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Short-term finance

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, explores the options...
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Competing with the big boys

SmallBusiness.co.uk looks at how smaller companies can get ahead when faced with giant competition.

The trick to a successful freemium model is to persuade customers to pay for advanced features or related products

Beyond the freemium model

SmallBusiness.co.uk looks at the basics of moving from a freemium to pay model.

How may opportunities will businesses have when the Olympics come to London?

Going for gold

As London gears up to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to companies about whether the promised business opportunities have materialised.

IT can help grow turnover in various ways

Winning more business through technology

SmallBusiness.co.uk investigates more intelligent approaches to growing your turnover using IT.

Brand power

Without the right brand, Coca-Cola would have been just another fizzy drinks company. Read our guide to find out why brands matter

Retailers are anticipating a happy Christmas this year

Season's greetings

This Christmas seems to be shaping up nicely for retailers. Ben Lobel finds out how business owners plan to maximise sales.

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.

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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PR and marketing

Paul Green, Publicity Heaven

Start-up tips

Philip Wilkinson, Business Link

Public Relations

Paul Stallard, Berkeley PR

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Mentoring – Now there’s a bright idea for business

Whether you're starting up, taking your business to the next level or just need a sounding board, Lloyds TSB understands that a business mentor can offer you the support and guidance you need to develop your business. Find out more today.

Win with UK2’s Business Hosting

Win tickets to the British GP with UK2’s Business Hosting. Find out more today.

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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 »