Start A Business Guides

Self-employment: six steps to success Apr 10 2008
The chance to steer your own career is a major attraction of becoming self-employed. However, success needs a firm foundation, so before you take the leap, follow these six quick steps to success. Read Succeeding in the hospitality business Mar 31 2008
Knowing your market is vital to running a successful restaurant, bed and breakfast or hotel in this competitive market. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers this advice on how to avoid common pitfalls within the hospitality industry. Read Getting started in buy-to-let Feb 28 2008
For some, buying a property to let can generate a full-time income, and the task of managing more than one or two properties can become a job in itself. SmallBusiness.co.uk teamed up with Gee Sahota, from Simply Business to offer some basics to get you started. Read More Start A Business Guides

Franchise Guides

How to choose a franchise Jul 23 2007
A good franchise scheme is not just about having a good idea, it’s about the franchisor’s ability to prove the idea, have the available resources, both human and financial, and build the infrastructure to ensure the brand can be replicated by franchisees. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers some practical advice on starting a franchise. Read A guide to franchise agreements Mar 14 2007
If you have decided to go down the franchise route, you need to be sure that the contract you are signing suits your plans and doesn’t tie you in to anything unexpected. To ensure that this is the case, the franchise agreement or contract is all-important. SmallBusiness.co.uk offers a list of things to look out for in the agreement. Read Day-to-day franchise success Jan 19 2007
Why are some franchises more successful than others? Part of it comes down to choosing an established company with a proven track record and a good reputation. It is important that it belongs to the BFA...
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Small Business Finance Guides

Budget 2008: What it means for your small business Mar 12 2008
Alastair Darling has delivered his first Budget and while the highlights in his speech seem to show a fall in tax for business, there are a few additions to the tax burden for SMEs. SmallBusiness.co.uk spoke to Paul Webb from tax experts Robert James Partnership on the effects for SMEs. Read Clever cash flow management Mar 03 2008
Keeping a strong and steady flow of cash running through a business is critical to a company’s long-term success, enabling it to pay its staff on time, fulfill new orders and purchase raw material and even new equipment. Here are a few simple steps to help you avoid the stress of cash drying up. Read How to reduce your tax bill Feb 08 2008
Death and taxes may be the only certain things in life – but there are ways of minimising the impact of the latter. Read More Small Business Finance Guides

Business Technology Guides

Build a solid customer base online May 13 2008
All great brands are built on the three pillars of success: professionalism, an expert service, and productive after-sales care. SmallBusiness.co.uk speaks to Microsoft about the free online tools that can help you build a thriving customer base. Read Can VoIP really reduce business telephony costs? May 12 2008
Small businesses are constantly seeking to cut costs and become more efficient. This guide to VoIP from SmallBusiness.co.uk and purchasing adviser Indirectchannel explain how using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) can save money. Read Untangling the web for a better business Apr 29 2008
This beginners' guide from SmallBusness.co.uk and Chris Stenning, managing director of UK Online, can help you get started on the road to being a smart online operator. Read More Business Technology Guides

Sales and Marketing Guides

Give yourself the persuasive edge May 12 2008
Whatever kind of small business you have, you probably didn't start it because you wanted to sell things. Perhaps you have technical expertise, design flair or a bright idea. Yet people won’t beat a path to your door unless you tell them about your business and do so convincingly. SmallBusiness.co.uk discusses how to be more persuasive. Read Increase your profits fast Apr 29 2008
Independent retailers are going through a bumpy time at the moment. Fortunately there are proven ways to increase profits which can be implemented quickly and easily. Using these tips can help. Read Redefine your market Apr 29 2008
If you’ve hit a ceiling in terms of your rate of sales and number of customers, it may be time to find pastures new. Three owner-managers explain how it can be done Read More Sales and Marketing Guides

Human Resources Guides

Employee benefit schemes Mar 12 2008
Remuneration alone won’t be enough to keep your staff motivated and cleverly thought out employee benefits are useful tools for ensuring staff loyalty. SmallBusiness.co.uk spoke to two businesses about their approach to benefits. Read Should employers fight Facebook? Feb 22 2008
The dividing line between work and personal time is becoming increasingly blurred. Giving staff the responsibility of organising their own time can, however, offer significant benefits, argues Simon Norris of software supplier Temperus. Read A guide to interviews Jan 23 2008
If you’ve never conducted an interview before, it can be a daunting task. Smallbusiness.co.uk reveals how to get the most out of an interview and stay within the law. Read More Human Resources Guides

Legal Services Guides

How to choose a small business solicitor May 14 2008
A solicitor can come in useful for many aspects of your business. But there are a range of different types of law and solicitors who specialise in certain areas, so finding the right one to meet your particular needs is important. Read Making directors liable May 12 2008
Most directors believe that a limited company does what it says on the tin: in other words, they do not expect to be held personally liable for the company’s misdemeanours. That could be a false assumption, writes Kelly Tinkler of solicitors Rooks Rider. Read Coping with the HR maze Aug 06 2007
A recent research paper from The University of Warwick found small businesses are more likely to experience employee claims than large companies and more likely to lose if the case reach the tribunal stage. Following a few simple precautions will help reduce the likelihood of problems. Read More Legal Services Guides

Business Premises Guides

Work quicker, greener and smarter Apr 11 2008
When you’re running a business, it’s easy to lose sight of the little things that can make everyone’s lives easier and your company much more efficient. Here are some tips on using technology to work quicker, greener and a lot smarter. Read Own your business premises – a quick guide Mar 31 2008
For some business types there will come a time when it makes sense to consider giving up renting premises and buying your own. This is a quick guide to buying a commercial property. Read What do landfill regulation changes mean for you? Dec 06 2007
New rules governing the landfilling of non-hazardous waste came into force on 30 October 2007 as the final change under the Landfill Directive. So what do the changes mean for your business? Read More Business Premises Guides

Business Banking Guides

Small business credit cards explained May 14 2008
Business credit cards provide a simple and efficient means to pay for business goods, services and expenses using a credit facility. SmallBusiness.co.uk and Simply Business explain some of the key features. Read How to assess your bank Mar 19 2007
In a recent SmallBusiness.co.uk poll, 65 per cent of small business owners were shown to be dissatisfied with the service they were getting from their business bank, with answers ranging from ‘It’s pretty inadequate’ to ‘It’s terrible’. SmallBusiness.co.uk and banking consultancy Lochroe point to this list of key issues to consider when assessing your business bank. Read Registering to accept credit cards Aug 16 2006
The first step before you talk about using credit cards on the internet is to find out whether you and your business will be acceptable to transact business by credit card. There are two types of transactions: ‘over the counter trading’ when the customer is present and ‘card not present’ transactions. Read More Business Banking Guides