Of course,
these sites - and
more for other banks not listed here - are
a precursor to selling you products and
services, and you may find more personal
advice from one of their business
managers. But the business advisors are
generalists. You may find one who has
clients in your sector, but they aren’t
specialists. Test their knowledge and use
your own judgment.
British Chambers of Commerce
Another organisation that might be of
assistance is the British Chambers of
Commerce - a non-political, non-profit
making organisation, owned and
directed by its members. Each Chamber
sits in its local business community to
serve the entire business community and
provide services, information and
guidance to its members.
Overall, the Chambers also represent
their members’ interests to Government
and policymakers. So being a member
may yield other benefits if there is a legal
or regulatory change that likely to hurt
you. You’ll find out much more at
www.chamberonline.co.uk. Once there
you’ll see from navigating through their
site that they can help with the various
services that a business might need, at a
cost however. But if you need assistance,
you can choose from programmes that
cover credit/debit card payment services,
healthcare programmes, and a legal
expenses/insurance helpline.
Of course, being a member of a local
Chamber of Commerce may help you in
other ways such as being able to offer
your services to fellow members. You’ll
also be able to get discounts on training
courses that might enhance the operation
of your business.
Small Business Organisations
There are two organizations that exist to
help the smaller business - The
Federation of Small Businesses
january 2008
www.fsb.org.uk and the Forum of Private
Business www.fpb.org.uk.
According to the FSB’s website, it is
the largest campaigning pressure group
promoting and protecting the interests
of the self-employed and owners of small
firms. It has over 205,000 members across
33 regions and 230 branches, and claims
to offer members assistance and support
24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm
applies pressure on MPs and
Government. One benefit is a legal
helpline which operates 24 hours a day.
Benefits membership include various
financial products such as free banking
services (credit balance interest, fee-free
overdrafts and a free business charge
card); financial services products at a
reduced cost; help with small business
finance; and telecoms solutions. Again,
some ‘benefits’ revolve around buying
products and services, albeit at a reduced
rate.; but some accrue for members- the
legal and tax advice line, cover for the
costs of a tax enquiry of employment
dispute, a regular magazine and taking
part at the events it holds to network your
business contacts of course.
The FPB is similar to the FSB except
that it is concerned more with business
than ‘small business’. It is a non-political
organisation that claims a membership of
25,000 private businesses which in turn
employ more than 600,000 staff. It too
offers various services including legal
services similar to the FSBs. It also offers
payroll services, card processing via
HSBC. But it goes further - it offers
business software ‘the Business Software
Centre’ that can be rented on a monthly
basis and includes business planning,
financial forecasting, staff records and
appointments. The FPB also has a credit
control guide.
Other features of being an FPB
member include being able to use their
Government grant search; debt services
and a rates appeal service. The FPB make
a bold claim: They say that ‘If you join
and we fail to meet your challenge, we
will refund your membership
subscription.’ Both the FPB and FSB offer
other services too detailed to list here.
Accountants
No doubt you have an accountant. Why
not tap into them for financial advice and
help? You are, after all, already paying for
their time and they may have links to
providers. But if you’ve not got an
accountant, and you want one, you need
to make sure that you find one that is
properly qualified and a member of a
professional body. Unlike a doctor who
has to be qualified, there is very little to
production management
stop someone setting themselves up in
business and calling themselves an
accountant.
There are several professional bodies -
the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales (ICAEW), the
Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA). For Scotland and
Ireland, there are two separate but
associated bodies to the ICAEW - the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of
Scotland (ICAS), and the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Ireland (ICAI).
Look for these letters after the
accountant’s name.
By choosing a qualified member of
these bodies you should be guaranteed of
good, well-founded advice. Further, if
you do have any problems, you will at
least have a professional body to complain
to and seek redress from.
In general, the accounting bodies’
websites are for their members. However,
the ICAEW has, on their website,
www.icaew.com under the tab ‘Find a
chartered accountant’ some help topics
that you might find of use. There's a
search option to help you locate one of
their members, but on the same page you
will find information on matters such as
choosing an accountant, accounts and
personal/family matters, accountants as
non-executive directors and accountants
as independent experts. If you choose the
business section, you'll find more hints
and tips that will help you with the
running of the business including advice
on raising finance, profits, managing
growth, buying/selling/merging the
business, and staying within the law.
Websites
There are plenty of other sources of
financial help as a quick search of Google
will show. Just tapping in ‘business
advice’ brings up a whole host of various
websites including
www.smallbusiness.co.uk which has
reams of articles on small business
matters and links to providers. Just
looking at the finance section alone
brings up topics such as business angels,
top finance tips, how to raise funds,
financing your new business and so on.
You will need to register, but that is free
though.
Another to consider is
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/smallbusi
ness. This site features current business
news topics as well as advice sections.
There is so much information out there -
you just need to go and find it. Apart
from the sources above, consider using
the internet and Google - two truly
fantastic research tools.
MWP
17
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