Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
The financing channel looks at the different small business funding options available to start-up companies and established SME businesses looking to grow. Read a wealth of guides and tips to help manage your accounts and cash flow better, views on the future of business banking and where to source alternative finance.
My business is suffering from a cash flow problem and I am considering consulting with staff and imposing a temporary 30 per cent wage reduction for three months. I would then pay this back to them with an additional bonus. What should I consider?
Accounting
Government Grants
Mike Newman, founder of Glasgow-based My1login, received an array of cash grants to develop his small business, which provides an encrypted vault service for logins, passwords and pins.
Government Grants
Caroline Eccles, co-founder of Lancashire-based film company Huckleberry Films, received a business grant of £2,000 from enterprise agency Hyndburn Enterprise Trust.
Accounting
If a leased company car is not left at the premises of the company for security purposes overnight, can I reclaim 100 per cent VAT rather than the cap of 50 per cent on the lease hire of the vehicle? Does 50 per cent VAT reclaimable apply to the purchase of fuel?
Accounting
The Forum of Private Business has urged entrepreneurs to keep HM Revenue & Customs up to date with any changes to their business, no matter how small.
Tax
My turnover is well below the current VAT threshold. If I cancel my VAT registration, will I have to pay back the VAT I have already claimed?
Crowdfunding for Business
James Meekings, co-founder of Funding Circle, argues that crowdfunding is set to steal a major chunk of the business financing market from the banks.
Accounting
Clive Kahn, CEO of payment solutions company CardSave, considers how small businesses can combat the UK's late payment culture.
Crowdfunding for Business
James Meekings, co-founder of Funding Circle, argues that crowdfunding is set to steal a major chunk of the business financing market from the banks.
Accounting
Clive Kahn, CEO of payment solutions company CardSave, considers how small businesses can combat the UK's late payment culture.
Alternative finance
Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, investigates the emergence of a social funding marketplace for small companies.
Alternative finance
SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to George Whitehead, chairman of the government-backed Angel CoFund, about the fundraising potential for small businesses.
Alternative finance
Statistics from the CIPS Purchasing Managers Index showed that the UK's manufacturing sector registered a ten-month high in March 2012.
Alternative finance
Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, explores the options for borrowing for working capital, including bank overdrafts and invoice finance.
Employing & managing staff
In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?
Partner content
Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade
Partner content
As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?
Business Technology
Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings