So you’ve taken the brave step of becoming a freelance graphic designer: now all you have to do is find enough work to keep food on the table. Struggling to get your first gig? You’re not alone. Only the luckiest of designers get a break from an ex-client. Most have to start from scratch. In…
Inspired by our friends across the pond, the UK ran its own version of the US phenomenon known as ‘Small Business Saturday’ this year. With the aim of reviving our crumbling high streets, the event was injected with plenty of buzz and advertising. Our shadow Business Secretary was certainly enthusiastic: “Never in my wildest dreams…
Labor is the biggest challenge many businesses face, especially in the food service industry. There can be constant churn and the need to keep sourcing good candidates and training them quickly. In addition to this never ending process of hiring, onboarding and training, you’ve still got a restaurant to run. All these moving parts of…
There is always room for improvement. No matter if you are doing good, steady business or if things have started to go a bit gray, you always need to think about the future. The fact is that your competition is not going to sit on its hands; they are going to keep making moves in…
There is a great focus on growing a strong relationship between companies and their customers. In 2014, marketing content and marketing approaches will be a bit more personalized to the targeted audience. Relevance is becoming the key element. This transfers onto every media and the term “quality advertising” changes significantly. All this is due to…
Implementing new business methodologies is a significant process that can change the way your company operates for the better. Before you decide on a new methodology, you first need to understand why it pays to change the way your company operates in the first place. Over time, a company naturally changes and evolves to meet…
Transferring ownership of your restaurant to relatives is a great way to keep the company you started years, perhaps decades ago, in your family. It’s also a great way to help your family members launch their own successful careers. In addition to discussing selling a restaurant via the transfer with your relatives, you’ll have to…
In his book titled “The Lean Startup“, author Eric Ries offers wonderful advice on how small businesses can often prevent potential failures by testing and validating their assumptions without expending too much capital. This is a wonderful book for anyone who is running their own business. According to a survey conducted by the National Federation…
Recently there has been a significant legislative change to employment law rights and to the employment tribunal system. Of which there are three main changes that especially business owners need to be made aware of. 1. Settlement Discussions: From 29th July 2013, a new law allows an employer to hold pre-termination negotiations or protected conversations…
Market research is all about getting to know the audience for a service or the potential market for a new product. That means gathering data. Often, the data you gather can tell you a lot about customer habits, and for small businesses, that helps inform a vital part of their marketing strategy. Market researchers know…
