13/12/2010 by Geoff.

Many small businesses don’t protect their ideas!This can be as simple as trademarking a name or logo. Trademarks are a form of intellectual property, along with patents, designs and copy-rights, which protect original creations. They can protect from other businesses copying an idea.To do this may not be that expensive (typically £6,000 to register, using the services of a lawyer). Once a business has a registered trademark it has both a valuable asset and a bargaining chip to do business with much larger potential partners.Trademarking, something unique to a business, means it cannot be copied except with approval under a licensing agreement. That could be a potential revenue stream! More information visit www.ipo.gov.uk

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13/12/2010 by Geoff.

We have to thank the Sunday Times for bringing into focus employment Law and other issues that hold small businesses back. They have launched their “Manifesto for small business”:

• Hiring and firing
  • Stop EU plans to triple maternity leave payments
• Slash red tape
  • Halve the number of tax forms
• Make banks lend
  • Guarantee small business loans
• Cut tax
  • A national insurance holiday for start ups
• Boost clusters
  • Relax planning laws and build new roads and railways

How’s that for starters?

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06/12/2010 by Geoff.

Not all employers have an Adverse Weather Policy……………………..so the recent disruption from the snow has brought some testing times for them, with the UK freeze causing a dip in employee attendance levels.If your Office is open, but employees cannot make it to work because of the adverse weather, you are entitled to treat their absence as unauthorised and have no obligation to pay them.   This is a harsh approach which may not lighten staff morale.  Instead you may consider:- §  To pay employees but ask them to make the time up at a later date; or§  Let them take the time off as paid annual leave or unpaid time off for dependants leave (for example, in the event that the employee needs to care for a child when there is a school closure); or§  Consider whether employees could usefully work from home until the weather situation has improved (having a Home Working Policy would ensure that the terms of such arrangement are clear and that employees’ output may be monitored).In order to minimise the chaos and ensure consistency throughout your business consider introducing an Adverse Weather Policy.  After all it is only December and we have several months of Winter ahead!If you need help with this contact us on enquiries@emseff.co.ukWritten by our HR and Recruitment consultant – Simone Greasley

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06/12/2010 by Geoff.

Not as daft as it sounds!

It can provide support in a lonely job. A relative may have specific skills your business needs. Above all we hope it can provide someone you trust and can rely on.

As with most good ideas there are things that can help it work better:

• Keep the relationship as professional as possible at work.
• Do not show favouritism
• Do you want a relative to know all about your business?
• As with all employees ensure a clear role, responsibility and accountability

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06/12/2010 by Geoff.

As many quality approvals suggest it is wise to know what your customer thinks of your business. Business surveys are a fantastic way of keeping your finger on the pulse in your target market. With powerful online survey tools now available at very little cost, it is easier than ever to conduct a survey that will provide meaningful insights for your firm.

Guidelines are:

1. Set a clear purpose and objective for your survey, for example, to find out why your clients keep coming back or what value added services they would pay for.
2. Keep your questions simple. Give multiple choice “tick box” answer options and keep the answers to five options.
3.  Try to limit your survey to 10 questions or so and take up less than 5 minutes of the respondent’s time.
4. Encourage participation by entering all respondents into a prize draw for a bottle of champagne, for example.
5. Finally always remember to thank the contributor for their time

If you wish to contact your respondents with a business proposal, you should do so within a few days of them filling in the survey.

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02/12/2010 by Geoff.

OK so it just seems like taking up more space in your archive store but you should keep:

General Accounting Records for 6 years:
PAYE and Staff Records for at least three years after the income tax year to which they relate:.

Company Statutory Books for as long as the Company is in existence
Government Grants for four years from receipt of the grant.

Employers Liability Policy Certificates for as long as is practical (could help you with handling a claim).
Limitation Act 1980 for 6-12 years.
In general a good rule is that you keep all records for at least 6 years after the end of the accounting period or tax year.

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02/12/2010 by Geoff.

As we all know late payers can disrupt cash flow of a business and harm its success.  Whilst it is important to have an effective debt collection policy in the current economic climate you may have to compromise a little. Good policy guidelines use:1.      Customer Statements

2.      First Reminder

3.      Second Reminder

4.      Third Reminder

5.      Fourth Reminder (optional or go to fifth reminder)

6.      Fifth Reminder

7.      Further action - This might involve a solicitors letter or  evidence of intention to go to the small claims court.

Whilst all of this might seem a little retrospective ensure your invoices are correct and consider reminding the client of when payment is due.

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