Business121 Small Business Newsletter #62

In this week's Business121:

1. Thank You
2. Commercial and Consumer Contracts - A Basics Legal Guide
3. Managed Service Companies - What Now for IT Contractors?
4. Agility is the key to success for SMEs
5. National Pension Savings Scheme changes
6. Top Christmas Trading Tips for Small Businesses
7. Could Britain produce a YouTube?
8. Pensions contributions to tax small businesses
9. Lack of promotion forcing staff to move on
10. Does your business need a sales guru?

Thank You
With less than a week to go before Christmas many of us are winding down on a business front. Some seasonal businesses won't have the luxury of taking a break over the festivities but at Business121 we're fortunate enough to be able to do so.

The next Business121 will be with you on Tuesday January 9. But before we look forward to 2007, the end of the year is always a good time to look back and reflect on the 12 months just past.

In our case, we're more than pleased with how the year has panned out. ByteStart.co.uk has gone from strength to strength - the number of people using the site has more than doubled during the year and now over 75,000 people use the site every month.

Of course, our popularity is down to you, the readers, so we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support throughout the year.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous 2007.

The Business121 and ByteStart Team.

One final thing for 2006
Finally, in case you missed it last week, we're launching a series of surveys to find out what our readers and visitors feel on a wide range of issues facing small businesses.

For our first survey, we've teamed up with Standard Life to find out your attitudes and opinions on health in the small business workplace.

The survey will take less than 6 minutes to complete and as a 'Thank You' we're giving away Red Letter Day packages to three lucky survey entrants.

The Red Letter Day winners can choose from a wide range of experiences, including: Flying a Light Aircraft, Cocktail Masterclasses, Cowboy Riding Adventures, Horse Riding, a visit to Vinopolis and RIB Powerboating on the Thames for Two.

To take part in the survey, click here

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Commercial and Consumer Contracts - A Basics Legal Guide
Contracts are essential to business, necessary at all levels from concept to end product or service and throughout the supply chain. Unfortunately for businesses, contract law has been interpreted, honed and rewritten by the courts for 400 years. With a myriad of confusing and contradictory rules here a some pointers to help you to understand and deal with contracts.

Managed Service Companies - What Now for IT Contractors?
Following the Chancellors' Pre-Budget report, announcing a clampdown on managed service companies, what could the new measures mean for the IT Contracting and Freelance Industry?

Agility is the key to success for SMEs
While large companies can simply employ a whole workforce of people to take care of their customers, small businesses may struggle to respond quickly to the demands of their clients and new business prospects - particularly if they are out of the office attempting to expand the business. So for SMEs, fast and efficient communication is vital if they are to achieve business success.

National Pension Savings Scheme changes
The National Pensions Saving Scheme comprises a new system of Personal Accounts which the Government is to introduce in 2012. An overview for small businesses.

Top Christmas Trading Tips for Small Businesses
Top tips to help owners and managers maximise the opportunity that Christmas trading brings.

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SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
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Could Britain produce a YouTube?
YouTube has been the undoubted business success of 2006 and recently bought for $1.65bn (£883m) by internet giant Google. But could a phenomenon, initially dreamt up by two twentysomethings at a Silicon Valley dinner party, be recreated in the UK?

Pensions contributions to tax small businesses
The Forum of Private Business has branded plans for a compulsory contribution from employers to their employees’ pension schemes as ‘yet another tax on employment’.

Lack of promotion forcing staff to move on
As the annual performance review and promotion season gets under way, new research shows UK employees have little faith in career prospects at their current organisation. Most employees say they will have to switch organisations to progress their career.

Does your business need a sales guru?
TV producers are looking for businesses that are in desperate need of a 'Sales Guru' to come in and turn their fortunes around.

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

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(c) Business121.co.uk 2006