The much-anticipated Budget landed, and with it, a series of changes that have business owners assessing their next move. Minimum wage rises, National Insurance contribution changes, and shifts in Capital Gains Tax all add up to a worrying time for business owners. If you’re an SME owner, you may find yourself mulling over The Clash’s eternal question: Should I stay, or should I go now?
Tell-tale signs of a weak or untrusted management team are when you get embroiled in the day-to-day operational minutia, where everyone looks at you to solve problems and your role is mainly answering queries and fixing the mistakes made by others.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept confined to science fiction. In recent years, it has emerged as a transformative force across industries worldwide. For small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, AI represents both a challenge and an opportunity - a powerful tool that can drive efficiency, innovation, and growth.
The mid 1980’s saw the emergence of the concept of the Marketing Mix, the 4 P’s - Product, Price, Place and Promotion. The model was further developed with the addition of the People, Process and Physical Evidence elements. These pillars form the cornerstone of many businesses’ commercial strategy.
One of the simplest ways to win new business is to sell more to people you know - a process affectionately known as juicing or squeezing the lemon1. You already have a relationship with these people, they know that they can trust you, and they value your work. So, what are your options? Geoff Gwynn, one of our Business Growth Advisors has some advice for you.
You’ve set up a business with a friend or connection, to keep things fair you split things, including the ownership of the business, 50:50. But what happens if you disagree on major decisions? Particularly if one of you decides you no longer want to be part of the business going forwards? We’ve worked with businesses in exactly this situation.
It often comes as a shock to business owners when they learn the day they legally complete the sale of their business is not the day they actually walk away. One of our experienced Business Growth Advisors, Geoff Gwynn, explains more.