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'More consideration of small businesses needed'

Jun 24 2008

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The government needs to take more account of the needs of start-up businesses when planning taxation strategy, according to a campaign by the Forum of Private Businesses (FPB).

At a French SME conference, the chief executive of the FPB Phil Orford said that there were a number of barriers which can cause small firms to fail within their first year.

He called on EU lawmakers to take account of the FPB's campaign Think Smallest First, which is pressuring politicians to reduce 'burdensome regulation' on SMEs.

Orford called on members of the European parliament to use the Small Business Act for Europe to force member states to improve their treatment of fledgling businesses.

Some of the problems faced by small firms which the FPB would like to fight include bureaucracy, taxation and the problem of late payment from suppliers, Orford told the assembly.

The European commission has called SMEs an 'integral' part of the European economy and said that 'real efforts' have been made to cut the burden of red tape on small business.

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