Many companies take the unfortunate view that breaching health & safety is rather like getting a corporate parking ticket – an irritation; mildly expensive; but something which can just be put down to experience. They couldn’t be more wrong. A conviction for a health & safety breach is not only a criminal matter (and…
Read More….
One of your customers has just contacted you to say that they have decided to switch their service provider. How do you deal with it? Whilst you are obviously disappointed it is important to consider why they may have chosen to switch. Find out why? Ask them for the reasons why they have chosen this…
Read More….
Anyone that knows me will know that I am a big football and sports fan. I play in the Cheltenham league, albeit at the bottom end of the scale. One thing that I am particularly passionate about is getting children playing sport. My son currently plays for Bishops Cannings under 7’s and participates in the…
Read More….
It is not often I blog about topical entertainment shows such as the apprentice; however, this weeks episode (10th May 2011) has infuriated me so much that I felt obliged to. I watch the apprentice mainly for entertainment as I don’t feel it represents real business; however, I like to think how I could approach…
Read More….
The objective of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) scheme is to support the transport needs of business. Employees that use their own car for business journeys can be paid the AMAP, free of tax and NIC. The AMAP rate has been fixed at 40p per mile for what seems like forever (actually 2002!); However,…
Read More….
The issue of travel and subsistence is considered to be one of the most problematic and grey areas within small business accounting, particularly for self employed individuals. The basic reality is reasonably simple; in order to qualify for tax relief, any expenditure must be wholly and exclusively incurred for the purpose of the trade. Where…
Read More….
Many businesses ask what are the most important things they need to know about Intellectual Property so here goes:- 1 – If you have an idea or invention DO NOT TELL ANYONE To be protectable by patent a new invention must be novel and inventive. As soon as you tell someone you have destroyed the novelty…
Read More….
The best way to the performance of your business is to use some key accounting ratios. These help you to analyse financial information about your business. Having this knowledge will aid making informed decisions about how to manage your business and help it to grow. This article highlights some of the common ratios that a…
Read More….
On 14 October 2010 the Government published its latest proposed amendments to our pension legislation and as is invariably the case what The Government gives in one hand they invariably take away in another. What’s important is does this affect you now and in the future? Here is a summary of the changes; The lifetime…
Read More….