Business121 Small Business Newsletter #49

In this week's Business121:

1. Small Business Service days are numbered
2. 8 Steps to becoming a better salesperson
3. How to design the right logo for your business
4. The 10 business plan mistakes you must avoid making
5. 10 Top tips to help you complete your self-assessment Tax Return
6. Female entrepreneurs starting businesses for greater flexibility
7. New version of best-selling business plan software released
8. Red tape and gold-plating strangling small business growth
9. Small Business Rate Relief applications to be streamlined in 2007/08
10. Businesses urged to save environment with Christmas e-cards
11. Small Business Service to be streamlined

Small Business Service days are numbered

It seems that the days of the Small Business Service, as we know it are numbered. The government agency that is meant to foster the growth of small business in Britain is facing a huge cut in its £150 million budget and remit.

The Small Business Service, which was set up in 2000 to stimulate and support entrepreneurs, will be refocused as a lobbying organisation giving small businesses a voice in Whitehall.

The SBS has been under increasing fire in recent months, with virtually every business lobbying organisation you can think of issuing strong criticism of the failing service.

In response to the tide of criticism, Alistair Darling, the trade and industry secretary, revealed plans to "streamline" the Small Business Service - transferring much of its support programmes to the regional development agencies and reducing its policy work, in an interview with the FT (see News below).

Business organisations have broadly backed the proposals. Richard Lambert, director general, said the CBI wanted an organisation that was "a powerful advocate for enterprise, with a chief executive able to speak out with authority on behalf of small business".

While, most of us acknowledge that the SBS hasn't delivered on its aims, it's critical for all small businesses that we have a strong voice in the corridor of powers. If we don't we can expect more red tape and fewer business-friendly measures.

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8 Steps to becoming a better salesperson
Selling is a procedure, and therefore it's a discipline that any small business owner can master. Learn and practice the following steps, and you they will help you to become a better salesperson.

How to design the right logo for your business
For new businesses, designing a logo is one of the first tasks to be tackled. A good logo can convey positive messages about your company, but a poor logo can actually put people off from doing business with you. Here are 10 top tips to help you get your logo right.

The 10 business plan mistakes you must avoid making
The importance of writing a business plan is widely documented; however, guidance as to what makes a good business plan is less clearly defined. This article aims to redress that imbalance by describing 10 of the most common mistakes that occur in business plans. Avoid making these errors at all costs.

10 Top tips to help you complete your self-assessment Tax Return
If you want HMRC to calculate the tax due on your self-assessment tax return the September 30 deadline is looming. To help you complete your Tax Return the ICAEW is giving some useful tips and advice.

Female entrepreneurs starting businesses for greater flexibility
Mums who turn their kitchens into boardrooms and start a home business are driven by the need for greater work flexibility according to a new study of working mothers. Includes 7 top tips for business mums.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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New version of best-selling business plan software released
The 2007 version of Business Plan Pro, the ever-popular business planning software has just been released. The latest issue includes some new features and resources to make writing your business plan even easier.

Red tape and gold-plating strangling small business growth
The FSB and the Foreign Policy Centre have joined forces to warn the Government that the current burden on small firms from red tape and gold-plating is holding back small business growth.

Small Business Rate Relief applications to be streamlined in 2007/08
The Government has, at last, reacted to the chaos of the Small Business Rate Relief scheme. But its proudly proclaimed 'streamlining' won't start until 2007/08, leaving small businesses with extra paperwork for another two years.

Businesses urged to save environment with Christmas e-cards
It still feels a little early to be thinking of Christmas but that isn't stopping Envirowise from urging businesses to save the environment by sending their Christmas greetings online this year.

Small Business Service to be streamlined
After recent criticism from most quarters, a radical downsizing of the SBS will be announced by ministers soon. In an interview with the Financial Times, the trade and industry secretary, Alistair Darling said the agency would be restructured to make it "smaller and more focused on what it can do".

** For the latest Small Business News, visit http://www.Bytestart.co.uk **

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