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