|
Business newsletter for small business owners and start-ups.
You'll find 1500+ articles, on the acclaimed website for business owners and start-ups.
In this week's Business121 Newsletter:
1. Banks must start lending
2. Present a professional image while working from home
3. The four essentials of a Press Release
4. The 5 things that make you a great freelancer
5. Freelancers - How to get paid on time without upsetting your clients
6. How does the car scrappage scheme work?
7. Employers should remember P11D deadline
Small Business News
8. Trade credit insurance scheme flawed according to experts
9. 'everywoman' Awards 2009 open for entries
10. Deferring tax payments to HMRC could cause problems later on
11. Alan Sugar plans roadshow to try to boost bank lending
** Read this issue online: http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/index.shtml **
Banks must start lending
-------------------------
A continuing reluctance by banks to lend money is frustrating tens of thousands of small businesses and forcing hundreds into going under.
Business groups have been urging action on the problem but all we've seen so far is the lamentable Enterprise Guarantee Fund.
However, there are some signs that the damage being caused by banks not ending is finally being recognised in the corridors of power. Speaking
yesterday, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, Paul Tucker, said banks were holding back recovery and could threaten the economy as a whole by refusing to lend.
He confirmed that bank lending was "subdued" at present and that a policy of not lending would be a "counterproductive business and financial
strategy".
The deputy governor added, "There cannot sensibly be free riders. If all banks were to adopt such a strategy, recovery might end up being anaemic
at best, which would feed back into the banking system itself - increasing defaults and depleting banks' capital."
Also this week, we've heard of plans by Sir Alan Sugar (see NEWS below) to launch a roadshow in an attempt to persuade bankers to lend more money to small and medium-sized businesses.
Maybe with the Bank of England in one ear, and Sir Alan in the other, some banks might start listening and lending again!
****************************************************************
Present a professional image while working from home
-------------------------------------------------
When you're starting a business these days it's perfectly acceptable to start up from home. But the real challenge of working from home is how you
continue to present a professional image. A potential client may not be impressed if they rang and one your children answered the phone!
Thanks to modern technology and a growth in services to help people working from home, it's really easy to present a professional image without a great deal of effort.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/office-home/homeworking/professional-working-from-home.shtml
The four essentials of a Press Release
-------------------------------------------------
Writing a press release isn't as simple as dashing off a letter to the editor of your local paper. It needs to be carefully put together. Good public relations mean you can generate valuable publicity for your business without having to fork out any cash. Here we look at the four essentials of a Press Release.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/marketing/pr/press-release-advice.shtml
The 5 things that make you a great freelancer
-------------------------------------------------
Whether you're freelancing for the first time or have been doing it for a few years, you'll quickly notice that the same freelancers seem to be busy
all the time. What is it about these people? What do they do differently? and how do they manage to magnetically attract work to them?
Successful freelancers tend to follow a formula. By design or accident they are doing the things that make a freelancer desirable to businesses. And
that generates an impressive flow of work. Here are the five things that will ensure your freelance career has every chance of success.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/contractors/contractor-guides/successful-freelancers.shtml
Freelancers - How to get paid on time without upsetting your clients
-----------------------------------------------------------
As a freelancer, you're responsible for chasing invoices as well as sourcing work. That can be a little awkward at times. If you have an
ongoing relationship with a client who regularly gives you work, you probably don't want to be discussing a big new project in the morning,
and overdue invoices in the afternoon. Here's how to get your invoices paid without upsetting your clients.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/contractors/contractor-guides/freelancer-paid-on-time.shtml
How does the car scrappage scheme work?
-------------------------------------------------
In the last Budget, the Chancellor announced a new 'car scrappage scheme' to encourage motorists to purchase new motor vehicles. The scheme is
available for the first 300,000 eligible claimants, or until the end of February 2010, whichever is soonest. Includes how you need to account for the purchase, if you are buying a business vehicle under the car scrappage scheme.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/1_12/car-scrappage-scheme.shtml
Employers should remember P11D deadline
-------------------------------------------------
Small businesses should be aware that the filing dates for the 2008/9 P11D and P11D(b) forms is 6th July 2009. If you're not sure whether you need to submit one, here's an overview of what the P11D form is, and how to find out more information.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/taxlegal/9_20/p11d-employer-deadline.shtml
************************* Advertisement *************************
TURN YOUR UNPAID INVOICES INTO CASH
.................................................................
If late payment is hurting your business cashflow, or your overdraft limit is restricting you, LLOYDS TSB COMMERCIAL FINANCE can help you.
Our factoring and invoice finance products can give you a 90% cash advance on the invoice value, which means you can instantly turn
your unpaid invoices into cash.
Click here to get and Instant Quote and find out how we can help you to quickly raise cash for your business -
https://www.ltsbcf.co.uk/main?__action=dorfq&vid=72&ref_id=5112
*****************************************************************
===================
SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
===================
Trade credit insurance scheme flawed according to experts
------------------------------------------------------
The Government's much-heralded trade credit insurance scheme for small companies falls short of the mark, according to financial services experts,
as it is only expected to run until December 2009, and doesn't cover debt issues for small businesses.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/finance/43_1/trade-credit-scheme-flaws.shtml
'everywoman' Awards 2009 open for entries
------------------------------------------------------
everywoman, is on the lookout for the nation's most inspiring female entrepreneurs, as the annual NatWest everywoman awards open to new applicants.
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/news/events/natwest-everywoman-awards.shtml
Deferring tax payments to HMRC could cause problems later on
------------------------------------------------------
With 60,000 companies agreeing 'time to pay' arrangements with HMRC, could some firms be delaying problems for later by deferring their tax payments?
http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/taxlegal/9_20/tax-arrears-bpss.shtml
Alan Sugar plans roadshow to try to boost bank lending
------------------------------------------------------
The newly appointed business champion, Sir Alan Sugar, is planning to lead a roadshow of bankers around the country in an effort to get them lending to small and medium-sized enterprises.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article6445838.ece
** For the latest Small Business News, visit http://www.Bytestart.co.uk **
|
