|
Brought to you by Clare Francis, one of the authors of BAB, The Business Advisory Bureau Limited top selling 'Essential Guide to Earning a Living From Independent Consultancy'.
News
Items
The new rules on Privacy and Electronic Communications came in in December (2003). If you use e-mail to market to your clients or customers, Clare reminds you that you will need an opt-in consent procedure for commercial e-mails. This means you can only target (people or businesses) who have given their active consent (opted in) to receive your communications. This doesn’t apply to existing clients, unless they specifically state that they don’t want to receive your communications. |
  
 |
If you use a website to advertise and sell your products and services, Clare reminds you that you will have to tell your customers if you use cookies and provide an opt-out facility for them, (ie provide a cookies statement and the means to switch cookies off).
Clare believes that all small businesses with one or more staff on PAYE would benefit from a trip to the Inland Revenue website to find out more about the cash incentive being offered to small businesses for 5 years, starting from the 2004/05 tax year, to submit their company end of year tax returns (P35, P60) online. In total, this could be worth about £850 from the taxman (£250 first year, tapering to £75 in the 5th year) You don’t have to purchase software, either, you can use theirs, but you have to remain on line while completing the forms. Have a look at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk and insert ‘online filing’ in the search box and then click on small employers. It’s not often we get cash from the Government, so it’s certainly worth exploring!
If you have to travel for business and need to be cost conscious, (who doesn’t?) Clare suggests a look at www.traveljungle.com. It searches all sectors of industry, from travel agents to budget carriers, searching by date and leaving out promotional flights that have already been booked. It claims to beat other sites for price.
If you’re a sole trader or a partnership and planning to convert to a limited company, or if you’re just setting up in business and trying to decide what type of company to then Clare suggests caution. Changes in the tax system for limited companies led to a dramatic increase in the number of new incorporations last year, from 225,000 to 322,000. However, new measures expected in the Budget could negate tax advantages of incorporation for certain companies (there is talk of putting National Insurance on dividend payments). It’s certainly worth talking to an accountant to make sure you have all the facts before taking a decision.
If you’ve ever thought of exporting, but been put off by all the potential red tape surrounding it, then Clare thinks it could be worth obtaining a new, free guide. The guide - “A World of Opportunity” – produced by Bibby Factors International, provides information to owners and managers on the crucial first steps to exporting that every business must take in order to succeed. It details how to develop an effective export strategy, how to finance it and where to go for help and advice. Free guides are available by calling 0800 389 8811.
Clare tips two sources of funds for start-ups as being worth further investigation. They are the New Entrepreneur Scholarship Programme, which helps people living in disadvantaged areas (designated by postcode) to start in business. www.newprogramme.org has the details. The second is a new £4 million Angel Partnership Fund, launched by the Bank of Scotland and the Scottish Enterprise Co-investment Fund, which will run for 3 years and is available only in Scotland. The fund is aimed at investing in start-up businesses. To find out more about it, call 07919 216979.
If you’re thinking about taking payment for your goods or services online, but are totally confused about the various systems and what’s on offer, then Clare recommends a visit to www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk/epayments. Here you will find a comprehensive list of online payment suppliers for research purposes, together with user friendly outlines of the benefits and costs of the various electronic payment options currently available.
Those of us who are not technically minded are continually concerned about e-security of our businesses and what to do about it, but find most information about the subject too full of jargon and difficult to fathom. If that applies to you too, then Clare suggests you click on to www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk/informationsecurity where you will find a range of tools, advice and guidance on core areas of online security that you can review and use.
Still on the subject of IT (or ICT as it is now known!), Clare notes that small businesses in London can get free computer training for owners and staff by registering at one of 17 Internet Exchange stores or 3 Next Life centres in London. Once accepted, the training can be undertaken within any Internet Exchange shop, in the office or at home and online tutors will be available 24 hours a day. If this sounds promising, then ring Marcin Lai on 0800 917 5425.
Hundreds more tips and practical ways to take actions to enable your success are in 'The Essential Guide to Earning a Living From Independent Consultancy'.
Click the forward icon for 'WHAT CONSULTANTS AND CLIENTS ARE SAYING'.
   |
QUICK
LINK >>> Stripping for Freedom - Blog, Library of Links, Free Tips, What
Business? Escape the
Rat Race? E-Library, Why Scarborough? Publishing, E-UK
Team, Seminars, Press Pack, Going
it Alone? Decision
Breaks, The Write Stuff, Seminar Services, Projects
& Client List, BITE, Killer
Facts, Shop, Contact Us.
Free Gifts - with your first order from our shop.
You get a free book on marketing by Tony Robinson or tape by Brian Tracy.
