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.
News
A programme to help promote health and safety within small- and medium-sized companies has been launched by Andrew Smith, secretary of state for work and pensions.
News
A crime reduction strategy developed by the Home Office is targeting crimes against small businesses, particularly retailers, who are worried about break-ins, robberies and violence.
News
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
Your financial obligations will vary depending on the type of company you have, and your turnover.
News
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
Small businesses must protect their ideas and inventions or risk going out of business.
News
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
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
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
There are three key stages when it comes to buying a business: finding one, valuing it and financing the purchase.
Marketing
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
This fortnight Lesley-Anne McKenna asks what loans are available when buying a business.