| This short guide is produced to help small | | | | Local Chambers of Commerce, What are They and |
| businesses in the UK starting out get a good | | | | How Can They Help |
| grounding in sound principles which will | | | | |
| stand them in good stead when it comes to | | | | Local chambers of commerce comprise a huge |
| developing their company. | | | | network dedicated to helping all forms of |
| | | | business in their local area. They are part |
| Good Book Keeping Tips | | | | of the largest business support group in the |
| | | | country, with a total of over 135,000 |
| Good book keeping is one of the most | | | | members. But they still, by operating at a |
| important should be learned, when starting up | | | | local level, manage to stay in touch with the |
| and maintaining a good and profitable | | | | needs and aspirations of their members. This |
| business. Many new businesses go under every | | | | makes them the first and very often the only |
| year not because of lack of turnover, or | | | | call for business people seeking support and |
| profits, but because they do not keep proper | | | | information. |
| books and have no idea of their financial | | | | |
| state and whether their cash flow is in the | | | | They are able to help providing training and |
| red or the black. | | | | modern apprentices and to can assist both the |
| | | | business and the trainee in this regard. This |
| Bad book keeping can also send companies into | | | | can be in a variety of fields from the |
| a state of turmoil when their tax returns are | | | | traditional industries to the professional |
| due. The taxman is not impressed by | | | | and even high tech cutting edge businesses. |
| businesses that are not quite sure of their | | | | They also work in both the public and private |
| incomings and outgoings. But this need not be | | | | sector. |
| the case and these days even the smallest of | | | | |
| businesses can keep themselves up to scratch | | | | Local chambers of commerce can be a great |
| by following a few simple rules. | | | | source of information for businesses looking |
| | | | to get into export or import markets. They |
| Use a book keeping software: There are many | | | | are able to provide good solid background |
| good software's that are inexpensive to buy | | | | knowledge of different countries, ways of |
| and easy to use and will, so long as you feed | | | | doing business and the paperwork and |
| in the appropriate figures, semi automate | | | | documents that may be required. |
| most of your day to day book keeping. | | | | |
| | | | They can also save money for their members on |
| Always keep a back up: However reliable your | | | | basic business essentials such as insurance, |
| system is, there is always a chance that it | | | | healthcare and pensions. By virtue of their |
| will fail, so always back up your accounts as | | | | huge membership they are able to gain large |
| often as possible and keep a separate copy on | | | | discounts from many of these organizations. |
| disk, in a different place to the computer. | | | | |
| | | | The local chamber s of commerce is a good |
| Do not throw away paperwork: Even after you | | | | source of advice on almost any business |
| have fed the data into the accounting | | | | activity. They encompass nearly all areas of |
| software keep all of your paperwork. You can | | | | business and as such are able to help with |
| never have too many back ups and if all else | | | | many of the problems that businesses |
| fails then you will always have all your | | | | encounter. |
| transactions on paper. | | | | |
| | | | Being run by the local businesses themselves, |
| Do your accounts every day: This means your | | | | the local chambers of commerce are a great |
| accounts can be done quickly and prevents the | | | | way to network with others locally that are |
| whole thing backing up and getting out of | | | | in your industry. Networking is a very |
| hand. If you don't make the space to do one | | | | powerful business tool and meeting those who |
| days book keeping, when will you make the | | | | are in the same field can have many |
| space to do three weeks worth! | | | | advantages. |
| | | | |
| Always keep cheques and invoices in order: | | | | For anyone who is in business the benefits of |
| This means that if you need to go back and | | | | joining the local chambers of commerce can be |
| check, then it is all consecutively numbered | | | | significant. With their huge wealth of |
| and easy to find. | | | | knowledge and facilities they can be an asset |
| | | | for most types of businesses. |
| Although there is a great deal more to book | | | | |
| keeping than this, following these simple | | | | Another important step is to promote your |
| rules will help you to make the most of your | | | | business on the internet and our UK business |
| system and make it less likely that you will | | | | directory will list your site for a one off |
| get into a confusion about your books and | | | | fee of £12.99. With over a million |
| your finances. | | | | businesses listed, why not give it a try? |
| | | | Look out for part two of our guide! |