If you’re in a certain industry, or looking to get into a new industrial sector, you need to learn all you can about the industry. Questions you might want to ask include who are the key players? Who are the up-and-coming and on the ‘watch this space’ players? Who has...
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Taxing Times for Small Business
This year will be the year in which many new taxes are implemented and a number of new consultations will start. Many of these are reasonably well known as announced well in advance of the implementation dates. However, it is now common that the autumn statements also...
A New Lender who even likes start-ups
At the end of last year I had a meeting with an interesting lender. They do short term loans from just 3 months, but unlike most short term lenders they will also do loans of up to 10 years. They like new starts, adverse credit and sole traders. They will lend from...
Are you selling ‘best value’ when you should be offering ‘added value’?
When it comes to your products or services, do you know what sort of value you are offering your customers? If you’ve placed your chips in the ‘best value’ arena, a very competitive price will have a starring role in your value proposition. Your customers are likely...
Ensuring UK economic growth can survive the next global downturn….
Employment in the UK at a record high. The UK economy seen as a shining star. Confidence in Germany, one of our main competitors under question. So, what could go wrong? Quite a lot really. International commentators are warning of another credit squeeze and business...
The Autumn spending review relating to property
Landlords and Second Home Levy New 3% surcharge on stamp duty for buy-to-let properties and second homes from April 2016, raising about £1bn in England and Wales will have to pay a 3% surcharge on each stamp duty band. George Osborne said the new surcharge would raise...
One Hidden Thing That Drives Your Company’s Value
You already know that your company’s turnover and profits play a big role in how much your business is worth. Are you also aware of the role cash flow plays in your valuation? Cash vs. Profits Cash flow is different from profits in that it measures the cash coming in...
10 Things That Make Your Business More Valuable Than That of Your Industry Peers
The value of your company is partly determined by your industry. For example, cloud-based software companies are generally worth a lot more than printing companies these days. However, when we analyse businesses in the same industry, we still see major variations in...
Getting maternity leave right with your key employees
Over the last 12 months l have worked with client MDs on 6 cases of maternity leave and on two of these cases, because they have become contentious, I have reflected on the causes of these disputes. Looking at this dispassionately one might say that this reflects a...