In a recent article, you discovered how to write a profit and loss forecast for a start-up business. Any finance house or bank looking at a lending proposition, cannot make a decision to support a funding request based upon this document alone. The profit and loss forecast will support the story within the business plan, […]
So you have a great business idea which you believe will be successful. The only drawback is that you need to borrow money to purchase supplies or simply to buy time for the business to generate sales and become self-financing. Whatever the reason for borrowing money, it’s likely that you will be asked for a […]
The announcement in October 2018 of major losses and proposed significant reduction in the number of stores by Debenhams is a huge blow to high street retailing. The terrible news follows the recent administration of House of Fraser which has subsequently been purchased by the Sports Direct Group. The closure of these two high street […]
Running a business can be difficult, and the retail industry is no exception, with external market forces that are impossible to control and tricky to plan for. It could be that an extra injection of cash is needed to help you achieve growth, plug a cash flow gap or get you through an unexpected tough […]
It seems only yesterday that one of my clients called me in a panic, having received a letter from HM Customs & Excise introducing a new online VAT system and a date for their business to be live. Following this, all quarterly VAT returns would be submitted online. Nobody wanted change. Nobody wanted to climb […]
If you use Google regularly, chances are you’ve seen the map results – known as the 3-pack, local pack, map pack, or snack pack. But have you ever wondered how to get your business to show up there? It’s surprisingly easy! Let’s take a look at the local 3-pack; what is it? And how can […]
The recent adverse weather conditions hit some UK businesses hard. Lost revenues were experienced by many through lost customer focus, difficult trading conditions, staff shortages, and the inability to collect/deliver products. With climate change continuing to dominate headlines and the expectation of further “freak” weather conditions, should business owners seriously consider how to weatherproof their […]
In light of the recent announcement that Toys R Us in the USA are filing for bankruptcy, this article is written to cajole, challenge, and hopefully act as a cattle prod to strategically re-think your business. The speed of change in the business world is increasing. Global markets and borders, despite Brexit, are opening. There […]
With Brexit negotiations underway, we are all bracing ourselves and hoping for positive news. Negotiations are taking place to discuss complex issues. Both parties entered these negotiations from different view points. Somewhere within this two year process, it is hoped a settlement can be reached. There has to be give and take on both sides. […]
In the first part of this article, the focus was primarily on marketing. Marketing is the engine that drives a business. Whilst there may be numerous reasons why a slow down in sales has occurred, it is important to review your marketing strategies and tactics, measuring their efficiency and effectiveness whenever possible. Most industries are […]