Launching a new business is an exciting and rewarding experience, but nobody expects you to know everything about it right at the start. True, you’re expected to know your own products and services, and the market in which you’re operating. But there’s much more to it than that. If you don’t have lots of experience in running your accounts, arranging business insurance or marketing you services, for example, there are plenty of places where you can get help.
Your first start should be your local Business Link. This is a Government agency, organised regionally, that provides information and support for all small businesses – whether they are start-ups, established companies or firms looking to expand. It’s particularly strong on the administrative side of running a SME, with guidance on taxation, employment, finance and regulations. But it also has plenty of useful tips on marketing, international trade and grants, and runs local events that provide advice and networking opportunities.
The Federation of Small Businesses is a member organisation that campaigns on behalf of SMEs. It promotes the interests of small businesses in Parliament and in the media, but it also gives its members a range of benefits. Members are entitled to legal information, and can download templates of legal documents.
Members also get tax advice and there are a number of special deals you can access when it comes to banking, loans and credit cards. “Our purpose is supporting small businesses, and in addition to our lobbying work, we’re always looking for ways to give our members more help,” says a spokesman for the FSB.
It’s also worth visiting the websites of the major banks; they all offer accounts and services to small businesses, and many of them have plenty of advice to companies, which is available whether you are a customer or not. Lloyds and HSBC have two of the better websites, but most will have something of interest. Coverzones has plenty of useful and easy to understand information on specific insurance policies that small businesses need to consider, including laibility and indemnity cover.
As part of the Government’s long-term strategy to get more of its services online, there is now a wealth of useful sources of information for small businesses, many of them available through Direct.gov. The site is generally set up for individuals, so if you’re a sole trader then you can receive guidance on your rights and responsibilities, as well as information on tax and benefits. For larger companies, the taxman will be able to explain all about VAT, corporation tax, employers’ tax and the like. It’s particularly useful for companies undertaking new ventures, such as employing someone for the first time or selling products and services overseas – each of these come with potential liabilities so it’s a good place to start if you’re considering such a move.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills concentrates mainly on the regulatory side of running a small business. The site is currently being updated, so at the moment can be a little difficult to navigate, but if you can find it there’s plenty of help available.
Small and medium sized businesses can save up to 20 per cent on their communications costs with Vodafone One Net, a service that combines fixed and mobile voice to deliver a simpler, more effective way to manage communications.
Vodafone One Net ensures that businesses are able to work effectively whether in the office or out and about. The single service ensures businesses are always available to their customers at the same time as giving them greater cost control on communications spend via a flexible, scalable service that can grow or contract depending on the size of the workforce.
Vodafone One Net offers a single number for landline and mobile phones, one voicemail for all fixed and mobile messages, one contract and a single point of contact to cover all communications needs. Business customers can switch seamlessly between their mobile and landline phone depending on where they are. This means making or receiving a call in the office on a fixed phone and continuing it on the move via mobile is now a reality.
Customers can opt to pay a predictable flat call rate, per user subscription, allowing flexibility as the business grows or contracts, with the cost of the call remaining the same whether fixed or mobile.
The Vodafone One Net service also offers customers the opportunity to have a virtual switchboard, fully hosted by Vodafone UK, which can support businesses with multiple office locations. Rather than having a fixed switchboard or PBX, Vodafone UK takes care of the management of communications between locations, routing the call via the most effective channel. One Net also offers call quality monitoring, so customers benefit from business-grade service levels and network performance.
“Our small and medium sized business customers have told us that they want to deal with one trusted communications provider who can support them in improving business efficiency, delivering outstanding customer service and improving cash flow whilst remaining responsive to changing business needs,” says Peter Kelly, Enterprise Director for Vodafone UK. “Vodafone One Net delivers this by enabling businesses to work effectively in or out of the office, providing a one stop support service for fixed and mobile voice communications that also effectively reduces costs.”
Fixed calls are provided through Vodafone UK’s extended partnership with BT Wholesale.
The launch of Vodafone One Net follows the successful launch in July 2009 of Vodafone One, offering integrated voice, data and fixed line services for corporate customers.
