A report from Euler Trade Indemnity, the French owned UK credit insurer, says that UK business is growing at it's fastest rate in five years. More...
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The Labour government is on target to have of introduced up to 5000 business regulations, with most of these relevant to small business. More...
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We have been listening to your comments over the past six months about the business services you want to see. More...
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If the main priority of running your business is improving your lifestyle, then you could be one of the UK’s growing numbers of Alterpreneurs; business owner/managers who have left a nine-to-five career for an alternative lifestyle. More...
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For a growing business, there are few more important things than your company name; yet a huge number of small businesses are failing to protect their name properly, and are at risk of legal action. More...
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The majority of businesses in the UK continue to use the standard Royal Mail postal services without even considering whether they are getting the best service for their posting needs. More...
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Although it is rare for businesses to suffer a fire or other disaster, the effects of such an event could be devastating; yet half of small businesses have no formal plans on how to remain trading in the event of a disaster.
Events such as a fire, an explosion, or a flood can damage your computers, damage your records and your business premises; leaving you with great difficulty to deal with your workload, if your business can even continue at all... More...
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If you sell products using debit or credit cards then you need to be aware of the changes to the Chip and PIN rules. From 14th February 2006, all customers using a Chip and PIN card will need to use the pin when using a Chip and PIN terminal... More...
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The majority of Britain's small and medium-sized businesses are operating without a written business plan endangering their future prosperity and survival, according to research carried out by PKF Accountants and business advisers.
While 45% of businesses claimed to be working to a plan, 46% said they had a strategy but no plan, and 9% described themselves as having no plan at all. More...
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Despite the number of recent high profile threats to businesses (E.g.: Terrorism, extreme weather conditions, petrol blockades), a worrying number of businesses are failing to plan for the effects of serious business interruptions. More...
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Small business owners and entrepreneurs are well known for working long hours to grow their business; but a new survey has shown that many are damaging their work-life balance by failing to take holidays and adequate breaks.
British entrepreneurs are clocking up over 47 hours every week, according to a survey into the work life-balance culture of Britain's small business managers by Bank of Scotland Business Banking. This equates to a staggering 24 million extra 'working weeks' put in collectively each year by the UK's 1.4m small businesses. More...
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Thousands of small businesses use ladders, whether as part of their work, or simply to get things from high places (e.g.: in a warehouse)! However, nearly 100 people fall off a ladder at work each month, and suffer serious injuries costing the economy £60 million each year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will promote ladder safety messages through a 'ladder exchange' which aims to remove 4000 'dodgy' ladders from workplaces in Great Britain... More...
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If your business was affected by the postal strikes in August, then the news that talks between the Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have broken down again after a four week period of calm. More...
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Choosing what product or service your new business will sell is all too often a 'knee jerk' reaction and not a careful consideration of the facts. More...
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As a small business owner, you are probably aware of the increasing number of fraudsters targeting SME’s. While you may be aware of telephone and mail scams, you also need to look out for a fraud tactic that you might not be aware of. More...
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If you receive a cold call asking for money, you would probably know to be cautious about handing over money. Yet despite this, many businesses are falling for scams from fake charity publishers, the DTI has warned. More...
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If you run a small or medium sized company then you need to be aware of a new share based scam targeting SME owners and private investors. More...
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If your business sends a lot of post, then you need to be prepared for the postal strike taking place on Friday 29th June; and possibly again in early July.
The Communication Workers' Union (CWU) have confirmed that strike will be going ahead, as a dispute over pay was not settled. Unless a last minute agreement is found, then Royal Mail deliveries across the country will be crippled. More...
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You need to be on your guard against potential scams being used by a small number of energy brokers. More...
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Business failures on the rise, reports Dun & Bradstreet. More...
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If you are planning to start a business, have recently started one, or are looking to grow and expand; you should visit the Business Startup 2007 event in London soon.
With more than 240 exhibitors and 100 free seminars, Business Startup is the UK’s biggest exhibition for people starting and expanding their own businesses. More...
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Although most office parties go by without major incidents, the risk of expensive tribunals and staff problems is causing more bosses than ever before to ban Christmas parties this year.
A survey by employment law consultancy Peninsula BusinessWise has found that 91% of bosses have planned to ban Christmas parties for 2006. 93% fear that holding a party will create tribunal claims from disgruntled employees... More...
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Companies filing information at Companies House can now use forms taken from its web site... More...
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Small businesses are being warned by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) that a growing number are falling victim to corporate identity theft. In a letter to the Registrar of Companies the FSB have complained that Companies House is not properly equipped to deal with the problems. More...
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There are many different threats that can cause business damage and even business failure; but surprisingly, the UK’s weather is considered a bigger risk by small businesses than bad management! More...
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If your business is aware of its impact on the environment, then you are one of an increasing number; but are you aware that acting on environmental issues could actually help you win new customers and save money. More...
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If your business is going well then you may have considered entering into one of the many business awards for small businesses; but have you considered the only major awards that let you take on big businesses as well? More...
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Following plans by the DTI to make starting up a business easier and cheaper, a large survey has found that 84% of self employed people believe that the government does not do enough to support small businesses. More...
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If your business accepts payments on debit or credit cards, you need to be aware of how the changes to Chip and PIN rules affect your sales and potential liability to fraud. This is especially important for the 20% of (mainly SME) businesses that advisors Grant Thornton say have not yet switched to the new system. More...
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Good news if your business is struggling with red tape; it appears as if the plight of small businesses is finally having an affect on the regulations and rules created by the EU. More...
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Every Christmas businesses send millions of cards to customers, suppliers and business partners; yet they could be helping the environment and saving money by switching to online e-cards. More...
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If you are about to start, or have recently started a business; you may be interested in the upcoming free Business Startup shows... More...
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If you are considering expanding your business through acquisition, or are thinking of selling up in the coming few years; there are a lot of factors you will need to take into account... More...
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Running a small business is never easy; keeping on top of all the different areas of importance can be a challenge for even the most energetic entrepreneur. The good news is that we can offer some help with our free BizStart24 software for PC's. BizStart24 features over 40 letters and forms to make the running of your business quicker and easier. More...
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If you are planning for your new business, or are looking for ideas and help on being an entrepreneur; then you may find what you need at the upcoming Business Startup Exhibition.
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Most small businesses owners understand that you have to look after your employees, but did you know just how much of an impact happy employees can have? Feeling good at work is not only a signal of good functioning but will actually enhance an organisations performance according to Nic Marks, Head of the centre for well-being, at nef (the new economics foundation). More...
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Businesses are now estimated to lose at least £50million a year from fraudsters stealing their identity to obtain finance, goods or services by deception. More...
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The Government and seven banks are joining forces to fund a national telephone helpline for small businesses facing debt problems. More...
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Eight years might not sound like a long time, but in the fast moving worlds of business and technology it certainly is. As the BizHelp24 Newsletter reaches its 200th edition, we are taking a look back at how things have changed for businesses since our first edition back in the days of the Dot Com bubble... More...
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You are probably aware of identity theft and the problems and costs it can cause, but too many businesses are failing to take simple precautions to protect themselves.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has issued a warning to small business owners to take action now and lower the risk of being caught up in identity fraud. More...
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The minimum wage is to increase from GBP3.70 to GBP4.10 on the 1 October. A further rise to GBP4.20 "subject to favourable economic conditions" is planned for October 2002 - can't wait! More...
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This article is a significant move for many small business owners who believe that some form of investment would much improve their company's growth. More...
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As a business owner, you know that bad customer service is a sure fire way to lose customers and sales. Yet despite this obvious fact, a large number of businesses still provide inadequate service and support to their customers. More...
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If you run your own small business, you know just how much hard work it can be. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy task, and you can easily find yourself spending more and more time working to get things done. More...
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Being a small business owner is never easy, with lots of hard work and planning required all the time. The work is so hard that now more than a quarter of SMEs owner-managers in the UK are considering selling their business in the coming few years; which could potentially leave the UK short of business talent and venture capital... More...
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If your business is doing well, then it is probably down to good planning and management; but a surprising number of business owners are failing to plan for dealing with emergencies and unexpected threats... More...
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As someone who is involved with a small business, you are probably aware of just how damaging crime against businesses can be.
A new survey from insurance group AXA has found that preventative action can reduce crime against your business; but the overall figures for crime against businesses are sadly on the rise. More...
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In our last newsletter our article on: "SOLE TRADER OR LIMITED COMPANY?" stirred a response from one reader who said, More...
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There was an increase of 8% per cent in the effective register at Companies House: a total of 1,281,100 companies were registered at the year end, exceeding last year's previous highest ever figure of 1,184,900. More...
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Running a business is never easy; it takes time, effort and ability. The knowledge and advice that business owners can give is invaluable for those running or starting a new business.
After the popularity of the last article on the subject, here are some more top business quotes and thoughts from BDO Stoy Hayward’s 33 Thoughts; which features regular instalments of clever and amusing observations from business people past and present, as well as some unexpected sources. More...
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If you feel like the government isn’t paying enough attention to the needs of small businesses; then the news that more than quarter of the new elected MP’s in the House of Commons have either started their own business or worked for a family firm could provide a boost. More...
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Small and medium sized businesses spend millions of pounds on their post every day, and are the ones paying the price as the postal strikes continue.
Each day on average, over £2million of post is sent by small and medium sized businesses; and the strikes could cause cash flow problems, customer relationship problems, or even the failure of a business if payments or invoices are delayed by even just a few days. More...
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Outsourcing is commonly seen as being for big businesses only, and while this has traditionally been the case; there are an increasing number of opportunities for small businesses to effectively use outsourcing to cut costs. While there are still not enough companies providing outsourcing services designed for small businesses, the number is increasing... More...
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All businesses with five or more employees are required to arrange a Stakeholder Pension for their staff to take effect from 8 October 2001, with a fine of UKP50,000 for those who fail to comply. More...
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Online social networks are fast becoming an important part of business, but new results show they are still not a replacement for the traditional skills of talking to clients on the phone or face to face meetings. More...
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Although Christmas seems a fair distance away yet, decorations are already starting to go up, and gifts are starting to be bought. If you run a retail, manufacturing or distribution business then you need to start planning now to be effectively prepared and make the most of the holiday sales. More...
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Identity fraud is seen as something that affects the general public, but it is increasingly affecting businesses. In a survey of its members, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) found that 29% of its members (or their clients) have suffered some form of identity theft. More...
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The first thing to understand is that we now have a 'dual economy'... More...
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Around a quarter of small to medium sized business entrepreneurs are planning to sell their business in the next three years; yet almost half of these people have no real idea what their business is worth... More...
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Are you providing Christmas or holiday entertainment for your staff this year? BizHelp24 has found that small business bosses are divided into two main groups this Christmas; those who splash out to provide their employees with office parties and entertainment, and those who don’t pay anything or whose employees are too busy working to have a break!
The results show that a surprising number of small businesses are taking their staff somewhat for granted.
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At last there is some common sense with staff compensation claims due to dismissal. The problem arises with 'false' claims to industrial tribunals in the hope of a sizable award for their 'suffering'. More...
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As someone with an interest in a small business, you know how important it can be to be a part of the local community; and new research shows that small businesses are leading the way in demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their local areas. More...
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As someone with an interest in small business, you are probably aware of just how many issues there are that can affect it. A new report from the Institute of Directors (IoD) has identified the key issues that cause businesses the most trouble.
While regulation, taxation and education continue to be of concern to business of all sizes, the report identifies five issues that are highlighted specifically by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). More...
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If you ever felt that your business is affected by unfair trading practices, then you are by no means alone. A survey has found that a third of SMEs are aware of anti-competitive practices in their industries; while over 20% believe they have been directly affected. More...
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Is your business struggling? Lion TV is making a series for a UK broadcaster featuring one of Britain’s leading entrepreneurs. The multi-millionaire expert will invest his time and money with the aim of bringing your business back from the brink and setting you on the path to success. More...
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The tax office is to increase short tax investigations from 100,000 to 700,000. More...
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A recent survey, for the Department for Education & Employment (DfEE), about work-home balance has been conducted without the input of 70% of the UK's businesses.... More...
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Every year, a growing number of businesses and individuals fall victim to identity theft. To help you protect your business from this growing threat; BizHelp24 has created a free guide... More...
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With the wave of postal strikes set to continue throughout October, your business needs to be well prepared to cope with a slow and delayed postal service. Strikes have been confirmed from midday Thursday 4th October to midday Saturday 6th October, and from 3am Monday 8th October to 3am Wednesday 10th October; with a rolling programme of strikes from the 15th October. More...
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20 years ago this week, Hurricane Len caused over £1 billion worth of damage to UK homes and businesses; with climate change affecting the UK’s weather patterns, now is a good time to ensure you are is prepared for extreme weather events.
Insurance company More Than have produced two useful sets of tips on planning for extreme weather conditions. If you are in areas affected by this years floods, these are especially useful. More...
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If you are looking to develop your business, the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference, 5 & 6 October 2007 NEC, Birmingham provides the perfect opportunity to learn from the experts, develop your skills and gain the information you need. More...
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As a business owner or manager, you know that every single business is different, but a new survey has found that almost all small business owners and entrepreneurs fit into one of four categories. Which are you closest to?
One in five entrepreneurs in Britain is a "high flyer", according to a new study by Bank of Scotland Business Banking aimed at identifying the attributes displayed by Britain's successful small businesses. More...
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