Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
Legal advice
Q: Do I need any health & safety qualifications and food hygiene certificates before I can open a sandwich shop?
News
Young entrepreneurs today are increasingly identifying with the founders of Innocent Drinks rather than hard-nosed tycoon Sir Alan Sugar, the Financial Times reports.
Startup Funding and Grants
Julia Chanteray, resident business expert on Channel 4's Risking It All programme, founded business advice and mentoring service The Joy of Business to help small firms through the difficult early years of growth. SmallBusiness.co.uk caught up with Chanteray and asked her to share some pearls of wisdom on the funding routes available for small firms.
News
Small firms are being warned to prepare for new employee sexual harassment rights following a major High Court ruling.
Employing & managing staff
Small firms may not be getting the best out of their staff because they are failing to offer them adequate incentives, says business finance firm Bibby Financial Services.
Advice
If you're thinking about starting a small business you need to avoid rose-tinted spectacles and consider the challenges you will face as well as the benefits you'll reap.
Legal advice
As a business owner you'll be required to sign hundreds of contractual agreements with suppliers, customers and shareholders. But what happens if circumstances change and you want to get out of a contract?
Business Ideas & Planning
Considering seeking business fortunes Down Under? Then there are a set of steps you will need to take, including devising a thorough business plan, settling on a suitable business structure, and scouring the local market to ensure there's sufficient demand for your service or product.
Finding and selling to customers
Online auction websites such as eBay and Amazon have spawned a generation of online entrepreneurs setting up their own ecommerce sites. These top ten tips may help you follow in their footsteps.
Office & home working
The majority of start-up businesses begin life at home, but there may come a time when a fledgling enterprise deserves to stand on its own two feet, having grown to a size that warrants dedicated premises. Use our handy guide to help you choose property that fits the bill.
Marketing
You can't close your ears. That's the principle behind claims that radio is one of the best mediums for advertisers. Growing businesses in a range of sectors find it significantly boosts brand awareness, especially in conjunction with other media.
News
Poor office design and layout is causing high staff turnover and lower profits, according to a recent survey that suggests that almost a third of employees would leave a job because of the physical environment.