Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
This section takes you through every important aspect of how to run a successful business. It offers expert guides and advice articles on the key elements of business management such as employing staff, finding customers, marketing and sales, pricing, people management, office and home working, business technology and everything else an entrepreneur must tackle in order to succeed.
With a million unwanted Christmas presents sold on ebay last year, gift vouchers are becoming a popular way to avoid upsetting a loved one with an ill-chosen purchase. Here's how they can benefit your business.
Finding and selling to customers
Small Business Insurance
Retailers being refused trade credit insurance is leading to problems in the industry, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns.
Business management
After appearing on the BBC's Dragons' Den, Tim Williams was promptly booted off without a penny. A year and a half on and his travel pillow invention Jetsleeper is a roaring success.
Legal advice
Question: My husband is a sole trader and subcontracts from a big company. We have outstanding invoices (some as old as over 300 days). Can we charge interest on them until they are paid?
Employing & managing staff
We are in debt and finding it hard to pay suppliers. If we reduce the hours of our 15 employees to cut costs, what are the legal considerations?
Employing & managing staff
Bullying affects up to one in ten employees. But intimidating behaviour, as displayed by presenters Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, can go unnoticed. Here Steve Williams, head of equality services at employment expert Acas and SmallBusiness.co.uk offer some tips for banning bullying.
Business management
From a market stall in Spitalfields to supplying Top Shop and internet-based retailer ASOS, Josie Beckett talks about the unexpected success of her label Whereareyounow?
Employing & managing staff
Stress at work is no laughing matter, with 13.5 million working days lost to businesses last year. Here, SmallBusiness.co.uk and charity The Eden Project offer some tips to defuse office tension.
Business management
From a market stall in Spitalfields to supplying Top Shop and internet-based retailer ASOS, Josie Beckett talks about the unexpected success of her label Whereareyounow?
Employing & managing staff
Stress at work is no laughing matter, with 13.5 million working days lost to businesses last year. Here, SmallBusiness.co.uk and charity The Eden Project offer some tips to defuse office tension.
Business Technology
Find out how one small business owner offered a unique service using the internet.
Employing & managing staff
Simon Kite, a partner at chartered accountants Saffery Champness, offers some tips on how to cut costs but avoid the redundancy route.
Business management
After finishing her degree Charlotte Fudge started mail order biscuits company Biccies with her mum last year.
Finding and selling to customers
Splashing out on organic and home-grown foods is something we have developed a taste for, but with sales of fast food on the rise how are speciality and niche providers finding new ways to stimulate taste buds and be affordable?
Business Technology
Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Business Technology
With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!
Export & Import
Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world