The current business world is more advanced, progressive and creative than ever. Today’s generation is in tune with technology, the internet and many other aspects of modern life, so it’s safe to say that hiring an apprentice is an enormous benefit to small business owners looking to succeed in the digital age.

Apprentices have been a valuable asset to companies for hundreds of years — apprenticeships not only give a young person a step onto the career ladder, but they also provide businesses with a young person who possesses enthusiasm and eagerness to succeed. For small business owners, this can be a unique and effective way to improve their company.

In this post, we’ll highlight a few of the advantages of taking on an apprentice and how they can impact the everyday and long-term success of a business. ​

​Acquiring finance for commercial ventures traditionally involved asking a handful of benefactors for substantial investment, a practice favouring those with business experience. These days, modern technology allows individuals with lucrative ideas to bypass the antiquated process and pitch their products directly to the public. Crowdfunding is emerging as a viable way for small businesses to raise funds from a large number of people, all typically contributing small amounts online, to take their concepts from the drawing board to reality. This growing trend has created a wave of online platforms which allow entrepreneurs to exchange pledges with rewards or equity in their business. 
 
In a process that only requires a few clicks to complete, it’s not hard to see why so many businesses in the early stages of funding are opting for a quicker and more convenient method of obtaining capital. Despite all of its redeeming qualities, crowdfunding still has some understated drawbacks - so is it really worth the hype?

​Marketing Benefits
 
Emergent technologies have provided marketers with new options on various platforms to produce outcomes that are entirely customer driven. This is probably why crowdfunding as a marketing exercise is becoming increasingly popular amongst multinational conglomerates as well as startups and small businesses. 
​Crowdfunding can extend a business’s visibility past specialist angel investors, to a wider community of influencers and enthusiasts where these funding campaigns can be used as novel marketing tools. These platforms are an ideal way of obtaining market validation and further information about a business’s potential consumers. It has modernised the traditional focus group with real time feedback from a larger and more representative demographic, providing more reliable indications of market activity. 
 
Crowdfunding allows customers to become part of the development of a brand, instead of passively consuming an online advertisement. This marketing technology encourages activity and revolves around engagement, which in turn creates stronger bonds between businesses and their donors. Making this process public creates brand advocates who can generate organic discourse and shares on external social media platforms.

​Accounting Difficulties
 
While a great method of raising necessary funds for business ventures, equity crowdfunding divvies 
ownership to a multitude of small investors. Depending on the campaign and its donors, a portion of largely inexperienced shareholders are then given authority over decision-making. This means that businesses using this method of financing have several shareholders to consult, satisfy and pay, placing a higher amount of pressure on accountants.
 
Equity crowdfunding has a lot of complex rules and regulations which must be adhered to. Ensuring that your campaign follows the regulator’s guidelines requires further expenditure by the business; companies need expertise from the accountant and more time spent on administrative tasks. The Financial Conduct Authority specifies how the company selling shares will be committed to some level of disclosure, meaning that every shareholder is entitled to the same level of transparency regarding financial documentation. Therefore, successful crowdfunding campaigns could actually create a considerable amount of admin for the beneficiaries and their accountants.
 
Similarly to other sensitive online documents and data, crowdfunding platforms are subject to targeted threats such as hackers and malware used to compromise valuable data which could also lead to potential loss of investments. This vulnerability within online crowdfunding services makes it more difficult for accountants to track cashflow and then consequently harder to budget and forecast.

​What’s Best for Your Business?
 
Crowdfunding is still a relatively new platform but success stories have emerged across multiple industries. It can be the most viable source of funding for entrepreneurs and new businesses. However, it’s worth knowing the risks involved if it doesn’t go well. Each company’s campaign is different but a successful crowdfunding campaign requires a comprehensive planning stage where businesses carry out enough preparation. If you need any financial advice for a new business venture then contact experts at Cottons Accountants to make the process safer, simpler and suited to your needs.

​The advent of digital media has brought challenges and opportunity in equal measure. As we continue to make technological advancements, the way we conduct business must develop accordingly. 
However, it appears that HM Revenue & Customs have left a lot to be desired when it comes to digital business management with a system of taxation described by many business owners as ‘outdated’.
So with the amount of uncollected tax due to taxpayer error, as well as flawed protocol, now in excess of £8bn per year which costs Britain's public and its businesses respectively, it was time to take action.
In a bid to make the process of paying taxes more accessible and efficient the Government announced the 'Making Tax Digital’ initiative as part of their 2015 Autumn Statement.
The announcement also outlined their plans to ‘transform’ the tax system and scrap tax returns by 2020.

Going Digital
Although unprecedented in the UK, digital tax systems have been already been effectively implemented in countries such as Australia, Brazil and Estonia. 

There are plenty of benefits to digital record-keeping, for instance taxpayers using an online tax account are able to get a clearer picture of their tax affairs in real time. Digital tax management also reduces hassle, making it possible for anybody with internet access to remotely monitor their taxes allowing business owners to budget more accurately and save time by placing all of their taxes in one place. 

Furthermore, as the digital system requires more regular updates, more taxpayers will be able to use the cash basis of accounting meaning that expenses up to the sum of £166,000 will be deductible. In addition, business will be able to use spreadsheets and cloud accounting services such as Xero to support their digital reports which is guaranteed to expedite the process of paying tax.
 
Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, later highlighted more benefits of a digital switchover, adding that introducing digital record keeping and quarterly updates for businesses will eradicate around 10% of taxpayer error. 

​Making Tax Digital: The Timetable
MTD is set to be introduced in phases, giving all business owners and landlords at least two years to make the adjustments required to manage their taxes using the new digital service.
 
The new scheme is due to roll out for Income Tax and Class 4 NI contributions from April 2018. Pensioners and people in full-time employment will be required to use the digital accounts if they earn a secondary income of £10,000 or more from property or self-employment
 
The proposed changes are due to take action for VAT purposes from 2019 onwards. 

Is it for Everyone?
Businesses must make an annual turnover that exceeds the VAT threshold, currently set at £85,000 to qualify for digital VAT record keeping. This means that businesses and landlords with a turnover below the VAT threshold will be able to choose when to make the switch to the new digital system.
 
As VAT already requires a quarterly update, this won’t be a major adjustment and taxpayers will not need to report to HMRC more frequently than they already do. 
 
'Smaller' businesses turning over £10,000 or less will be exempt from the change in legislation, but will be allowed to submit reports and quarterly updates on a voluntary basis.
 
Changes to the submission of Corporation Tax obligations will come into effect in April of the following year. Most British businesses will then be required to keep digital records and update HMRC on their income and expenditure every quarter.

​MTD Assistance
If you need assistance with Making Tax Digital and how to integrate digital systems into your business then talk to an accountant.
 
This article was written by Cottons Chartered Accountants, small business accountants and audit specialists.

Deter Intruders

• Security Cameras

CCTV security is not just designed to catch shoplifters and track people in Hollywood movies; there are serious benefits to using the technology to secure your business premises. Former burglars have stated that it is the number one deterrence that stops them considering entering a property.  

Security cameras that are clearly visible and constantly monitoring your business property provide you with one crucial thing: evidence. This dramatically increases the risk factor for an intruder and minimises the chance that they will target your company premises.
​

• Perimeter Alarms and Lights

CCTV cameras are a powerful tool, but, alone, they aren't enough to create a full-scale deterrence strategy. While most thieves are opportunistic, unprepared and unwilling to take risks, some are more calculated. To secure your property, you’ll need to scare off those who take the time to think about their burglaries.

Alarms are something most people will anticipate when robbing a business, but perimeter alarms are a new technology burglars are unlikely to be prepared for. Perimeter alarms work through the activation of motion sensors set up around your business premises. If an intruder gains access to somewhere they shouldn’t — even just within the grounds of your business — the alarms will sound. You can couple these sensors with security lights to create an intimidating defence plan.  

Even criminals who make plans are looking for easy options. Perimeter alarms and lights make the challenge of burglary unappealing, up the chance of getting caught considerably and reduce the chance that you will be a target.

Make It Difficult

• Smart Locks and Access Controls

A lock isn’t just a lock anymore. Modern advancements mean there is more to locking a door and keeping people out of a building than a simple key. Nowadays, the best way to secure your property is with smart technology and access control systems.

These are electronic locks. They vary in design — opened by key cards, codes, fingerprints, etc. — but essentially do the same thing: they make it harder for somebody to access your business property. You cannot pick an electric lock, nor can you login and hack software that isn’t online, which means getting through smart locks is very difficult.
In many cases, there are only two methods of access:

• Brute force
• Insider information

You can’t completely protect against brute force — somebody forcing their way into your building. If they have enough power, even an advanced lock won’t stop them. But it makes it much, much harder and in most cases, the majority of people simply won’t be able to generate enough force — or won’t risk using that much force — to get inside.

If you do find an intruder gets past your access control without force, the primary culprit will be somebody with insider information. Narrow down the potential criminals using other security tools, such as CCTV, to create evidence and catch the perpetrator.

• Safes

Let’s say the worst happens. The criminal gets into your property with the intent of doing harm or stealing goods. How can you be sure they don’t take or break anything you can’t afford them to? You lock it away.

Safes are ancient technology. They’ve been in existence for thousands of years in some form, built to protect objects of value, and there is a reason we still use them to this day. It’s because they work. If somebody gets into your building and your most important items are behind the thick steel of a safe, they aren't getting their hands on them.

Don’t be fooled by TV shows or crime novels — safes are not as easy to crack as you might think. A secure business safe is near impossible to access unless you know the combination or have the key. Many modern safes also come with multiple security elements to ensure they remain fully secure. So confident are people in safes that you can often reduce your insurance premiums just by owning one. It says a lot about safes as security tools when insurance companies are willing to accept them as a method of reducing fees.

Consider All Angles

• Data Encryption Software

Physical property is not the only valuable your business holds. Data is now a hugely important aspect of running a modern business and data has financial worth. It can be used as leverage for blackmail, sold as an asset or released to damage your reputation. Either way, you don’t want people taking your data.
Last year, businesses lost around £20 billion to data theft. Protection against data theft is critical, especially now that GDPR rules have come into force. Even the smallest of businesses will likely store some kind of data, from simple pieces of client information to whole archives of purchase histories, invoices, personal details and account information.
​
Data encryption is essential for keeping this data secure, not only working as a deterrence, but also making things harder for criminals. This is especially important in the 21st century, where all data tends to be accessible via cloud systems. The use of data encryption software ensures you keep your business secure from all angles.

Keep up to date with @SmallBizAdvWeek for more tips and advice 

​It is estimated that UK small businesses spend around 120 days a year on administrative tasks, including raising invoices and recruitment. This lost time means that employees are spending less time winning clients and working to improve their products. As a result research from Sage calculates that UK small businesses lose nearly £40bn a year due to loss of productivity.
We have taken a look at the best pieces of software available which can increase your productivity and prevent such damaging losses:

1. Accounting Software
Finance is at the heart of every business so it’s crucial you understand every detail. Xero is just one of many accounting software systems designed to make viewing the company’s financial information easier.
As a cloud-based software, it allows small businesses to view its cash flow, account details and the transactions from wherever the user is, as long as they have internet connection.
By using the software, small businesses can schedule recurring invoices automatically as well as reminders, saving employees time chasing up unpaid invoices. It also features an inventory-management tool which allows small businesses to track the stock levels of items in real time.
There is also the Xero mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android and allows the user to submit their expenses, create and send invoices, as well as creating reports.
The ‘Starter Plan’ starts at £10 per month while the ‘Standard’ and ‘Premium’ plans are £22 and £27.50 per month respectively.

2. Collaborations and Sharing
Employees can easily get lost in the masses of emails in their inbox while searching for an important document. To make life easier for everyone, it can be a good idea to invest in a central location for saving company documents. This is likely to be a Cloud based platform, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, that allow users to view documents anywhere, provided they have an internet connection.
Enter Google Drive. It’s an online storage facility that allows users to save and share files online as well as allowing multiple users to work on a document at the same time.
Google Drive has 15GB of storage for free, while the premium plans start at £1.59 per month for 100GB of storage and up to the 10TB per month plan at £79.99 per month.

3. Marketing Assistance and Scheduling
In the ever-evolving world of marketing, businesses will always want to remain ahead of the competition. In order to achieve this, a business must understand the foundations of SEO, PPC and social media and there are a range of tools that can help you here, such as Hootsuite and Google Analytics.
An alternative would be to hire a marketing agency, who could not only look after all of your social media and marketing channels but, in some instances, could also look after your website and fix web issues. Marketing can be costly and if you want to use outside help, you may like to consider a small business loan from Liberis as an alternative to a traditional bank loan. 

4. Methods of Communication
Inter-company communication can be a headache for many businesses, even those with a small number of employees. So getting the right software to prevent the email inbox being clogged up is important.
Slack is a great tool for small businesses to use. It enables members of staff to communicate amongst each other via an instant-messenger style of interface.
Not only can it be used for inter-company communication, but also for communication with businesses with whom it regularly works. Clients can be invited to different conversation feeds and the software includes both voice and video calls to make discussions easier.
Best of all, the Basic package is free! It does have limitations, such as only allowing for one-to-one video calls, while the Standard (£5.25 per active user per month) and Plus packages (£9.75 per active user per month) allow for group calls, but the free version should be enough for most small businesses.

5. HR Management
The HR department is integral to the day-to-day running of a company; so when HR isn’t equipped with the right resources, even the most basic processes take longer than they should, causing paperwork to pile up.
BreatheHR is an HR tool which helps to efficiently manage the information involved in running a business. The software helps to track sickness and absences, manage holiday requests, track and approve expenses as well as managing appraisals and setting one-to-one meetings.
The pricing plans are based on the number of employees at the company and the number of HR users with access to the software. The Micro plan, which works for up to 10 employees and has one HR user, is £9 per month is the basic plan.
If you wish to include applicant tracking then the plan is an extra £5 per month for two open vacancies or £20 per month for unlimited vacancies.

6. Task Management
If you’re undertaking large projects as a business, you’ll know that these need to be delivered efficiently and on schedule as failure to do so may well result in your business suffering financial (or other) penalties. That’s why task management software, such as Trello or Asana, can be so useful to small businesses.
Asana is one of the most popular products on the market and assists businesses in managing marketing campaigns, product launches and setting/achieving company goals.
The software allows users to check the status and deadlines of projects and attach the relevant files, so information can be stored in one area.
The software also has a mobile app which enables employees to keep track of the projects while they’re out and about.
The Basic plan, which allows for up to 15 team members and includes unlimited tasks, projects and conversations, is free. The Premium version, which includes a broader range of features, is £7.99 per member per month.
 
That rounds up our suggestions for your small business solutions. Check them out and let us know which ones you plan on using or if there are any alternatives you prefer @SmallBizAdvWeek

Nowadays, Professional Development is an essential element of any profession, in any industry. Companies are operating in fast-changing market environments and often experience high competition levels from established and market disruptor organisations. Due to this, they expect their employees to be highly-adaptive, quick-learners and able to be ‘ahead of the game’ to enable companies to survive and succeed in the future.

Unfortunately, many companies often fail to grow and develop their employees to the required standards for them to be sufficiently competent and capable. Some companies claim to have a culture of professional development, however, many of them have high staff turnover levels and the remaining staff are not always as competent or qualified as is required. 

If you are a current or aspiring professional, it is crucial to take more control over your own professional development and not be disadvantaged by circumstances that you may be currently in. If you want to grow, develop and fast-track your own career, you need to take responsibility for your own Professional Development. There are a number of professional qualifications that would enable you to develop your knowledge and skill set, ultimately to become certified and fast-track your career.
​
Below you can find the summary of 6 signs indicating when you should consider investing in your Professional Development most. If you identify with any of the 6 signs, then now is the right time for you to kick-start some Professional Development. 

​You have not done any learning recently
In the Learning & Development context, professionals often use the term Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The critical word being ‘Continuous’ as all professionals are expected by their current and future employers to keep their Professional Development constant, current and competitive. This is in line with industry and/or profession related knowledge, trends and recent developments. If you have not undertaken any Learning & Development activities for at least a year, it is definitely the time to gain new knowledge, upskill or refresh your knowledge and skills on the relevant topic. 

You feel overwhelmed
Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed with the amount of work, upcoming deadlines and poor work-life balance, which would all have an impact on stress levels. Constant stress in return may have implications on your physical well-being as leads to headaches, tiredness, dizziness and other symptoms. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that you do not remain in this state of mind for long periods of time.
If you feel overwhelmed, you should consider taking a break from work. It would be a good idea to start a professional development course as it would provide a great opportunity to remove yourself from the day-to-day routine and be able to focus on a new challenge. This could provide a great opportunity to learn some new tools and techniques that will enable you to improve your performance at work, and crucially, improve your work-life balance as well.

You struggle to find new challenges at work
Many jobs involve routine day-to-day activities which many people master over time and feel comfortable doing independently and after a while, automatically. This is often the case for entry-level jobs or roles with a high level of repetition, which do not provide scope for further on-the-job self-development. John Maxwell, author and a speaker on leadership once said:

“If we are growing we are always going to be outside our comfort zone.”
​
Professional Development involves learning and developing new knowledge, skills and experiences. Therefore, if you struggle to find challenges at work, it is time to undertake some Professional Development to become certified and enhance your future job prospects. 

​You do not feel confident
If you do not feel confident with your knowledge and/or skills at work, this is another sign that you should undertake some Professional Development, especially, if the decisions that you are making at work are not always informed and justified. Undertaking a Professional Development course would be invaluable to you as it would enable you to improve your understanding, decision-making and performance at work. The secret is simple - the more knowledge and skills you gain, the more confident you will be.

​You do not meet education requirements for the roles of interest
If you are thinking of a new job or a career change, but find that most job advertisements require specific qualifications you do not hold, this is your chance to focus, commit and achieve the relevant certification. Most of the time, employers require 1 to 2 professional qualifications to be held by the successful candidate as these provide evidence and confidence in their competence. For example, PRINCE2® certifications are in high demand by employers seeking to fill project management vacancies. Take the opportunity to gain these qualifications, as adding them to your CV will enable you to improve your job prospects, earning potential and fast-track your career. 

You are at risk of being made redundant
If the company that you are working for is underperforming, experiencing financial / reputational difficulties or the organisation is undergoing a transformation programme which may involve headcount reduction, you are likely to be at risk of being made redundant in the near future. Even if you hold already some good your profession-related qualifications, it is worth investing the time in refreshing and/or improving your knowledge and skills in the area. Prospective employers value candidates who keep up-to-date with industry and/or profession knowledge, trends and recent developments. Recently gained certifications on your CV would demonstrate to potential employers that you recognise the importance of continuously developing yourself and your career.
 
Professional Development is the key to your professional growth, job satisfaction and building a successful, long-lasting career. Therefore, why not invest some time in your Professional Development by starting a new course? Remember: ‘It is not about being the best, it is about being better than you were yesterday.’ 

Small Business Advice Week has always been about improvement, learn more about marketing, Twitter, and how to manage your time. 

​Bitcoin, the world’s most famous cryptocurrency, experienced meteoric highs towards the back end of 2017. The worlds media worked themselves into a frenzy whilst stories, tips, and memes flooded the internet. Early investors in Bitcoin were feeling a bit smug as many were made into millionaires practically overnight.
But just what is Bitcoin? There’s a lot of terminology and jargon surrounding the topic that can be hard to follow. It’s not just a flash in the pan either, Bitcoin could change the face of finance as we know it. Fans of Bitcoin will tell you that it’s the next best thing since sliced bread and in many ways, it is.
Others will tell you it’s a stock market bubble just waiting to burst. These people normally stand to lose money if Bitcoin is a huge success, but they’re not wrong either. It does have all the characteristics of stock market bubbles before it and its value has plummeted in recent months. Still confused? Let this infographic from Cartwright King break it down for you.

What is a Bitcoin?
Bitcoin (BTC) is a digital currency, officially classified as a ‘cryptocurrency’. It doesn’t exist in a physical form, but rather virtually, on bits of computer code that have been encrypted and secured. You can buy and sell things for Bitcoin just like dollars, pounds or euros.
Bitcoin relies on something called ‘blockchain’ technology for its existence. A number of Bitcoin transactions are grouped together to form a ‘block’. These get added to a chain of blocks by the users of the Bitcoin network and stored in what is referred to as a ledger. This ledger exists in digital format only and is perpetuated by Bitcoin ‘mining’.

What is Bitcoin Mining?
Mining for Bitcoin is a far cry from mining for gold. There is however one similarity: anyone can do it. Where anyone can get a bowl, or a pickaxe and start digging for gold, anyone can purchase the hardware needed to mine Bitcoin. However, if you have a digger, you’ll find more gold and if you have more computing power, you’ll mine more Bitcoin. But how does this process of ‘mining’ work? Let us explain:

1. A Bitcoin transaction is initiated. This can be done by purchasing something online and using BTC as your payment method. This transaction gets grouped with others and put into a ‘block’.
2. The Bitcoin network is notified that there is a new block. They then can verify the transactions within that block if they are deemed to be valid by enough users.
3. Once it has been approved, a large piece of code found in the header of the previous block is put into the new one. This code is known as a ‘hash algorithm’. It is basically a very complicated puzzle.
4. Bitcoin miners then compete to solve the hash algorithm. The first to do so is awarded with brand new Bitcoins.
5. The block is processed and added to the block chain. All the transactions are processed, bitcoin gets transferred to where it needs to be, and the process starts again.

This sounds very complicated but is normally all done within a matter of seconds. As Bitcoin mining has now become so lucrative, you’ll need to amass a fair amount of computing power to compete.

How Do You Buy Bitcoin?
If you don’t have the resources to mine Bitcoin, you can just buy it instead. Bitcoin exchanges allow people to spend their money on acquiring the cryptocurrency, which is stored in a digital ‘wallet’. Coinbase and Bitstamp are the two most popular exchanges. Your wallet is unique to you, but as always, exercise caution with the details of your Bitcoin wallet to avoid cyber-attacks. Bitcoin is incredibly hard to steal, but it has been known to happen.

How Do You Spend Bitcoin?
Just as easily as you spend your money now. You will need to check that the retailer you are buying from accepts Bitcoin, but other than that, you don’t spend it any differently than you would normal currency on your credit/debit card. Big names like Wordpress, Amazon and Etsy accept the currency. Expect more to follow. 

What's Next?
The cyptocurrency did experience soaring highs towards the back end of 2017 but has since seen its value plummet. Its still very expensive and has been extremely successful, but its price is now too volatile for some and has been steadily decreasing. At the time of writing, 1 BTC is worth over £5,500. Compare that with highs of nearly £20,000 in late 2017.

Bitcoin has certainly managed to shake off its reputation as the dark web currency of choice. Its encrypted nature meant people could swap Bitcoins for nefarious goods and services on the dark web without fear of it being traced back to you. It’s taken a few years, but authorities are now getting better at tracking Bitcoin transactions, causing many criminals to abandon it.

It does also represent a big challenge to the status quo of finance. Major companies and even countries are experimenting with and developing cryptocurrencies of their own. However, much of the convenience of Bitcoin has now been replicated with online banking and systems like Apple Pay. And the Bitcoin stock price did plummet just like the naysayers forewarned. Whether Bitcoin will see off its competitors and continue to mount a challenge to central banks is yet to be seen but don’t think you’ve heard the last of it just yet.
As it becomes more mainstream and accessible, expect more SMEs to be dealing in Bitcoin.

​If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, the desire to govern your own workday and work hours, and to be your own boss, starting your own small business may be the right path to take. Launching a new business not only requires skill and passion for a particular service or product, but it also requires planning and establishing good habits from the beginning. The “sharing economy” is an ever-growing and popular plan for people who want to start a small business. The idea of the sharing economy is to use technology and the internet to rent to or share things with others, thereby cutting in-person transactional costs.

Establish a Business Blueprint
A good idea can only take you so far. On the days when your motivation is low, you will need a solid business plan to fall back on. In the beginning stages of launching a business, to avoid later burn out and losing sight of the big picture, you will want to establish a business plan that reviews your business from every angle and idea. A business plan should project three to five years ahead and detail how the company intends to reach its yearly goals, including revenue. 

Who Are Your Customers?
Before investing all your time and money into a product or service, a small business owner should evaluate the market and confirm that there are people interested in paying for what you have to offer. Understanding the market you are seeking to attract will not only prevent future blunders, but it will also set your business up for success. You should ask yourself some important questions. Who is our market? How big is our market? What trends affect our market? How do we reach our market? By answering these questions, you can develop marketing strategies to communicate the identity of your business and the value of your goods or services in the most effective manner.

Start Spreading the News
Once you know that you have a good product or service that can stand the test of time and meet your goal, then it’s time to amp up your marketing and advertising. No one can spend their money on something they don’t know exists. No longer are the days when you need to put out a television commercial or run a newspaper ad to advertise your business. The best marketing and advertising tool in the digital age is social networking sites, which are free to use. With such a vast audience at your fingertips, you can post your product, vehicle, home, bed, etc. for rent and watch as people respond. Companies have begun to link small business owners to consumers by launching applications and websites that allow you to post what you are renting while charging a nominal fee. 

Avoid the Common Mistakes
The sharing economy is built around trust and reviews. Your small business needs to be built around a product you are proud of and that is pleasing to your consumer. No longer are the days when a company or brand is simply trusted by existing. Before you will see recurring customers or a rise in clientele, you will need to see some good reviews.
 
Just because someone is renting your room or lawn mower — and you’re not letting go of the asset — it doesn’t mean you’re not making income. Various governmental entities are catching on to the sharing economy and are starting to implement regulations. It’s important to keep yourself informed and continuously educate yourself on rules and regulations that may affect your business. As with any other income driving source, even though you are not receiving an income statement, it’s important to report your earnings and pay your taxes. 

Create an At-Home Workspace
While the sharing economy mainly revolves around the asset and/or service you are attempting to rent, you should invest in creating an at-home workspace. Setting aside time to work on finances, marketing and advertising, business goals, and communication will be easier to do if you have a designated place within your home to retreat to, and where everything you need is in one area. Your workspace can consist of one desk in a small area of your home to an entire room. Depending on what you’re renting, you may need space for the objects you’re renting out (i.e. clothes or instruments). You will need space for a computer or computers to facilitate your transactions, communications, and marketing. As your small business grows, your workspace may also grow, and you may need room for one or more employees or independent contractors. Investing in your workspace will save you time and money in the long run and help establish structure and smooth transactions.
 
While there are many perks to being your own boss, there are several obstacles as well. You will not always be motivated to work and working from home can present many challenges even to the most focused. Setting designated office hours to work on different tasks throughout the day and week will help focus your business and drive your business plan forward. Working from home can also mean more distractions, whether it’s family or friends, pets, or your bed calling your name. Having a workspace that is separate from distractions, where you can isolate yourself and focus on the tasks at hand, will help keep you on track. The perk of working at home is that you have control over your space and environment. It’s important to establish good habits and boundaries early on. 

​In this day and age, with the right drive and attitude, anyone can be a small business owner and experience various levels of success. Whether your goal is to make some extra side income or to launch a career, the opportunities are endless. Technology has made it easier than ever to communicate to consumers at low to no cost and to make a profit. With a few tricks of the trade and planning, you can enter the small business world and succeed. 

​IT has certainly brought about many benefits in the business world. However, IT systems are not infallible and it can be a challenge to keep them working effectively and efficiently.
This challenge is often even harder for SMEs. This is because many of these businesses do not have an in-house IT specialist and have to call someone in to help if they experience any problems. This is not ideal as expertise can take time to find and to bring in.
One of the best solutions to this problem is the use of Managed IT Support which is also often referred to as managed services. This enables business to have 24/7 IT support on hand should they need it.
All of this means that small businesses can focus on their product or service without having to worry about IT issues. If you're not sure your small business could benefit from using IT Managed Services, read on to find out how it can.

1. Keep IT costs under control
Outsourcing your IT services means that you only have to pay for what you use and you do not have to invest in ongoing purchase and maintenance of hardware and software.

2. Reduction in staffing costs
It's often expensive to find and hire the right IT staff for your business. Outsourcing means that you do not need to worry about this and that your HR team can concentrate their efforts elsewhere.
 
3. Use of experienced and qualified people
Outsourcing means that you have access to a group of experienced and certified IT professionals whenever you need them.
 
4. Experience you can trust
IT professionals who work for an outsourced provider tend to have a wider breadth of knowledge and experience. This is because they get to deal with a wide range of situations involving a diverse selection of businesses.
 
5. Improved efficiency in a competitive environment
If you want your business to be competitive and remain efficient, you need to keep up to date with the latest developments in IT. This can be expensive to do in-house but if you outsource you know that you will benefit from all the latest IT enhancements.

6. Use of technology for new projects
You do not want to have to delay new projects because you do not have the right IT expertise in place. This can happen if you deal with everything in-house, whereas outsourcing means you have a team of experts on hand right away.

7. Stay focused on your core business
IT issues can be a distraction. If your business has limited resources, it makes more sense to outsource your IT and leave you free to concentrate on other issues related to the running of the business. According to Geeks.co.uk, outsourcing IT partnership allows your business to drive this strategic IT investment without losing focus or control on core business plans.

8. Reduce risk
Risk is something that every business faces; the environment changes so quickly. Outsourcing IT companies put their vast industry experience to use monitoring the latest developments in areas such as security, enabling them to effectively manage risks for you.

9. Level the playing field
If you own a small business, you are unlikely to be able to match big companies in the IT stakes if you keep everything in-house. However, if you outsource, you get access to all the same hardware and software that the big companies use without having to make a huge upfront investment.

10. Compliance and Security
It can be difficult to keep on top of compliance regulations when it comes to the handling of sensitive client information such as card details. You need to make sure that regular data audits are carried out and that your firewall is kept up to date.
You also need to think about the software that you use and ensure that it complies with all guidelines. Outsourcing companies can do all of this for you, including the monitoring of software licenses. They know what is required to comply with guidelines and can keep track of when licenses are due to expire.

It's vital that you keep security protocols up to date, in order to keep data safe from cyber attacks and other threats. Outsourcing providers know which is the best form of security to use for your business, they also monitor your systems so that any threats can be detected and dealt with quickly and effectively, making sure your business stays running smoothly.