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Small Business Blog

Welcome to the small business blog where we are blogging on all issues affecting small businesses including marketing and finance. Simply click on a link below to read one of the stories and to keep up to date subscribe to this blog by using the box to the right.

Dragons Den Review and Duncan Bannatyne

So we were introduced to a new series of the popular bbc “business” programme dragons den last night but the wife and I were more intrigued on what has happened to Duncan Bannatyne’s hair…. (more…)

Income Tax Rates New Rate For UK Tax Payers

Here’s a quick guide to the new income tax rates in the UK for 2009/ 10. (more…)

Redundancy Advice – Start or Buy a Business

While a swathe of redundancies engulf the developed world in the wake of the global economic downturn, many of those set free from their contracts of employment are turning their previously dormant business ideas into reality and becoming entrepreneurs.

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Interview with Duane Jackson of Kashflow Accounting Software

I have long been a fan of Duane Jackson founder and creator of Kashflow. I find it interesting that he is very vocal in his marketing approach and he has no problems in pointing out “flaws” in his main competitors offerings – I like the approach and many marketers say that controversy sells.

So I have managed to get Duane’s ear to ask him a few questions about his approach and others about his company that he has kindly offered to answer for us today. So let’s kick this off: (more…)

Marketing Your Business in a Recession

For most larger companies the first thing that gets cut back if sales are reducing  especially in a recession is marketing, training and recruitment. Sometimes that’s a hard pill to swallow so what marketing activities can you undertake when sales and profits are reducing? (more…)

Starting a Bookkeeping Business

If you’re a bookkeeper or have financial qualifications what about running your own bookkeeping business ? (more…)

New Startup Guides Published

We’ve been busy adding new guides onto the small business pro site.

If you’re thinking of starting a restaurant business then this opporuntity is reviewed in our guide to starting a restaurant business that covers everything from location to marketing restaurants.

And if you need a business plan then we have posted some free business plan template downloads that you can access and download to your computer for no cost.

Additionally, there is some new information about taxes if you are self employed or have a limited company business. We’ve reviewed small business income tax and national insurance to keep you up to date !

Startup Costs, Fundraising and Nursery Guides

We’ve just posted a few crucial “how to” guides on the site on the subject of fundraising, managing startup costs and a guide to starting a nursery school:

Please let us know what you think and if there are any guides you would like featured. Full information on the site is available in the business directory.

 

Should You Start a New Business During This Recession ?

So we have a recession at the moment and many people are thinking of starting a new business but just haven’t got around to it or are probably too scared to start one. But most of the time from the emails and help requests we receive all we hear about are excuses.

People sign up to our business planning training and months later we ask how they are getting on and they say “they are still working on it” (more…)

Small Business Marketing Advice

Running and developing a small business can be tough especially during the current credit crunch so marketing is even more important than ever.

Marketing advice can be hard to come by when all you want is more paying customers and you don’t want to wade through tons of articles to get to your goals.

On small business pro we have post some easy to understand advice. First off much like when you start a new business and develop your business plan we have step by step guidance on writing your marketing plan. Your marketing plan is just as important to help you get into the minds of your customers and why they might purchase from you in the first place. By writing your plan you’ll probably end up with more questions than answers – but this is good – because most people don’t go through this process of auditing their own business so by doing this you’ll be ahead of most of your competitors.

The marketing plan covers indepth the marketing mix of your business (you know, product, place, pricing and promotion now with people, process and physical presence) – the marketing mix summarises every aspect of your interaction with your customers.

And if you don’t want to do the boring bits and want to delve straight in and just promote and communicate with prospects but don’t have much money and need some ideas to get you started then we have put together some small business marketing ideas that anyone can implement even if they’ve never put together a marketing campaign before !

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