Category

Running a Business

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.

A unique approach to keeping businesses healthier

BUPA advertorial

No two businesses are the same. Having worked with more than 40,000 companies and millions of employees over the past 60 years, BUPA knows this better than any other healthcare provider, which is why we do things differently.

Employing & managing staff

Employing & managing staff

Absence without leave

If an employee doesn't return to work and doesn't contact the employer with an explanation, is there a set procedure that the employer should follow before assuming they are no longer wishing to return to work?

Legal advice

Making staff redundant

If I have made someone redundant, can I hire someone else and give them a different job title?

Business management

Lessons Learned, Chris Mottershead, Travelzest

Chris Mottershead is a travel industry veteran. He was president and CEO of North American leisure group Airtours before changing course to steer online travel specialist Travelzest through a turbulent period for the sector to land record profits.

Finding and selling to customers

Writing effective marketing copy

Writing clear marketing text or 'copy' helps to attract more customers, so it's worth honing your skills in this area. This article from SmallBusiness.co.uk and Nigel Temple, author of How to Get Clients to Come to You, will help.

Legal advice

Food hygiene certificates for sandwich shops and similar food businesses

Q: Do I need any health & safety qualifications and food hygiene certificates before I can open a sandwich shop?

Marketing

Search engine marketing explained

What can you do to ensure your website is reaching your target audience and isn't lost among millions of others? This introduction to search engine marketing from Smallbusiness.co.uk and Seamus Ryan of Optimease will point you in the right direction.

Employing & managing staff

How to become more efficient

Keeping a united workforce is certainly a challenge but many simple changes can be made that won't cost. SmallBusiness.co.uk and the CIPD have these tips to help you make improvements.

Marketing

Search engine marketing explained

What can you do to ensure your website is reaching your target audience and isn't lost among millions of others? This introduction to search engine marketing from Smallbusiness.co.uk and Seamus Ryan of Optimease will point you in the right direction.

Employing & managing staff

How to become more efficient

Keeping a united workforce is certainly a challenge but many simple changes can be made that won't cost. SmallBusiness.co.uk and the CIPD have these tips to help you make improvements.

Finding and selling to customers

How to ask for business

Many of us are nervous about asking for business but the truth is that if we don't ask then it will go to someone else. It is often the reputation that pushy sales people have that puts the whole process in a bad light. These tips from SmallBusiness.co.uk should help to point you in the right direction.

Marketing

Getting started with permission marketing

Permission marketing allows you to develop lasting, profitable relationships with your customers and prospects, at a fraction of the cost of mass marketing techniques.

Employing & managing staff

Holiday pay and “normal hours”

I work a 12-hour shift but my company only wants to pay me for 9.5 hours for my holiday pay. Is this allowed?

Employing & managing staff

Hard HRM Vs Soft HRM

What is the difference between Hard and Soft human resources management?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

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

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Business Technology

Friendly guide – top tips for small businesses switching to VoIP

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

Avoid delays with exports and imports

Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world