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.

News

Business planning key to conserving cash

Businesses that fail to seek advice on business planning are six times more likely to need additional funding within 36 months of operating than those who seek professional advice, according to a survey from business planning software provider Palo Alto.

News

Fulfilling your financial obligations

Your financial obligations will vary depending on the type of company you have, and your turnover.

News

Finances fall short for firms in deprived areas

Firms in deprived areas of the UK are likely to receive lower loans than their counterparts in more affluent regions, according to research into small business financing by the Bank of England.

News

Ensure you protect your intellectual property

Small businesses must protect their ideas and inventions or risk going out of business.

News

Free risk assessment for your business

With tribunals over workplace accidents on the increase due to stricter safety rules, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is looking to help small firms reduce the risk of accidents, with the launch of a free online risk assessment service.

Business management

Businesses struggle with finance questions

Small business owners have shown a “worryingly low level of understanding of some of the most basic businesses practices” according to the first national IQ test of entrepreneurs.

Legal advice

How to develop your terms and conditions

Terms and conditions (also known as terms of trade), whether they apply to sales or services, are essential to your business as they set out the level of responsibilities that apply to you and your customers.

Buying and selling a company

Finding a business for sale

There are three key stages when it comes to buying a business: finding one, valuing it and financing the purchase.

Marketing

Building your brand

As soon as you start your business, you should be thinking about the brand you are trying to get across to customers. The aim of your brand is to distinguish your product or service from the competition.

Buying and selling a company

Buying a business

This fortnight Lesley-Anne McKenna asks what loans are available when buying a business.

Finding and selling to customers

How to win new business

The focus in this article is on winning new business. Tony Wilford of Plan-it UK asked for tips on becoming a preferred supplier.

News

Flexible ways of working

A sharp increase in the number of people working long hours and taking time off for work-related stress has led to a call for employers to take steps to help employees develop a work-life balance.