Paul Uppal, an ex conservative MP, has been appointed as Small Business Commissioner (SBC). This role will focus on empowering small businesses and providing guidance and support for the 5.5 small businesses in the UK. His role will be crucial in tackling some of the biggest problems faced by small business owners, such as late payments from big businesses.
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Updates
Calculating start-up costs is essential for any prospective business owner. You need to figure out your start-up costs in order to see if you can afford to fund your business. If you do not have the sufficient funds to finance your business then you can explore different methods of funding available to you. In order for you to calculate your start-up costs you need to have a detailed business plan, highlighting all the costs for your start up.
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In a report carried out by Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd (CEBR) for World First, it was found that the UK’s small business sector has become more digital than ever. This movement mirrors the wants and needs of today’s consumers.
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I built my start-up business from nothing to a successful venture almost entirely through networking – and along the way I made plenty of mistakes, says Sue Fish from Toastmasters International.
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Venture capital is a form of funding for businesses. It varies from multiple other ways of funding because it deals with huge sums of money as well as requiring equity in exchange for investment. In this article you will find out how venture capital (VC) works and how you can get funding. VC is becoming a prominent part of UK business funding, with around £2.5 billion invested through venture capital in 2015 alone. Additionally, there are currently 22 VC firms operating in the UK.
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HMRC are tackling tax avoidance among businesses, and they have set their sights on small businesses in particular because they are seen as the easier target. Small businesses do avoid tax, this could be unknowingly or knowingly, but there are steps you can take to avoid falling foul of HMRC’s tax crackdown.
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GDPR is the new regulation that all business owners need to be aware of. So what exactly is GDPR and how will it effect business owners, from small businesses to bigger organisations? This introductory article on GDPR will prepare you for the upcoming regulation.
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There are three main types of business structures to choose from for your business in the UK. They vary in terms of scale, liability and investors. It is also possible to start off with one structure and move to another one, for example a sole proprietorship can expand to a limited liability company. In this guide, you will be informed on the basics of all the business structures and the benefits and disadvantages of them all.
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Till systems are no longer just a cash drawer and a calculator – they have become a cornerstone of modern day retail and hospitality businesses. A till can store data, help manage staff, keep track of stock levels and feed information straight to your accountant.
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Market research is the key to understanding your market. Carrying out market research is essential for every business endeavour, from the inception of the business to the expansion of it. Understanding your market in terms of customers and competitors will shape your business. Knowing your customers will allow you to provide the best service. Analysing your competitors will enable you to be better and have a competitive edge over your competitors.
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Starting up and running a business is no easy task. Although it is a rewarding venture, which enables you to be your own boss and put entrepreneurial skills to use, there are certain problems you will likely face. Here are the top three problems that are affecting small businesses in the UK right now. If you are business owner, you are likely aware and if you are thinking about starting a business, its important to take these problems into consideration.
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When it comes to working in a pleasant, progressive workplace, it really can come down to luck of the draw. Larger companies can afford to do more and have more benefits, where smaller businesses may occasionally struggle or not be able to manage things as well, for example. Below are four things that every business, no matter how big or small, should be doing to keep up with the modern day workforce.
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Lendable, a peer-to-peer lending platform is becoming increasingly popular and growing at an incredible rate to rival its competitors.
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In our latest edition of success stories, we spoke to Brenden Carr – owner of a family run business. Caztec help deal with domestic and commercial electrical problems. Brenden discusses the changes to marketing yourself as a business owner, over twenty years, to the advantages of running a family business.
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Funding Circle is one of the most prominent methods of getting loans for UK small businesses. In this guide, we will focus primarily on this method of financing, explaining how it works and why it’s such a great way of financing your business that you should definitely consider.
In a survey conducted by Mediahawk on over 200 SMEs in the UK, it was found that social media plays a huge role in bringing in the highest quality leads and sales to small businesses. Around 62% said that social media marketing was the best form of marketing for them to get the best leads, ultimately pushing their sales. This just shows the importance of social media in the small business sector.
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Peer to peer lending is a way to get finance without the involvement of any official financial institution. However, there are certain platforms you can use to get funding. The peer to peer lending websites are known as platforms and will vary from website to website. In this article you will learn what peer to peer lending actually is and what are the pros and cons for using this particular method of funding.
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Setting objectives and goals for your business is incredibly important. Goals enable you to decide the direction of your business, as well as provide motivation because you have a goal/image to work towards. Most importantly, setting goals is a way to measure your progress.
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There are many reasons as to why you have decided to sell your franchise, from a retirement to wanting to invest in another business opportunity. Selling and buying an existing franchise is also known as a ‘re-sale’. You have to prepare for your re-sale from the very beginning of your franchise career if it is possible. These simple steps will help you get organised and prepared for the re-sale.
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For most businesses, handling an employee’s confidential data can present a number of challenges. It is important to educate the team on the importance of handling data to ensure confidence to not have to face any of the legal implications of a data leak.
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