Finance and Legal

If you’re in charge of your own business, financial and legal issues are ongoing concerns. Whether you’re starting up a business, looking to expand, or just paying the monthly bills, you need to know where you sit financially. Legally you have to consider pay rates, workplace conditions and product safety. The Hotfrog Small Business Hub’s Finance and Legal section looks at how these areas impact small businesses.

  • New government fund to support vocational training programmes

    An announcement by Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the recently-announced £250 million investment will help small business provide vocational training programmes while encouraging the skills needed for economic growth.

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  • Number of startups in the UK to potentially increase as job earnings dwindle

    With earning potential having decreased considerably between 2007 and 2011, Britons may find the grass in the small business world greener than in paid employment.

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  • The puppet masters – why corporate corruption must end

    The Puppet Masters, a joint report by the World Bank and the UN, advocates corporate transparency to put an end to criminal proceeds being disguised via legal structures. The report demands transparency both from private firms as well as governments, as Mark Tran explains.

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  • Confidence crisis conquers UK small businesses

    Faced by spiraling costs and diminishing revenues, small firms in the UK are suffering a confidence crisis which, if not overcome, could hamper economic recovery efforts.

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  • Mind your digital manners

    Today’s small business owners have a wide range of online resources available to them to help them promote their brand, products and services. But it’s important not to neglect online ethics and manners when doing so. Find out some basic online etiquette guidelines to follow.

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  • Ineffective and too complex: VAT

    The Institute for Fiscal Studies concludes the UK’s VAT system is ineffective, intricate and it contributes to reduce employment and earnings.

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  • Small business owners heading UK economic recovery

    Manpower’s UK managing director commends small business owners for their contribution in the UK's economic recovery efforts.

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  • Better than plastic: Unsecured business lines of credit

    Are you using credit cards as a form of additional funding for your small business? Carol Tice discusses why this may not be the best way and introduces unsecured business lines of credit as alternative sources to finance your small business.

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  • UK’s rate of economic growth for 2011 downgraded for the third time

    Previously estimated at 1.3%, the UK's rate of economic growth for 2011 is downgraded once again by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to 1.1%.

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  • Britain to overhaul transport infrastructure or miss on investment opportunities: Confederation of British Industries

    Britain’s ailing transport system is discouraging international investors from committing their resources in our country. Phillip Inman discusses the recent findings from the Confederation of British Industry.

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