You are currently browsing the Blog - EMS - Business Consultants weblog archives for August, 2011.
27/08/2011 by Geoff.
There has been quite a lot of publicity recently over the 20th anniversary of the world wide web. The invention of Tim Burners-Lee gave us the facility to create websites and access them without getting involved in computer language.In 20 years things have moved on a lot and most of us have a vitual profile to go alongside our physical one. However the vitual one comes with some dangers!When we meet and communicate with people physically there are a number of things to help understand what we’re saying and what we’re like:
However when we operate in the virtual World (e-mail) your receiver doesn’t have these advantages - they can only interpret your words by what they think you mean (not always right). A simple example is having asked for and received information or advice from a contact how many of us forget to say thankyou? How are we seen?Its a common courtesy.
Posted in Business interest, Tips and Ideas | No Comments »
27/08/2011 by Geoff.
Quote from Glyn Britton in the ‘Telegraph Business Club’, strategy Partner at Albion:-
“Challenge the status quo in your category.
Work out where large rivals are being lazy, and disrupt it - You can afford to, they can’t.
Have a clear purpose, it could even be negative - in Nike’s early days, they apparently wanted to ‘crush Reebok’.
Don’t spend months polishing your product. Get a prototype out there as soon as you can.”
Worth thinking about.
Posted by John Hill - Finance Consultant
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us | No Comments »
22/08/2011 by Geoff.
A specialised topic, but worth a brief mention as where it applies it will reduce corporation tax to only 10%.It is planned to start from April 2013 and will apply to companies who receive income from patents (NOT, however, income from trademarks or copyrights). The aim is to provide an incentive for companies to retain and commercialise existing patents and develop new innovative patented products.If this is likely to apply to you don’t forget it’s just at the consultation stage.
Simone Greasley
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us | No Comments »
22/08/2011 by Geoff.
At present purchases of qualifying plant and other equipment can be written off against your taxable profits.
Tax relief is obtained by utilising the Annual Investment Allowance. For the current tax year, 2011-12, this amounts to a 100% write off with a limit of £100,000.
As with most opportunities all good things come to an end! From April 2012 the annual limit is being reduced to £25,000.
So if your plans over the next year or so include substantial investment in replacing worn out, or buying new, qualifying equipment, timing is absolutely critical.
Simone Greasley
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us | No Comments »
17/08/2011 by Geoff.
Don’t forget that from 6 April 2011 the HMRC approved amount you can claim for the business use of your own car is 45p per mile (previously 40p per mile).
The 45p rate applies to the first 10,000 business miles claimed in a tax year, after that the rate reduces to 25p per mile.
Employers are not obliged to pay at this rate but any rate paid up to 45p per mile will be effectively tax free to the recipient. Any payments made in excess of 45p would need to be declared as a taxable benefit.
If employers pay, or have paid, less than 45p per mile (40p before 6 April 2011) employees can make a claim. For instance if an employer pays 25p per mile after 6 April 2011, the employees could claim 20p per mile on their tax return as an expense of their employment for which they have not been reimbursed.
Simone Greasley
Posted in Business interest | No Comments »
17/08/2011 by Geoff.
So your business has stagnated?
Think about investigating these:
Remember if you think any of these might fit your business be sure to assess all the implications.
Simone Greasley
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us, Tips and Ideas | No Comments »
08/08/2011 by Geoff.
This is a way to grow your business. But you need to get your customers talking about you.The secret to this is to offer great customer service along with the following:
Simone Greasley
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us, Tips and Ideas | No Comments »
08/08/2011 by Geoff.
No matter what type of industry you operate in, you must ensure that your marketing message is tailored for your target market. Many businesses make the mistake of trying to sell a product or service. The marketing message does not really need to communicate what that product or service is but instead the message needs to illustrate that the firm is selling a benefit. That benefit may be a solution to a problem, something that makes life easier or something that saves money for customers.Don’t fall into the same trap that so many other businesses have fallen into. Don’t sell the product, sell the benefits of the product.
Next, it is important to focus your marketing message in order to make it appeal to your target market. Be specific about who your audience is and make sure that your message contains enough detail so that they can see how your product or service can be of benefit to them. Emotions form an important part of a purchase decision. Create a marketing message that appeals to your target audience. Use imagery and ensure that the detail of the message shows that your firm understands the requirements of the customer and displays how your product or service will benefit them.
Finally, your marketing message should be as simple as possible. Keep it straightforward as complex marketing messages can prove ineffective.
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us, Tips and Ideas | No Comments »
03/08/2011 by Geoff.
They have published their interim report on simplifying the tax system for small businesses, and the likely response is a feeling of disappointment that so few specific ideas are being put forward.To be fair, the OTS makes it clear that they now seek the Chancellor’s views and further instructions, and they also ask for views to help them develop their final report which is due later this year, but even so one could have expected more to come out at this stage.
There is consideration of a simpler tax regime for very small businesses with turnover below £20,000, and the future of IR35, but the tone of the report does not suggest the existence of any real commitment to simplify.
Let us hope that this will not turn out to be an opportunity missed. As and when any real changes are announced we will see exactly how we can use them to your advantage.
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us | No Comments »
03/08/2011 by Geoff.
The Bribery Act was due to come into force in April 2011 but has been delayed. It will now come into force on 1st July 2011.
Guidance has now been published thereby allowing businesses three months in which to put their procedures in place. For further guidance, contact the EMS HR team…………..
Written by Simone Greasley - HR Consultant
Posted in Business interest, Contact Us, Current Issues | No Comments »