Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
Ben Lobel was the editor of SmallBusiness.co.uk from 2010 to 2018. He specialises in writing for start-up and scale-up companies in the areas of finance, marketing and HR.
Government Grants
Ben Atkinson-Willes received a £5,000 grant from Kingston University and & £100,000 in match funding from UnLtd for his business Active Minds. He talks about starting his company and how he got hold of the funds.
Tax
Tax returns are probably the bane of your professional existence, and they're not so great for your personal life either, a study shows.
News
Local authorities and town centre managers are being urged to consider new ways to bring trade to high streets.
News
The government's Start Up Loan scheme has reached £130 million in funds lent to new companies.
News
The Federation of Small Businesses is assembling an influential cross-party group of MPs to identify possible solutions to the deterioration of payment practices in the UK.
Accounting
Here, in association with Bibby Financial Services, we look at why it's important to have a plan for bookkeeping and accounts right from the start of your business.
News
Being your own boss is the main driver for people to give up their day job and start a business, research finds.
Marketing
Start-ups often ask how they can enrich their email marketing pool in a cost-effective and ethical way. Here, Victoria Browne gives some tips.
News
Significantly different credit ratings and rating limits are being recommended across agencies for the same businesses.
News
The majority of small business owners believe their company would perform better with a smaller number of suppliers, finds research.
Legal advice
Here, Christopher Williams discusses the copyright considerations businesses in the games industry should make following new legislation.
Finding and selling to customers
No company owner wants to contend with a high rate of product returns, but they are an unfortunate reality for retailers large and small. Here, we look at the problem and what can be done about it.