Category

Financing

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.

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.

Alternative finance

Alternative finance

Social Lending Websites – A new era for small business finance

The banks aren't interested, but social lending websites are. SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to three early-stage companies that have benefitted from the growing phenomenon in peer-to-peer SME fundraising.

Tax

Would I be liable to pay business council tax?

If I worked from home in a spare bedroom on a computer trading foreign exchange virtually and there would be no visitors to my home, no deliveries, and no post to do with the work as statements sent via email, would I be liable to pay business council tax?

News

Managers show favouritism towards staff members

Research has given insight into employer bias in the workplace, with the key reasons being work ethic, loyalty, personality, and humour.

Small Business Banking

Can small businesses get bank loans?

I am sure that like me, you have seen headlines about banks not lending to small businesses with depressing regularity.

Crowdfunding for Business

Funding, cubed

Crowdcube provides a platform for entrepreneurs of startups and growing businesses to connect with potential investors. SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to co-founder Luke Lang.

Government Grants

Grants in Scotland

Louise Guinda, founder of baby product company Safedreams.co.uk, received help from Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.

Government Grants

The green grant

Neil McManus, owner of telecoms provider GHM Communications, won a business grant of £1,000 from Sustainable Routes, an environmentally-friendly project that helps businesses in reduce the cost of business travel.

Government Grants

Grants in Scotland

Louise Guinda, founder of baby product company Safedreams.co.uk, received help from Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.

Government Grants

The green grant

Neil McManus, owner of telecoms provider GHM Communications, won a business grant of £1,000 from Sustainable Routes, an environmentally-friendly project that helps businesses in reduce the cost of business travel.

Tax

A simpler tax system for the smallest businesses?

Tim Lyford, director in the Corporate Tax division of Smith & Williamson, discusses the limitations of an OTS discussion paper on a tax solution for microbusinesses.

Accounting

What are the key terms and conditions to put on a quote and/or invoice?

What are the key terms and conditions to put on a quote and/or invoice?

Financing

Beyond financing

Adam Rowse, customer and commercial director at Barclays Business, offers his perspective on the state of financing and relationships between business clients and banking institutions.

Accounting

Late payers to be named and shamed

Large companies that fail to pay their small business suppliers promptly will be named and shamed online, a cabinet office minister says.

Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

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

Future-proof your business communications set-up

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

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.