Recent problems solved
Q.
I have an e-commerce business and have previously relied on well-placed organic search listings. However, I’ve recently dropped to page three or under on Google for my main keywords and have been considering investing some money in a pay per click campaign. I don’t really know where to start however and need some help in measuring results. How do I go about this?
Q.
I’m looking to start an independent stationery shop as a sole trader but don't want to use a business name that already exists. Are there any restrictions on business names and how can I make sure I am not copying an existing one?
Q.
I’ve just received final prototypes for a range of new baking equipment I want to start distributing. I’m currently writing a business plan in the hope of securing a bank loan but I’m stuck on the financial projections. Is it better to be conservative in my sales estimates or assume I’ll secure a major stockist quite early on?
Q.
I’ve just finished interviewing for a PA position at my company and have two candidates that have roughly the same amount of experience. I definitely like one of them better than the other but I can’t really put my finger on why. What steps can I take to record my decision process to avoid any claims of discrimination or unfair treatment?
Q.
I'm in late stage negotiations with a major supermarket to stock my range of allergy friendly cakes and biscuits but I'm quite daunted by the contract I've been presented with. My budget for legal costs is very limited but what can I do to protect myself and make sure I'm getting a good deal?
Q.
I have just started my own company selling niche and bespoke kitchen products. My customer base is growing and I now deal with more and more suppliers. Whilst this is great, I am finding it very difficult to manage my cashflow as I have lots of outstanding invoices at any given time. What can I do to manage this without annoying customers over late payments?
Q.
I run a small web design company and am keen to start marketing my services via sites like Twitter and Facebook, but want to make sure my efforts are not just jumping on the social media bandwagon. How can I start using sites like this to add real value to my marketing efforts?
Q.
I've been running a business with two other business partners for the past 18 months and we're keen to get my former employer on board as a non-executive director. What's the formal procedure for doing this?
Q.
I’m an employee earning £23,000, but I do some freelance work on the side. I’ve registered as self-employed and get National Insurance bills from HMRC but my extra earnings are only about £2,000. I’ve been told there is a low earnings exemption for NI contributions. Am I eligible for this on my freelance earnings, or does my salary from my full-time job put me over the threshold?
Q.
I run a limited company that could fit into the social enterprise bracket. I'm thinking about setting up a separate CIC for the community services side of the business. The CIC may require services that my Ltd can provide, so I want to know if the CIC Regulator would have a problem with using the same director for both.
