Latest News
Late payment aid for small businesses
A new government initiative will offer resources to small companies to help them get paid on time.
Top finance and accounting staff hard to come by
Businesses are struggling to recruit skilled finance and accounting employees despite an anticipated growth in headcount, research finds.
Smaller enterprises suffering more than large ones
More small and medium-sized enterprises have seen a quarterly reduction in sales volumes than large companies, research finds.
Small-caps on the up
Fund manager David Clark is upbeat about the prospects for smaller quoted companies.
Forum shuns insolvency U-turn
The Forum of Private Business has condemned a government announcement that legislation to improve the so-called ‘pre-pack insolvency’ sales process will now not go ahead.
Charting a course
Daniel Bastide, a partner at law firm Thomas Eggar, talks to James Harris about new finance structures and a ship called the Hebridean Princess.
Cash flow pressures ease for small businesses
Late payment improved in the final quarter of 2011 with the biggest difference coming from the largest firms, research finds.
SMEs warned of tax return deadline
UK small business owners could lose £45 million on 1 February by failing to complete their tax returns by the 31st January deadline.
Car tax hike could hit SME owners
A new emissions scale for company car tax could mean hefty increase in charges for many, warns an accountant.
Credit unions now able to lend to SMEs
Small businesses struggling to access funding have been given an alternative option with the introduction of legislation allowing credit unions to lend to them.
Businesses call for VAT reduction
A year after the contentious rise in VAT from 17.5 to 20 per cent, businesses are calling for the rate to be reduced to help their company move forward in 2012.
SMEs unsure on growth
Less than a third of small businesses expect their company to expand over the next six months.
Business Startup: PAYE puts SMEs off hiring employees
Small business owners are being pushed into a corner by HMRC’s accounting requirements, research finds.
Taxman is 'completely unfair' to SMEs
The Forum of Private Business believes HMRC is ‘harassing and mistreating' small businesses, while simultaneously agreeing ‘sweetheart deals' with some of the UK's largest companies.
Small businesses face fines for missing paperwork
HM Revenue & Customs is threatening tens of thousands of small businesses with fines if they fail spot checks on their paperwork.
