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Dress-down Fridays, otherwise known as casual Fridays, are popular policies that allow workers to wear more casual attire every Friday. Because they cost next to nothing to implement, and are generally perceived to have a positive effect on staff, they have become more widespread in recent years. There is some disagreement as to whether the negative effects of dress-down Fridays are significant, although for many companies the benefits will outweigh the risks.

Business growth has traditionally been financed by banks, venture capitalists or angel investors. But sometimes the traditional route is not always ideal. Nowadays the potential funding opportunities have diversified. If your company is struggling to raise finance, consider looking for an alternative method of funding to get the cash you need to growth.

All business owners want their business to turn a profit. However, they also want to be sure that the accounts accurately reflect not only the income; but the expenses too. Claiming the correct expenses, will mean that your profits are accurate and therefore, your tax bill is no more than you are legally obliged to pay. Knowing what to and what-not-to claim can be tricky though.

Choosing the best broadband options explained for businesses. Most businesses these days require an internet connection in order to function effectively, and that connection will typically be a business broadband service offered by an internet service provider (ISP). But with so much variation in the market with regard to speed, uptime and level of service support, choosing the right package can be difficult.

Most UK adults can get called for jury service. This can present some issues for employers, who must legally provide time off for the employee when they need it. Most trials are over within a few days, but more serious or complex crimes will take longer.

The business world is full of myths. If you’re thinking of starting your own company, being able to sort fact from fiction will help ensure you know what to expect from day one. Here are 10 of the most common business myths; we explore what parts, if any, are true.

The case for reducing the carbon footprint of your business is a strong one. Increasingly, consumers are swayed by the ethical and environmental credentials of organisations. Showing you’ve made the effort to cut your carbon emissions will set you apart from your competitors – something that is especially important if you are a new business trying to make your mark.

Although investing in another market can be risky and require a lot of capital, the rewards can be huge.

Fifty percent of start-up businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within the first five years but despite the economic downturn, the SME market continues to grow. While no one knows if a business will succeed or fail - you can take steps in order to help your business get off to the absolute best start.

Simon Smith is founder and CEO of Extrinsica Global, a dedicated cloud services provider since 2006. The company offers bespoke cloud services to companies around the globe. Their clients include the Kawasaki World Superbike Race Team and the security team at the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Fraser Doherty is the founder of SuperJam, a company that uses traditional recipes to create a range of 100% pure fruit jams, which are sweetened with grape juice and made using superfruits such as blueberries and cranberries. The company has won a number of awards, supplies major UK supermarkets and is now included in a museum exhibit as an example of an ‘Iconic Scottish Food Brand’.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become something of a buzz phrase in recent years. There have been many arguments regarding whether CSR can actually help companies to improve their reputation and improve profit margins, if it costs businesses money and whether businesses are doing it to genuinely help the environment and society, or if it is solely a marketing technique.

So your company has been running for a year now and it’s time for some small expansion. The problem is that you’ve only ever worked for other people and you’ve never had to recruit someone. Or it’s been some time since you recruited someone into a role and aren’t sure how employment legislation has changed. Follow these simple rules, says Paul Pearce-Couch, and you won’t go wrong.

Phoenix Training & Development started in 1995. In that time, the company has been drastically restructured and grown, but remained in the same premises throughout. Tim Holmes, client relationship director, explains why location is of such importance to Phoenix.

Mazuma Money is an innovative accounting company that successfully rode the economic downturn and now boasts several offices across the UK, from which the company offers a range of services to clients. inspiresme.co.uk finds out more about what makes Mazuma Money unique from founders Sophie Hughes and Lucy Cohen.

Dress codes are popular policies throughout the business world and can be found within companies of all sizes. They codify precisely what is expected of employees with regard to attire and personal appearance. There are pros and cons – consider these before you decide to go ahead.