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Guides & Tips

What banks can do for you

Business banking is a fiercely competitive market and high street banks now offer added-value services to small and medium-sized enterprises

Are you still getting a good deal, and just as importantly, good support from your bank? If not, it could benefit your business to switch banks. The money your business spends on banking can add up over the year – all money better off helping your business. You could pay for a business mobile phone, buy new software or even a new PC with the money saved.

Business Banking basics

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.

Don't Miss

Loans scheme for start-ups falls flat

Last month the government launched a finance package to help struggling small businesses access bank loans, but SMEs say they aren’t seeing the benefits.

Your first business loan

If your business plan and financial forecasts are sound, you may be feeling brave enough to approach a bank for funding.

Is your current account as good as it should be?

In the UK, most people have a current account of some sort, and the reality is that most people don't spend a huge amount of time thinking about anything other than the balance in them. Usually, people stick with their current account provider for years and assuming mistakes aren't made, pay little attention to them beyond that.

Business Banking News

‘Banks are not supportive,’ say SMEs

Bank managers are among the least trusted group to approach when owner-managers are seeking financial advice, according to research from Close Invoice Finance. 

‘Banks are not supportive,’ say SMEs

Bank managers are among the least trusted group to approach when owner-managers are seeking financial advice, according to research from Close Invoice Finance. 

SMEs hit by stealth bank charges

A thaw on bank lending to businesses is being nullified by a raft of new stealth charges, claims Clifton Asset Management.

Business lending still too steep

Banks are imposing extra charges, increasing interest rates and demanding personal guarantees for lending to small businesses – and the government’s Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme has done little to help.

Bring on 2010, say SMEs

UK businesses expect market conditions to improve in the last quarter of what has been a desperate 2009, a new survey has found.

Darling turns heat up on banks

Alistair Darling will today urge banks to increase SME lending.

Steep fall in GDP scuppers Chancellor’s predictions

The economy fell at a much sharper rate than expected in the second quarter of 2009, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Inflation falls below two per cent

Inflation has fallen below the Bank of England’s target rate of two per cent for the first time since 2007.

‘Quantative easing must continue,’ say economists

Economists have criticised the Bank of England’s decision to stall its quantative easing programme.

SMEs 'seek funds from family'

The number of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners who would consider borrowing money from friends or family has doubled in the past year, a new study suggests.

BCC: Firms face tough recovery

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey claims that the worst of the recession has passed, but businesses still face tough conditions.

Events Calendar

City University & Knowledge Connect: Free money from the LDA for your business

29th June, City University, Ground Floor, Room AG07

Business Startup

28th November, Olympia, London

Protecting Your Business

6th September, Best Western Country Hotel, Caerphilly

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Local Guides

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Barclays Business Start Up Account

Everything you need in one place from help with planning to getting more customers, to FREE seminars and a credit checking service to help you get paid quicker. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online

Secure early payment for your unpaid invoices with Simply Business

Simply Business is the UK’s largest Invoice Finance advisor, providing free and impartial advice to businesses. Find out your cash flow options in minutes, you could have up to 90% of your invoices paid in 24 hours.

Get started with Barclays Business Banking

Choose from 3 great Start-up packages offering a range of business and banking solutions, from cashflow management software (QuickBooks or Sage) to VAT management solution. Plus, up to 2 years FREE banking (conditions apply). Apply online.

Managing your bank account Resource Centre

Budget advice from the Microsoft small business centre

Microsoft offer their 8 steps on how to make your budget work.

Learn how to get paid on time

GetpaidonTime offer training in Credit Control, Arrears Management, Debt Recovery and Telephone collections throughout the UK.

Business start-up organiser

The Business start-up organiser can help make your business a reality.

Having trouble paying wages?

Wageroller facilities offer an additional source of funding for businesses by gearing payroll commitments rather than sales ledgers or other assets.

Transfer business accounts between banks

Everything you need to know about making the transfer of business accounts between banks a smooth process.

Cash flow finance to drive your business

Drive your business forward using current sales and stock value with the help of the cash flow finance team at Bank of Scotland Corporate.

Assess the health of your business

This interactive tool from Business Link helps you analyse key areas of your business' finance and administration with the aim of avoiding failure.

Online course on working to a budget

'Working to a Budget' is a basic introductory course which looks at the use of budgets, how they are produced and how they are used within an organisation.

More Managing your bank account Resources

Other Business Banking Resources

Polls

Video

Meeting menaces: The Interruptor

John Cleese reveals how to deal with serial interruptors without giving in or getting into a fight.

Meeting menaces: The Dominator

This short video with John Cleese has some useful advice about how to deal with people who throw their weight around in meetings.

Jamie's kitchen: part four

Jamie's team of recruits face their biggest challenge so far.

Jamie's kitchen: part three

Jamie Oliver has to deal with a crisis in the kitchen as his team learn an important lesson about accountability.

Blogs

Will Alan Sugar sweeten business prospects?

Marc Barber 10/06/2009

While any help singled out for small businesses should be welcomed, the appointment of Sir Alan Sugar as ‘Enterprise Tsar’ smacks of gimmicky desperation. (2 comments) Have your say »

Inflation is King

Penny Proffit 19/06/2008

A look at inflation and why Mervyn King has had to put pen to paper... Have your say »

Basic building block of any Internet marketing campaign

Guest Blogger 07/07/2008

For almost all sectors of commerce today, the Internet, or more specifically the World Wide Web, is now a key tool for business. In the field of marketing in particular it has become crucial. (1 comments) Have your say »

Q&A

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Tax and VAT expert

Clive Lewis, ICAEW

9 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Business bank account Q: Business bank account Q: Personal family loan Q: Why use business banking? Q: Bad banking practice Q: Acquiring a small business loan Q: Securing a business loan whilst managing debt

Prize Draw

IT Trends for SMEs in 2010

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with network support company Lifeline IT to ensure your business' IT systems are in the best shape for 2010. Enter our short survey and your company could win two hours of free IT consultancy. To take part click here

Weekly business banking advice

Free information on opening a bank account, taking payments from customers and getting bank loans. Find out more or sign up today.

Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance

Invoice finance enables a business to release cash against their business to business invoices without having to wait weeks or months for payment. It improves cash flow and saves time by eliminating internal invoice ledger management. Get an online quote now.