The day has come for you to form your own company. But do you start up as a sole trader or as the director and shareholder of your very own limited company?  Read More

The primary concern of any contractor, limited company, freelancer or consultant is to generate business and fulfill the work on the orders that you have won. Having done so the next step is to secure the payment for such work and pay off your suppliers who provided you with the materials and the services to allow you to fulfil the customer’s order.  Read More

When you see an official-looking email purporting to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offering to give you money back, it is very tempting to respond immediately and without thinking. Very many of us do.  Read More

The crowdfunding sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years as a result of two key factors - technological innovation and the financial crisis. The financial crisis, even ten years on, still is putting constraints on the amount of lending offered by traditional credit providers to businesses in need of working capital or expansion capital. Read More

It has always been the case that, in order to survive in business, companies must get their name out there in front of customers.  While “word of mouth” referrals are a welcome bonus for any business, it would be rare indeed for a business to prosper relying on this method alone. The internet is now seen by most entrepeneurs as an essential place for their business to be. Read More

Less than 10% of population of the UK is ready to make the move to a cashless society, according to ThisIsMoney. However businesses may find themselves at a competitive disadvantage by not offering their customers the ability to pay by credit or debit card. There is now almost an expectation that you will take card payment among millions of Britons. Read More

Your business’s physical location determines which employees can work for you, which suppliers you are working with, and how much you are paying in business rates. How do you know where the best place is for your business to be located? Read More

One of the classic questions faced at interviews by prospective employees is “What is your greatest weakness?” Your employees can’t be perfect because nobody is. The key is finding out how you can address their weaknesses and help your employees overcome them.  Read More

From retail stores to recruitment firms, there is a very similar “agreed upon” career path for the employees at most businesses. This means that almost all staff know what their promotion prospects are and, in most cases, they know what they need to do to give themselves a chance to be considered for a higher role.  Read More

Ever since the credit crunch in 2008, lending to businesses has changed. It still seems to many that the banks have clammed up and that they are as precious with their money as a 5 year old who has just opened their Christmas presents haul to find the toy s/he has been nagging their parents about for the last year. Read More