms facilitate interaction between you and your customers, as well as keeping your employees connected. So, when it comes to your telephone infrastructure, you want to make sure it’s strong and stress-free.
“Put that coffee down. Coffee’s for closers only”. Alec Baldwin delivered this iconic line in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross. It may sound harsh but that is the reality. Pitching an idea and closing a deal can be a nerve-wracking process. Even successful business greats like Richard Branson found the skill of pitching hard to […]
A productive business is a profitable business. A simple, but very true statement. But, according to a Close Brothers report (PDF), the UK lags behind the rest of the G7 countries by 16%. So what is holding back productivity, and what can British businesses do to become more productive?
If you run a business and you’ve never switched to a new energy contract, you could be paying as much as 40% more than you need to for gas and electricity. A recent study carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that a staggering £7 billion is being wasted by small and […]
