About

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.

Small Business Banking

How to win bank funding

Business owners and bankers share tips with SmallBusiness.co.uk on how to negotiate a financing deal.

News

HMRC punishes late tax returns

Some 850,000 penalties for late tax returns will be issued over the next fortnight, HM Revenue & Customs has announced.

Sole trader

Can I exchange my incorporation for sole trader status?

My business is now incorporated with Companies House. If I have not started the business yet can I just fill out the DS01 and pay £10 to remove and close the company and start as a sole trader?

Business management

To the tea – Adam Soliman of Charbrew

Twenty-three year old Adam Soliman launched high-end tea brand Charbrew in 2010 and is already expecting to turn over £500,000.

Employing & managing staff

Finding the right employee

Ross Williams, founder of software company Global Personals, gives advice on interviewing for the right person.

News

Workers ‘underused and demotivated’ by lack of support

The underuse of skills in the UK is resulting in lost productivity both for businesses and the economy as a whole, argues a think tank.

Alternative finance

A peer-to-peer lending case study: Red Advertising

Job advertising network Red Advertising secured a loan of £150,000 over five years through peer-to-peer lender ThinCats.com.

Alternative finance

Fundraising through equity-based crowdsourcing

Alex Kammerling founded spirit manufacturer Kamm & Sons in 2011 and raised £180,000 through Crowdcube, a website that offers equity-based crowdsourcing as a means of raising funds.

Legal advice

Can we get rid of a director?

I own a small business, incorporated in February this year, as one of three directors. One director is proving awkward to work with and won't agree to anything the other two directors decide on. We want to continue in business with just us two directors and get rid of the third guy. What are our options?

News

FSB: Employers relief needed for SSP

Government must introduce a small employer's relief for the recovery of statutory sick pay (SSP), says the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Startup Funding and Grants

What is credit easing and how does it apply to small businesses?

What is credit easing and how does it apply to small businesses?

Business management

SMEs should open their doors to the world

There has never been a better time for small enterprises across the UK to be embracing worldwide trade in order to help their businesses flourish and grow.