BUSINESS INSIGHT

There is a certain sweat inducing twist in the stomach that is reserved solely for the moment any individual realises they have just lost digital data to … well, to wherever that seemingly priceless information disappears after the combustion of a hard drive or a misplaced, absent minded tap of the delete key.

This article was written by P4D | Parcels for Delivery, who offer heavily discounted courier services to small-medium sized businesses. P4D partners with couriers you know and trust, like City Link, Fedex, DHL and TNT to provide an affordable parcel delivery service for those who send parcels infrequently or in smaller volumes.

What the UK Government defines as micro and small business communities (less than £440,000 turnover and ten or fewer employees) constitute approximately 60 per cent of all companies registered at Companies House, plus there are the tens of thousands of sole traders and partnerships in Britain. So, it is no surprise – and indeed it is good news – that the Government is looking at how it can help small businesses play their part in steering the nation away from an economic abyss.

Find out options for the best business support for IT services. Whether it’s for delivering emails, despatching orders or just chasing unpaid debts. At some point the office technology becomes too important to muddle through problems and businesses look for an IT support service to provide some stability.

Securing significant investment is often crucial for a business’s development and survival. However, entrepreneurs shouldn’t be afraid to hold out for the right deal on the right terms. Even where the broad commercial deal appears favourable, businesses should make sure that the legal language in any transaction documentation doesn’t create long-term problems.

The Government introduced the Feed in Tariff (FiT) in order to kick-start the solar industry in the UK. Under the original scheme it had just this effect. The desired aim of increased renewable energy, new business and new jobs had been achieved. Yet all this is now in jeopardy following the Government’s announcement on 31 October, bringing forward the assumed deadline of March 2012 and introducing cuts. Libbie Henderson, Energy Partner with Dickinson Dees LLP, explores the ramifications.

Many entrepreneurs will not want to run their business indefinitely. At some point they will want to sell the company and move on to another project, retire, or go back to being an employee. The route to this, involving selling the company, is called an ‘exit strategy.’ There are a variety of different exit strategies. Knowing which one is most suitable for your company can help ensure you get the best possible price and the smoothest sale.

One of the biggest problems for small businesses is getting paid promptly by their customers. Increasingly customers choose either to delay payment to improve their own cashflow or attempt to renegotiate the cost of a product or service once it has been received or performed.

Selling over the internet was, and still can be, a big step for many businesses. But just as ecommerce is now a daily choice for many consumers, the growth of mobile commerce suggests that it too will become as popular. Businesses of all sizes looking to utilise a new way of allowing customers to purchase products will benefit from mobile commerce, which offers a range of advantages to both the business and the purchaser.

As an employer, one of the most irksome realities of commercial life is that, occasionally, employees become ill and unable to attend work or develop non-sickness-related absence habits. This can be troublesome for the employer and frustrating and stressful for the employee.

Online companies face many of the same legal issues as offline companies. However, many online companies seek to streamline the contractual process and provide a seamless online experience for their customers and users. This results in a slightly different approach to the legal documentation. Further the most valuable asset of many online businesses is their intellectual property rights and so the ownership and protection of such rights is a key consideration.

These days, the potential for advertising your business is vast. From print media to social media marketing, the options are seemingly limitless. And with free online channels, such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook and paid-for marketing packages for TV, radio and online have been forced to lower prices. While TV advertising may still be beyond the reach of most small businesses, there are still some attractive deals to be had by turning attention to regional and local radio.

Many entrepreneurs find money management difficult, especially during in the early days, and yet it is something that is absolutely critical to the success of your venture. Here are some of the most common money management mistakes that entrepreneurs make and how you can avoid making them yourself.

Each piece of software that you purchase for your business will come with a license stipulating what you can and can’t do with it, and it is essential that you fully understand the terms of the license to ensure that you stay legal.

We’ve all seen libel and slander cases hitting the headlines – most seemingly involving celebrities or the rich and famous – however it’s also a big problem for businesses and in the most extreme cases can damage a businesses reputation to the point where it can no longer continue trading. So what should you do if your business finds out that a third party is making libellous or slanderous statements about it?

If you’re new to business, you may hear a lot of words and phrases that are unfamiliar to you. Our glossary will explain some of the meanings of the most commonly used business phrases – so talking to your accountant should be a bit easier in the future.