Jun 25

The UK registry at Companies House provides a useful service for limited companies. In addition to incorporating and dissolving companies they also maintain the national register. This involves the recording and storing of data relating to all UK incorporated companies and LLP’s. Historically most records were updated by the submission of manual forms. This would include the submission of company accounts, change of address forms and forms appointing new company officers as well as many other documents. Whilst this system has served a purpose for many years it is far from secure as signatures are not checked and changes are implemented without further checks.

Identity fraud has increased over recent years, which meant that the previous system at Companies House was open to serious abuse. Companies have found their records have been updated without their knowledge. Individuals can masquerade as company officers, open bank accounts and enter into fraudulent contacts. It has been too easy for too long for businesses to be deceived and for companies to be hijacked.

However, Companies House has now introduced some basic protective measures that limited companies in the UK can adopt. Firstly they have introduced ‘WebFiling’. This is an electronic online filing system. It allows companies to make changes to their company details online. Instead of posting forms to Companies House changes can now be made in minutes online. To increase security there are two simple security procedures used. A security ‘authentication code’ is issued for each company and users require a security code to access the software.

The second security improvement is that users can sign up for Companies House ‘PROOF’ service. This means that they will no longer accept manual paper forms to make changes to your company records. This stops the opportunist from simply completing forms and posting them to Companies House. Any paper forms will require further authorisation from existing officers.

Whilst these two points should reduce identity theft companies can also ‘monitor’ their companies filing. This does not literally require daily monitoring of Companies House. For a small fee of £0.50 per annum Companies House will inform you by email every time a document if filed at Companies House for your company. This includes manual and electronic filing. This means that you can double check all changes made to your company without leaving your desk.

These three simple to implement measures should help protect the future identity of your limited company. Not only will you have piece of mind but you will save your company time and money by filing online. Companies have found their records have been updated without their knowledge. Individuals can masquerade as company officers, open bank accounts and enter into fraudulent contacts. It has been too easy for too long for businesses to be deceived and for companies to be hijacked.

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Jun 25

Looking for a serious investment opportunity? You may want to consider buying a small business in the United Kingdom. There are several ways to turn a good profit in small business, but there are some important things to keep in mind if you are looking for an investment opportunity, especially if you are an investor from the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.

Any investment opportunity naturally comes with some risk. Foreign investors will need to calculate an additional variable when figuring up the possible amount of profit margin, loss ,and potential for both, as well as the exchange rate. How well is your currency doing against the British Pound? Be sure to include some “wiggle room” in your budgeting for fluctuations in the exchange rate.

For those already living in the UK, concerns such as taxation and local regulation are familiar topics. To those in overseas locations, it’s important to look up the laws of the land pertaining to your type of business, the taxes for which you will be liable, and how to properly account for them. This may seem elementary to those with experience in putting money into an overseas investment opportunity, but for the first-time investor in a UK small business, there are many laws and policies that might surprise you. The key is to do your homework, get the advice of a good UK legal expert, and be prepared for a new and different way of doing business.

If you want to buy a small business in the UK, it’s good to do a bit of research into the type of business you want to use as an investment opportunity. Are there ways that you can expand the business onto the Internet? Can the Internet be a help to you in increasing sales, market visibility, or media awareness? All of these factors are important to keep in mind. The most successful small businesses are the ones whose owners know how to take advantage of the Internet, while still meeting local needs and demands with speed and precision. It’s not so different than doing business anywhere else in the Western world. It’s important to understand how the buyers in your area of the UK respond to and utilize the Internet when it comes to commerce.

You’ll also want to give your competing businesses a good hard look to see how they are using the Internet. Are you thinking of investing in an already crowded market? If so, you’ll need some fresh ideas to give your version of the business a new approach so that you can set it apart from the competition.

A UK investment opportunity in small business may bring some unexpected surprises if you are considering investing in a “rising star” business. For example, twenty years ago, nobody had ever heard of a “cyber café”. Today, cities are full of places that offer Internet services, games, coffee, and more for a price. This concept has become a very important part of many communities. Those who took the initial risk a few years ago, putting money in what they saw as a good investment opportunity, are reaping their rewards today.

Those who buy a small business in the UK often find that the investment opportunity is well worth the risks. With some research, a bit of financial planning, and the expert advice of a UK legal advisor, you can turn a potential opportunity into a major success. If you are living in America, Canada, or elsewhere, you owe it to yourself to pay a visit to the United Kingdom to see for yourself just what kinds of investment opportunities await you there.

http://www.bizseller4u.com

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Jun 25

Today I decided to take a walk to my daughter’s school (something a bit unusual, but not unreasonable since the gas prices went up) for a change. I was totally enjoying the break from my small office routine when it hit me — ” my neighborhood has changed. Too many small businesses had just disappeared and on their windows were signs: “For lease”

Being a small business owner myself, I know how fragile a startup can be, how easily your marketing efforts could be lost in this noisy world. There is an ocean of businesses out there, and everyone is fighting for survival.

So how can you succeed? Well…it’s easy — you have to STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD! That, of course, is easily said than done.

There is one very clever way which I strongly recommend: Use Humor! Clever humor is always appreciated and if you can make your clients smile, they will always come back to you.

Before you start, ask yourself:

1. What is the main message I want to send about my services, products, company?
2. Who are my customers?
3. What is my point of difference and how can I use humor?

Once you are clear on your goals, there are many easy, effective ways to add humor and make you stand out:

1. Get a Cartoon Logo: The logo is the very face of your business. You have to be really careful (read: not cheap) when you decide on a logo design. Too many places use the same fonts, the same colors, the same globe and whatnot. The final result? The all look the same. So set yourself apart — get a custom drawn cartoon logo. There are too many benefits to mention, but I’ll give you just one example: check out Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater, Oklahoma. His owner Stan Clark started with a simple Eskimo and dog cartoon logo design, created by an amateur designer. Today Eskimo Joe’s is a multi-million dollar clothing company with t-shirt sales only surpassed by the Hard Rock Cafe! Now, that’s amazing!

If you want a cartoon logo, I strongly recommend http://www.humorlogos.com/

2. Humor advertising: It goes without saying – humor, at least in advertising, sells as much as sex. Just turn on the TV and observe. Do you know that the new Apple advertising campaign (Mac vs PC) is probably the most effective one ever? Why? Because it is funny, and people remember it. But there is much more to advertising… There are:

Printed ads:
- newspapers
- fliers
- Yellow pages, etc.

Online marketing:
- web sites
- viral marketing
- email campaigns

Street advertising:
- Street banners
- Vehicle wraps, etc.

If you want a humorous advertising campaign, I strongly recommend http://www.funnysells.com/

3. Who said Presentations? If you have to do presentations, always consider starting with a joke or using cartoons in them. Humor is the most effective way to break the ice and add a flavor of trust to the audience.

For PowerPoint Presentation cartoons, I recommend http://www.bettercartoon.com/

Of course, there is much more that goes into building a successful small business. But my point is – work hard, work smart and get noticed!

Good luck!

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