Marketing can be everyone’s responsibility
Marketing can be everyone’s responsibility – You don’t need to be in the sales team to make sales. And you don’t need to be in the marketing team to promote your business to new customers.Marketing isn’t just about Facebook ads, email marketing and other marketing campaigns. Winning a new customer can be the result of a number of different interactions, none of which fit the ‘direct sales’ approach that drives a lot of marketing.A client win can come from:A conversation at an indus...
January 14, 2020Planning for seasonal dips in income
Seasonal dips in income can be highly challenging when you’re a small business. But there are proactive ways to predict, plan for and overcome these dips in revenue. The key to dealing with seasonal dips is to know when they’re most likely to occur, and to have measures in place to spread your income and revenue pipeline over the course of the year....
January 6, 2020What’s in the forecast?
When we set out on a fishing trip or hike, we always check the weather forecast. It’s no different in business. The forecast tells us if there’s bad weather (poor cashflow) in store based on the direction we’re heading....
December 9, 2019Why does your business exist?
Your purpose is roughly three to seven words explaining why does your business exist for your customers. Your purpose should be about THEM, not you. It is a small statement, with immense power.EXAMPLES:Tesla: To accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.Walt Disney: To make people happy.TED: Spread ideas.These may be big company examples, but a clear purpose statement is just as important for small and medium sized business.A defined purpose statement is the antido...
November 4, 2019An interview with Chaser – transforming the late payment landscape for small business
We were fortunate to be able to catch up with the founder and CEO of Chaser – David Tuck last week and we spent some time discussing the blight of many small businesses late-payments and the effect it has on them and the wider business community. It’s a common problem among small business owners, so much in fact that Xero in association with PayPal produced a report on the State of Late Payments which contained some interesting statistics including that 48% of invoices is...
October 24, 2019The count down to #Xerocon 2019 has begun
Many will know that a generalisation of anyone who works in an accountancy practice is that we are a bit grey, you know boring, nothing interesting to say other than quote tax legislation to you at parties….. Well think again!We are now hip, down with the kids, we don’t wear suits (much) anymore, we use social media and blogs and seriously, we even have our own conference – Xerocon (think Glastonbury but for accountants) and yes we even had a zip wire at last year’s confer...
October 17, 2019Launched: Valued – The Podcast is now LIVE!!
With International Podcast Day on Monday 30th September 2019, it got us thinking about something that we discussed after attending Xerocon back in November 2018; Let’s get a podcast up and running. Sounds simple enough, right?...
October 4, 2019How do you know your break-even point?
How do you know your break–even point? All business owners need to be aware of their break-even point — that is, the number of units they need to sell in order to cover their operating costs. Once you’ve reached your break–even point, it’s time to celebrate: your business is no longer in the red, and you are officially earning a profit.This article will show you how to calculate...
July 8, 2019Get Paid First
Why your salary should be your business’s first monthly expense? It’s the line item most often left out of a small company’s budget: the business owner’s salary.Let’s face it: you can always spend cash on your business. From office expenses to employee salaries to rent, every month a portion of your revenue is accounted for.But paying yourself first is a must. You need to earn a living – and paying yourself can actually help your business succeed.Here’s why you should make you...
April 15, 2019Why your business needs to put people first as the UK exits the EU?
The news this week has been dominated by Brexit yet again and whilst we watch politicians from both sides of the debate clash over the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the fact remains that in law the United Kingdom will be leaving the European Union on the 29th March 2019 unless we can negotiate an extension [by three months to 30 June] following today’s vote in the House of Commons.This issue has divided the country, divided regions, towns, communities and even divided famili...
March 14, 201910 ways to improve your happiness
Here are 10 ways to improve your happiness and wellbeing by maximising outcomes from the things you can control....
February 12, 2019Why giving back is good for your business
At Valued we really believe in giving back to the community and its something that we really want to do more of in 2019. If your business hasn’t made it a habit to support a good cause, here’s why you should: giving back does more than making a difference in your community. Participating in charitable activities can have a positive impact on your staff, your customers and your bottom line. Customers want to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to more than earning a profit. A 2010...
October 22, 2018Signs it’s time to upgrade systems
Most small business owners can’t afford to think small. They always need to keep their mind on growth strategies to help them achieve long-term profitability. But becoming profitable in the first place often requires business owners to work long hours on a shoe-string budget. They don’t always have time to implement systems that will support them when they’re ready to scale. It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to use free or low-cost software solutions that can get them up and running bu...
October 8, 2018Do you have what it takes to run your own business?
Getting your business up and running and making a profit is usually much more difficult than it sounds. This article focuses on the skills you’ll need to make it happen, either by acquiring these yourself or consulting professionals (like Valued) to help you out....
September 13, 2018Why Your Business Needs A Cash Flow Forecast
Having enough cash to continue operating is a hot concern among most business owners. And it should be, as a lack of cash is the number one reason why businesses go under. As famed business guru Peter Drucker once said, “entrepreneurs believe that profit is what matters most in a new enterprise. But profit is secondary. Cash flow matters most.”...
September 3, 2018Why you need to take a break from your business
Running your own business takes up most of your time, as an owner – and finding a window in your diary to take a break can be tricky – we often ignore why you need to take a break from your business. But having a proper holiday away from the stresses and worries of the business can be incredibly beneficial – helping you to come back refreshed, rejuvenated and full of renewed vigour for your business idea and the future of your company....
August 7, 2018Tips for choosing a small business bank
Finding the right bank to serve your small business needs can be a daunting task.With so many competing financial institutions to choose from, business owners simply don’t have the time for the in-depth research required to carefully weigh all the options.This guide to choosing a small business bank will help you narrow down your choices so you find the best fit for you....
June 6, 20184 Tips for Improving Your About Page
Every website should have an ‘about page’. It exists to capture the very essence of your business by reeling in your target audience and inspiring them with your story.The About page is more than just a brief biography or a list of achievements; it should be something that forges a connection with your readers and gives them a reason why they should choose your business.Crafting an unforgettable about page is often not that easy, particularly if you’re not the sort of person to feel comple...
June 4, 2018Social Media Etiquette: 9 more Quick Tips for Professionals
With social media, you can connect with business associates quickly and creatively. But this communication mode is not without risk. A thoughtless post can offend customers and other business partners and damage relationships rather than build them. By following a few ground rules you can be confident your comments and posts will be appropriate ones....
June 1, 2018Should you hire remote overseas workers?
The rise of the global workforce has opened up exciting possibilities for small business owners whose growing companies could use an extra set of hands. If you’re wondering whether it’s worthwhile to hire overseas workers for virtual admin support or other business services, cost considerations alone can make the prospect quite attractive.Before you decide to hire an overseas worker for your next project, keep these important considerations in mind....
May 3, 2018Creating an Effective Performance Target: 7 Key Questions to Ask
It’s essential for any business to have a robust set of performance targets for its workforce. These will drive employees to achieve in the areas that are critical for success. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that the targets are calibrated correctly in order to realise the desired results. Before introducing any new target, make sure you’ve answered the following seven key questions:...
April 9, 2018How to Create a Personal Brand
The words ‘personal brand’ is still somewhat controversial, and carry an unfortunate cast of self-promotion and vanity. The truth is that personal branding is more important than ever in the job market, and those without a clear personal brand or mission to create one are lagging behind the competition....
March 12, 2018Presentations – Saying It Without Words
It’s easy to believe that the key skill in giving a presentation is making sure you say the right thing, but studies have shown that 55% of your message comes from non-verbal cues and people remember more if they see something than if they just hear it. This article looks at the eight areas you need to focus on to make the most of that 55%....
February 1, 2018Credit and Debit Card Fees To Be Banned
From the 13 January 2018, the government are banning all credit and debit card fees. The current rule, which came into practice in 2013 states that companies can only charge what it costs them to process the credit or debit payment, this means they should not make a profit on these surcharges.The new rules will apply to any UK company selling goods and services to UK consumers. This law is following an EU directive, therefore all EU countries will also be banned from charging these fees. However...
January 30, 2018Enjoying a stress-free holiday
As a business owner, it’s important to take time away from work.But worrying about whether staff are meeting deadlines and suppliers are happy translates to more stress and less time enjoying your holiday.With a little staff communication and planning beforehand, you needn’t worry that your business won’t be able to cope in your absence.If you really can’t switch off from work mode or something urgent pops up, technology can be a great way to check in and make sure things are ticking alo...
January 22, 2018 Posts 101-125 of 174 | Page prev next