By Kiara Withers on 18-05-2011
Despite committing to reducing red tape, Government plans to extend flexible working and parental rights will burden liability insurance holders.
The Government plans to extend flexible working and introduce changes to parental leave. These changes are expected to hit small business with more administration although allowing for effective planning.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) acknowledges that parental leave is already complicated for small businesses to administer and the group have been calling for a reform for quite some time. It is a concern however; that the new changes proposed will make it far more complicated than it already is.
John Walker, National Chairman of the FSB said:
“The Government has committed to reducing the amount of red tape that small firms have to wade through in running their businesses. Y
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By Riley Evans on 14-05-2011
Tagged Under : Budget
One of the most important things you can do for your finances is to plug leaks in your budget. Your monthly budget might have a surprising number of leaks in it. If you want to more effectively save money, you need to identify the areas where your income is leaking from your budget. Here are some things to think about as you identify money leaks:
Where is Your Money Going?
The first thing to do is know where your money is going. Track your spending for a month or two. Personal finance software, or a web application, can help make this process easier. You can easily get reports of where your money is spent.
In order for this to be effective, you will need to record what you spent your money on when you get back from the store. Look over your receipts and categorize your spending.
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By Kiara Withers on 12-05-2011
Many small businesses in the UK are unaware of the tax break, it has been claimed.
The Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) is available to small businesses that have a rateable value of their premises below £12,000.
However, those with a rateable value of up to £6,000 will pay no business rates until September 2012. Ratepayers will receive SBRR of 100% on properties up to £6,000 rather than the original 50% and a tampering relief from 100% to 0% will be in place for properties over £6,000 up to £12,000 in rateable value for that period.
According to accountancy firm, Mitchell Charlesworth, there is more than £400 million Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) sitting unclaimed each year. Busin
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By Kiara Withers on 09-05-2011
Confidence among UK small businesses is at its highest level since October 2009, new research shows.
According to research carried out by workplace provider Regus, the Business Confidence Index (BCI) is at an average of 108 points, which is relatively encouraging considering the economic conditions.
The latest Business Tracker report, which published findings from over 4,000 UK businesses, found that small business confidence measured 103 in the index. Approximately 26% of small businesses said they experienced an increase in profits last year.
Despite high levels of optimism, small businesses will remain cautious in their projections for 2011. Only 27% believe the economy will advance in the latter half of the year.
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By Riley Evans on 09-05-2011
Valley National Bank is headquartered in New Jersey and has branches in and around the New York and other neighboring states. They offer a wide range of products to its customers and also make it convenient for them to access these products through online banking.
Valley National Bank online banking helps customers to access their account 24 hours day, seven days a week from the comfort of their homes. There is no need to travel to the nearest branch and this can be a blessing especially when the weather gets bad. Known as VbankWorks, the Valley National Bank electronic banking system uses the latest technology such as SSL encryption and a dual verification systems to protect the personal information of customers. Using this system, customers can view the balances and transactions in all their accounts such as checking, savings, CDs and even loans that are borrowed from this bank.
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By Riley Evans on 05-05-2011
Tagged Under : Home
Even though interest rates aren’t quite as low as they at other points in the last couple of years, they are still quite attractive. On top of that, home prices are still somewhat low. For these reasons, many think that now is a great time to buy a home. But before you purchase a home, it is a good idea to make sure you are really ready to buy a home:
Are You Financially Ready to Purchase a Home?
You first have to ask yourself if you are financially ready to buy a home. Generally, experts recommend that your housing costs take up less than 30% of your net income. It’s probably even better to try to keep that number (including utilities, home insurance, and property taxes on top of mortgage and interest) to 25%. You want to make sure that you are able to afford your home, pay your other obligations and still have discretionary income left over.
It also helps to have saved up for a good down payment, so you are borrowing less. Add
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