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