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Short-term finance

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, explores the options...
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The UK is seeing a growing export market in Africa

The African Dream

UK exports to Sub-Saharan Africa are on the rise. SmallBusiness.co.uk speaks to some of the companies that instigated trade relationships in such lesser-known markets.

Developing trading relationships with global markets

SMEs should open their doors to the world

There has never been a better time for small enterprises across the UK to be embracing worldwide trade in order to help their businesses flourish and grow.

Opening up your business to global trade

Either finding suppliers or selling your products abroad is very important for a successful and thriving company.

Every company that conducts business internationally is exposed to foreign exchange risk

Protecting your profits from currency volatility

Neil Graham, UK managing director at Travelex Global Business Payments, looks at how businesses can minimise their exposure to FX volatility when making international payments.

Make the most of exporting opportunities

Businesses are all too often deterred from exploring exporting opportunities because of the perceived problems in entering a foreign market.

As our exchange rate has become more attractive for overseas buyers, now could be a great time to take your products abroad. Here four entrepreneurs discuss how exporting has helped grow their businesses.

Don't Miss

Searching for sales

Simon Campbell set up online marketing service The Sandpit less than six months ago, but is projecting £1 million in sales for its first year of trading.

David Strang is flying high with his boomerangs

Big returns

David Strang’s boomerang and toy company Wicked Vision has soared since he first launched it ten years ago.

Keep your customers coming back for more

Retaining customers

Keeping customers coming back for more isn't always easy. Here are ten top tips on how to retain a loyal consumer base.

Sales & Marketing News

Customer service is heralded as a strong point in small businesses

Small businesses best at customer service

Four fifths of consumers in the UK believe that small, independently or locally-owned businesses provide the best customer service experience.

Small businesses best at customer service

Four fifths of consumers in the UK believe that small, independently or locally-owned businesses provide the best customer service experience.

Little change in high street sales

High street sales were slightly down in the year to April, but in line with expectations for the time of year, according to the Confederation of British Industry.

Promising export news for SMEs

UK businesses have seen increases in exporting activity over the first quarter of the year, with many businesses expecting the trend to continue in Q2 2012.

SMEs struggle with public sector tenders

Small businesses are still struggling to win public sector contracts despite the government's efforts to make it easier, research finds.

Consumers plump for e-commerce

Almost a quarter of shoppers say they do more than half of all their shopping online.

Encouraging start to 2012 for businesses

Q1 of 2012 was the best-performing quarter year-on-year since the start of the economic downturn in 2007, research finds.

SME confidence shows promise

Business confidence has bounced back to the highest level in two years, a study finds.

Human interaction favoured by businesses

Owners of small and medium-sized enterprises would still prefer to do business face-to-face rather than online, research finds.

Shop price inflation up

Overall shop price inflation increased to 1.5 per cent in March from 1.2 per cent in February.

Promising manufacturing outlook for SMEs

The UK's manufacturing sector grew at its fastest pace for ten months in March, a study finds.

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FT Guide to Personal Tax

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

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.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is 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.

What Investment

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

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Importing and exporting Questions & Answers

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

PR and marketing

Paul Green, Publicity Heaven

Start-up tips

Philip Wilkinson, Business Link

Public Relations

Paul Stallard, Berkeley PR

18 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: How do I decide when to export? Q: How to export to the E.U. Q: Import of food and drinks Q: Price and payment acronyms Q: Importing goods to the UK Q: Import duty and zero VAT rated goods Q: Selling abroad

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Blogs

On your plane

Ben Lobel 15/05/2012

Foreign Secretary William Hague’s call for business owners to ‘stop complaining about the economy and work harder’ is pretty unfounded in light of recent statistics. (1 comments) Have your say »

Short-term finance

Small Business Finance 12/04/2012

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, explores the options for borrowing for working capital, including bank overdrafts and invoice finance. Have your say »