Oct 21, 2020 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
This blog posts demonstrates the processes involved when storing paper copies of confidential client information efficiently.
It is no surprise, when everyone is so exceptionally busy, how filing cabinet contents can get to the stage where you break a fingernail trying to fit an important piece of paper into a client’s folder! Before you know it there are then piles upon piles of paper taking over every available surface.
Here is my organisational system to help you avoid this.
Overview
- What is a client’s records base?
- What are the current GDPR and Financial Regulations?
- What does it mean for you, holding client based records?
- Why you don’t recycle old records and do need secure shredding
- Procedure on how to organise your clients record
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Busy Lives! can support with this
What is a client records base?
A client records base is made up of all your customers and is vital for any business. Increasing your client record base goes hand in hand with increasing the size / profits of your business.
What are the current GDPR and Financial Regulations for retaining information?
The 2018 General Data Protection Regulation has seven principles for retaining data which all business must follow, these are:
- Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency
- Purpose limitation
- Data minimisation
- Accuracy
- Storage limitation
- Integrity and confidentiality (security)
- Accountability
Top Tip
If you need to know more or are unsure about your business and data protection there is good guidance on the Gov.uk website. Click here to take you to the page on this.
What does this mean for you holding client base records?
In short it means:
- Any personal and sensitive information you hold on another individual must be stored securely and within locked furniture such as a filing cabinet or cupboard.
- You cannot keep personal data for longer than you need it – if you are planning on keeping personal data ensure you have a good reason for keeping it.
- If you share data with another company under lawful grounds you must ensure both companies understand what it to be done with the data once it is no longer needed – return to original company or both companies destroy it.
- You must use appropriate security to stop the data you hold from being accidently / deliberately compromised. Along with this you must have a procedure to follow on any data breach and report it immediately to the ICO and any individuals affected by it if there is one.
Additionally, HMRC also details what financial / accounting records you must keep, these are:
- All goods bought and sold and who bought / sold them (unless you run a retail business).
- Money spent by the company.
- Money received from sales.
- Statements / any other financial documents which you use to complete your tax return.
- Moneys received – grants / payments from support schemes.
- Company assets.
- Company stock / Stock takings.
All the above financial / accounting records must be kept for 6 years. However, some records may need to be kept longer, for example, machinery that is expected to last more than six years or if you conducted a transaction that lasted more than one tax year.
Why you don’t just recycle old records and need secure shredding
Sadly, you hear on the news how people have had their identities stolen, some of which has been through extracting papers from dustbins.
Shredding documents is the most secure way to destroy data. The type of shredder you use will dictate how secure it is. For example, a strip shredder is the least secure type of shredding as documents can be put back to together whereas cross-cut shredders are amongst the most secure.
To find out how you should shred documents you will need to look at your industry sector guidelines and corporate policies.
If you have large quantities of client records for shredding, you can outsource your data destruction. Always ensure, if you decide to do this, to get a certificate of destruction to prove you disposed of your data and paperwork securely.
Procedure on how to organise your clients record base.
When you decide to tackle the monster that is your filing cabinet of records there are steps you can take to make the task easier while ensuring you adhere to GDPR and Financial regulations.
Once you have made the commitment to start sorting your records you need some items to help make the task easier to not get in a mess or destroy the wrong papers! These include:
- A large working space
- Filing cabinets and dividers
- Square cut folders
- Archive boxes
- Lined paper
- A printout of all your clients sorted by your method of referencing – i.e. by surname / client reference number
- Secure shredding collection bags
Step 1:
- Break the task down into small steps – this could be working on one section / drawer at a time.
Step 2:
- Now you are prepared to start, empty your first section / drawer onto a clear surface.
- From there start at the top of the pile and work your way down.
- For each record check off the client against your list – if the record is for a client who is no longer a client decide if the record needs to kept or not (make sure you adhere to GDPR). Extract this record and either archive or if you no longer need the client record put it in the secure shredding collection bag.
- For clients who are still part of your data record base go through the record and remove anything older than six years and put it in the shredding collection bag – unless you have good cause to keep the information.
Step 3:
- Now, with client records you are keeping go through them and remove anything older than three years. Put this information into a folder marked ‘Archive’ and write the client name and number in the top right corner of the file.
- File into an archive box.
- Make a note of the client name / number on a separate sheet of paper to use later
Top tip to save time in the future:
At the end of every financial year go through your records and staple or treasury tag together all the papers from the year. Label the top sheet with the year to make for easy location.
Step 4:
- Once you have gone through an entire section / drawer put the files you are keeping away ensuring they are all labelled appropriately.
- Between 1 – 3 years is recommended depending upon the information being retained.
- If you retain different types of information on a client consider using a different colour square cut folder for each i.e. personal information = red / financial information = yellow / work related records = green.
Step 5:
- Take the list of archived clients you made earlier, now stored in an archive box and type it up.
- Give each archive box a clear heading and table the contents with the client reference number in the first column and full name or company in the second column.
- Print three copies and laminate.
- Attach one of the print outs to the front and one to the right had side of that. This will ensure the labels are visible if stacked by breadth or width.
- Place the third copy inside the lid. This serves two purposes – if the labels come off there is still a record within the box, and it is also a quick reference for finding a specific client.
Top Tip:
You will most likely end up with two types of boxes for archiving – previous clients and current clients. To help with archiving you may find it easier to label previous client boxes with a letter and current client boxes with a number.
Step 6: 
- Transfer your boxes to a secure location.
- If storing securely on your own site I recommend using a shelving system (my personal recommendation is company called BIGDug). As when you stack boxes on top of each other you may find yourself struggling to access any of the files in the middle boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to organise a paperwork in a filing cabinet office?
This depends on your filing cabinet and the office! It usually ranges from half a day to a day to go through a full filing cabinet depending on the amount that needs both sorting, archiving and organising.
I’m worried about you throwing away papers that may be important and need to be kept. How do I know this will not happen?
After fact finding about you and your business, any papers which I do not feel you need to hang onto I put into a ‘check’ box as I go along. This gives you the final say and opportunity to check before it is recycled.
Do I need to be there if I outsourced you to organise my office for me?
I need to have an initial meeting with you as part of my fact find about your business, yourself and how ideally you would like your office to look. After that, I am fine on my own.
How do I know I can trust you with my paperwork and data protection?
This is all set out in my Freelance contract and Terms & Conditions document which you receive in advance of any work taking place. I am also registered with the ICO and fully insured.
How do I book your services?
Either give me a call or complete the contact me details on my website and I will be in touch. Once we have discussed your needs I will book you in the first available slot I have.
How Busy Lives! can support with this
Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and unable to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of business support for people in that position.
If the procedure above sounds too much like hard work and effort or boring to you why not let me do it for you?
Equally, if you know anyone taking over a business where this may be what they are inheriting, please tell them about me. I can provide outsourced project support where systematic and methodical organisation is required.
Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031
Drop me a message on this website, LinkedIn or Messenger on Facebook
Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk
Sep 21, 2020 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
What are business support services, how they can save you money, and free up your time?
‘What are business support services, how they can save you money, and free up your time?’ is a question I frequently get asked. Unlike some industries, I have worked and solved the pain points for varied and diverse clients. Busy Lives! services are bespoke to be precisely what you need help with not what ‘Joe Bloggs’ needs. This blog post explains and gives some concrete examples of my current trends in work, things I have been asked to do and how, as a result, generated more income for businesses.
Overview
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What are business support services?
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What are the most common types of services requested?
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How business support services can free up your time and you make more money?
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Is it worth it?
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Your to-do Lists!
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Key questions to ask yourself if business support is right for you and your business?
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How Busy Lives! can support you?
What are business support services?
Business Support Services are there to solve the pain points in your business.
This can be aspects of your work you haven’t got the capacity to do within your day or jobs that you really don’t enjoy doing such as invoicing and reconciliation.
Business support services are services provided by an outsider business which aim to help your business grow without you having to employ additional staff.
Business support services frequently complete those time-heavy tasks which don’t automatically generate you additional income but in the process of doing these for you free up addition time allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business which do.
The beauty of using Busy Lives! is that you can assign work which is from a few hours up to a day on a weekly or monthly basis. This can be at your business premises or remotely whichever works best for you.
Top Tip:
Just like many other businesses there are busy and quiet periods of the year. When possible book well in advance when you can to ensure your delegated work is completed well in time for when it is needed.
What are the most common types of services requested?
Business Support services such as Busy Lives! have two categories of clients, ad-hoc clients that need a specific task either once or a few times within a year and regular clients which range from weekly to a specified number of hours within a month.
Current top five business services Busy Lives! is used for with repeating clients:
- Financial managerial support such as income invoicing, paying expenditure bills and reconciliation.
- Database and analysis work most frequently on excel specific to finances, clients and services used.
- Research, a vast spectrum depending upon the business industry.
- Organisation and filing of paperwork.
- GRDP data protection related work such as extracting papers for archiving and shredding.
Current top five business services Busy Lives! is used for as a one-off service:
- Website review and comparison against key competitors.
- Combining and creating a central client database from financial programs such as QuickBooks, Emailing contact lists and business cards.
- Researching specific businesses and creating a database to market and reach more clients from public information available such as businesses within a specific postcode area.
- Tidying up contacts within a CRM removing duplications and completing all missing fields.
- Organisation of all household paperwork creating a quick and easy filing system for the future.
Business support services can span a wide range of need. My most popular services tend to be mathematical and systematic orientated work, but I can do other types of work.
How business support services can free up your time and you make more money?
Using a business support service can save you time and make you money in several ways. Their hourly rate may be a fraction of what yours is, so getting someone to do certain tasks really can generate more money with what you can be doing with your time instead.
If your business is expanding you may not be at the stage of employing an additional person with all the additional costs which will have to be met such as National Insurance Contribution, Tax and Pension. With outsourced support you pay a flat agreed rate.
Below are real-life examples of how Busy Lives! have assisted businesses.
Example 1:
Business X did not have a single database for their clients. Instead they had several data bases for different clients – this is not an effective way to store this type of information. The negative effect of this meant that when the business ran marketing campaigns, they missed clients which in turn lost them custom and money.
Busy Lives! resolved this by compiling a central client database. Having all client information in one place meant everyone was being targeted in their future marketing campaigns.
Example 2:
Business Y had a client database but did not have all the information for every client. Busy Lives! was bought in to conduct research and gather all the missing information. This allowed Business Y to conduct specified marketing, for example they could target all clients within a certain postcode area or clients who work in a specific trade. Targeted marketing resulted in a more successful campaign and more sales.
This client had been planning on doing this for over a year but didn’t have the time to dedicate to achieving this. With Busy Lives! doing this work, the client was able to spend more time maintaining and building professional business relationships which was key to their business.
Example 3:
Business Z wanted to conduct a postal campaign for businesses with a certain number of employees and within a specific radius.
Busy Lives! complied a list of businesses which fulfilled both requirements. This list allowed Business Z to conduct a postal campaign, target businesses, and obtaining new trade.
The above examples demonstrate how business support services can assist businesses and help you to maximise your profits. Many small businesses can benefit from using business support services as they allow you to focus on your products / services while someone else completes the ‘housekeeping’ tasks for you. Business support services are also beneficial if your business does not have dedicated people to complete housekeeping tasks or if you struggle to complete these tasks yourself as companies like Busy lives! have experience in all areas of business and so can complete any tasks you cannot do yourself or need assistance with.
Is it worth it?
Perhaps it depends on the person when considering outsourcing. One way of looking at this would be if you consider the overall cost per year, another way would be the amount of time you’d actually gain back from doing it!
Two quick examples from two of my regular clients:
3 – 4 hours a month – this equates to them having 6 additional days a year to do with as they wish for business or pleasure.
3 – 4 hours every week – this equates to them having an additional 24 days a year to do as they wish for business or pleasure.
To-Do Lists
We all have tasks that we enjoying doing and others that always go the bottom of that to-do list and get transferred to the next one! Rather than putting pressure and guilt on yourself with those tasks reflect if they could actually be outsourced. Just think about it – ‘X’ never being on that ‘to-do!’ list again.
Top Tip:
If you can’t get a referral about which business support service to use, have a look at a few websites and read the testimonials which have been written. These will often give you a greater insight into the calibre of person than just the ‘About Me’ page.
Key questions to ask yourself if business support is right for you and your business?
Ask yourself what are your pain points?
“What don’t I like doing?”
What takes up too much of time or can be is relentless?
What three things could you outsource that someone would be able to do quicker than you?
Why haven’t I given Karen a call yet? (07565722031)
How Busy Lives! can support you?
Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and unable to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of bespoke business support for people in that position.
Busy Lives! relevant links to this blog post, click on the sentence below:
- Find out what other questions I frequently get asked about business support.
- Take a look at my case studies where I’ve solved other clients problems.
- Business support for the running of your business.
Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031
Drop me a message on this website, LinkedIn or Messenger on Facebook
Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk
Aug 21, 2020 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
Ensuring Compliance is being met with Companies House
Ensuring compliance is being met with Companies House is one of the most important things you need to complete. Starting your own business brings a tidal wave of emotion and in the early stages there are many key decisions for you to make. One of the biggest decisions you need to make is to decide whether to be a Sole Trader or Limited Company.
I once had a client who had decided to become a Limited Company but had not completed all the necessary legal requirements. This blog post is for other new businesses who may be in the same position.
Overview
- What does having a limited company mean?
- What is Companies House?
- Why do you need to register with Companies House?
- What do you need to do to ensure you are compliant?
- Information that should be submitted.
- What can Companies House do for you?
- Conclusion
- How Busy Lives! can support you with this
What does having a Limited Company mean?
- A Limited Company is legally separate from the people who run it.
- It has separate finances form your personal ones.
- You can keep any profits your company makes after paying tax.
- Incorporation with Companies House is the term used when you set up the private limited company with Companies House.
What is Companies House?
Companies House is a government run service. Its responsibilities are to ‘incorporate and dissolve limited companies…register company information and make it available to the public’ (Gov.uk, 2020).
Companies House has four offices in the UK: Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, and London. However, all their services are available online. When registering your company be sure to register with the correct office. Cardiff for England and Wales, Belfast for Northern Ireland, and Edinburgh for Scotland.
Why do you need to register with Companies House?
All limited companies (a business that is a company in its own right) and limited liability partnership (LLPs) are legally required to register with Companies House.
What do you need to do to ensure you are compliant?
When setting up a limited company you must register with Companies House. Where your business is located will determine which of its branches you will be dealing with.
Important to Note:
Your company can operate in multiple UK jurisdictions, but the office address must remain in the area you registered it. For example, a company registered in Scotland can operate in Wales, but the home office must stay in Scotland.
Information that should be submitted
- Company name.
- The correct address for the company. This can also be registered as a correspondence address through your accountant if you don’t wish the general public having access to your home address.
- Name of who the Director/s.
- Details of your Companies shares – you need to have at least one shareholder.
- When you register a company you need to provide information about the shares which is known as a ‘Statement of Capital.’
- All shareholders names and addresses should be given. Shareholders are technically known as ‘Members.’
- If you have shareholders other than yourself you also must then have ‘prescribed particulars’ for them.
- A SIC code needs to be in place. This means Standard Industrial Classification. This identifies what your company does.
- Memorandum of Association.
- Articles of Association.
- PSC which is details of People with Significant Control.
- As the company director you are legally responsible to ensure the company accounts and reports are properly prepared. Many businesses use their Accountant to do this on their behalf.
- You should be registered for Corporation tax and PAYE as an employee at the same time as registering with company’s house within three months. You may get a penalty fee if this is not done within this period.
Top Tip
Once you have registered with Companies House you must ensure you keep them up to date with any changes to your company this includes:
- Appointing new directors / secretaries and changes to your PSC’s.
- Changing your company name.
- Changing your registered office’s address.
- Changes to your accounting reference date.
- Changes to your share information – i.e. if you sell more shares.
- Any mortgage information.
What can Companies House do for you?
- As well as documenting all limited companies, Companies House is responsible for keeping all data up to date and removing / prosecuting non-compliant companies. You can use Companies House to file documents online using their software. Completing documents online is often easier than filling in paper forms. As well as giving data you can also download data from their website.
- Another important service provided by Companies House is the ability to search for disqualified directors and information on other companies, this could include your company’s competition!
- Companies House has protected online filing meaning your company is protected from fraudulent changes to its records.
- You can also sign up for ‘Follow’. This is a free service that alerts you of company transactions, including what has been filed and accepted by Companies House.
- Companies House also allows you access copies of certified documents held on their register and certificates of incorporation with certified facts.
Conclusion
Registering with Companies House can be pain-free process provided you gather all the required information beforehand – you will need 3 pieces of personal information about you and your shareholders / guarantors (for example, national insurance number, passport number, town of birth or parent’s names).
Once you are registered don’t forget you will need to keep you Companies House records up to date, which is available to do online.
How Busy Lives! can support you with this
Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and unable to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of business support for people in that position.
I am happy to help by checking your paperwork is all accurate, up to date and submitted with companies house.
Busy Lives! relevant links to this blog post:
- Business support for the running of your business. https://bit.ly/2sLMt7E
- Small business support case study. https://bit.ly/36cTYSJ
Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031
Drop me a message on this website, LinkedIn or Messenger on Facebook
Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk
Jul 21, 2020 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
Key Components for Writing a Business Plan When Starting in Business
The two activities which gave me the best preparation possible for the launch of Busy Lives! were attending a three-day course on starting your own business and writing a business plan. I knew exactly what my services were going to be, but I had not considered the entire big picture and everything else that was needed. Writing my business plan gave me not only an insight as to what was required but clarity and understanding of what my business would achieve within a competitive marketplace.
Writing a business plan enables you to have a robust strategy for moving forward. If you are in the process of starting your own business or at a stage in your business where you require a business plan, I hope the contents of this blog post give you a good starting point.
Overview
- Why do you need a business plan?
- When should you make a business plan?
- Key components of a business plan
- Final Top Tips
- How Busy Lives! can support you with this
Why do you need a business plan?
Whatever your business, a business plan is essential. It will allow you to strategically break down all the necessary elements involved in running a business and allow you to see if your business will succeed. It is also a crucial document to have if you are applying for a grant or a loan.
An effective business plan will outline your business structure and future goals. This can also help secure potential lenders and business partners. Having a strong business plan can show potential lenders what to expect from your business and help them decide if your business is worth investing in.
As well as drawing in outsiders, your business plan is a tool you can use to create a blueprint of what your business is going to achieve. This is especially helpful when you are starting out.
When should you make a business plan?
It is advisable to create your business plan before leaving your current career. A well-thought out business plan can help you make sure you are really ready.
Update your plan regularly, to ensure your business continues to grow and this is a ‘living document.’ – I update mine every 6 or 12 months.
Key components of a business plan
Below are key parts of a business plan. Not every business will require every section. Take the time to read through and decide if you need this. And remember, you can always add and remove sections as your business grows and changes.
Depending on your business, your business plan can take many forms, for example a small one-person business plan may focus on personal goals for development, target customers and finances.
Front Page
Use this to provide key snap shot information about your business.
Include your:
- Your brand logo
- Contact name
- Business name
- Address
- Post code
- Telephone
- Email
- Website
- Business idea
- Start date
- Business structure
- Last updated
Table of contents
- A table of contents is a useful guide for the reader. It shows the different parts of the business plan which can be quickly referenced by page number and demonstrates your thought process in compiling it logically.
Executive summary
- This section should be at the start of your business and plan. The executive summary outlines what your business is going to accomplish.
- This section can also include your business’ mission statement and what services / products your business is going to provide.
- If you are applying for funding / finance this is the place to detail what you want. In general, you should keep this section to half a page but no more than a full page.
- If your business is already established this section can detail what you have already achieved and how you are planning to move forward.
Top tips
- You should consider at your executive summary as your ‘elevator pitch’. It needs to be short and to the point.
- Write your executive summary after you have written the rest of your plan. Your executive summary should be a condensed form of your business plan so writing it last can make sure you have included all the important points.
Business description
- This is where you write your business description. Include key information such as your business’ goals and what makes your business stand out from the crowd. (Once you are established, you can include your business’ history).
- One of the most important things to include in your business description is your mission statement. A mission statement should be short and clearly display your unique selling point. For example: if your business focuses on environmental issues make sure your mission statement incorporates this.
Top tips
- Your business goals should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Related Targets). Vague goals can negatively impact on your direction moving forward and profits.
- When writing your business’ history do not record everything. Stick to major milestones and basic information.
Management and organisation
- This section is for you to outline your business’ chain of command. This can be a diagram or a list detailing high-profile people / outsourced business and their skills / job responsibilities.
- This is also the place to state whether your business is a limited company, sole-trader, or partnership.
Top tip
- Detailing the skills and experience of important people in your business can entice investors. A business with lots of skilled and experience people is less of an investment risk.
Legal Matters
When setting up a business you must ensure you adhere to all legalities such as:
- Making sure you have the required insurance, permits, licences or registrations.
- You adhere to H&S guidelines and practices.
- Your business complies with current GDPR regulations (data protection).
Breakdown of products and services
- Detail your business’ products and services stating how these will meet an existing or future need in the marketplace.
Top tip
- As well as pointing out the features of your products / services ensure you state how these features benefit your customers.
Market analysis
- This is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge of your industry. Use statistics and dates to prove your points and state where your business will sit in this industry. This also be the place to detail the demographics of the customers you market to. Include your sale forecasts and market strategy.
- Use your research to detail why your business is going to be profitable. For example: online searches for the product / service your business provides have increased by X % over the last X months.
Top tip
- When deciding your target customers aim to be as specific as you can. Your marketing should be pitched as if you are talking directly to them.
Marketing plan
- Your marketing plan should detail the steps you are going to take to promote your business. You can also include your planned budget for this. There are several things you should include in this section including:
Marketing Strategy
- Detail what current strategies you have in place and where you intend to get most of your business from. For example: word of mouth referrals. From this you can detail how you are going to move forwards and increase your sales either by implementing new marketing plans or building on existing ones.
Market Analysis
- A market analysis is where you conduct research into your business’ market. This includes discovering who your potential customers are and what their shopping habits are. How much your customers are willing to pay for something and how large your target market is.
Geographical Segmentation
- This is a strategy where you either serve customers in a particular area only or where your customers will have different preferences based on their geographical location.
- If geographical segmentation is applicable to your business then here is the place to document this and group your customers based on location; this can be done by region, city or neighbourhood.
Demographical and Behavioural Segmentation
- Demographical segmentation is where you divide your customers based on their demographics. This can include age, gender, income, location, education and ethnicity.
- For example, a budget gardening business may choose to focus on customers with lower incomes.
- Behavioural segmentation requires you to know more about your customers habits including their spending habits and brand interactions.
- For example a budget car business may decide to focus on customers who have purchased a second-hand car in the past five years.
Competitor Analysis
- This is really key to not only know who your competitors are but ensure you pitch your pricing accurately. Here you need to compare your business to those that already exist. Map out your competitor’s strengths and weakness and how their business differs.
- Reflect how you can benefit from their weaknesses to make a success of yours.
SWOT Analysis
- This is a really important section to spend time on. Break down the different aspects of your business and you running it. Doing this will help you to identify where you need to professionally develop or outsource parts of your business to in the future.
- Whenever you identify a weakness you need to find a solution.
- Lastly, when you have mapped this out. Prioritise which identified weaknesses and threats need to be tackled in the short or long term.
Pricing
- Use your competitor analysis with what they are charging on average as a starting point.
- Pricing is an important element and will have a direct impact on your business. When pricing your products / services it is important to cover all your costs – this includes materials, labour, property, marketing, networking, distribution costs and a monthly salary.
- Don’t forget to factor in Tax and National Insurance.
Top Tip
- Check your pricing against the number of hours you intend to work each week across a whole year. Is it still financially viable? You may find you need to adjust what you charge in light of this.
Funding
- If you are trying to get funding it is a good idea to include a funding section which plainly states how much money you are looking for and how you are going to use it. If you are going to need more money later, state that too.
- If you do not have an exact number in mind provide a range. For example: £2,000.00 -£3,000.00
- It a good idea to include a timeline showing investors what they can expect from your business.
Top tips
- Make sure your funding request is realistic.
- Demonstrate ‘Best Value’ where you can obtaining three quotes on equipment and resources.
- Low investments with high returns are more desirable than high investments with low returns.
Finances
- This is the place to plan out your business’ financial goals and your expectations based on your research. State your estimated revenue for the upcoming year.
- This is also the place to make a budget. For new businesses you need to research your estimated costs and how you will budget for them. If you are unsure of a cost always budget more to make sure you are not left short.
- It is also vital for you to consider and include your own living costs. As a business owner your monthly income is not guaranteed, especially when you are starting out. This is something you will need to factor in and budget for before starting your new business venture.
- For a new business, you will need to do a personal balance sheet and a projection of your business’ balance sheet. When making these make sure you remain realistic and work both best-case and worst-case scenarios. Remember to consider your living expenses and ensure you have budgeted for this.
Top tip
- Have two financial figures. A realistic one for what you need to earn as a minimum to meet your expenditure including your cost of living. The second one is your financial goal that you aim to achieve.
- When writing your income and cash flow statements your first year should be broken down to monthly segments, your second year can be quarterly and thereafter it can be yearly.
Appendix of official documents
- One final thing you may require is an appendix of related documents. This can include permits, certificates and legal documents as well as industry memberships and identification numbers.
Final top tips
- Less is more. Keep your business plan to the point.
- Make it easy to read. Investors receive countless business plans. If it is hard to read, they will not read it.
- Make it professional. Ensure you proofread the document and lay it out in a clear and professional, consistently formatted manner.
Not every business will require everything detailed above. Use what you find useful and tailor you plan to suit your needs.
When you do revisit your plan, you will most likely find that you have achieved some goals and so sections of your plan are no longer relevant. This is a good thing and shows your business has progressed. It also means it is time for you to set new goals. However, you may also find you have not achieved some goals. If this is the case then sit down and find out why you have not reached this goal, adjust it if needed and plan is needed to be put in place for it to succeed.
How Busy Lives! can support you with this
Busy Lives! was created when I left a busy career that left me time poor and unable to give sufficient priority to what really mattered to me. I now provide a wide range of business support for people in that position or are wanting to start their own business.
I am happy to help by:
- Discussing the content with needed for writing a business plan for your business.
- Working alongside you to help you write your business plan.
- Listening to your ideas and content then typing your business plan for you.
- Formatting your business plan so that it looks of a high professional standard.
- Researching your competitors for the competitor analysis section of your business plan.
- Sharing the business plan template that I use.
Find out more about my Business Support Services
Let you help you gain precious time back. Ring Busy Lives! 07565 722 031
Drop me a message on this website, LinkedIn or Messenger on Facebook
Or Email: karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk
Jun 21, 2020 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
That was then, this is now. The brand story behind Busy Lives!
From being a well-known School Leader to becoming an unknown Businesswoman – the values and tools that brought me through this transition.
Overview
- A change in direction
- A new beginning…know, like and trust
- Gaining new clients who previously didn’t know me
- Why?
- How?
- What?
- Key messages
A change in direction
How does taking your career in a new direction change your core values or modus operandi?
…‘What lies behind us and before us matters little compared to what lies within us.’…
O Wendel Holmes
I stumbled across this quote some years ago at one of the Transformational Leadership courses that I attended in my previous role of a Head Teacher. As the facilitator used it as his ‘Key message’ at the end of Day One, and we had to go away and reflect upon this. To me it seemed simple, why would your values change just because your job title changed?
Two years ago I left my Head Teacher role, leading approximately one hundred and fifty staff and seven hundred and fifty children, to start a new career path as I had always planned to at the age of fifty. I want to share with you the thoughts of past colleagues and recent clients’ feedback that will exemplify how successfully I have transitioned my values into my new role.
As a complete unknown in the business world, I asked my previous colleagues and contacts within the education section to provide me with some testimonials that would help new potential clients gain an insight into who I am and how I work. Here are a few samples of what they said:
“She is logical, methodical and organised and has an excellent eye for detail. Karen looks for creative and practical solutions to problems and works efficiently to put them in place. Any tasks she undertakes will be carried out to the highest standards.”
“The growth of a school is a great undertaking and Karen demonstrated a very strategic approach in her thinking and planning. Efficiency and effectiveness are key aspects of Karen’s professional role and she is committed to supporting others in order to manage their lives.”
“She is very good at analysing challenging problems and situations accurately, finding solutions and bringing order to them systematically. Her attention to detail is exceptional and all her work is carried out to a very high professional standard.”
As a Head teacher your values and how you implement them are highly exposed and visible to everyone. In my new career, I was shifting the emphasis of my role onto supporting and adding value to other people, to help transform and develop their businesses.
A new beginning…Know, Like and Trust.
…‘Though my principles are not many, I am very loyal to every one of them’…
Sameh Elsayed
The above quote is something that I passionately believe in and have used to build my brand. From attending NBV small business courses I was introduced to the concept of developing your brand strategy using the simple mantra of ‘know, like and trust.’
This resonated powerfully with my own way of thinking and I set about creating a business plan using it.
My core strategy was to build my brand story through:
- The ongoing development of a website that exemplified the ‘who and why’ that is continuously reviewed and updated, so that it is a living document of my values and the impact that I have on my clients’ businesses.
- Regular attendance at networking events allied to informal meetings with other attendees in order to develop potentially supportive relationship and gain an insight into the needs of my peers.
- Using multiple social media platforms to communicate my brand values and promoting the businesses of my peers in a systematic way.
I was successful at accessing funding from Broxtowe Borough Council which allowed me the opportunity to access the services of a marketing professional who provided me with their expertise and guidance over time to enable me to grow the brand story efficiently and systematically.
As I began to implement my strategies, my initial clients provided me with feedback as to how my way of working impacted on them and their businesses:
“Her attention to detail and clarity of thought adds helpful dimensions for those who have busy lives and need a wise hand to guide them behind the scenes.”
“Karen has always been highly professional with a human touch, very efficient yet has a great sense of humour.”
“Integrity, honesty and professionalism are key values that Karen will bring to any organisation as well as being very loyal and hard working.”
To be honest, some of these clients I have had some brief contact with in the past and were therefore more inclined to use my business services, but my impact on their businesses still stands.
Gaining new clients who previously didn’t know me – How?
…‘Good values are like a magnet, they attract good people.’
John Wooden
As part of my annual review, I invited five of my clients that I have worked with in the previous twelve months to fill in a questionnaire that would provide me with useful feedback as to how I was attracting clients, what they specifically wanted me to achieve on their behalf and the impact I had on them and their business.
These five businesses operate in a wide range of sectors: Car Bodywork Repair Specialist, Coaching, Creative Arts, Marketing and Mediation.
All of these businesses have used my services at different times of the year on a regular basis. All of these clients possess ‘good’ values and a high degree of professionalism – exemplified by the time they took to help and support my growth through filling in my questionnaire.
I have organised their feedback into three key areas:
- Why did they choose to use Busy Lives!
- How Busy Lives! services were used.
- What impact did Busy Lives! have on them and their business.
Why?
“I prefer to deal with people I know and very importantly trust. Having met Karen at Network meetings I felt there was an opportunity for Karen to support me with my business.”
Liam Kelly – Ready for Retail
“Having heard about your reputation in Education (and worked with you briefly in that role), plus the way you talk so confidently and passionately about the business support that you would offer.”
Debbie Inglis – Debbie Inglis Associates
“Immediately felt warmth, came across as highly knowledgeable, could relate to me and my business which meant that I felt I could trust her – all from a single meeting at a networking event.
Rebecca Hart – Dance Equation
“What I saw at networking was reflected exactly in your social media. You have a very strong work ethos and ethics. I could see you have a passion for helping people and a high level of knowledge and expertise.”
Claire Taylor – Creationz Marketing
“Your personable approach and your organisational skills were clear when you presented at networking events.”
Pete Colby – Pragmatism (UK) ltd.
How ?
“I outsourced Karen to deal with administrative, yet sensitive issues related to financial matters that were necessary to support the running of the business.”
Liam Kelly
“Karen was used to carry out interviews of our members and carry out full interviews of them for marketing purposes. She also carried out a website review for my own business and I have liaised with her on providing contact and communication support for a government bid to support coaching in schools.”
Debbie Inglish
“I’ve used Karen for a variety of purposes: She completely reorganised electronic files, photographs, documents and contacts into an easily accessible format. Worked alongside me on a whole recruitment process including interviewing. She reviewed and completely reformatted all my paperwork and forms to be consistent for my business.”
Rebecca Hart
“Karen was employed to run some of the business that really did not need me to do: invoicing, chasing late payments, database input and maintenance. Sometimes on site and sometimes remotely.”
Claire Taylor
“A full website review of my website and competitors websites. Database research and entry.”
Pete Colby
What?
“The key benefits of using Busy Lives! is giving you time (four hours per week) to look at the bigger picture for your business and be able to concentrate on driving the business forward. As a business owner, you should consider what YOUR hourly rate is and how YOU should be spending your time to maximise the potential of your business.”
Liam Kelly
“It’s taken the pressure off jobs I don’t particularly want to do. It has meant I could spend less time in front of the computer and more time being creative with my business and working directly with clients. ‘You can get your head into someone’s business so that you are representing them.”
Debbie Inglis
“With Karen so highly organised it meant I could focus upon the creative parts of my business knowing that the essential tasks were being done to a high standard. She gets ‘me’ and accepts ‘me’ for how I operate and moulds herself around that so that the work gets done efficiently.”
Rebecca Hart
“Your open and honest approach makes communication really easy. You’re always looking out for the best interests of me and my business. Karen relishes doing the tasks I really don’t like but she gives me precious time back that allows me to spend on what really matters – running my business and networking with clients.”
Claire Taylor
“The main benefits of working with Karen are time saving, efficient and high-quality work carried out in a very friendly and engaging way. She also did an extremely comprehensive and professional website review recently, which is now a key document which my business uses to drive continuous improvement.”
Pete Colby
Key Messages
The overwhelming message I want to share with you about my journey from Head Teacher into Business Support is that the values I possess whilst working with clients have not changed one iota. The triangulation of face to face networking, social media posts and a refined website all demonstrate consistently my values and my modus operandi.
How do I know this? Because that is what my clients have told me.
‘Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.’
Chris Grosser
Businesses need new opportunities in order to grow, develop and transform not only themselves but their clients also.
By choosing to use my services, you create those opportunities.
By choosing to use my services, you give yourself time to grow.
By choosing to use my services, you are guaranteed the highest level of professionalism, integrity, efficiency and confidentiality.
Please feel free contact me and let’s discuss how I can support you now and in the future.
karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk
Thank you
Sep 21, 2019 | BUSINESS SUPPORT
One of my favourite top growth tips which I read frequently is all business owners should consider outsourcing and delegate anything you can! This blog post explores the rationale behind this.
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What is outsourcing?
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Why Outsource?
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What are the most common areas outsourced?
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What are the benefits of outsourcing?
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Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?
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Why outsource to Busy Lives!
What is outsourcing?
- Outsourcing is the business practice of hiring a contractor outside your business to perform services or create goods that traditionally were performed in-house by the businesses own employees and staff.
- Outsourcing can be used for any position whatsoever. It’s function is to provide support to the central infrastructure of a business or in in the day to day operations of a business
- Shift tasks, operations or jobs or processes to an external workforce by contracting a third party.
- Businesses outsource to perform or tasks handle operations and provide services that that the business is struggling to do or keep on top of.
- The process of hiring another business for a specific focus and length of time.
- Paying to have part of a business’s work done by another business.
- Outsourcing is associated with efficiencies, it aims to produce higher or equal returns.
Why Outsource?
It’s interesting how the size of your business influences if you outsource and to what degree. There are a few common services that apply to all sizes of business – such as insurance and accountancy but after that it becomes much more open ended.
Outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. The benefits from this can include operational cost reduction; having a specialist to work on areas not a current strength or take a long time; improved efficiency and releasing internal staff for specialist projects.
So, which of the following could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?
What are the most common areas outsourced?
Administration Analytics Application support
Bookkeeping Business support Catering
Change management Cleaning Coaching
Database management Data Entry & analysis Document & data processing
Form processing Grounds Maintenance HR
IT Technical support Legal services Marketing
Maternity/Paternity cover Mentoring Minute taking
Payroll and pensions Project management Staff supply
Strategy & problem solving
Outsourcing helps you to focus your energy and passion on those parts of the business that you enjoy and are the expert at!
What are the benefits of outsourcing?
- Increased efficiency for the business.
- Variable capacity.
- Increases focus and time available for strategy / leadership direction.
- Access to specific skills or resources.
- Flexibility to meet changing business conditions.
- Cost effective if only required at certain times of the year.
- Lower overall costs than an employee as tax, NI, pension is not paid.
- Flexible time durations from an hour if remotely, to half full days, weeks, months.
Where do you outsource from – does size of business matter?
Can you remember the famous Aesop’s fable of the Lion and the Mouse? The Lion was great and mighty, but it was actually the mouse that had just the right the skill set to help the Lion succeed with the problem he had!
Why is it we automatically turn to the big companies with the products and services we know?
Is it because that’s the name we know or have heard of?
Does this always mean we get the best possible service and products by using them?
Some of the greatest advantages small businesses have over their large competitors are: flexibility; innovation and the freedom to think outside of the box to find your solution; great customer care; precise tailored responses to your individual needs; agility and adaptability to respond quickly; not having to conform to corporate bureaucracy (9-5 timings) and; building up over time an unique professional relationship where the small business owner cares about your individual needs and success, in addition to their own.
Larger service provider companies may well have a pool to draw from, but have they always got the specific skill set for the job that you may be hesitant to delegate, to save you both time and assist your work demands. Freelance executive, virtual and personal assistants are a growing highly skilled work force community, with many diverse strengths and experiences from different corporate backgrounds. We are professional, efficient at delivering high standard results and care about what we do.
Be strategic for your business and with your time. Make use of the small business executive, personal and virtual support out there.
Why outsource to Busy Lives!
I have a vast skill set that I acquired as a Head teacher that can be useful to anyone, as I now help those businesses with large workloads with a plethora of priorities and deadlines. I’ve been in that position of being time poor and totally understand and know what it’s like. Take a look at my page about me!
So, which of my following services could really make a difference to both you and the effectiveness of your business?
Administration Analytics Application support
Business support Constructing Presentations Database management
Data Entry & analysis Document & data processing Formatting documents
Form processing Maternity/Paternity cover Mentoring
Minute taking Organisation of files Project management
Recruitment Staff supply Strategy & problem-solving
Social Media Training resources
I Do the things you don’t like to do,
the things you don’t have time to do,
the things that may take you much longer than me to do!
The other key benefit of using Busy Lives! is that I can do the work at your business, remotely or at your home to suit your precise needs.
Freelance outsourcing can reap great benefits for all size of business. If you know someone who is struggling with everything and really busy please share this blog post or tell them to either email: Karen@busylivesnottingham.co.uk or give me a call: 07 565 722 031
