Starting a business with your best friend sounds like a great project in theory, but it can have its ups and downs…
Some of the best businesses are started by best friends who hatch an idea organically and make it grow together.
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Tag Archives: SME
Inspiration station: 5 creative startups we admire
In a technology-driven world we wanted show a few of our most-admired, small creative businesses some love.
Here are the art, textile and design businesses we think are paving the way in the UK’s creative industry.
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Movies to get the creative juices flowing – what you should watch this evening
There’s nothing better than closing your laptop for the night, putting up your slipper-clad feet and popping on a movie to wile the evening away.
We all have our favourites – but did you know that Netflix has some relatively unknown and very inspirational movies? We’ve put together a list of some films to inspire the creative side of you, for something a little different on your next movie night…
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How to create a freelance contract
Having a good contract template for use when signing contracts as a freelancer – or even in your small business – is vital to help prevent confusion and legal issues.
Before getting in to the nuts and bolts of a contract, there are a few tips on how to write it and how it should read to a client.
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What your business address says about you
In this day and age of online businesses, you might not think a business address matters that much. But where you’re registered can have a big impact on how people view your company.
When you talk about a company’s address the first thing that might pop into your mind is its web address. But in an age when anyone can set up a website and pretend to be a company or expert in a certain field, having a respectable business postal address is still important.
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5 reasons why focus matters in the small business world
With so much social media, remote working and 24-hour news, you can become overwhelmed with information – sometimes you need to cut it out
As a small business owner your time is precious; it’s all too easy to get distracted by everything that’s going on around you.
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4 areas to train in to become a better freelancer
The freelancing world is a competitive one, so you need to be at the top of your game. Here are 4 areas to train in that should help you no matter what industry you’re working in…
Freelancing is competitive no matter whether you’re a designer or consultant. You not only need to be a leading light in your industry, but you also need to be a good business all-rounder. And you should be able to show to potential clients and customers what your skills are.
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Are you wary of taking on full time staff?
The vast majority of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are still cautious about taking on extra staff over the next 12 months, according to a new study.
An overwhelming 92 per cent of respondents in the research – conducted by Elance – said that the temptation to expand their workforce was being offset by a desire to keep their costs level.
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SME’s ‘avoiding finance’
Nearly eight out of ten small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have avoided using finance in the last 12 months.
BDRC Continental’s findings from its latest SME Finance Monitor – which is released on a quarterly basis – raise the question of whether banks are as much to blame for the lack of lending taking place as previously thought.
The research is based on around 50,000 interviews with small business owners to provide a comprehensive picture of the challenges and attitudes within the economy.
Only 15 per cent of firms took out finance in the third quarter of 2013, which was down by 10 per cent on the peak seen back in the first quarter of 2012.
However, one reason behind the trend could be a lack of awareness in schemes designed to help companies borrow – with just a third of respondents admitting they knew about the government’s Funding for Lending initiative.
Posted by the Secret Businessman
National Insurance Contributions Bill good news for SMEs
Plans to give small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a cut on national insurance have been introduced in the form of a new government bill today (October 14th).
The move will save 1.25 million firms £2,000 each per year – with 4,500 companies having their bills wiped out entirely.
Chancellor George Osborne originally announced details of the proposal during his budget in March, with the cut due to be in force by April 2014.
According to ministers, 90 per cent of those set to benefit are SMEs with less than 50 members of staff.
Prime minister David Cameron said: “We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that our small firms can be successful and prosperous and people can fulfil their aspirations.”
Alongside the National Insurance Contributions Bill, a consultation of whether new laws are needed to reduce the number of late payments are needed is also being launched.
Posted by the Secret Businessman