Marketing

How can I choose the best value PR campaign for my startup?

Good public relations can help a small business get its message out to the right audience. A few simple tips may help to get the press writing about you and in a good way

Export & Import

Promising export success for SMEs

Online businesses are defying the economic downturn and flying the flag for Britain on the international stage, finds research.

Employing & managing staff

Staff member takes excessive smoking breaks

What is the official HR policy on smoking breaks? One member of staff has complained about another taking excessive time out.

Setting up a company

How do I register my company?

I've got an idea for a company to run an sporting event that will start in mainland USA but finish in Hawaii and have participants from around the world. How do I go about registering the company?

Tax

A simpler tax system for the smallest businesses?

Tim Lyford, director in the Corporate Tax division of Smith & Williamson, discusses the limitations of an OTS discussion paper on a tax solution for microbusinesses.

Business Technology

Introducing a mobile payments strategy

Mobile payments are becoming increasingly useful for consumers on the move, and there is evidence of more and more SMEs adopting a mobile payments strategy to capitalise on the smartphone market.

News

SMEs failing to maximise social media

Small companies struggle to make effective use of the internet and social media to market themselves, finds research.

Employing & managing staff

How to have a good business meeting

The difference between a successful business meeting and a futile one is in the preparation and the staging.

Financing

Beyond financing

Adam Rowse, customer and commercial director at Barclays Business, offers his perspective on the state of financing and relationships between business clients and banking institutions.

Business Ideas & Planning

New Build Projects – A Business Case Study

Interview with Matthew Newbury, founder of Newbury Developments, who has come from losing his leg in a road accident to starting his own home building business this year.

Accounting

Late payers to be named and shamed

Large companies that fail to pay their small business suppliers promptly will be named and shamed online, a cabinet office minister says.