business advice - Craft Focus Magazine

usiness link –
a helping hand
Every business has its share of issues that cost them time and money. Here, a team of
business link advisers share their thoughts on how to tackle the problems, while not being
afraid to ask for help
All business owners, whether they are just
starting out or have been trading for some
time, can benefit from some external help
from time to time.
The independent retail sector in particular
is facing a challenging time with chains and
online retailers taking a larger slice of the
pie. Finding out how to ‘punch above your
weight’ and attract and retain customers is
key to your success. However, to keep ahead
of the competition and remain profitable you
need to make time to work on your business
rather than just in your business. This is where
Business Link can help.
You may have heard that Business Link is
changing – and that after November 2011
the regional service will be streamlined into
a national telephone enquiry and web-based
service. Until the end of November though,
you can still benefit from the full range of
Business Link services including one-to-one
advice from a Business Link adviser either
face-to-face or by phone and email.
A helping hand
For a small business, the cost of paying for
advice from a consultant can be off-putting –
and it is sometimes difficult to know how to
find someone who can meet your needs. A
face-to-face meeting or telephone session with
a Business Link adviser will give you access
to free, independent and impartial advice
and your adviser will point you in the right
direction if you need specialist help.
Business Link advisers provide an external
perspective, giving you a sounding board for
your ideas and plans. Many of them have run
their own small businesses so they understand
the pressures and constraints of working for
yourself. Business Link advisors work with
hundreds of very different organisations, giving
them unique insight into what works and how
to get results by focusing on the key issues.
If you need further help with a particular
aspect of your business, such as IT, website
development, marketing or finance, the
advisers can also help you find assistance.
“No question is too trivial or
too complex for Business Link
advisers who are experienced
professionals with expertise in a
wide range of areas and sectors.”
Information service
Small business owners are the ultimate multitaskers.
If this is you, you’ll know that this
means having to be an expert, not just about
your own product or service, but in every
area of the business. From finance to managing
staff and keeping up with IT, you need to keep
up to date with the rules and regulations.
No-one can be totally proficient in all
these areas and this is where Business Link’s
information service can help. A quick call to
the information service will put you through
to an experienced adviser who will be able to
deal with your enquiry. As well as answering
your business questions and providing advice,
the information service can direct you to
other agencies and support organisations if
necessary. For example, Trading Standards
covers all the trading regulations covering your
sector, or if you need legal advice, Business
Link can help you find a solicitor through
their supplier database. You may even qualify
for a free 30-minute legal consultation from
a member of the Lawyers for your Business
network. You can find details on the Law
Society website.
The information team can deal with any
business questions and issues covering a
vast range of topics from business planning,
sales and marketing and cash flow, to credit
reports, help with accessing finance, patent
and trademark services and information on
trading abroad. No question is too trivial or
too complex, our advisers are experienced
professionals, with expertise in a wide range
of areas and sectors. A range of other services
are also available, from bespoke research
to support in developing overseas markets,
benchmarking and producing mailing lists.
Online services
Don’t forget that the Business Link website
has a wealth of information on everything you
need to know about running your business.
The website also has templates for business
plans and other essential documents as well
as up-to-the-minute information on the latest
regulations and issues affecting businesses. For
example, did you know that the Government
is phasing out the default retirement age?
(See retirement at any age, page 80), or that
you can now incorporate a private limited
company online? Or that HMRC runs free
Business Advice open days to help you
understand tax issues? Check the website to
keep up to date with the latest issues.
As well as finding the answers to your
business questions the website features many
interactive tools which cover every aspect
of running your business. They are quick and
easy to use and will give you clear guidelines
on what you need to do to achieve your
objectives. Whether you want to plan your
finances or marketing, find out how to employ
and manage staff, use IT and e-commerce
more effectively or manage health and safety
at work, there is a tool to take you through
the process and give you a plan of action.
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