There is an excellent source of free information for new and small businesses. It is Government sponsored and it is called Business Link. There, I've said it!
So, if this information is available for free, why on earth would you want to pay me (or any other charging resource)? Quite simply, because we offer something quite different and further reaching. Take the analogy of free newspapers - in the short term The Metro (free newspaper) will impact on sales of the The Times - what The Metro provides, however, is a simplistic, bite-sized view of world affairs. Having read 2 paragraphs of events unfolding in the Middle East you might well be thirsty for more knowledge so you will look for a newspaper with deeper coverage, opinions and perhaps feedback - like The Times. In this sense, the free resource is actually a feeder for the paying one. (I'm ignoring the Internet which is a different discussion all together).
Like any free resource - particularly one which is Government sponsored - Business Link has some serious limitations - and indeed it has been an early victim of spending cut-backs. These limitations are always highlighted very loudly when the topic of Business Link is raised on business forums or media.
So, to elaborate on my initial comment, Business Link is an excellent source of information and, at best, a variable source of advice. (A dictionary is a great source of information, but it won't teach you how to write a book).
When it comes to advice, the very status of Business Link is a vicious circle. Its founding committee is comprised mainly of politicians who have absolutely no hands-on experience of business and are far too busy drowning everything in paperwork and red tape. (Just an aside, but my belief is that Government officers genuinely believe that we business owners actually like filling in forms).
As a nodding recognition of their limited experience they appoint to their committee some business big-hitters - the former chairman of Dixons, for example - not a bad step, but it is still a long time since they were at the coal face, filled in a VAT return, worried about a Companies House filing penalty or had to deal hands-on with an employee issue.
On the front -line, they gave us face-to-face advisors; the majority of these are (or were, I think they are being minimised). This is where it all goes seriously pear-shaped. Don't get me wrong I know that they are by and large diligent, well-meaning and knowledgeable in their own field, but business advisors? Really, they are not.
The reason that Government love bank managers is that essentially they are quite similar - they left school or college and joined a bank. They worked their way up through the system without ever having to leave the confines of their singular environment. Yes, sometimes they would move from one bank to another, but the systems and procedures were so similar as to make no realistic difference. Also, they love forms and paperwork!
OK, so their work environment is tunneled, but they are dealing day-to-day with business and helping them to manage and develop. Well, perhaps they were in the '60s and even the '70s, but since the last recession the average bank manager has been a pure salesman whose role has predominantly been to develop relationships with brokers, intermediaries and business advisors - therefore the banks have effectively delegated the role of understanding customer needs to the professional and broker community. Those who regularly face customers have a simple remit - sell more products (I do know that one bank has a target that every customer should have 4 of their products). When the customer looks shaky the manager has one primary option - get out - quickly!
And that is why I cannot give any credence to bank managers as business advisors - they are the front face of Business Link, so I cannot recommend them as a source of advice.
So, simply, if you want to find out how to register for VAT, or the ins and outs of Ltd company versus sole trader, go to Business Link,. If you want advice on how to develop and run your business, go to someone who knows what they are talking about.
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