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Osborne Lets Late Payers Lie

Lovetts Plc, one of the UK’s leading commercial debt recovery law firms has reacted to the Emergency Budget as being a missed opportunity to crack down on late payers. Charles Wilson, Chairman and Managing Director said: “The measures announced in the emergency budget are very welcome in supporting business growth. “The measures announced in the emergency budget are very welcome in supporting business growth. What the Chancellor has failed to address, though, is the commercial debt crippling small and medium sized businesses. Our figures show that in Q1 2010, the average commercial debt being chased for payment rose by almost 40%* compared to Q4 2009. read more

 

Managing The Exit/Acquisition Process

When embarking on an exit strategy, the management need to fully understand the process of exit and ensure that they have a good FD and the right team of advisers around them. Whilst this can be daunting because of the level of fees involved, the acquirer’s team can smell an inexperienced advisor a long way off and will try all the tricks in the game to get an advantage during the negotiations. read more

 

When To Consider An Exit Strategy For Your Business

When to consider an exit strategy for your business Planning an exit from business should ideally be considered as part of the long-term strategy, ie at the earliest possible time. This can help position the business within its market sector and identify the USPs, or it’s uniqueness within that sector. This will often lead one to be able to identify who are likely to be the best buyers and what would they be looking to achieve by acquiring a business like that. In almost all cases read more

 

Guide To Planning Your Exit Strategy

Colin Mills, founder and CEO of the FD Centre, has successfully managed the 2 largest exits managed by the company. “ In both cases the hardest part was getting the owner of the business to see his business from a potential acquirers’ viewpoint at the earliest possible stage”. All too often business owners think that their business is attractive because it’s theirs and want acquirers to understand the emotions involved to get them to this point. read more

 

SMEs Look Overseas To Ease Domestic Pressures

Good entrepreneurs are always looking for opportunities even when the economy is struggling, which has clearly been the case over the past two years as the UK has battled through recession. However, many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) owners have grasped the opportunities that have been available thanks to the weakness of Sterling against major currencies, according to recent research carried out on behalf of Santander Corporate Banking. read more

 

It Ain’t Necessarily So... Watch Out For Advice From HMRC’s Manuals

On the subject of advice, James Bailey forewarns that an element of caution should be adopted when using the freely available information laid out by HMRC. Read more in this article. read more

 

Financial Performance: The Power Of Decisions

Andrew Lester commented in the previous mini article that current market conditions no longer allow businesses to think exclusively in “silos” or departments. All companies need to understand, think and take decisions based on ever-changing customer needs and the way that the company adds customer value has to be driven by predicting & meeting those needs (perceived and real) better than the competition. read more

 

Tax Planning And The ‘Super’ Rate Of Tax

An interesting set of choices will arise depending on whether someone is a higher rate taxpayer or even a new “super higher rate” taxpayer from 2011. From 2010, the owner of a small business who earns over £100,000 will see his or her personal allowance being tapered away until he or she reaches £140,000, when the personal allowance will disappear entirely. read more

 

Banks Demand Greater Information From UK Small To Medium Enterprises For Loan Agreements

Research amongst 1,500 businesses reveals one in three Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are still declined bank loans. Newcastle Upon Tyne — June 2010: More than one third of UK small and medium sized businesses have been declined a bank loan in the past three months, new research from business software and service provider Sage UK today revealed. read more

 

Sterling Knocked Off Its Highs By UK Inflation

The headline rate of UK inflation has slowed, dipping to 3.4%, according to data released this morning. This figure is marginally below market forecasts, having hit a 17-month high in April. As a result, there has been a knee-jerk sell off in the pound as the prospects for an early interest rate rise ebb further away. The Bank of England has been persistent in holding its line that inflation will begin to fall, despite its continued rise over the past six-months. read more