smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

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If you are at the stage in your business development where you can begin to employ staff, there are various issues to consider, including costs of recruitment and establishing the right pay levels for prospective employees. Read our guide to the issues…

How to file Employer PAYE Returns

Filing your employer’s PAYE End of Year return online is the quickest and easiest way for small business owners to send HMRC your details before the 19 May deadline. It also pays for small businesses to file online, as those who do will qualify for the scheme’s £150 incentive. Here are some useful tips from SmallBusiness.co.uk and HMRC to help you file yours successfully and hassle-free.

Guide to wages records

Legally, you must keep proper records of all wages paid to employees and this guide will show you exactly what information to record.

Don't Miss

Grants for small businesses

Finding government grants for start ups can be like tracking down the golden fleece. But government finance for small businesses is available if you know where to look.

Recession beater: Martin Warner

Martin Warner is chief executive and co-founder of business networking site Talkbiznow. Despite the tough economic climate, the company successfully got funding and launched in August and is already making a profit.

Have your say: Funding for women

Financial institutions may well need a shake up when helping female entrepreneurs. SmallBusiness.co.uk speaks to some women in business about their experiences of raising finance and asks for your comments.

Small Business Finance News

London SMEs have ‘blitz spirit’

SMEs in the capital are showing the required fighting spirit to see them through these lean and trying times, according to research by advisory service Business Link.

London SMEs have ‘blitz spirit’

SMEs in the capital are showing the required fighting spirit to see them through these lean and trying times, according to research by advisory service Business Link.

Big brands join SMEs in property rate campaign

Large companies are joining the calls of SMEs to scrap empty property rates, in a letter being sent to the prime minister this week.

SME lending vital to curb recession

The government needs to pressure banks to lend to SMEs as a way of combating a shrinking GDP, says an economic adviser from the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC).

SMEs hit by rising costs

Small businesses are being hit on both fronts by price increases and losing customers as the economic crisis bites, according to new research.  

Post collection charges hit SMEs

Royal Mail’s decision to introduce a flat rate for fewer weekday collections has left small businesses paying more, says the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

SMEs tighten belts as fear of recession hits

UK businesses are taking action to cut costs and preserve cashflow as the fear of a serious downturn takes hold, a survey reveals.

Scrapped property relief rate hits SMEs

The government’s decision to scrap Empty Property Rate Relief has left many SMEs out of pocket, says the Forum of Private Business.

Confusion at minimum wage increase

Small businesses remain confused about the minimum wage increase on 1 October.

Late payments hitting SMEs

Small businesses are struggling to cope with an increase in late payments, a survey reveals.

Don’t forget the new tax return deadline, warns HMRC

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is issuing a reminder to people filing paper self assessment tax returns of the new 31 October deadline. The penalty for missing the deadline is £100.

Events Calendar

Business Startup

28th November, Olympia, London

Protecting Your Business

6th September, Best Western Country Hotel, Caerphilly

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

Regular Small Business newsletters
Access to all our experts in the Q & A forum
Post comments on articles

Blackberry exclusive to Vodafone

The new BlackBerry® Storm™ smartphone features a clickable touch screen which allows accurate navigation and typing. The screen with full QWERTY keyboard makes instant responses easier and more efficient. You can even change the way you view the screen – portrait to send a quick email, or landscape to watch a movie, or track your journey on Sat Nav through the wide, high-resolution screen. Click here to order yours today.

HSBC Business Direct

HSBC Business Direct has the essential business bank account service for smaller business needs. Find out more here

Free and unlimited business banking

When it comes to business banking, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank provides the UK's best business banking deal. Switch to the only bank to offer FREE and UNLIMITED free business banking and a market leading interest rate of 3.65% AER* (variable) credit interest. We’ve a proven track record – Business Moneyfacts has recently voted us ‘Best Business Current Account Provider’ for an unprecedented sixth year running. Fast track your Free Business Current Account application today!

Resource Centre

Employee rights to pay

This guide contains information about different aspects of employee wage rights.

Choosing a payroll system

This guide assists you with choosing a payroll system for your company.

Understanding the National Minimum Wage

What is the National Minimum Wage, how to make sure you get it and what to do if you have problems? Visit DirectGov for more information.

National minimum wage helpline

For details on the minimum wage increase ring the National Minimum Wage helpline on 0845-6000 678.

Pay As You Earn (PAYE) software

You can get Pay As You Earn (PAYE) software from third party software suppliers or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Click here to see what is available.

Learn how to get paid on time

GetpaidonTime offer training in Credit Control, Arrears Management, Debt Recovery and Telephone collections throughout the UK.

Having trouble paying wages?

Wageroller facilities offer an additional source of funding for businesses by gearing payroll commitments rather than sales ledgers or other assets.

Guide to Pay As You Earn (PAYE)

Click here for an advice guide to the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system from the Citizens advice bureau.

More Resources

Other Small Business Finance Resources

Polls

Video

Flexible working: the leaders' view

At the 2008 Work Wise UK Summit, BT Business asked a number of leaders for their views on flexible working.

The challenge of growth for small business

The challenges of growth for small business

New business must be won by creating a good first impression with customers and procurement managers...

Creating a successful business plan

Setting out a plan for your business can seem like a daunting task, especially before you've even got it off the ground.

Top tips for startups

Every successful business has a few things they wish they'd known before they started...

Blogs

How to be a start-up success

Marc Barber 07/08/2008

There are three common elements to a start-up successfully negotiating those tricky first few years: an honest appraisal of ability, market research, and finance. Have your say »

Inflation is King

Penny Proffit 19/06/2008

A look at inflation and why Mervyn King has had to put pen to paper... Have your say »

Basic building block of any Internet marketing campaign

Guest Blogger 07/07/2008

For almost all sectors of commerce today, the Internet, or more specifically the World Wide Web, is now a key tool for business. In the field of marketing in particular it has become crucial. (1 comments) Have your say »

Q&A

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Tax and VAT expert

Clive Lewis, ICAEW

Business funding advice

Mark Endersby, Funding Solutions

149 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Getting paid late Q: Credit check by supplier Q: Pre-owned equipment Q: Self employed and employed – claiming tax back Q: Raising money to invest in business. Q: Loans for business abroad Q: Vat or no vat?

Prize Draw

Enter our short survey!

Smallbusiness.co.uk together with our partners at Ricoh would like to invite you to take part in a short survey. The questionnaire will take only a few minutes to complete (no more than 5 minutes) and all entrants who complete the survey will be entered in to our free prize draw to win a Ricoh Aficio™ GX2500 mono and colour liquid Gel technology printer. Enter here

Get help with your tax return

The FT Tax Guide is packed full of information to help you manage your tax affairs, including a guide to completing your tax return. Visit www.taxguide.co.uk to order a copy.