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Go walking: keep you and your business healthy

Being able to run a business from a laptop is an amazing thing. But it does mean that you spend a LOT of time sitting in front of a screen not being very active. Research shows that office workers spend 75% of their waking hours sitting down – and that’s not great for your health.A good walk may well be the answer to this issue, with walking being a great way to get yourself fit and to add some energy to your business thinking too.Get active and become a more effective leaderSitting down for...

How humour can increase your bottom line

You want to be taken seriously as a business, right? But did you know that many customers and consumers actually want you to give them a laugh as well? 91% of people globally prefer brands to be funny, but 95% of business leaders fear using humour in consumer interactions.So, how do you overcome the worry about using humour in your sales and marketing? And what are the benefits of a brand that uses humour in an effective way?5 ways that humour improves your customer experienceBeing funny in a bu...

5 questions to ask when you are buying a business

Purchasing an existing company is a great way to expand your business empire. You can buy out a close competitor, or dip a toe into a new industry and expand your reach as a business group. But whatever the reason for the acquisition, you need to ensure you’re not buying a lemon!Doing your research is a crucial part of the purchase process. As is asking some probing and insightful questions to help you determine if this acquisition is a good (or bad) idea.Questions to ask before you make an of...

Proving your ongoing business viability through 5 financial reports

Whether you’re applying for government subsidies, taking out a business loan or seeking investor support, you need to be able to demonstrate your ongoing viability as a business.To prove this viability, it’s important to have the right financial information at your fingertips. This information is also just as important for your own internal planning and decision-making.So, where do you start and what are the reports that you’ll need?The numbers that prove you’re a business with a futureA...

5 top lead magnets for your marketing

Bringing leads into your business is what drives sales. So, how do you create the most effective lead magnets to draw potential customers into your sales funnel?Yes, we know, there’s a lot of jargon in sales and marketing. But, ultimately, every business wants to attract customers, get their details and try to convert them into a sale. It’s this continual process of pulling leads into your funnel that gives you stable sales and solid revenues.To help you, we’ve highlighted five of the top ...

Prepare your business for the new energy economy

Our economy is undergoing an energy transformation, as we move away from fossil fuels and begin to embrace renewable energy and decarbonisation. Will your business be ready for the new energy economy?Electricity demand will increase – and costs may also riseThe price of renewable power is falling, thanks to the massive proliferation of wind, solar and hydro projects worldwide. However, demand is rising rapidly. Fossil fuel cars and gas fires are being replaced with EVs and heat pumps. Building...

5 vital things to set up before you pass away

No-one wants to spend too much time thinking about their own mortality. But the reality is that forward planning removes a lot of the uncertainty for your loved ones in the event of your death. The following guidance may also be useful to help you guide others.Passing on without any clear legal instructions regarding your finances, assets and estate can leave your nearest and dearest in a very difficult position. It’s far better to make plans well in advance and to have these documents safely ...

The value of a good UX: user experience

Your end users are the life and blood of your business. They’re the drivers of your relationships, sales, income and end profit. So, having a good user experience (UX) isn’t just a ‘nice to have’, it’s actually a critical requirement for any ambitious business to aspire to.Understanding what your ‘UX’ is, and how it can be improved, is vital business knowledge. So, let’s dive in and find the important UX areas you should be focusing on.4 ways to enhance your UXYour ‘user experi...

Can ChatGPT replace your marketing team?

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll have heard about the ascendant rise of Open AI's ChatGPT and GPT-4 (plus other similar tools). These natural language processing tools have brought AI content writing to the masses – but does this mean that your content marketing team is now defunct?The short is no. For a start, great marketing has always been much more than just promotion. The traditional 4 P’s include Promotion but also, Product, Price, and Place. When these three work togethe...

It's tough at the top (and that's why you need a business coach)

Being a business owner can be immensely rewarding. But it's also a highly pressurised and stressful vocation to choose. The business journey can be full of pitfalls and challenges that make it more difficult to meet your goals and turn your enterprise into a success.The good news is that you don't have to travel this road alone. A business coach is your companion on the journey. A coach will help to shoulder some of the load, so you can get where you're going faster and with all the personal and...

The financial advantages of buying a New Build Rental

If you are thinking about buying a rental property, you might be wondering if it’s worth paying extra to buy a new build. Though they tend to be more expensive, there are several important financial advantages, including:You can buy with a smaller depositYou can claim the loan interest as a tax deductible expenseMaintenance and energy costs are lower.You only need a 20% depositNew builds aren’t bound by the same loan-to-value restrictions as existing properties, so you can buy one with a sma...

The pros and cons of managing your own rental property

Investing in rental properties can be a great way to grow your wealth over the long term.But it’s not a passive investment – you need to maintain your properties and take care of your tenants. You can do that work yourself, or you can employ a property manager who can do the job for you. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each approach.Why manage your own rental property?Are you great with people, have excellent attention to detail and a willingness to keep up to date with regulatio...

How running a lean business model improves your cashflow and efficiency

Keeping your operational expenses under control, while also remaining efficient and meeting customer demand can be a challenge – one that can catch out many new business owners.This is why running your enterprise using a lean business model is such a good idea. By keeping operations, stock and processes to a minimum, you reduce your outgoings, speed up efficiency and improve your cash position. But how does the lean model work?5 core elements of a lean business modelIn essence, a lean business...

What makes you a good entrepreneur?

Do you dream about starting our own business? And, can anyone become an entrepreneur?When you look at the research, there are certain aptitudes, personality traits and business skills that tend to make you a more successful entrepreneur. But can you learn these skills? Or are these innate abilities that some entrepreneurial people are just born with?Let's take a look at what makes a good entrepreneur.What drives someone to become an entrepreneur?There are upwards of 582 million entrepreneurs in ...

5 ways to overcome economic uncertainty

Economic uncertainty is an ongoing worry for any business owner.You can control your own financial management, but you don’t have any direct control over the wider macro-economy. And in the first few years of the 2020s, there have certainly been plenty of tricky ups and downs for your business to navigate.Current economic uncertainty stems from a number of factors, including:Fluctuating marketsGeopolitical tensionsPandemic recoveryThe impact of climate change.This unpredictability poses signif...

Are you ready for an enterprise resource planning solution?

As your business scales, the complexity of your systems, data and management information will grow at a similar pace. And if you're using software, apps and systems that are aimed squarely at the small business market, these platforms may begin to creak at the seams a little.This is when moving to an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution makes a lot of sense.But what is an ERP solution? And how does upgrading to one of the current breed of ERP software help you get back in control of your ...

Introducing our Value Gap Analysis Report

Can you see the potential that lies in your financial data?Your financial statements give us insights as to the opportunities that exist for you and your business. This external perspective can help you run a more effective business - whether you’re seeking growth or efficiency.Introducing: The Value Gap Analysis Report.Our new report documents the gap between where your key numbers are currently and where they could be with clear direction to make material improvements.Your bespoke report pro...

How can small businesses compete with the big chains?

In tough economic times, small businesses can struggle. Big multinational chains often have the scale to undercut local competitors and survive even when times get tough.What can small businesses do to retain and attract customers in a competitive market?Identify your business’s advantagesThink about what your business can offer that a multinational operator cannot. For example, you might have the edge on:Local knowledgeClose relationships with customersPersonalised serviceEasier parkingSpecif...

Will a 4 day week work in your Trade Business?

Picture mastering a 4-day workweek in your flourishing trade business? Michael Chaplin of Tweed Electrical is making this vision a reality. His secret? Streamlined systems and valuing life beyond work.In an article by Tradify, they delve into the game-changing potential of the 4-day workweek in the trade sector. They share a success story of a landscape business that unveils how this shift can elevate your business.Attain improved work-life equilibriumAmplify employee well-being and efficiencyCu...

5 ways to overcome economic uncertainty

Economic uncertainty is an ongoing worry for any business owner.You can control your own financial management, but you don’t have any direct control over the wider macro-economy. And in the first few years of the 2020s, there have certainly been plenty of tricky ups and downs for your business to navigate.Current economic uncertainty stems from a number of factors, including:Fluctuating marketsGeopolitical tensionsPandemic recoveryThe impact of climate change.This unpredictability poses signif...

How to avoid business jargon in your writing

Effective communication is an essential ingredient for business success. But when it comes to writing marketing content or communicating with customers, using cliches and business jargon can often have the opposite effect – muddying the water and confusing customers.So, how do you write helpful, engaging business content without reverting to stereotypical jargon, buzzwords and technical language?Keeping your content simple and easy to understandUsing industry phrases and buzzwords can leave yo...

Which business expenses can you claim against tax?

Incurring expenses is an unavoidable fact of running a business. But which expenses can you claim tax deductions against and which don’t meet the tax-free criteria?Here’s our lowdown on which expenses you can claim against tax.Which business expenses can you claim deductions against?If your business expense is directly related to earning your assessable income then you should be able to claim a tax deduction against this particular cost.For example, everyday business expenses that you may be...

Plain English guide to cashflow

Why is cashflow so central to good financial management? Here's our plain english guide.What is cashflow?Cashflow refers to the movement of money into and out of your business over a specific period.In the most basic terms, cashflow is the process of cash moving out of the business (cash outflows), and cash coming into the business (cash inflows). The ideal scenario is to be in a ‘positive cashflow position’. This means that your inflows outweigh your outflows – i.e. that more cash is comi...

Employee management is simpler and more accurate with online timesheets

As technology evolves, so does the way we do business. Tech for small businesses is now affordable and accessible.Time tracking and scheduling are great examples – cutting-edge, cloud-based options are now available for businesses of any size.The problem with paperPaper is far from ideal when it comes to effective time tracking and scheduling – it’s inflexible, takes up valuable employee time, and leaves your business open to time theft.Worse, paper systems can turn minor errors into major...

How much should you pay yourself?

Being the boss means you get to make all the big decisions about your business – including how much to pay yourself in wages, salary or drawings.As the owner, you might need to underpay yourself in the early stages of building your business, so you can reinvest the profits. But your time is valuable – and you need enough money to pay the bills. So how can you find the right level of pay? It has to be enough to keep the mortgage paid, while also building a thriving business.If you’re trying...