AMPS
Internet Marketing Home Business.
Set
your goals high, and don't stop till you get there. Bo Jackson.
To
succeed, we must=first believe that we can. Here are my free
opportunities
You
can, should,and if you're brave enough to start, you will. Stephen
King.
PLAN
YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN
Business model summary
How will you turn users of your
website into money? Is there a plan for it? How will you measure it?
For a hybrid site you need to make sure you explain how the hybrid
will make revenue. Will you have a commerce portion? Will you be
depending on sponsorships and advertising? Will you be selling
services to your users? Make sure that you think about how you will
ultimately make your website venture bring in real money.
Try to think of your website
benefits in monetary terms. This is a good time to your sales
forecast. The
sales projected might be business benefits instead of sales:
increased closing percentage, increased customer satisfaction, or
increased retail traffic. Think about how those benefits might fit
into a sales forecast, because then you’ll be able to compare
monetary benefits to expenses.
International Chamber of commerce
http:/iicoc/.org?id=473
The content model: based on
advertising
The content sites work economically
like the Metro newspaper available across tube and train stations in
the UK, free content to users paid for by advertisements that users
put up with. This is also a lot like the classic newspaper and
magazine business, content paid for mainly by advertisers, with the
exception that most magazines and newspapers sell for a small price
while getting most of their revenue from advertisers. The “business
model” isn’t really new, just the fact that it is offered over
the Internet.
Newsletter; http://wwwbase.com
Consider Yahoo! and competing
Internet portals, newspaper and magazine sites, entertainment sites,
and other types of sites that are free to browsers and make money by
charging advertisers or sponsors for banner advertising and
sponsorships. These are content sites that depend on Internet
advertising for their revenue.
Community sites
Consider the business value of the
bulletin board in a local supermarket. The market doesn’t charge
for posting notices on the board, nobody pays to read them, but the
business takes the trouble to manage the board. The underlying
business benefit, we guess, is that the sense of community builds
traffic and loyalty.
This value is similar in the
Internet community site. A typical community site offers email,
bulletin boards and forums, a common focus for some group that has a
common interest. Community sites are often started by groups, clubs,
and government organizations. Some of the best of them, however, are
sponsored by businesses that want to take advantage of the common
interest. For example, a rock climbing community site might be
sponsored by a local store.
Cash Downline
Builder...http://www.cashdownlinbuilder.com/me/paulamps70
Most sites are really hybrids,
combinations
In truth most sites offer a
combination of target user benefits. Our business
planning site
for example, combines content and community with a touch of portfolio
and commerce. Amazon.co.uk combines commerce with content and
community; Yahoo.com also combines content, community, and commerce.
Tagged as:
entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs...http://paul70.postcardnetworker.biz
Purity
and Grace...http://paul70.purityandgrace.com
Small
Business Start Up Guide.
The
Ultimate Small Business Start-up Guide an eBook by Welcome. There are
many reasons to start a new business, including the freedom of being
in charge, the chance to be creative and deal with a wide variety of
tasks where no day is the same, realising your dream and doing
something that you are genuinely interested in, not to mention the
financial rewards. However, the decision to set up a company and be
your own boss is a huge step and as such, requires a lot of thought.
Becoming an entrepreneur is a life changing experience and it isn’t
for everyone. It will require determination, the ability to plan,
resilience and focus, as well comprehensive research into your
business idea, the marketplace and your financial options. All
businesses start with great intentions and hope, but more than half
of all businesses will not make it beyond a couple of years. This
guide intends to help you appreciate some of the elements involved,
from forming your company to the next steps in setting up and
becoming established, providing brief overviews of areas such as
finance, marketing and creating a business plan. We hope you find it
useful and wish you great success with your new company. For the
information of users: This eBook is published for information only.
It provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date
of publication, and no action should be taken without consulting the
detailed legislation or seeking professional advice from a qualified
professional. No responsibility for loss occasioned by any person
acting or refraining from action because of the material contained in
this eBook can be accepted by The Made Simple Group. Which type of
company is right for you? When it comes to forming a company, there
are a few options available to you. The type of company you choose
will be dependent on the nature of the business you intend to carry
out, for instance if you intend to own the company alone (a ‘sole’
trader) or if you intend to hire employees or set up a non-profit
organisation. Limited Company Under a limited company structure, the
company is owned by its shareholders and your company and personal
finances are kept separate (unlike a sole trader structure). A
private limited company cannot offer shares for sale on the stock
market, whereas a public limited company can. Sole Trader Working as
a sole trader, you are not required by law to have annual accounts or
to file accounts for inspection. However, unlike a company limited by
shares where directors and shareholders have limited liability, your
personal liability is unlimited. Limited by Guarantee A company
limited by guarantee is mainly used for non-profit organisations,
such as sports associations, students’ unions, charities,
membership clubs and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Rather
than share capital and shareholders, a limited by guarantee company
has members who act as guarantors. Limited Liability Partnership
(LLP) An LLP is a partnership with limited liability for its members.
It has the flexibility of a partnership and is taxed as partnership,
but in other respects it is similar to a private company. Whilst a
limited company and sole trader-ship tend to be the most popular
options, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Use our tax
calculator to find out if a limited company or sole trader is best
for you. What information is needed to start a limited company?
To
set up a limited company, you will need to be able to provide:
• A
registered office address: This is the address that all statutory
mail from Companies House and HMRC will be sent to. The address will
appear on Companies House register, meaning the details are available
to the public. For this reason, if your business is based at your
residential address you may want to use an external registered office
service.
• Director
details: There must be a minimum of 1 director (minimum age 16 years)
and they must not have been declared bankrupt or been banned from
being a company director by a court. You will need to be able to
provide their first and last name, date of birth, nationality,
occupation, country of residence and residential address. A company
can also act as a director provided there is at least one natural
(human) director.
• Shareholder
details: There must be a minimum of 1 shareholder. Shareholders can
often be the directors as well, although this is not a requirement,
and shares can be held by other companies. For each shareholder, you
will need to be able to provide their full name, residential address,
share currency (GBP, EUR or USD), number of shares and value per
share.
Choosing
your company name Naming your company might not seem like a big deal,
but it is an integral part of your business’ identity and
contributes to the impression you portray to customers and others, so
it’s important to choose wisely. In addition, whilst Companies
House accepts most names submitted, there are some official
restrictions.
• Your
proposed name must be different from that of a company that is
already incorporated. This includes the use of expressions, signs and
symbols. For example, ‘XY plus z’ and ‘XY + Z’ would be
considered too similar. Words such as ‘services’ and ‘company’
do not differentiate a company name.
• Names
that include ‘sensitive’ words or phrases will not be accepted.
This includes names that suggest a connection with Her Majesty’s
Government or public authority, and words which imply business
pre-eminence or a specific function. For example, the word ‘agency’
implies a governmental connection and would require confirmation of
approval by a relevant body. Terms relating to a person’s
profession such as ‘psychologist’ or ‘dietician’ are
protected titles and require prior approval.
• Names
that contain offensive words will not be allowed by Companies House
For a full list of regulations, visit the Companies House website.
You may also want to consider:
• How
easy your company name is to say and spell. This will make it easier
for customers to remember.
• Using
a location. This might be good for local business and your visibility
on search engines, but could limit you if you’re aiming to expand
or relocate your company elsewhere in the future.
• Your
competitors. You want to set yourself apart from the competition and
when it comes to word of mouth marketing, you want to make sure
customers are talking about you and not accidentally pronouncing the
name of a competitor. A similar name to another company could also
lead to administration problems such as receiving the wrong mail.
Creating a business plan, A business plan is an essential document
that will guide you in establishing and growing your new venture;
helping you focus your thoughts, providing you with targets and goals
as well as giving you an indication of your cash requirements. As you
would expect, different businesses will have different criteria for
goals and success. While there is no ‘one size fits all’ step by
step guide and many different templates available online, a typical
plan should include:
• Objectives
• Missions
of the business
• Description
of the products/services
• Summary
of the market
• Competitor
analysis
• Sales
and marketing information
• Financial
assumptions and forecasts A business plan is not only useful for you
and your employees, it can also be beneficial (or required) when
pitching your business to investors, potential partners and banks.
Steps to planning success Establish your mission Your mission
statement explains why your business exists. Think about why you are
starting the business, what needs of the marketplace you are aiming
to satisfy and where you want your business to be in the future.
Analyse
your SWOT These are your business strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats. Be thorough and honest and your analysis
will help you critically and unemotionally evaluate your business.
Develop a plan from each SWOT category, choose a few important items
and then set goals to maximise your strengths, correct your
weaknesses, make the most of your opportunities and nullify your
threats. Remember to distribute tasks amongst your staff to ease the
workload and avoid dwelling too much on the negatives.
Set
realistic strategies for improving your business. Create a budget All
missions and strategies need adequate financial resources to succeed.
An intelligent budget will help you regularly review your expenses
and make financially beneficial decisions. Make it a living document
Once it’s in writing, make it a living document!
Consider
how often you and your team will review it, perhaps monthly, and
frequently update your plan to reflect your company’s progress.
Remember, your plan is like a ‘to do list’; you should be
challenging your goals, aiming to achieve them and continuously
evolving.
Mistakes
new business owners make and how to avoid them Juggling too many
tasks It’s important for any new business owner to go into their
new venture with gusto and enthusiasm, but equally important not to
get carried away and believe you can do everything. Your time is
limited, and most entrepreneurs have one or two natural talents, so
focus on your own strengths and rely on others who are strong where
you are weakest. It will be more beneficial, both professionally and
emotionally, to delegate tasks rather than spread yourself too thin
and attempt to do it all. Setting unrealistic goals There’s no
denying that money is a huge motivator when it comes to starting your
own company. However, setting unrealistic financial goals and
expecting big returns within your first year is risky to say the
least. Your goals should be SMART – specific, measurable,
accountable, realistic and time bound. It may take a little while to
start seeing serious profit, but give your business time to grow and
know that it will require perseverance and a bit of luck. Only if
your company is stagnant or leaking substantial costs should you
consider trying a new approach. Not being clear and consistent It’s
well known that a first impression can be very difficult, if not
impossible, to change. If you are sending mixed, inconsistent
messages then your customers will have mixed feelings about your
company and products and you could lose out on those all-important
sales.
Every
new and returning customer should receive the same honest and clear
message. Failing to assess the competition correctly as the saying
goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Even if you
have the latest, greatest product or service that’s nothing like
anyone else’s or has never been done before, you will always have
competitors targeting the same market as yours. They may be direct
and obvious rivals, but competition also comes from the possible
alternatives to what you’re offering, anything that could lure your
customers away. You shouldn’t assume that your competitors will
have no response to your business or their own new initiatives, so
study them and try to second guess their plans.
Your
business plan should be regularly updated to take their actions into
account. Finance Funding options available to you If not
independently wealthy and perhaps even if you are, eventually you
will probably need to obtain some outside capital for your new
business. In some instances, you may need to obtain capital for the
initial expenses prior to opening your business or perhaps the funds
you require may be for expansion or working capital during the off
season. Business financing can take two forms: debt or equity. Debt,
of course, means borrowing money. Loans may come from family,
friends, banks, other financial institutions or professional
investors. Equity relates to selling an ownership interest in your
business. Such a sale can take many forms, such as the admitting of a
partner or, if you are in a company, issuing of additional shares to
investors. With any financing options and procedures, it is strongly
recommended to consult with an accountant as there are many
significant legal ramifications to such a step. Be smart with your
money Irrespective of the type of financing you need, the process of
obtaining it is somewhat similar.
A
finance plan will help you answer some important questions about
raising finances which are not only useful for you as the business
owner, but your investors, or prospective investors, too. Consider:
• How
much money will you need? To calculate this, you will need to do some
serious cash flow planning. This requires estimates of future sales,
the related costs, and how quickly you must pay your suppliers. You
will also have to build into your planning some assumptions about
when you will generate enough cash to pay the money back. If you
raise cash through equity you probably don’t need to pay it back,
but your investors will want to know how the value of the business
will grow and how they will benefit through dividends or selling
their shares.
• What
are you going to do with the money? One of the most important
questions you will have to answer for a potential investor is how the
money will be spent. Will you use it for equipment or to hire
additional employees or perhaps for research and development for a
new improved product? Again, part of the answer on how you spend the
money is how it will benefit the company.
• What
experience do you have in running your business? One of the primary
reasons for business failure is lack of experience of management. You
will need to convince your investors that you have the knowledge,
experience and ability to manage your business, and their money, at
the level at which you expect to operate.
• What
is the climate for your type of business and your geographic
location? Few investors will want to put your money into your
business if you haven’t done sufficient ‘homework’ to determine
that you have a reasonable chance of success. If your business is
based on existing or legal conditions that are subject to change
soon, your risk is substantially increased. Even if your business has
great potential, if the local economy is sluggish to the point it
can’t support your venture, you need to be aware of this.
Accounting and bookkeeping Another question you will no doubt need to
ask yourself is who will you delegate to keep track of the books and
accounting? As the business owner, you could assign this task to
yourself, alternatively you may hire a secretary or receptionist to
take care of it or hire an external bookkeeper to work for you on a
periodical basis. Often, business owners decide to keep the books
themselves and underestimate the commitment involved.
Whilst
it is important for business owners to maintain control and oversee
all the finances of the company, it shouldn’t be to the detriment
of other areas of the business. For tips and guidance on bookkeeping,
you can speak to your accountant or the HM Revenue and Customs, who
will be able to advise and help you set up an efficient system for
keeping on top of it.
Marketing
& Sales
Marketing
is a very broad term used to describe the many aspects involved in
promoting and selling your product/ service, as well as identifying
and satisfying your customers’ requirements. It covers multiple
areas such as branding, design, websites, market research,
advertising and exhibitions. Creating a marketing plan for your
marketing to be successful, a marketing plan is considered essential.
This plan should be consistent with your business plan but does not
necessarily need to be as long. Similar to your business plan, you
should refer to it on a regular basis and keep it updated, reviewing
which goals have been achieved, which strategies are working, and
which areas may need more work. You should also update your plan to
reflect any changes in your target market or customer preferences,
for instance the rising popularity of internet shopping.
When
creating your plan, you may want to structure it according to the
‘P’s of Marketing.
There
are traditionally ‘4 P’s of Marketing’ – however, two more
can also be considered, especially for service driven organisations.
These are:
• Product.
The physical characteristics of the product or service you are
selling. It can include packaging, warranty, design, features etc.
• Price.
The pricing of your product/service should consider the prices of
your competitors, discounts and profit margins. The ‘gross profit
margin’ refers to the difference between the selling price of an
item and the price that you paid for it.
• Promotion.
This covers how you communicate your product/service to your target
market and includes your sales team, advertising, telesales, public
relations and email marketing (newsletters etc).
• Placement.
This covers the distribution of your service/product.
Factors
to consider include where you are planning to sell, for example
online or door to door, the delivery of your product and so on.
• Process.
This refers to the service included with the sale of your
product/service, such as performance standards, post sales support,
monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPI).
• People.
If you plan to have employees, consider what training and incentives
you will provide and the team culture you are aiming for. Social
Media Social media is a broad term that refers to the virtual
creation, exchange and sharing of content across internet based
applications. In the last few years, social media platforms have
become more and more popular and the numbers of people engaging
online have grown a staggering amount, with many social media sites
now having hundreds of millions of users (Facebook alone has 1.6
billion monthly users). This phenomenon of online communication has
escalated with technological advancements, such as smartphones and
tablets, and can now be considered a vital marketing tool. Your
company can utilise social networks such as Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn to promote offers, launch
competitions and respond to customer queries (don’t forget
complaints, too). With many social platforms completely free to use,
if used correctly social media is a cheap and easy way to communicate
with customers on a personal level, increase word-of-mouth marketing
and attract new interest in your company and products. Things to
consider:
• Who
is your target market? What are their online habits and what are they
talking about?
• Don’t
join any and every site at random. Choose the ones that your
customers are engaging on and will be best to get your business,
products and services across. For example, if you sell wedding
stationery, you may want to set up a Pinterest profile where the
majority of users are female and the ‘virtual pinboard’ design
will provide a convenient way to display your products online.
• Integration.
Your social media channels should link to your website to increase
traffic and encourage customers to look around your site. • Let
your company’s personality shine through. Whilst sales talk on
social media platforms is good in small measures, focus more on being
personable, interesting and approachable.
• Measure
your success. Tools such as Google Analytics can be used to track
conversions from your social media sites and identify how much your
social media presence is benefiting your marketing and/or customer
service strategies. Sales Making a profit The growth of your business
is dependent on your profit. Without profit, your business cash flows
will become unsustainable and you will not be able to successfully
invest in new products/resources or hire new employees. To increase
your profit, you can: • Increase the price of the products/services
you are selling. It is important not to increase your prices so high
as to drive potential customers away to your cheaper competitors, but
a small increase in price can actually lead your product/service to
be perceived as more valuable.
• Decrease
your costs. Variable costs: These are the direct costs incurred by
producing or buying the products. Fixed costs: These are the costs
incurred regardless of your sales. For example, the cost of
electricity needed to run your premises. Decreasing your variable
costs is possible through means such as negotiating better deals with
your suppliers or implementing a more efficient manufacturing system
which increases production. You can also reduce your fixed costs in
various ways, for example switching electricity/gas suppliers to
reduce utility bills. For fixed costs associated with employee wages,
you may want to hire temporary workers rather than putting permanent
staff on a payroll, thus giving you the flexibility to adapt staff
numbers or working hours during periods of lower sales. With regards
to the price of your product, it is important to be aware that it is
not the only factor to influence the buying decision of customers; it
is always possible to be beaten by a competitor. Even if you are
offering the same product for a lower price, focus as much on the
other features of your product and company in order to make the sale.
In your marketing or advertising, you can include the promotion of
other features such as product warranty, customer satisfaction
guarantees, loyalty schemes, as well as the quality of your product.
Effective advertising tips Advertising is one of the most popular
tools a marketer can use, yet it is often costly and ineffective
because it is not being utilised in the correct way. Whether you are
advertising in print or online (or even via radio), your marketing
should:
• Be
relevant to your target market. An effective advertising campaign
should target your customers and potential customers, not everyone.
Tailor your message and offers to be relevant to your market and they
will be perceived as more personalised.
• Be
appealing and memorable to your customers. Pay attention to the
graphics and the layouts that you use. The images, colour and
movement of your adverts will be the things that customers notice in
the first few seconds of scanning your advert, so it’s important to
get- and keep- their attention. Your copy should be easy to read,
specific and believable. Content that is funny or thought-provoking
is more likely to be remembered and shared amongst your audience, but
remember to sell the unique benefits of your product/services.
Finding customers The concept of selling doesn’t need to be scary
if you think of it in terms of solving a problem. Explain to your
customers how purchasing a product or service from you will benefit
them and help solve a problem, and you’ll soon build their trust in
your business. Creating effective and consistent ways of selling
within your business will help build that trust. Here are some
strategies for creating a sales system within your business:
• Develop
a sales technique and process (e.g. creating rapport, asking detailed
questions, empathising with their concerns) and train your team
members to use it consistently.
• Track
conversion rates. The difference between the number of enquiries you
receive and the number of actual sales is like taking the sales pulse
of your business.
• Include
cross-selling, up-selling and bundling products together.
• Have
a follow up system in place –up to 80% of sales are made after the
5th contact. Setting up an annual promotion schedule will keep you
motivated to maintain a consistent and constant sales and marketing
programme. Some ideas include:
• Holding
special events: grand openings, new product unveiling, contests.
• Free
publicity: press releases, editorials, community service.
• Web
based promotions: either on your website or someone else’s.
• Networking:
trade shows, trade organisations, chambers of commerce.
• Create
a referral system: harness the power of word of mouth, reward
customers for referring others. Furthermore, how to keep them In
order to get your customers raving about you and coming back for
more, you have to provide not just sufficient customer service, but
amazing customer service. Each of your customers’ needs to feel
important and cared about, valued. If they feel their custom is
indifferent or that you’re uninterested, they can easily be tempted
to look elsewhere and be lured away by a competitor. On the other
hand, if they have been impressed with your service, not only are
they more likely to tell their friends, family and colleagues about
the wonderful experience they had, they are also more likely to adopt
the familiarity principle and return as a loyal customer, expecting
the same great service. Why would they shop around elsewhere when
you’ve already delighted them? Remember, it costs far more to
attract new customers than to maintain your existing client base.
There are a few useful ways to assess customer happiness, such as
customer satisfaction surveys, feedback forms and online reviews, and
various ways to retain their custom including discounts, competitions
and customer loyalty schemes. Capture their details, such as an email
address, and keep in regular contact through newsletters, special
offers and so on. It’s also important to let your customers know
that you’re really listening. If they’re unhappy with something,
don’t be afraid to apologise or admit that it wasn’t perfect and
reassure them that you’re making steps to improve it in the future.
Be honest, and they’ll be more likely to respect you for
acknowledging any shortcomings. Taxes, Legalities & Insurance A
significant task for a new business owner is ensuring that the
business complies with the extensive tax, legislation and insurance
requirements that are imposed by various authorities. To avoid
problems, penalties and - in some cases - legal action, it is
important to understand your obligations. National Insurance When you
are employed by someone, your National Insurance Contribution (NIC)
and tax is deducted automatically from your salary when you get paid.
However, when you become self-employed this does not automatically
occur. Once you have formed your company and intend to work for
yourself, you must declare your earnings to HMRC within three months
of your company formation. Failure to comply could result in a
substantial fine. Once your company has been incorporated by
Companies House, they will send a Corporate Tax form (form CT41G) to
your registered office address for your completion. What about the
people I employ? If you have employees, you will need to pay National
Insurance contributions for each member of staff. The amount you will
pay for each employee depends on their individual salary and the
2015/16 rate is generally 13.8% above the lower earnings limit but
can differ depending on age and the N1 category. Payments are made to
the Inland Revenue Accounting and Payment Services and you will need
to be registered with PAYE (Pay as You Earn). VAT If your company has
a turnover of more than £82,000 within a 12-month period, you must
register for VAT. To register for VAT, you can apply online via the
HMRC website or alternatively, send a form through the post. Of
course, applying online will be much quicker and more secure. If you
apply online, HMRC will automatically enrol you for the VAT online
service which will enable you to submit your VAT returns online. The
VAT records that you keep must be detailed and include all business
transactions, bills and receipts. As there are penalties for failing
to submit VAT returns or submitting inaccurate returns, you may wish
to hire an accountant or bookkeeper to assist you. Voluntary
registration Even if your business does not meet the threshold amount
of £82,000 you can voluntarily register for VAT. The main advantage
of this is the ability to claim back the VAT for any services or
goods that you buy for your business. For business to business sales,
this is mutually beneficial, however if you are mostly selling to
consumers then they have no means to claim the VAT back. Therefore,
you would either need to keep your product prices the same and reduce
your profit margin, or increase your product prices. Other benefits
of voluntary VAT registration include giving the impression that your
business is more successful and professional, and eliminating the
worry of costly fines for not registering in time with HMRC. Employee
legislation If you decide to take on employees, there are many
factors that need to be considered very carefully. For instance, it
would be wise to seek appropriate advice to ensure that you comply
with all legislation with regards to employee issues such as pay and
the terms and conditions of their employment, discrimination, and
health and safety. Pay Men and women are entitled to equal pay, where
work is considered equal value, and includes all bonuses, pension
contributions and basic wages. Employers also have the right to ask
their employer for information to check equality. There is
legislation in place to enforce the right of employers to be paid at
least the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The NMW applies regardless of
the rate at which your employees are paid (hourly, weekly, monthly
etc). Although the rates are reviewed and usually changed each year,
the current rates are £6.70 for anyone aged 21 or over, £5.30 for
18-20-year olds, £3.87 for under 18s and £3.30 for apprentices.
Terms and conditions of employment Employee legislation provides
certain securities and rights for employees including, but not
limited to:
• A
reasonable notice before dismissal
• The
right to redundancy
• The
right to take time off for parenting
• The
right to a written employment contract
• The
right to statutory sick pay and annual leave Discrimination In the
UK, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee
on the grounds of their:
• Sex
(including pregnancy)
• Marital/Civil
partnership status
• Disability
• Age
• Race/
nationality
• Religion/belief
• Sexual
orientation Employers should make any reasonable adjustments to
prevent discrimination in the workplace or recruitment process. For
example, providing auditory or Braille job applications or wheelchair
access. Health and safety Health and safety regulations apply for any
customers as well as employees, particularly in industries such as
food processing, hotels or accommodation and travel operators. As the
business owner, you are responsible for fire safety and should carry
out regular safety assessments, plan for emergency situations and
make all employees aware of fire safety procedures or any other
health threatening safety procedures. If necessary, provide training
as well as making sure all health and safety information is easily
accessible. As an employer, it is also your responsibility to enforce
the law about smoking. Since 2007, it has been illegal to smoke in
any enclosed workspace or public building. Fines of up to £2500 can
be issued if a business does not stop people smoking in the workplace
or up to £1000 if they do not display ‘no smoking’ signs in the
workplace or any work vehicles. Insurance policies Property,
Commercial Liability & Shareholder Protection Sufficient
insurance is as crucial to the success of your business as having a
good product or service. Without it, you could potentially lose all
the money, time and effort you have put into your company; therefore
you will want to get insurance against any risks that could have a
significant negative impact on your business. Insurance types and
amounts will vary according to the nature of your business, but an
insurance broker will be able to discuss your requirements and best
options for you. Typical risks you will want to insure against
include fire, weather damage, theft, employer’s public liability
and product liability. Employer’s Liability Compulsory Insurance
(ELCI) and third-party motor insurance are policies required by law.
Employer’s Liability Compulsory Insurance offers protection for any
liability arising from injury or illness sustained by employees
(anyone outside your immediate family) whilst they are working for
you. Legally, you are required to have a minimum cover of £5 million
and you could be fined £2,500 for every day you are without cover or
with the wrong policy. In terms of commercial insurance, such as for
retail and hospitality businesses, you will also want to consider:
• Public
liability insurance Protection from any liabilities to a third party
(other than your employees) for bodily injury or loss/damage to their
property that may occur during the normal operation of your business.
• Product
liability insurance Protection from any liabilities to a third party
(other than your employees) for bodily injury or damage to their
property that may occur from the products you have sold or supplied.
Other insurance policies to consider include:
• Property
insurance If you are starting up your business and working from home,
it is important to note that your household insurance policy is
unlikely to provide cover for business liabilities. You can consult
with an insurance broker on the best type of property cover required
for buildings, machinery and stock.
• Key
person insurance This offers a certain level of protection against
the financial implications of the death, serious illness or
disability of a key person, such as managing director or specialists.
And finally, One day an expert in time management was speaking to a
group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an
illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front
of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, ‘Okay, time
for a quiz’ Then he pulled out a one-gallon wide-mouthed Mason jar
(a wide mouthed jar often used for home preserving and canning) and
set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen
fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the
jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit
inside, he asked, ‘Is this jar full?’ Everyone in the class said,
‘Yes’. Then he said, ‘Really?’ He reached under the table and
pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and
shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into
the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more.
‘Is the jar full?’ By this time the class was on to him.
‘Probably not,’ one of them answered. ‘Good!’ he replied. He
reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started
dumping the sand in the jar, and it went into all the spaces left
between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question,
‘Is this jar full?’ No! The class shouted. Once again, he said,
‘Good.’ Then he grabbed a couple of beers and began to pour them
in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class
and asked, ‘What is the point of this illustration?’ One eager
beaver raised his hand and said, ‘The point is, no matter how full
your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more
things in it!’ ‘No,’ the speaker replied, ‘That’s not the
point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put
the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all, and
there’s always room in your schedule for a couple of beers!’ What
are the ‘big rocks’ in your life? Your children, your loved ones,
your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring
others, doing things that you love, time for yourself, your health,
your significant other. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or
you’ll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the
gravel, the sand) then you’ll fill your life with little things you
worry about that don’t really matter, and you’ll never have the
real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the
big rocks). So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting
on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big
rocks’ in my life? Then, put those in your jar first’. After
taking the time to read this guide, we hope you have a better
understanding of some of the aspects of setting up and growing a
business. Whilst this guide contains a brief overview of some of the
issues, in reality there are other elements you will more than likely
want to consider and we highly recommend that you seek professional
help when you have any concerns or problems. Starting and running
your own business requires a lot of thought, dedication and time.
Nevertheless, it can be a very rewarding experience and a lot of fun.
Thank you for reading We hope you found this eBook useful. Below you
will find some other resources that we think you’ll find helpful
whilst on your business adventure. Start Up TV - Monthly webinars
from Made Simple and our partners created to provide advice on
setting up and running a successful business. Made Simple Start Up
Community - A place where start-ups support start-ups! Made-simple
Blog - Find out about all the important developments in the business
world, with political and industry analysis to help your company
grow. Company Formation Made Simple Blog - For all the latest on
company formation and start-up advice. Virtual Office Made Simple
Blog - A place to learn about virtual offices and how they can help
entrepreneurs. Company Search Made Simple Blog - Get tips and
tutorials on company searches and reporting. Business Training Made
Simple Blog - Take part in business training with our blog posts
aimed to help companies with their social media, SEO, content and
much more. Websites Made Simple Blog - For tips on building a great
business site, adding eCommerce, incorporating social media and other
business website knowledge. Don’t forget to get social with us:
Connect with us and share your thoughts and questions on Twitter,
Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. Learn more
about Made Simple Visit www.madesimplegroup.com for information on
how we help businesses start, run and grow.
Paul
Thompson
CEO
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