FAQs...
Below are our articles on the subject of FAQs. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
A Business Idea that Makes Money
Many people have fantastic business ideas that fail due to inadequate research and failing to assess the feasibility of the new business idea in the wider business market....
Banks and Business Financial Advice
Banks are a good source of financial information for any new or established company, and one of the major plus points is that all the information given should be free....
Banks and Business Financing
Business financing from banks will include loans and overdrafts, but there are also a wide range of additional services that can be utilised by the business customer....
Business Strategies to Consider
Business strategies are needed to set the existing and future direction the business will travel, and ensuring business growth should be a focal point behind any strategy....
Buying Assets for your Business
Buying business assets outright can be seen as an investment and there are some tax benefits that can be had by purchasing assets rather than leasing....
Can You Use Business Franchising?
Business franchising is an excellent way to expand a company with minimal cost and can, if successful, lead to national brand recognition....
Commercial Mortgages and How They Work
Buying your own business premises can be a good investment but borrowers should research all of their options and remember that property prices can decrease as well as increase....
Employees are Business Assets
Good employees are one of the major assets a business can have, and asset maintenance is an important issue to for any successful business....
Environmental Grants and Your Business
Grants to help finance a more environmentally aware business...
Expand by Buying Other Businesses
There are major benefits to be had to expanding your company buying other businesses not least of which is the larger customer base you will acquire....
Exporting Considerations and Your Business
Exporting your company’s products can make a significant impact in reaching a wider customer base and can also make a difference to productivity and profits....
Financing a Business Using Credit Cards
Many successful businesses have used the credit card financing route during their early development but there are pros and cons to this risky business financing method....
Financing a Business with Government Support
There are a number of government grants and financial aid packages available to businesses but they are not easily obtained and some careful researching will be needed....
Financing Business Growth: Common Questions
Finding the right financing to develop a business can take a lot of research but there are different financing options available, including exchanging equity for financing....
Finding Business Financing Grants
There are a huge number of business grants available to start-up companies, but there are also certain eligibility requirements that must be met before funding will be given....
Finding the Right Business Financing
Finding the right business financing is vital to ensure that your business stays financially healthy and has enough working capital to pay creditors and suppliers on time....
Funding Options from Friends and Family
Obtaining funding for a business through friends and family can be a good option but there are certain pitfalls that should be considered when taking this borrowing route....
Future Options for Your Business
Reviewing your company’s progress over the last few years should bring up your future options that can include either expansion or downsizing....
Get Your Business Ready for IPO
How to choose the right stock market for your family business's IPO...
Government Business Grants: FAQ
Government business grants can be a minefield of eligibility requirements, but there is help available for those looking for this type of business funding....
Having a Business Contingency Plan
It is impossible to plan for every problem that will occur within a business but formulating a contingency plan should help you to minimise the damage when problems do occur....
How to Best Promote Your Business
There are numerous promotional methods open to your business but researching your potential customers will be the best way to make sure you choose the right method....
How to Find a Venture Capitalist
The internet has made it much easier for businesses to find and use venture capitalists, but anyone considering this finance route should be fully aware of the risks involved....
How to Get Finance from Business Angels
How to approach business angle investment for your enterprise...
How to Improve your Business Cash Flow
Knowing how to improve your business cash flow should keep your finances healthy and ensure that your company does not have trouble paying its own creditors....
How to Make the Best of Your Business Bank Account
How to make the most of your business bank account...
How to Negotiate with Business Creditors
Credit is an essential part of any business, and negotiating good credit terms will help your business to stay healthy during the bad times as well as the good....
How to Use Financial Ratios
Financial ratios are used within most businesses to work out how their company is performing and to find any negative financial issues that can be rectified....
How to Use the Enterprise Investment Scheme
How your business can gain an investment using the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)...
Investing Your Money in Your Business
Investing your own money in your own business will not always guarantee backing from other investors but finding other financing without this proof of commitment will not be easy....
Knowing When to Sell Your Business
Selling a business is not a decision that should be made lightly and a good business sale should be prepared well in advance....
Lawyers, Accountants and other Professionals
Any business will need the support of professionals such as lawyers and accountants and their services can be hired on as “as needed” basis....
Leasing Your Business Assets
Leasing assets is a flexible way to pay for business assets as you require them, and a way to avoid being saddled with depreciating business equipment....
Local Authority Business Financing Support
Business grants and financial support are available from local authorities but they will only have a specified amount of money available in their budget to help new businesses....
Long Term Finance Options
Long-term finance options are usually a necessity within any business and can include secured or unsecured loans and funding from outside investors....
Marketing and Advertising your Business
Finding the correct marketing and advertising methods for your business will take some trial and error but will help your reach your intended customers and help keep costs low....
Obtaining Faster Payments from Customers
Obtaining faster payments from customers is vital to ensure a healthy cash flow process and to enable you to meet your own debt commitments....
Obtaining the Right Business Support
Finding the right business support will be extremely beneficial to start-up companies, and expert advice can help with business funding and business growth....
Other Ways to Raise Business Finances
There are alternative ways to raise business finances, and for new businesses government business support agencies should be the first port of call....
Paying More for the Right Business Location
Paying more for the right business location can bring its great rewards but considerations should include the type of business you run and your competitors in the area....
Price and Marketing your Product
The right price can have an impact on how successfully you market your products, and limited time promotional offers can help entice customers to your company....
Raising Funds from your Own Business
Many businesses will use their own assets as security when trying to raise funds but there are also other options to consider such as external investors and debt factoring....
Securing Property to Gain Business Funds
Secured loans are a common way to gain business funds but there are consequences to this type of financing that the borrower should be fully aware....
Short Term Finance Options
Working capital is a vital requirement for most businesses and there are a number of short-term finance options available including business overdrafts and short term loans....
Smart Saving with Business Asset Hire
Hiring business assets is a flexible and easy way to spread costs, and in the long term, asset hire should work out as the smarter option to outright purchase....
Soft Loan Options for Your Business
Soft loans are a form of business funding from government agencies and private companies, and the benefits can include reduced interest rates and loans without security....
Speculate to Accumulate within Your Business
Speculating to accumulate will mean looking at ways to improve your company’s productivity levels and profits and this can take the form of increased staff training and updating technology....
Staying Ahead of Your Business Competition
Staying ahead of your business competition will take a combination of researching your customers, keeping up with market trends, and undertaking continual research on your competitors....
Submitting Your Business Plan
Submitting your business plan may seem like a simple task, but there are a few points to remember including final checks and researching submission guidelines....
Taking Control of Your Business Cash Flow
Investing in accounts and invoicing software, maintaining a good relationship with creditors, and avoiding credit charges are just a few of the ways to control your cash flow....
Taking On A Business Equity Partner
There are benefits to be had for businesses that are considering taking on equity partners but loans will come with stipulations including the provision of company shares to the investor....
Tax Avoidance and Your Business
How to avoid paying taxes in your business....
Ten Ways to Finance Your Business
Finding the right type of business financing can be a major obstacle but there are numerous different funding options to consider instead of the traditional business loans....
The Bank and Your Business Accounts
Most businesses will need to use business bank accounts and there are a range of benefits to be had by utilising this type of account....
The Cost of Telecommuting Employees
Telecommuting does have significant cost saving benefits for a business including increasing productivity and decreasing staff turnover....
The Importance of Keeping Business Accounts
Keeping good business accounts is vital to track finances and monitor income and expenditure and there will also be legal requirements to consider....
The Inland Revenue and Your Business
Every business will need to be registered with the Inland Revenue within at least three months of trading, and failure to register can lead to legal problems and severe penalties....
The Internet and Your Business Future
The business capabilities of the internet should not be underestimated when it comes to increasing both consumers and profits....
The Right Price and Your Consumers
The right price for your consumers will be dependant on a number of factors, but the main goal is to make your company a profit and entice consumers....
The Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
The Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme was designed to allow businesses to gain financing with a guarantee of payment for the lenders but there are restrictions to this scheme....
Understanding Business Ratios
How to use key business ratios to improve your business's profits...
Using a Business Consultant
Using a business consultant can have a significant positive impact on a businesses sales, profits, and growth prospects....
Using a Cash Flow Forecast
Using a cash flow forecast will help a company keep track of their financial income and expenditure and can help rectify issues that may cause future cash flow problems....
Using an Overdraft to Start a Business
Many businesses have used overdraft facilities as a start-up financing option, but this flexible credit tool does have pitfalls as well as advantages....
What Lenders Look for in a Business?
One of the major concerns for lenders is the risk of non repayment of funding, and lenders will have requirements that will need to be fulfilled before funding is given....
What Makes the Perfect Business Plan?
The perfect business plan will vary from company to company, but there are a number of key issues that are included in every successful business plan....
When Can I Claim Back Tax For Business Items?
Some of the costs that you incur up to a whole seven years before you start trading can theoretically be deducted from your business turnover, as long as these expenses were incurred by you just for b...
Writing Your Business Plan
Writing a business plan will take a lot of research and consideration and the content must clearly set out your goals, objectives, and investment opportunities for financiers....
Your Assets and Raising Business Funds
Using your own assets to raise business funds may seem like a risky prospect but the long term rewards can outweigh the initial risk....
Your Unique Selling Point
A unique selling point should bring benefits to both your business and to customers, and defining your USP is the first step towards establishing your place in the business world....