Information Now Required Upfront

IThe Provision of Services Regulations 2009 recently came into force. Companies providing services (excluding financial & healthcare) must make certain information available to customers eg Complaints Procedure. The OFT can take action against those who don't.

Call for further information.

Grants available for SME's
The government are now funding SME businesses with various grants made available to companies like yours. Call us to see if we can help acquire a grant. Call for further information.

New Company Procedures

The Companies Act 2006 has changed the law for companies, and affects every company operating in the UK. Passed in 2006, the Act reached the final stage of implementation on 1st October 2009. These new provisions make serveral important changes to exsisting company law and replace significant sections of the Companies Act 1985, including:

• New director's duties relating to directors' interests .
• No requirement for a company secretary
• AGM's not required for private co's
• New minimum age of 16 for directors.

and several other changes. Call for further information.

Energy Performance Certificates now in force.

Landlords are being warned to ensure they are fully compliant with Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), which have been a legal requirement since 1st October. Those wishing to let property will have to provide an EPC to prospective tenants. The EPC lists recommendations to improve the energy efficiency of a property and lasts ten years. Landlords who don't comply can be issued fines of up to £200 every time they're asked to produce an EPC and fail to do so. Call for further information.

Minimum Wage Increase 01/10

From 1st October 2009 the National Minimum Wage will increase by 7p to £5.80 an hour for adults. The new rate for 18-21 year olds will also increase from £4.77 to £4.83, while the 16-17 year old rate will rise from £3.53 to £3.57. Call for further information.

Bank's Penalty Charges
One in five bank customers incur penalty charges, but they are not legally enforceable. Many businesses and personal bank customers have successfully claimed back any such charges incurred in the last six years. Call for further information.

Mortgages For Director
As an owner-director, you may have chosen to take a small salary with the rest as dividends. This may mean that you don't have the required proof of income when it comes to applying for a mortgage. A self-certification offset mortgage may be the answer. Call for further information.

Top Ten Tips for Marketing Your Business in a Recession

1. Getting Your Name Out There - Add your company details to the many free online directories that are available.  YELL for example, will let you have a free business listing.

2. Networking - Identify some good, local networking groups. Many of the smaller groups are free to attend. Your local Chamber of Commerce and Business Link will have their own networking groups or may know of some in your local area. Always ensure you have a good quality, professional, business card with you at all times. This creates a great first impression.

3. Cost Effective Local Advertising – Supermarkets, local post offices and shops can often be a good, cost effective way to get your business known in the local area without having to cover the cost of an ad in the local press.

4. Getting a Deal On Your Advertising - If it is advertising that you need, contact relevant magazines to understand their copy deadline dates. It is amazing what deals you can get when copy deadlines are approaching and they need to fill their pages.

5. Sharing The Cost - Team up with another business to fund advertising and promoting your business. This is a great way to share the costs. Make sure the partner that you choose compliments your business and fits with your own brand values and image

6. Keeping Your Print Costs Down - There are some extremely cost effective online solutions to getting your business cards and stationery printed. Ensure you have some good designs and layouts. Ask around for advice on some good online providers.

7. Developing Your Customer Database - Develop a customer feedback questionnaire. Not only will you get some excellent feedback on how you can improve your product or service, but you can also use this to build a database of customers that you can target with your marketing material in the future. (Ensure you ask for permission to do this in your questionnaire copy)

8. Collecting and Ranking Your Marketing Ideas - As you think of ideas to market your business, collect these on a summary grid. Come up with a system to rank your ideas for example, which ideas are low cost, which ideas will generate the most business, which ideas are quick to implement. Develop a scoring system for your selected criteria and use this to help you to decide which ideas you should progress

9. Keeping An Eye On Your Competitors - Look at how your major competitors are marketing their businesses. Learn from their successes and failures. Look for ways of doing it better!

10. Customer Endorsements and Testimonials - Ask your satisfied customers for a testimonial. Prospective customers are much more likely to give you a try if your service is being endorsed by a real customer, even if they don’t know the person making the endorsement.Call for further information.