Sourcing All Available Good Help For Small Businesses

The one thing you can never get enough of as a small business owner is good advice, but the emphasis here must be on good. There are so many sources of mediocre and even bad advice that finding the good can feel like an uphill struggle. However, there are ways to tell the advice and help for small business you should follow, from that you should run away from.

The first thing you should always do as a small business owner looking for how to be successful in business is follow the advice back to its source. If it comes from a reputable source, or is endorsed by one, then it is advice that is worth at least some consideration. So, what are these sources? The first, of course, is the Government. If the small business advice comes from them, it is up to date with current legislation. This is particularly important if you are looking for advice related to worker’s rights, standards, or Enterprise funding. 

Another trustworthy source is your local Tax Office. Here you should be able to source everything you need for subjects from corporation tax, to business rates and personal tax allowances. Of course, you can go to your accountant, but that will cost you money. The Tax Office offers free advice and help for small businesses. The Confederation of British Industry, the Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses are also all there to support you, the business owner in maintaining and growing your business. As well as providing advice and support such organisations provide small and medium size businesses with a voice in the world of government, health and safety and the creation of new legislation.

While all these are perfect examples of sources of good advice, they are not enough on their own. They cannot for example, provide you with detailed breakdowns of where you are missing out on opportunities, a comparison of good quotes and advice on partnership insurance, or where you have efficiency problems and are wasting money. 

These are areas where you require training to be able to find the answers for yourself, or at least in tandem with your trusted team. You also need to make the most of software too. This is especially the case when it comes to matters that bring your business into the future.

Sourcing poor advice is possibly the single worst thing you can do for your business. It could not only be detrimental to your profits, but also leave you on the wrong side of the HMRC and the HSE to name a few. When you source help for small business in your location, check the credentials, the sources of the advice and the outcomes of those who have recommended the source. Then you know you have the best possible advice and training for your small business.