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Hosting in a recession
As the global economy staggers from crisis to crisis small businesses face the dilemma of having to control costs while also ensuring they remain competitive.
Rising Star: Duncan Farrington
Duncan Farrington diversified his family farm and started Farrington Oils in 2005. His rapeseed oil product Mellow Yellow is now stocked in hundreds of retail outlets.
Rising Star: Paul Kelly
Championed by the likes of Delia Smith and Jamie Oliver, Paul Kelly started KellyBronze turkeys more than 20 years ago with his dad Derek Kelly. The company is now supplying House of Fraser with its Christmas turkey hamper.
Refinance your business
Refinancing, if successful, can transform a company, not only by providing the funds it needs on terms which are not going to choke it, but also by opening a relationship with sources of support, expertise and useful contacts.
Five ways to boost your online Christmas Sales
The decorations are up, festive songs are playing and shoppers are looking increasingly harassed. Yuletide is here. Read our guide on how to maximise your online sales for the Christmas countdown
Rising star: Anya Sizer
Anya Sizer of PowerChange started her own business as an infertility coach with the last £4,000 of her savings. One year on and she is breaking even with turnover of £3,000 to £4,000.
Dealing with a court battle
Mike Watson, MD of industrial cleaning company Tube Tech International, has fought three legal battles over 25 years.
Promoting from within
The average cost of bringing in a new employee is £4,500 to £8,000, according to figures from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. So it’s no surprise that promoting internally is popular with employers.
Saira Khan: what I wish I'd known when I started
Former star of The Apprentice and TV personality Saira Khan gave up the corporate world to start baby skincare company Miamoo three years ago. Here she tells SmallBusiness.co.uk what she has learned on the way.
Rising star: Piers Daniell
Still only 26, Piers Daniell has taken internet service provider Fluidata from the confines of his bedroom to a £2 million business in the space of two years
Recruiting for a small business
The recruitment process can seem daunting if it’s your first time, especially given the importance of hiring the right staff.
An upside to the downturn
Keeping a steady head and sticking to basic principles allows you to maintain cash flow, improve debt recovery and retain margins.
James Murray Wells, founder of Glassesdirect.co.uk
James Murray Wells started Glassesdirect.co.uk with the last £1,000 of his student loan. With the help of VCs, he is now aiming to turn it into a £1 billion company.
How to get a business loan
Take a very close look at the amount of money you think you will need. Know exactly how much money you need to raise, as you have to be able to justify every penny to a lender. Approaching a bank with the attitude of ‘how much can you give me?’ will not inspire confidence.
Business software on a shoestring
As the price of running an SME soars, small business owners have to look for more ways to cut costs. Buying computer software can be expensive, so how can business managers cut their IT spend? Read on to find out...
