Business121 Small Business Newsletter #57

In this week's Business121:

1. Our First Live Webchat - 'Making the eMarket Your Pal'
2. Start Up With Stelios
3. How to handle disciplinary issues
4. Companies Act 2006 spells major changes for business owners
5. A Guide to Employers Liability Insurance
6. Small businesses urged to claim R&D tax credits
7. Complicated tariffs and fees deter businesses from switching banks
8. UK's entrepreneurs alienated by major political parties
9. UK family business stress is on the increase

Our First Live Webchat - 'Making the eMarket Your Pal'

With online sales surging to over £8 billion in the UK alone this year, generating sales online is a fast-growing business. For many small businesses, a website allows you to tap into new markets and sell to new customers.

But when it comes to enabling your website to take online payments there are plenty of questions to answer. Choosing an online payment provider is an important decision, with a wide range of options and a myriad of different charging structures to select from, it can be a confusing time.

To help find the answers to all your questions about taking online payments we've teamed up with PayPal to bring you our first ever Live Webchat on 'Making the eMarket Your Pal'.

The Webchat is a unique chance for you to ask any questions you have about taking online transactions. Answering the questions will be Carl Olav Scheible, Head of Merchant Services at PayPal.

You can pose any questions you need the answer to. Some common questions about transacting online are; "What do I need to get set up?", "How long does it take to implement an online payment system?", and "I'm a new business with no track-record, does that count against me?" but you can be as specific as you like.

The Live Webchat starts at 1pm on Wednesday 15 November when you'll be able to see Carl tackling all your questions on developing your eBusiness.

But you don't have to wait until the Webchat starts to ask your questions, you can submit these right now. Just visit our 'Making the eMarket Your Pal' Webchat page, type your question and hit "SUBMIT".

All you need to do then is to remember to come back at 1pm tomorrow to get the answers!

If you'd like to develop your online business but need a little helping hand this is a great chance for you to learn a little bit more.

Start Up With Stelios

We've also been busy working with Radio Five Live's 'Wake up to Money' team on the launch of 'Start Up with Stelios'.

The search is on for the next great business idea. So if you think you've got a great idea for a business, you can find out more about the competition and how to enter your business idea here

The winner will get one-to-one help from easyjet entrepreneur Stelios and a chance to appear on the 'Wake up to Money' show.

Finally, please do spread the word and forward this email on to friends or acquaintances that may benefit from either of these initiatives.

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How to handle disciplinary issues
Despite every effort, even the best-run business may encounter disciplinary problems with employees from time to time. Having clear and fair disciplinary procedures is both a legal requirement and the first step to avoiding difficult claims tribunals. Here are the issues you should consider.

Companies Act 2006 spells major changes for business owners
The Companies Act, which has just received Royal Assent, constitutes the biggest shake-up of business law in over 20 years. The Act, which runs to 1,264 clauses, will change the way companies are set up and run and the relationship that directors have with their businesses.

Given the breadth and scope of the changes business owners are strongly advised to prepare for the changes as a matter of importance.

A Guide to Employers Liability Insurance
As an employer, you are responsible for the health and safety of your employees while they are at work. If you employ staff, you are required by law to take out employers' liability insurance to cover the cost of any potential claims. Here's a quick guide to liability insurance.

We provide a range of other useful 'Insurance Guides' including;
Public Liability Insurance - An Overview
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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Start Up With Stelios - New business competition
A new Radio 5 Live competition has been launched to find the best new business idea. You can win a one-to-one with Stelios, and the chance to turn your business dream into reality.

Small businesses urged to claim R&D tax credits
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is trying to make it easier for small businesses to apply for Research and Development (R&D) tax credits by setting up seven specialist units around the country. HMRC hopes the new units will improve the handling of claims and also raise awareness of the R&D tax credit scheme among small businesses.

Complicated tariffs and fees deter businesses from switching banks
A damning new report on the UK business banking market has found that businesses are being put off switching banks because it can take three days’ work to wade through the complicated myriad of fees and tariff structures. But with big potential savings it can be well worth the effort.

UK's entrepreneurs alienated by major political parties
Major political parties are failing to win the hearts and minds of the UK's leading entrepreneurs according to research. Of the entrepreneurs that did state a political preference, the vast majority supported the Tories.

UK family business stress is on the increase
Nearly half of all family businesses in the UK saw their stress levels increase or increase significantly over the past year, according to new research. Given that this year's figure has increased by 10% from 2005, stress levels look set to continue rising in the future, it warns.

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