About

Tim Adler is group editor of Small Business, Growth Business and Information Age. He is a former commissioning editor at the Daily Telegraph, who has written for the Financial Times, The Times and the Daily Telegraph. He is the author of three nonfiction books, the most recent of which was reviewed by The Sunday Times as “compulsively readable” and by the Daily Mail as “dazzling”. Since becoming editor of Small Business in 2019, the website was named alongside the BBC, the Guardian and the Telegraph as a top live blog covering the coronavirus pandemic by journalist trade magazine Press Gazette.

Productivity Zone

20 free apps to improve your business productivity

You don’t have to spend thousands each year licensing expensive software. Here are 20 free alternatives to boosting small business output

Business Technology

10 card payment machines ideal for small business

Featuring the SumUp Air, Zettle 2, and Small Business Pro, we break down the fees and functions of the best card payment machines for UK small businesses

Accounting

What is the VAT threshold?

At what point does your small business have to start paying VAT? Should you voluntarily pay VAT? And what are legitimate ways to stay under the VAT threshold?

Advice

Checklist for starting a business the simple way

Read our simple 18-item checklist to take you through every step of starting your own business. All your questions answered.

Employing & managing staff

Hiring an apprentice: The benefits for a small company

Taking on an apprentice can inject youthful energy and ideas into your company. A guide to how to enrol an apprentice into your small business

Accounting

Best UK small business accounting software

It’s never been easier or more affordable to manage your tax and accounting using small business accounting software - find the best accounting package for your needs below

Financing

Small business startup funding

Startup funding for any small business can be a minefield, so here is a guide to the options available to you in those early days.

Running a Business

Best small business energy brokers and switching services

Energy brokers help 60% of businesses switch contracts for cheaper fixed deals. But with 3,000 energy brokers to choose from, we profile five of the best

Government Grants

Small business energy grants – what’s available

Whether you want to install an electric car charging station, replace your old boiler with a heat pump or just replace draughty windows, you can apply for a range of energy grants

Business Technology

What is the best cloud storage for UK small business?

What is the best cloud storage for UK small business? A Small Business guide to the most popular cloud storage systems for SMEs.

Sole trader

6 examples of sole traders

What jobs are best if you want to go self-employed? We look at what it takes to become a personal trainer, a gardener, a hairdresser, a private chef, a photographer or a dog walker

Marketing

Six digital marketing tools every small business needs

Getting a strong grasp of digital marketing is important for small businesses. Here are the best tools to help you.

Tim Adler

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