We all want to avoid non-essential costs when starting a business. The good news is, there are some amazing free resources available to get you started on your business journey. Here are some of the best. 1 - Free Starting a Business workshop If you are new to business, our free Starting a Business workshop is the best place to start. You’ll cover...
You may be entitled to compensation if your landlord is carrying out works that are causing disruption to your business. Some of the situations in which you can claim compensation are: if general works are being carried out by the landlord in your shopping centre or building the shopping centre or building are being redeveloped the disclosure...
If your business is involved in some kind of a dispute, you’re not alone – and help is available. Here are some of the most common disputes in small business, followed by what you can do about them. Contractual disputes A common example of a contractual dispute is when you may have paid upfront for services that you haven’t yet received, such as a...
Your business name is a valuable asset, so when you receive a renewal notice your first thought is often to pay it straight away. While the notice letter or email may look official, you may not realise that it may have been sent by private organisations looking to make money from you. These unsolicited approaches are often made just before the...
If you’ve taken a 'set and forget' attitude to your small business insurance, it could be time to rethink your strategy. It’s important to make sure you have the right cover in place to suit your business, and to recognise how your structure, operations and exposure to risk can change over time. For many small business owners, insurance is...
Reducing your environmental impact might be easier than you think. We share seven steps you can take to green your small business.
As tax time draws nearer, you might be wondering what you can claim or ‘write off’ as a tax deduction this year. It’s important to know exactly what you can – and can’t – claim to avoid running into issues later. Our business adviser, Brian Childs, shares some of his top tips for small business owners around claiming tax deductions. Beware of...
A feature of my role as the Small Business Commissioner is that I am often asked about emerging issues in the small business landscape, particularly as each new year commences. While I sometimes wish for a clearer crystal ball, the benefit of having a network of peers across business and all levels of government, as well as having access to our in...
Are you thinking of funding your business with a bank loan? It may be helpful to know what financial institutions are looking for when deciding whether to approve your business loan application. How banks decide whether to give you a business loan While there are a few different ways to fund your business, including through your own savings or...
The news of a local business, a play centre, having to close because they couldn’t access appropriate insurance cover hit the media this week. Unfortunately, the situation this small business found itself in has become increasingly common. Hardening of the insurance market Because of a number of factors affecting underwriters’ risk appetite...
Your business could benefit from using a range of digital tools and apps to help manage your finances, keep accurate records, sell online, oversee social media accounts, improve productivity, engage your employees and customers, and more. Whether you want to boost your sales, streamline your processes or stop spending so much time updating...