Guides & Tips

How to assess your bank Mar 19 2007
In a recent SmallBusiness.co.uk poll, 65 per cent of small business owners were shown to be dissatisfied with the service they were getting from their business bank, with answers ranging from ‘It’s pretty inadequate’ to ‘It’s terrible’. SmallBusiness.co.uk and banking consultancy Lochroe point to this list of key issues to consider when assessing your business bank. Read Registering to accept credit cards Aug 16 2006
The first step before you talk about using credit cards on the internet is to find out whether you and your business will be acceptable to transact business by credit card. There are two types of transactions: ‘over the counter trading’ when the customer is present and ‘card not present’ transactions. Read Business bank account checklist Mar 07 2006
Charges and services vary a great deal from bank to bank so it pays to do your homework and find out what suits you and your business. Read Keep your cash flowing Mar 07 2006
Without wanting to overstate the obvious, cash is the lifeblood of your business. Running out of it could finish you off. Cash flow is the balance of all the money flowing in and out of your business and forecasting it will make you better prepared for peaks and troughs throughout the year Read Income tax, National Insurance and VAT Mar 07 2006
Red tape is a necessary evil in all businesses, so you need to make sure you’re on top of it. Tax, National Insurance and VAT are an everyday part of thousands of businesses across the country. Read  Mar 07 2006
Read Starting to trade online Mar 07 2006
When looking to actually sell your wares on the internet, you first have to make a choice: build your own website or set up an eBay or Yahoo store. Read Make the most of marketing Mar 07 2006
Marketing covers many different areas – and is not just another name for advertising! It is about understanding your customers and the market in which you operate better than anyone else. It’s about providing what your customers want at the right price, through accessible channels and promoting your business’ product or service. Read Starting to employ people Mar 07 2006
When starting your business, you may well only be working with a small number of other people. If your business is a success and you want to expand, you may well look to take on employees. Even if you’ve been running a business for a while, now might be the time you’re looking at taking someone on. Read The value of networking Mar 07 2006
This is all about learning from other people who are experiencing, or have experienced, similar things to yourself. You get more from networking events if you’re an active participant so get involved in debates, discussions, social events and exhibitions. Networking is valuable whether you’re starting up or have been running a business for years. Read Working from home Mar 07 2006
Deciding where to physically carry out your work is something which needs careful consideration. The nature of your business may dictate your location or premises choice. Read Finding start-up finance Mar 07 2006
This can be a crucial factor in determining whether your idea will see the light of day. Work out what money your business needs to start up. It’s very easy to forget about some costs related to running a business and they all add up. Read Getting paid by credit and debit card Jun 02 2005
Being able to receive payments by credit and debit card enables you to do business using internet, electronic or paper-based systems, making it much more versatile than cash or cheques - and setting up a system is quick and easy. Read Business Banking basics Dec 02 2004
In order to open a bank account, even a basic one, all banks and other financial institutions must go through a series of checks to try to minimise the effects of money laundering. Read Opening a business bank account Oct 21 2004
It is not a legal requirement that you open business account – but there are several reasons why it is a good idea. Read How to improve your credit rating Mar 18 2004
When it come to assessing an individual’s application for credit, banks and other lenders will focus on two main issues: your credit history and your credit score. Read