Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
When you think of business growth, cutting your costs isn’t the first tactic that springs to mind. It’s all too easy to focus on the ‘sexier’ sides of the business such as sales and marketing, but business costs in essence are just the other side of the same coin.
With UK self-employment at a record high and the deadline for online self-assessment tax returns looming at the end of January, now is the time to spring clean your finances ready for the year ahead.
Many people have resolutions on the brain during this time of year.
The super producers know how to start their day and finish tasks, even before lunch. This sets the tone they need to stay productive all day.
With Christmas in full swing and festive songs all around – including the classic “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, have you ever wondered what tax would be applicable on all of those gifts that he sends?
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and for business owners, that often means celebrating the festive season with gifts, an annual Christmas party, or even just by decorating with some tinsel around the office.
Around the festive season you may be thinking of donating some money to charity from your business – or if you’re already doing this, you may be considering renewing or increasing that annual charitable pledge.
Do you run a small ecommerce business selling e-services or digital downloads? If so, you need to read what’s required from you after 1 January 2015 when the new European Union (EU) VAT legislation comes into effect.
The aim of any business is to sell more than your competitors. But for this to happen, you need to remind your customers why they should buy from you rather than a rival. So ask yourself, what is it about your firm that is distinctive?
Delegation has had a makeover. It’s now called outsourcing and, amongst the small business set, it’s rather a la mode. Why? Because all kinds of new sites and apps are making it easier for SMEs to grow, without having to actually grow – if you see what I mean. Businesses can expand on a modest budget by making the most of skilled professionals based off-site, who’ve shunned the daily grind for rural idyll or to live the dream abroad.
For many people, remote working is often regarded as some kind of idealistic dream that theoretically could be the key to a happy, efficient workforce, but when it comes to the practical implementation would actually be riddled with problems.
Many people think about a career change at New Year but how can they make the best impression when they secure the job of their dreams?
Employees quit bad jobs…and they definitely quit bad bosses. Here’s how to be the boss no employee will want to leave.
We’ve all had that feeling of panic, especially at this time of year; cards to write, diaries to manage, gifts to buy and, of course, the dread of the looming Self-Assessment return, which you’ve been avoiding for as long as possible, but now, inevitably, has to be faced….
Running your own business can be a million different things: exhilarating, daunting, demanding, liberating, stressful and rewarding. But whether you’re aiming to open a shop or become the next Richard Branson, there are means and ways of ensuring you get the fundamentals right, which will make the rollercoaster all the smoother.
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