With today’s economic difficulties many businesses run the risk of going under as their staff costs are too great. In order to save your business and keep afloat, it’s better to reduce personnel costs where possible.

To do this, you have to choose personnel who, though they perform an important role, aren’t central to the business’ success. The IT department is one area that a lot of businesses no longer have – instead they outsource IT support and development to a specialist agency.  Following the example given in a recent interview with David Lichtenstein it is better to outsource some services that can be managed by outsiders as long as there is no detrimental effect to the business.

While it’s great to be able to call your IT team in house and have them sort out your technical issues immediately, this is still possible to achieve with an agency.  Remote access means that your IT support agency will be able to login to your computer remotely, diagnose what is going wrong or causing the problem, and fix it without moving from their desk.  It’s instant and you’ll be able to carry on with your work straightaway.

IT departments don’t just sort out emergency problems, of course. In most businesses they are the eyes and ears for advances in technology and can advise what systems should be brought in and put into place. They are then responsible for installation and maintenance of these systems.  Their knowledge of your business enables them to choose the best packages for your business.

Going with an agency won’t cause you any disadvantage, however, because you will soon realise that a specialist IT agency works with many different companies and can share the knowledge that they have from working across different sectors. They will most likely recommend a system that you’ve never even heard of, but they have experience of through a different client.

Contracting an agency to manage your IT requirements will incur costs, of course. But you will save in the long run as you will not need to pay IT staff holiday or sick pay, or pension contributions.

I am hoping that you never have to think about what to do when your business is officially bankrupt, but sometimes with the best will in the world circumstances conspire against us and these things happen. The best way to come out of a situation like this with your head held high is to be honest and co-operate fully with the process. Bankruptcy is very stressful for everyone and you are likely to feel responsible for the people around you who you are affecting such as your family and employees. Do your best to treat everyone fairly and maintain their respect. Don’t go mad and do anything silly like feed your businesses vital documents into the office shredders! Stay calm and deal with each issue as best you can.

In order to avoid a situation like this in the first place the best thing you can do is stay on top of your company finances. Maintaining a realistic picture or where you are up to on a monthly if not weekly basis will allow you to plan ahead for difficult times and avoid debt spiralling out of control. File and notate financial information in your records as promptly as you can and use the shredder confetti cut setting to thoroughly destroy pertinent information afterwards. If things are not looking good then seek professional advice at the earliest opportunity at put plans in place to combat the problems.

Bankruptcy is usually the final stage of a long process of trying to save a business from ruin and unfortunately in today’s financial climate it is happening more and more often. Do your best to quit while you are ahead if at all possible and don’t be afraid to admit defeat if the worst happens. It is not the end of the world and you can move on.

If you want to have a go at Forex trading, there’s a genuinely very easy and risk-free way to start.

But first – what it’s all about?

Well Forex simply refers to the words foreign and exchange or exchanges – in other words, it’s a short cut for foreign exchange or foreign exchange trading.

Like most other forms of trading, it can be very lucrative or extremely costly depending on how you go about it, how lucky you are, the amount of safeguards you build in and the extent to which you hedge your bets.

Of course, you’ve probably done some Forex trading already simply by virtue of the fact that you’ve visited a foreign country and changed some cash – thereby gaining or losing financially depending on how the exchanges moved between the two currencies while you were away. But this was probably quite a small gain or loss.

Forex trading involves “betting” on the way those exchanges will go over a given period of time.

Even with relatively small amounts of money, you can speculate on the margins between currencies – i.e. via leveraging. Let’s say you bet on the Euro to strengthen against the dollar and place your trade at £10 for each US Cent it moves. You then win or lose accordingly to what actually happens thereafter. The trade will usually have a closing date which you can choose to roll-over or exit previously should you wish to.

With leverage, your returns can be huge – but so can your losses. The good news is that you can put stop-loses sin place so that if the exchanges move radically against you, you have an automatic cut off point to limit your loss.

Some companies, like Everest Forex, for example, even offer you free cash to start trading with – so there can be literally no risk in just trying your hand at Forex trading.

This article was written by David – he often blogs about trading and sites like Everest Forex, where he can acquire up-to-date news.

One of the things a business today cannot afford to be without is good antivirus software, but there’s a wealth of choice out there, and unless you’re into your technology, it might be a bit bewildering.

An easy option is to see if your internet service provider has free downloads of anti-virus software or internet security.  Look at the website and check out the help section or call the helpline. You need to choose to download as it will not happen automatically. Once you’ve downloaded it, follow the instructions to install and you’ll probably have to restart the computer before it starts working. Choosing your ISP internet security is a simple option as you don’t need to do any research.

However, you can also shop around for different internet security software.  Either go down to a PC or Mac store, or look around online.  Compare prices and see what level of protection each package offers.  If you buy a new computer, the store will often offer antivirus products free of charge for the first year.

For a business, you have to get the full package of protection – anti-spyware, spam filter, firewall and anti-virus.  You’ll need something heavier weight than you would at home, for example.

Don’t forget about the business mobile phones when considering antivirus. With today’s smartphones, you can do as much on them as you do on your pc, so they’re just as likely to be infected with viruses. Mobile antivirus is just as important as getting protection for computers.

Once you’ve downloaded your antivirus software, you might find that your computer goes too slowly – give it a chance to work through the system, but if it’s too slow uninstall it and try a different programme.

You can often get antivirus software as a trial to start with, for 30-90 days.  If you’re happy with it, you can stick with it, otherwise uninstall and try a different one.

Some friends of ours have recently made a drastic life change and I really admire them for following their dreams. Taking their somewhat apprehensive teenage children with them they have upped sticks from the city and moved to a little coastal town where they have been holidaying for years, in order to open a bed and breakfast establishment. The parents are looking forward to working on the venture together, and the children whilst nervous about having to make new friends are on board with the whole scheme.

If you are thinking about starting your own B&B then good luck to you! In the current market where many families are choosing to holiday at home as the cost of going abroad is so high there could be worse businesses to be getting into. In order to kit out their new premises our friends have done much of the DIY and decorating work themselves and have made wise financial choices such as purchasing beds on credit in order to spread the cost. Getting ready for a grand opening next spring they still have a long way to go but at least they know they have plenty of time to get it right.

Marketing the business will be the next step and with the help of their switched on whiz kids they intend to make the most of social media, viral networking and online marketing to raise awareness. Their other route to market is the businesses within their immediate locality, one of which is a large http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk stores which they will target to discuss potential marketing opportunities to their customers.

Starting a business is a huge step for anyone, but a commitment like this which affects the whole family is even braver so hats off to everyone out there who is in the same boat, I hope it works out for you.

Have you ever noticed how you look after your children better than you do yourself? The same is true when it comes to business.

So what you need to try and do is run the business for your children. Not for the sake of your children, today, in providing income for the whole family today – but in the sense that you’re trying to build something to give to them whenever that day comes along.

In this way, you’ll run it better. It’s a proven strategy when it comes to other things in life – so why not make it work in business? You’ll generally make more informed, better researched choices, you’ll be a little more conservative and measured in your judgement and perhaps above all, you’ll refuse to ever get taken in.

It’s a truism that the tortoise generally does beat the hare. So make business decisions for yourself as carefully as you do for your children in other things in life and you won’t go too far wrong.

And try to stick to this policy no matter how benign the business climate becomes in time. You should focus on what you’re good at. Don’t deviate from this strategy; don’t let your head get turned.

Occasionally, you might want to look at the opinions of others to help you form and make decisions. Take the blog of David Lichtenstein, for example, you may find some reviews or opinions on there which help you out.

Another good idea is to make yourself a checklist to make a reality out of the resolution of planning your business decisions on your children’s behalf, along the following lines:

• Be patient; make your business decisions with a ten-year horizon.
• If in any doubt, leave it completely out.
• Concentrate on business fundamentals; keep your feet on the ground.
• Look for a margin of safety in all deals.
• Listen to ideas, use others’ analysis, but be completely independently minded; trust your instincts and try to take the emotion out of decisions.

When you make the move from the dining table or spare bedroom at home to a genuine office space there are a few things which you need to make sure you have covered right from the word go. Here are a few ideas to get you and your business going in the right direction:

1. Signage. Make sure that if suppliers or clients are going to visit your premises they can find you. Signs can also serve as advertising too remember!
2. First impressions. This is essential: what happens when someone arrives at your building or phones up to speak to someone? Get it right first time.
3. Vital admin. A professional office needs equipment like photocopiers, paper shredders and fax machines as well as the usual computer kit so decide what you need and purchase wisely.
4. Stationery. Fill the stationery cupboard with goodies such as pens, pencils and paper to make sure everyone can get their hands on what they need without any hassle.
5. Dress code. Make sure all your employees know what is expected of them in turns of appearance. Your people are your brand identity as much as you are.
6. Meeting space. There are always confidential conversations to be had and you need somewhere private for just that purpose. Don’t embarrass everyone by discussing a sensitive topic in the middle of an open-plan area.
7. Finances. Cut your cloth according to your means, as my Granny would say! Don’t go mad and buy everything on the first day: if a paper shredder is a non-essential item then leave it for now.
8. Home comforts. Make sure you equip the staff kitchen properly: a kettle, microwave and fridge will go down very well, and an endless supply of biscuits will guarantee a happier workforce.
9. Keep it clean. Take pride in the environment you create and everyone will help look after it.
10. Celebrate! Bring everyone together to mark the occasion of opening the office. Well done.

When it comes to embarking on a new business venture, you should be trying to find an original concept which appeals to the mass market.

Nowadays, people are looking for companies which boast good green credentials, as well as good product, so you need to bear this in mind when you’re coming up with a new business idea.

It’s becoming increasingly important for companies to prove they are behaving in a responsible and ethical manner when they are operating. This is where carbon footprints come in – as they are a measure of how green your business is managing to be. With people trying more and more to lower the impact they have on the environment, it’s vital for you to manage and reduce your emissions at all stages of your company in order to decide where you can make savings.

Office shredders are a useful thing to have around if you’re trying to green your business. Paper shredders allow important data to be cut into tiny pieces which are ready for recycling. If you do recycle your papers, you can be sure you’re saving some trees from being felled somewhere in the world. You can also be certain that your data is being disposed of in a safe manner, without there being any risk of it falling into the hands of someone it shouldn’t.

As well as recycling, you can improve the greenness of your business by being more energy efficient. Try to turn off all the appliances throughout your office at night and always make sure you use energy-saving lightbulbs. These things can have a big impact on your carbon footprint, making your company far more eco friendly in both the short and long term.

We have all had one of those bosses who we loathe and detest. Why do they have to be like that? Is it really necessary! Sometimes we are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and sometimes the boss genuinely is totally unreasonable. If communication and negotiation fails to change the circumstances then sometimes you are only left with the option of moving on to pastures new.

If this is ringing a bell for you, perhaps you are already looking for a new job, or perhaps you might be thinking of striking out on your own. If you are considering starting your own business be careful that you are not just going into direct competition with your old boss for revenge! Is the market there to support both businesses? Do you really know more about it than them?! Think carefully before making any rash decisions and always check your contract for clauses which may affect you dealing with previous clients etc.

If you decide to go ahead then one of the most important things to get right is the public face of the company, and in particular the website. Check web hosting reviews before deciding on a provider and always look at what the competition are doing – not just your old employer. Make sure you can hit the ground running with a professional service and that you have all the key elements in place such as finances before you start trading. Try to keep costs low in the beginning. Before spending a fortune on expensive products such as professional accounting or antivirus software, keep your eyes open for free antivirus downloads and switch to professional products once your business is up and running.

Look at wordpress hosting and make sure the technology is in place to support the functionality you require for your website as it is your shop front and it needs to be outstanding. Try to out-perform the competitors you are up against but also don’t try to run before you can walk – steady sustainable growth is the key. Good luck!

Small businesses, as well as large companies, must take data protection very seriously nowadays.

With the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK increasingly putting an emphasis on protecting the data and personal details of others, it is becoming more important than ever to do everything possible to adhere to the rules and regulations.

Businesses of all sizes are required, by law, to protect any personal information they hold on others. If they fail to do so and important details are either lost or stolen, they can have a fine imposed upon them, which can be particularly damaging for a small business with fewer assets to their name.

One way of ensuring you adhere to the data protection laws in the UK is by disposing of personal information in the correct manner.

Paper shredders are a particularly good way of doing this. If you use something like a confetti cut shredder on important documents, it will be cut down into small, indecipherable pieces.
This is a great way of reducing the risk of data loss or theft, which is extremely important within a business.

It’s useful to keep records of certain things for a while, but receipts and invoices can be regularly cleared out, so you don’t have years’ worth of information in your filing cabinets. Whenever you want to dispose of this information, a shredder will definitely come in handy, as you can get rid of things without worrying about someone else getting their hands on useful and valuable details.

As well as this, you’ll be able to recycle the paper you shred, as it won’t be comprehensible to anyone at that stage, so it’ll boost the green credentials of your business as an added bonus.

Small businesses are often reliant upon the reputation they build up to be successful and it’s vital to ensure you are seen to be trustworthy and reliable, so look after your clients and customers’ data carefully to protect your reputation.