Need to know - advice for SMEs

A range of business advice for the world of franchising and SMEs.

If you are already your own boss, ensure you keep up to date with the latest rules, news and legislation that may affect your franchise.

Home-based biz owners optimistic

Home-based business owners believe they are better placed to weather the economic conditions than their larger counterparts, a new survey has found Read more

School recruits not up to it

Despite a record number of both GCSE and A-Level passes in 2008, the Forum of Private Business suggests that SMEs are unimpressed with the quality of young new staff coming through into employment Read more

Data protection watchdog shows its teeth

A Middlesex accountant has been successfully prosecuted for offences under the Data Protection Act and fined £300 plus court costs Read more

Holidays out of the question

Pressures at work are preventing owner-managers from taking a break from the business, according to communications firm Unicom Read more

Parking charges bad for business

Businesses have reacted angrily to a government suggestion that councils should raise parking charges in built-up areas Read more

Late payments endangering SMEs

Smaller businesses can wait up to five months for payment of their invoices, a poll conducted by credit firm Experian has discovered Read more

Small firms warned of court action

Barrie Pennington discovers that small businesses need to be prepared for a possible increase in court actions against them Read more

Govt launches new £130 million community scheme

The government has launched a £130 million scheme to encourage businesses to pledge support to community causes Read more

Happiest employees work for small companies

Staff working for small businesses are the most satisfied at work, discovers Barrie Pennington... Read more

Health and safety overhaul

The Better Regulation Executive has issued a report that examines how health and safety regulations affect low risk and small businesses Read more

Crackdown on late payment

Businesses have urged the government to make an example of companies that delay payments Read more

Parking charges hit small shops

While the government is backing Competition Commission recommendations to boost competition and protect small suppliers, a leading business group has warned that it is parking fees that cause consumers to shun town centres Read more

Small firm owners 'wedded to job'

When it comes to running a small business, owner-managers expect to be in there for the long haul. That's a finding of a survey from Barclays Local Business, which found that owners project a business life expectancy of at least 25 years, a year Read more

Companies fail to tackle stress

The Forum of Private Business has highlighted new research which suggests that larger companies and public sector organisations are failing to deal with stress in the workplace...

Everyone benefits from diversity

Firms that take steps to improve diversity in the workplace earn real business benefits, according to a joint report from the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress

Government threat to freelancers

Many freelancers feel threatened by the government's stance on contracting, according to a survey by freelance workers' website ContractorCalculator...

Companies unaware of pension proposals

UK businesses appear to be oblivious to the government's far reaching proposals for pension reform Read more

Confidence ebbs from business owners

One in eight small business owners have lost confidence in the economy and think that trading conditions will worsen over the next year...

Insolvency figures on the rise

The number of businesses forced into administration or receivership has risen sharply...

Remote working project launched

A new scheme has been launched to help small businesses manage employees who work from home...

Risky business

One-third of new companies are operating without the relevant business insurance, according to insurance website Insurantz.com

New ideas 'stifled in workplace'

The UK is full of inventive, creative people, but there are too many barriers to putting ideas into practice...

Money for a rainy day

The credit crunch has lead UK businesses to think more carefully about their money, with many more putting cash aside for a rainy day...

Sharing the health

Owners of small firms are keeping up with big businesses by encouraging their workers to lead healthy lifestyles a report concludes...

Government ignores its own rules

The Federation of Small Businesses says the government is failing to meet its commitments to common commencement dates and to reduce regulatory burdens...

Business failures rise

Global financial problems are having a clear impact on SMEs, with corporate failures increasing for the first time in over a year...

American Dream

UK Trade and Investment is offering marketing executives within SMEs the opportunity to 'have a nice day' in the USA…

Sowing the seed

Finance South East has launched a £5 million Seed Fund to provide an alternative source of funding for ambitious companies seeking business development opportunities...

British more ambitious

The once-reserved British are becoming increasingly ambitious with over seven million believing they will become millionaires. A survey by Orange Business Services also found that two-thirds of that number expect to make their first million within 10 years...

 

 

How not to employ staff

Research from T-Mobile suggests that it is the bosses who need to brush up on their interview skills, not candidates...

 

More bosses making millions

A record 1455 directors of private and public companies were paid a minimum of £1 million in 2007...

 

Beer flat after smoking ban

Beer consumption in British pubs has fallen by 9.7 per cent since the smoking ban was introduced last July...

 

Hobbies a good source of inspiration

Hobbies are providing an ever-increasing source of ideas for would-be entrepreneurs as people turn their passion into business...

 

Public safety fear at building sites

The dangers of not segregating the public from construction work have been highlighted by the Health and Safety Executive...

 

Older siblings make better entrepreneurs

Barclays Local Business survey has discovered that older siblings are the most likely to become successful entrepreneurs...

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