Throughout this entire trying time there has been little to be thankful for, especially in the sphere of small businesses. Moneis have been scarce, bank loans thin on the ground and the public at large are going through the type of austerity drive that would dry up even the most lucrative streams of income.
It is in this light that even the smallest of mercies comes as a blessing. Therefore at least the Bank of England has kept the interest rate at only 0.05% for more than a year, at least this can in some keep long term debts down while the companies have to re-adjust in the short term.
How long this state of affairs is likely to continue is more in the hands of those great economists, but in the mean time if spending is kept to a minimum, and all economies are to be maximised so that small business comes out the other side fitter and leaner than ever.
Showing posts with label small business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small business. Show all posts
Monday, 21 February 2011
Monday, 18 October 2010
Business Backs Osbourne
In a letter in today's Daily Telegraph, undersigned by many of the CEOs of the largest businesses in the UK, British business has come out in favour of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's impending cuts to spending in the public sector.
The impetus behind this backing is that the British economy is in a sound enough footing [the green shoots etc.] to take up the strain of any natural wastage caused by government savings. This is a very fine statement by these businessmen except for one point, and that is that they are all on the board of a very large businesses.
It has long been a fact that most of the job creation in the UK has been done at the hand of the nation's small businesses, not the large, and these have not been consulted in the formulation of the letter. It is not so easy as signing a letter when you have to run a smaller business, banks are not quite so willing to extend credit, cover month to month expences: business health insurance policies; salaries; rent; insurance.
Small to medium businesses must never be confused, they have widely differing challenges, and need much different skillsets in management, it is almost impossible for large business leaders to make this claim, Mr Osborne needs, instead, to listen to the world of small business.
The impetus behind this backing is that the British economy is in a sound enough footing [the green shoots etc.] to take up the strain of any natural wastage caused by government savings. This is a very fine statement by these businessmen except for one point, and that is that they are all on the board of a very large businesses.
It has long been a fact that most of the job creation in the UK has been done at the hand of the nation's small businesses, not the large, and these have not been consulted in the formulation of the letter. It is not so easy as signing a letter when you have to run a smaller business, banks are not quite so willing to extend credit, cover month to month expences: business health insurance policies; salaries; rent; insurance.
Small to medium businesses must never be confused, they have widely differing challenges, and need much different skillsets in management, it is almost impossible for large business leaders to make this claim, Mr Osborne needs, instead, to listen to the world of small business.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Setting up your own Business
For a select few that are up to the challenge it's stressful enough owning your own business with all the things that come with it. Obviously there are great added bonuses of having your own business with no boss to answer to and all the cash going to you unless you have workers on board with you.
If your someone who owns a business feel free to leave a comment and let us know how hard it is to actually start up one with all the different issues needing addressed.
One issue that needs sorting out is company health insurance, the last thing you want happening is something going wrong and your not covered for it so getting this set up straight away would be a huge benefit to you and your business.
If your someone who owns a business feel free to leave a comment and let us know how hard it is to actually start up one with all the different issues needing addressed.
Monday, 25 January 2010
International Health Insurance - Europe
If you do business in Germany, especially if you have offices, or employees, then you will have have noted how a spokesperson for the Government stated that the public health insurance is going to be raised to fill a gaping hole in the budget of nearly 8 million euros.
This is in Germany, the strongest of the European economies. If bills are having to go up in the strongest, just think of how things are getting tight in the, em, not so strong economies.
It isn't so rare for even medium-sized companies to have offices in more than one country nowadays. But how do you square the circle of some of your employees paying more in one country than in the others, you could always cover the cost of the health premium increase, with a special allowance when necessary. But this hardly seems fair to those workers in countries where health care is paid for from general taxation.
The only fair way to do this in any multinational business, is to offer every one of your employees the same cover.
The only way you can do this is to go to one of the major, trusted International Health Insurance Providers. They can tailor the service to make it just right for your company and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
This is in Germany, the strongest of the European economies. If bills are having to go up in the strongest, just think of how things are getting tight in the, em, not so strong economies.
It isn't so rare for even medium-sized companies to have offices in more than one country nowadays. But how do you square the circle of some of your employees paying more in one country than in the others, you could always cover the cost of the health premium increase, with a special allowance when necessary. But this hardly seems fair to those workers in countries where health care is paid for from general taxation.
The only fair way to do this in any multinational business, is to offer every one of your employees the same cover.
The only way you can do this is to go to one of the major, trusted International Health Insurance Providers. They can tailor the service to make it just right for your company and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Tips for Small Businesses in 2010
1. Start Preparing Your Taxes Now: Organize tax information early or it can distract you from running your business: 46 percent of small business owners say that finding and organising the documents they need to prepare their taxes is very or somewhat difficult, and 77 percent of small business owners find the tax preparation and documentation process very or somewhat time consuming, which only takes them away from tending to their bottom lines.
2. Cut Personal Expenses: Find ways to cut costs outside of the business, because you’ll likely have to take home less pay and even go into your savings: 69 percent of small business owners say that current economic conditions are forcing them to reduce the amount of money they take home from their businesses, and 61 percent think they are very or somewhat likely to use their personal assets in the next year to keep their businesses afloat.
3. Think Green: Small business owners think the following business segments have the best opportunities for post-recovery growth, in order of importance: green industries, business services, technology and energy.
4. Have a Long-Term Plan: 43 percent of small business owners who have been hurt by the current economy say that it will be more than 12 months before their businesses rebound, followed by another 24 percent who expect that it will take six to 12 months to be in the clear.
5. Don’t Focus on the Money: Only 12 percent of entrepreneurs say that “making more money” is the biggest reason they became a small business owner; while 46 percent say they are motivated by having “more flexibility with their time” and by “being their own boss.”
6. Use the Web: 32 percent of small business owners who are part of an online networking community say that their biggest benefit from social networking is “getting new business leads.” Moreover, 47 percent of 3,000 consumers surveyed say they are more likely to use a small business that has a Web site.
7. Rely on Yourself: Don’t overextend yourself by borrowing too much in the beginning: 64 percent of small business owners say that they did not need financial capital to start their businesses. Among those who did need the capital, 45 percent received it from their personal savings, and another 16 percent borrowed from family and friends.
8. Focus on Sales: One way to stay on course is to keep a sharp focus on sales: Owners say that sales generation is the biggest issue facing their businesses today, followed by taxes, operating costs, health insurance, access to capital and inflation.
9. Stay in Touch with Family: 31 percent of small business owners say that they are very likely or somewhat likely to borrow money from family and friends in the next 12 months in order to stay in business.
10. Stay Healthy: Preventive medicine and taking care of yourself are important, given that 65 percent of small business owners report that it is somewhat or very difficult to obtain affordable health care for themselves and their employees.
Data was collected in 2009 as part of the monthly Discover Small Business Watch poll of 750 random small business owners with less than five employees. The survey of business owners has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
2. Cut Personal Expenses: Find ways to cut costs outside of the business, because you’ll likely have to take home less pay and even go into your savings: 69 percent of small business owners say that current economic conditions are forcing them to reduce the amount of money they take home from their businesses, and 61 percent think they are very or somewhat likely to use their personal assets in the next year to keep their businesses afloat.
3. Think Green: Small business owners think the following business segments have the best opportunities for post-recovery growth, in order of importance: green industries, business services, technology and energy.
4. Have a Long-Term Plan: 43 percent of small business owners who have been hurt by the current economy say that it will be more than 12 months before their businesses rebound, followed by another 24 percent who expect that it will take six to 12 months to be in the clear.
5. Don’t Focus on the Money: Only 12 percent of entrepreneurs say that “making more money” is the biggest reason they became a small business owner; while 46 percent say they are motivated by having “more flexibility with their time” and by “being their own boss.”
6. Use the Web: 32 percent of small business owners who are part of an online networking community say that their biggest benefit from social networking is “getting new business leads.” Moreover, 47 percent of 3,000 consumers surveyed say they are more likely to use a small business that has a Web site.
7. Rely on Yourself: Don’t overextend yourself by borrowing too much in the beginning: 64 percent of small business owners say that they did not need financial capital to start their businesses. Among those who did need the capital, 45 percent received it from their personal savings, and another 16 percent borrowed from family and friends.
8. Focus on Sales: One way to stay on course is to keep a sharp focus on sales: Owners say that sales generation is the biggest issue facing their businesses today, followed by taxes, operating costs, health insurance, access to capital and inflation.
9. Stay in Touch with Family: 31 percent of small business owners say that they are very likely or somewhat likely to borrow money from family and friends in the next 12 months in order to stay in business.
10. Stay Healthy: Preventive medicine and taking care of yourself are important, given that 65 percent of small business owners report that it is somewhat or very difficult to obtain affordable health care for themselves and their employees.
Data was collected in 2009 as part of the monthly Discover Small Business Watch poll of 750 random small business owners with less than five employees. The survey of business owners has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Health Insurance and Safety
With health and safety now one of the most important topics that business owners and managers in the workplace need to learn, there is a whole lot of rules and is a bit of a mine field, first up is to get small business health insurance, it is a great way to reward your employees for their hard work, commitment and loyalty and not only does it offer your employees great medical treatment when needed it also covers your company against employee sickness among other things, once you have found the best policies for your business you can move onto appointing a health and safety officer and a first aider, whether you go and hire someone with the skills or appoint one of your employees to learn through attending courses is irrelevant, as long as you have people in place, whoever I always see it best to give your current employees the chance learn and better themselves, the more measures you take to guard the health and safety of your workforce the better placed you will be to deal with any relating issues.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Healthy Businesses in 2009
In these unprecedented economic times, there are no doubts that small businesses are having to adapt and prioritise their spending activity. Budgets all round are being tightened and focus is being shifted onto those areas that are essential to the efficient day-to-day business operations. We at HISB at concerned with where Private Medical Insurance ranks within this hierarchy of priorities.
Taking into account the current financial climate, what is the outlook of private healthcare insurance within your small business?
Taking into account the current financial climate, what is the outlook of private healthcare insurance within your small business?
- Are you planning to open a new healthcare policy to cover your employees?
- Are you increasing or enhancing any existing cover that you may have?
- Are you going to analyse the climate over the next few months and make a decision from there?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)