Following almost a decade of coalition governments, hung parliaments and uncertainty on everything from Scottish independence to Brexit, the December 12th UK General Election returned a decisive result, with Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party winning a significant majority.
If you’re a small business owner, chances are that you’ve been feeling the effects of all these years of political, economic and social uncertainty, and yo... Continue Reading
In our last piece, 4 steps to building your brand as a small business, we talked you through some of the ways you can utilise your status as a small business to build a brand that will mark you out from your competitors and really resonate with customers.
You may have built an impressive brand, but if you can’t get it noti... Continue Reading
It’s hard to stand out in today’s jam-packed marketplace, especially if you’re a small business. On the one hand, pretty much every industry is dominated by its giant companies. The household names that everybody knows. On the other hand, your market is just as likely to be crowded with other small businesses that are your direct competitors.
In this crowd, standing out might seem like a near impossible task. That’s where bu... Continue Reading
So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in, or maybe even buy, your first business. These are very exciting but possibly scary times.
While there’s no doubt that going through this process the first time round will be a learning curve and that you might make mistakes along the way, one thing you absolutely want to get right is the business you go for.
In this guide, we’ll look at five things to consider ... Continue Reading
Brexit has created an understandable level of uncertainty in the business world and it’s not just big banks and international corporations that are being affected. Britain’s SMEs are also feeling the fear.
According to PwC research, 66 per cent of Britain’s small businesses want the government to focus on agreeing continued access to the European Union’s single market, while 62 per cent say they want trade deals that provide ... Continue Reading
Whatever the reason may have been for selling your company, it’s done and dusted. But you must be thinking: now what?
Stepping away from your business can come as a shock to the system, especially if it was your brainchild, your bread and butter, and your entire professional life for a very long time. Leaving the company can be difficult, given the time and energy you would have put into it in the first place, but this doesn’t m... Continue Reading
Today’s economy is flooded with young entrepreneurs, who naturally are the future of business in years to come. And while you may view them as competitors and a threat to your well-established company’s practice, engaging and mentoring such individuals can boost your own business in unprecedented ways. After all, you, too, were once just a budding businessman, and imparting your wisdom to those just starting out can yield results in a win-win... Continue Reading
The so-called “gig economy” is transforming the world of work and the freelancers who comprise it are transforming the British economy and workforce. According to PeoplePerHour, one of the biggest online platforms for freelance workers, freelancers contribute almost £300 billion to the UK economy per year.
Consultancy UK estimates that there are 2 million British freelancers working across all sectors as of 2018. Meanwhile, som... Continue Reading
As a small business owner, it is your duty to conduct your own marketing in order to rope in as many customers as possible – after all, how else is your business expected to stay afloat? The more customers you have, the better your business will perform in terms of revenue and profits, but to get the clients on board, your advertising needs to be right.
In today’s world, it is imperative that you have a digital advertising strat... Continue Reading
If you're getting ready to sell your business it's likely you're very keen that it falls into experienced hands, particularly if you've built it from scratch. There are many ways to market the sale of your business and in many ways, it is this process that will dictate the type of buyer who shows interest in your company.
However, there are also many other ways of attracting the right type of buyer and making the... Continue Reading
Your potential buyer should the sole focus as you prepare to sell your business, and getting the right buyer on board is imperative to making your sale a successful one.
In order to get the right acquirer, you need to assess your company as objectively as possible and see what kind of buyer will be most attracted and suited to your company at all. Will the buyer in question be looking to make a strategic acquisition so as t... Continue Reading
There are many things to consider when purchasing a business, and all aspects need to be assessed thoroughly before taking the next step towards acquisition. Evaluating how well the company in question fits with your existing portfolio and strategy, its reputation and size, and its ability to boost your revenue down the line are all factors that need heavy consideration.
However, what also ought to be addressed is the number of red ... Continue Reading
Of course, you will need to consult your accountant on matters relating to the financial aspects of the sales process, but you, as a business owner, will also need to consider the fact that a potential buyer will want to see more than just cashflow and tax statements. No doubt these are important, but a good sale portfolio will encompass a number of other factors that are critical to evaluate from a buyers’ perspective, especially when it comes... Continue Reading
There are numerous reasons why you may wish to acquire a new business; from wanting to take over a larger market share, to diversifying your product or service range, or simply to boost your profit margins, the options and opportunities are endless. However, this does not mean that any old business is worthy of acquisition. Nowadays, it’s imperative that a strategic decision is made prior to purchase to ensure compatibility with your existing c... Continue Reading
It might be counterintuitive to first-time business sellers, but if that is you and you are exploring an exit strategy, it is important to know that it does cost to sell your business? How much you would like to spend, however, is entirely up to you, depending on how you wish to market, how involved in the sales process you wish to be, and how much professional support you think you will require.
Below, we’ve explored a f... Continue Reading
For just £30 your business for sale will feature at the top of and in the sidebar on business for sale pages, making your business stand out from the crowd