Category

Running a Business

This section takes you through every important aspect of how to run a successful business. It offers expert guides and advice articles on the key elements of business management such as employing staff, finding customers, marketing and sales, pricing, people management, office and home working, business technology and everything else an entrepreneur must tackle in order to succeed.

Paying for prescription glasses as an employer

Employees who spend a lot of their day in front of computer screens can experience eyesight problems and it is the employer's responsibility, to a certain extent, to pay for eye tests and, if necessary, the spectacles themselves. This guide will explain in more detail your obligations.

Employing & managing staff

Legal advice

Holidays for the self-employed

Holiday entitlement for sole traders and the self-employed can be a tricky business. In the intance of a self-employed decorator who has worked for the same company for nearly two years, Peter Done explains why it's such a complicated issue.

Finding and selling to customers

Top 10 ecommerce tips

Online auction websites such as eBay and Amazon have spawned a generation of online entrepreneurs setting up their own ecommerce sites. These top ten tips may help you follow in their footsteps.

Employing & managing staff

Hiring self-employed sales people

What's involved in hiring self-employed sales people to work for my company?

Employing & managing staff

How to avoid World Cup woe

Some of us can't wait and some of us are dreading it, but like it or not, the World Cup is almost upon us and sensible business owners will have taken some precautions to stop it turning into a nightmare. These tips may stop it all kicking off in the office.

Finding and selling to customers

Watch out for the language barrier

One might think that the confidence, even arrogance, of the British in the pervasive nature of our mother tongue would successfully see us through the maze of overseas expansion. In fact, in the minds of many of the UK’s exporters there are no barriers. However, because of Britain’s long-standing unwillingness to communicate in foreign languages we may be offending some clients and possibly ignoring others.

Employing & managing staff

Employing disabled staff

Finding skilled staff is one of the biggest problems a small business has to face, but by not making allowances for disabled applicants you could be missing out on a large number of talented candidates, not to mention running the risk of legal action.

Employing & managing staff

Firing staff legally

Dismissing an employee can be a difficult area to tackle for employers especially if the employee has worked for the company for 12 months or more because they attract Unfair Dismissal rights.

Employing & managing staff

Employing disabled staff

Finding skilled staff is one of the biggest problems a small business has to face, but by not making allowances for disabled applicants you could be missing out on a large number of talented candidates, not to mention running the risk of legal action.

Employing & managing staff

Firing staff legally

Dismissing an employee can be a difficult area to tackle for employers especially if the employee has worked for the company for 12 months or more because they attract Unfair Dismissal rights.

Finding and selling to customers

Bidding for public sector contracts

Winning a contract to supply central or local government can be a great way to grow your business and enhance your reputation. But be warned: it's a lot easier said than done.

Finding and selling to customers

How to price your products

We are in the process of opening a fruit and veg shop. We have never done it before and although we are prepared with a lot of things we don't know where to start pricing things.

Business management

Women suited to franchising

Nearly half of the UK's franchisees are now solely or jointly female-operated, which does not surprise Cathryn Hayes, Head of Franchising for HSBC Bank, who believes franchising is a business model that particularly suits women.

Employing & managing staff

Employment law for business owners

Employment law is a complex area. Frequent changes and amendments make it hard for busy business owners to keep abreast of their responsibilities. However, ignorance is no defence if you fall foul of employment legislation and it can have disastrous consequences.

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.