The Companies Act 2006 enacted a wide range of reforms to the way company law is governed. It set out the duties of company directors for the first time, and has simplified some elements of company incorporation process. In this summary, we look at the key elements of the Act from a company director’s point of view.
Read More »Companies Act 2006 – Key points for small businesses
Having to dismiss an employee is something many employers dread, due to the possibility that the dismissed employee may take them to an employment tribunal if they feel they weren’t treated fairly. This is why you should take care to act reasonably towards employees throughout the dismissal procedure.
So if you have a member of staff that you feel you may have to dismiss, this guide will hep you to understand how you can do this legally and without the unwanted fear, distraction or costs of appearing before an employment tribunal.
Read More »Dismissing a member of staff – how to do this within the law
Automatic enrolment is looming large on the horizon for hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the UK.
With many small firms unfamiliar with company pensions, tackling auto enrolment (AE) can feel daunting, so this guide has been designed to help small business owners get to grips with the subject.
Read More »Guide to Auto Enrolment – 12 key facts small businesses need to know
When people talk about ‘gearing’ in a business, they are usually referring to one of two types;
Here’s a guide to what gearing is, and how you can use it to increase the returns your business makes;
Read More »What is “gearing” and how can you make it work for your business?
Stephan Weber of Sykes Anderson LLP discusses the new statutory provisions under the Companies Act 2006 in respect of derivative claims by shareholders A derivative… Read More »Companies Act 2006 & derivative claims by shareholders
As late payment problems consider to plague small businesses, we have teamed up with a leading debt recovery service to ensure ByteStart visitors can receive help getting their invoices paid.
Read More »Late payment debt recovery service for ByteStart visitors
When you are starting a business, sitting down and grappling with Health & Safety legislation isn’t one of your top priorities. It’s fair to say that it’s not one of the more exciting parts of running your own business, and it doesn’t bring in any money.
However, with the average fine for Health & Safety prosecutions being over £30,000, it can be very costly if you don’t stay on the right side of the law. With so much at stake, we asked Louise Hosking of Hosking Associates to explain what small businesses need to do;Read More »Health & Safety compliance for small businesses – where do you start?
How can you be an attractive company to work for, motivate and reward staff and promote loyalty without increasing your pay bill?
Believe it or not, introducing employee benefits may be the answer. There is a range of benefits which won’t be a cost to your company and will actually provide savings by reducing your tax liability. These are known as salary sacrifice arrangements.
Read More »How setting up a salary sacrifice scheme can cut the tax bills for both employees and employers
Here are some of the best options potentially available to you if your company is facing a financial squeeze and is running out of cash, along with some ideas on how to approach the turnaround process.
Read More »What to do if your company is running out of cash
Is there a better way of doing business? Is there a more ethical and sustainable business model that is less focused on the short-term chase for shareholder profit? The answer could well lie with the co-operative business model.
Read More »What is a co-operative, and when might it be a suitable structure for a start-up?