Business121 Small Business Newsletter #12

In this week's Business121:

1. Small firms face corporation tax hike
2. Free online directory listing
3. File your PAYE Returns online and save money
4. An overview of business grants
5. How to get ahead in advertising
6. Web accessibility and your small business website
7. Overview of direct marketing
8. Virtual networking - Scotland's newest business tool
9. Top Christmas party tips - how to avoid the pitfalls

* Or read this issue online: http://snipurl.com/_121_issues *

Small Firms face Corporation Tax Hike
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Many of us will remember Gordon Brown's attempt to encourage
enterprise in 2002 by introducing a nil per cent starting
Corporation Tax rate, for the first £10,000 of profits. This
move resulted in thousands of sole traders and partnerships
setting up limited companies to take advantage of the changes.

Now it seems this incentive was just a little too successful,
as the Chancellor has just scrapped the nil per cent rate in
his recent Pre-Budget Report (the change will take effect
from April 2006). The zero rate and non-corporate
distribution rates will be replaced by a new 19% rate on
profits, in an attempt to enable "simpler calculations".

Accountants PKF said that thousands of small companies face
an extra tax bill of up to £1,900 a year because of the removal
of the nil starting band of corporation tax.

The Times published an article, "Three years on, small firms
lose limited tax break" which is worth a read:
http://snipurl.com/times_tax

Our friends at Freelance UK have also published an excellent
summary of the Pre-Budget report changes and how it may
affect small traders and freelancers.
http://snipurl.com/freelance_tax

(James Leckie)

Many thanks to all our visitors for making the last quarter a
very good one for Business 121 and Bytestart. Our next
newsletter will go out on 10th January 2006. We hope you enjoy
the festive season and best wishes to all our subscribers for a
rewarding and profitable 2006!

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Free Online Directory Listing
---------------------------------------
Just a quick reminder, following on from last week's newsletter,
that you can list your site on one of the most popular online
directories for free. Touch now have a site for every City in the
country e.g. TouchGuildford.com,TouchLiverpool.com etc.

Every month 4 million people search for services on their network
of sites. So, if you want to promote your business to more
potential customers, this could be a handy service.

Touch allows you to put a basic listing on their site for free.
You can add extra info to your listing with a Touch Link but the
basic entry is free of charge.

To find out more about Touch and get your free listing click here:
http://snipurl.com/_Touch_Free_Listing

File your PAYE Returns online and save money
---------------------------------------
Did you know that you could save quite a bit of money by
filing your PAYE returns online? The Inland Revenue's online
service provides employers with a secure method of sending and
receiving a range of forms and returns over the Internet.
http://snipurl.com/PAYE_Returns

An overview of business grants
---------------------------------------
For the United Kingdom there are some 850 different grants
provided by UK national organisations or European Union
sources. In addition, there are some 3,000 "grants" provided
by local councils, economic development units, enterprise
agencies and other specific local bodies. An overview of the
main types of grant available to small businesses, and how
to apply.
http://snipurl.com/Business_Grants

How to get ahead in advertising
---------------------------------------
Badly planned communications can be the quickest way to waste
a lot of money. The Essential Business Guide has published some
handy tips to help avoid losing money on ineffective ads.
http://snipurl.com/Ahead_In_Advertising

Web accessibility and your small business website
---------------------------------------
An introduction to web accessibility. Is your small business site
"accessible" under the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act?
http://snipurl.com/Ahead_In_Advertising

Overview of direct marketing
---------------------------------------
Direct marketing is simply a message that speaks directly with your customer.
Used well, direct marketing can be a cost-effective and well-targeted method of
getting your message across. Some handy hints for small businesses.
http://snipurl.com/Direct_Marketing

Virtual networking - Scotland's newest business tool
---------------------------------------
A new business networking site has been launched, offering
members the chance to build business with like minded people.
Members also benefit from preferential rates for business services.
http://snipurl.com/Virtual_Scotland

Top Christmas party tips - how to avoid the pitfalls
---------------------------------------
Alarm bells could replace Jingle Bells for employers holding
Christmas events this year if they fail to prepare for a
number of 'party pitfalls', warns Croner, one of the UK's
leading providers of employment and health & safety advice
for businesses.
http://snipurl.com/Xmas_Parties

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SEE YOUR AD HERE
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Business121 is read by over 12,000 small business owners every
week. You can book an ad here for as little as £30. Our weekly
bulletins will commence again on Tuesday 10th January 2006.
Please email: Classified@Business121.co.uk for details