Date of Review: 11^th June 2011

There should be nothing too difficult about accounts. After all, in its most basic form it is a record of how money comes into your business, and how it then exits it. It has always been a slight source of confusion that I couldn’t get my head around it – I mean it can’t be that tough, can it?

Which is where Anthony Rice’s book “Accounts Demystified” comes in. Setting the book out into three main sections (The Basics, Interpretation, and Analysis) allows the author to present accounts concepts in a way that anyone can understand. But these three sections are further sub-divided into 12 sessions which take the understanding to a more detailed and byte-sized level.

The key to the simplicity of this book is understanding that the author is not an accountant. His knowledge has been built up through trial and error, and a sudden realisation that accounts can be simple. His reaction to that is that there are a number of explanatory diagrams throughout the book explaining concepts such as funding structures, as well as how balance sheets change as a transaction progresses.

The education of accounts is hung on the hook of two fictional companies, Wingate and Silk Bloomers Limited. This allows the author to present concepts in a practical context, that allows understanding that might otherwise be dry and difficult.

This is a clever book. The use of fictional companies to explain accounting concepts is not new, but coupled with the easy to understand diagrams and tables, the reader can follow the development of accounts as a company evolves and matures. I would recommend this book for anyone who was having difficulty working out what to record for their financial transactions, and for those that need just a little extra ‘push’ into a region where all is clear.

With a huge glossary of terms no stone appears to have been left unturned, and with this authors website, this is as a complete a package of accounting practices that I have seen.

TOTAL MARK 5/5

Review by: Will Roney

Accounts Demystified: The Astonishingly Simple Guide to Accounting

We are looking for:

• information products, such as eBooks, Books, eCourses or membership sites
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• A Guide to Successful Blogging eBook – a 62 page eBook taking you the whole process of starting and creating a blog.
• Writing for Successful Blogs – take your writing to the next level with this handy eBook.
• A 30 min Video Tutorial on Analysing Stats  - this video is invaluable, without this information you’re pretty much throwing darts blind.  The information leaves nothing to guesswork when it comes to understanding how your blog is performing. What’s covered;

• Explanation of all the stats terms
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• The three different types of traffic
• How to target keywords
• How to create content that your visitors love

AND

• A 25 min Video Tutorial on Email Marketing – take your blog to the next level by building a list of your most committed followers.  Building an email list gives you a chance to take the relationship a step further or offer information in one niche area via an email list

What’s covered;

• How to build an email list using AWeber
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• How to analyse the performance of your email list
• How to increase engagement and make more sales (if you’re selling!)

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• A SEO Tips Video. SEO for most people is boring and takes too much effort.  Scrap all that, all you need to do is a little more than the competition.  This video gives you 9 ways to start getting ahead of the competition and all of it can be included in your usually posting routine.  Any blogger can begin implementing these tips right away – no tech knowledge required! Watch the 18 minute video to see how to do all nine now.

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• A How to Monetise Your Blog Video Our blogs generate a four figure income every month and we don’t actively pursue advertising.   Everything I know about monetising blogs is in this video.  Everything.  You can make your entire fee for this library back by selling one tiny ad or making one affiliate sale (explained in the video!).  We know our strategies work as not only have we been using them for the past three or four years but we have clients that have paid for my more expensive courses from their blog revenue after following my advice.  We could include everything I cover but I think you know me well enough to trust that this video will be good.

This is the best content Erica has ever produced and priced at £29 but is only available till 9pm tomorrow, Tuesday 21/02/12. Get your access to the video library here.  Watch it, read it, enjoy it but above all take action and you’ll see real results.

After a short hiatus, they have opened up this fund to help those wanting to start a business or who are looking to grow their businesses. So if you are looking for £50-£500, then why not apply for this fantastic fund.

To apply simply visit Enterprise Nation, click on the button and outline what you want the money for. make a good case and get as many people to vote for you as possible, you will need the same number f votes as the amount of money you have applied for,  500 votes is required for £500.

The money does not need paying back, all they require is for you to be profiled so they can see how you are getting on.

So have you got an idea but not the funding, apply today and get those votes in!

Now, I know that journalists pick case studies that tie in to the magazine’s target audience. Generally, that means that women’s magazines have women case studies. But in the current issue of Psychologies, in their dossier on stress, the case studies are Kysha, 28, Stella, 36, and Matthew, 44. And there have been male case studies in quite a few issues now. Plus, towards the front of the magazine, in every issue, there is a column by 47 year old dad David Baddiel. This issue he writes about a charity he supports and touches on the school run.

So, is Psychologies trying to attract male readers, or simply acknowledging that there are more and more men like my husband sneaking a peak at their features? Does your husband read your magazines too?

The show is being held to raise money for Bliss, the UK charity for babies born too soon, too small or too sick to cope on their own. One in eight babies in the UK is born premature or sick – that’s 82,000 babies every year. Around 20,000 of these babies need intensive care and the figure is rising. Every six minutes, a newborn baby requires urgent specialist care. Every 24 minutes, a newborn baby requires life-saving intensive care. Bliss is the only UK charity that helps care for premature and sick babies. They are dedicated to ensuring that more babies not only survive, but also go on to have the best possible quality of life. They support families, fund cutting-edge research and campaign for improved hospital resources.

The show will take place on Sunday 4^th March at the Rowley Mile Conference Centre and will be open to the public from 11am until 4pm. Adult entry is £3.50 and under 16’s are free.

Whether you are expecting your first bundle of joy or already have a house full of pre-schoolers, the Newmarket Mum & Baby Show will have plenty to offer, so come along for some family fun and help support local businesses and a wonderful charity.’

Having said that, once everyone looked at the magazine, it was great. It’s hard to find a magazine for D – at 9 she’s past most of the BBC children’s magazines, and she’s not yet into the magazines aimed at teen girls. The Club Penguin magazine appealed to both D and J, 6: both of them really enjoyed completing the puzzles and quizzes which linked in well to the website. K, 2, liked the pictures and can now say ‘Puffle’!

What are the alternatives? K is always very happy with a copy of CBeebies magazine which I think is outstanding in the way it encourages children to get active, make, bake, craft and more. J is also fairly easily sorted whether it is with a Dr Who magazine or whoever his latest favourite superhero is. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the Lego Club magazine which has a couple of advantages: firstly it is free! Secondly, it inspires the kids to go and play Lego which to my mind is slightly better for them than Club Penguin! D was unimpressed, however, with the new Lego Girl magazine which came out recently – she’d like to stick to the non gender specific magazine. We are going to look out for a copy of the Jacqueline Wilson magazine as something else that might appeal to a 9 year old girl.

Have you read the Club Penguin magazine? What magazines do your kids like or hate?

Kim started her business on a shoestring back in January 2010 when she saw a gap in the market following the birth of her daughter. Disappointed by what the High Street had to offer Kim had an idea for an online boutique of the cutest, funkiest baby hats around and in just under 6 months Hats my Baby was born.

Due to an extremely tight budget Kim initially designed the website herself using a DIY package but as the business continued to grow Kim wanted to offer her customer a more professional online shopping experience. It was for this reason that she decided to apply for funding through the business start-up site Enterprise Nation. Kim needed to get 500 votes to win the funding she requested and by constant promotion and by amazing support from her loyal customers she succeeded. This funding has given Hats My Baby the extra finance they required to develop their new site.

The new Hats My Baby website will include:

• Easier navigation
• A enjoyable shopping experience
• Gallery of “Hats my Baby” babies
• Brand new baby hats from some fab new designers as well as some exciting new baby accessories to add to an already ever growing range!
• Showcase of products from talented crafters who knit or crochet their own gorgeous baby hats

Kim says, “I am over the moon with how far Hats my Baby has come in 2 years. I’ve been working hard towards a new website for the business since the beginning as I think my customers deserve it. Through hard work, determination and the funding we won this is now becoming a reality. The design is underway and the new website really does look fantastic. None of this would have been possible however without the support of my family and friends and loyal customers, as well as some amazing other business mums”

So with a brand new website and continued growth and development it is safe to say that 2012 will be the best year ever for this truly unique baby boutique!

It is a terrible thing if you have a job in a corporation which you don’t enjoy. In my opinion, working for a living should be more than that. There should be a spring in your step as you approach the front door on a Monday morning, but for a lot of us this is the thing that is missing. But what can you do to change that – hence the questions above.

“Turn your talent into a business” by Emma Jones is the latest small business book to come from the excellent Brightword publishing house, and this book does not disappoint. It takes the usual startup business processes and places them in the context of a creative, handmade world. Starting at this point, there are sections on formalising the business, making sure that there is enough capital to start the project, as well as techniques to get your product into existing shops.

In a similar vein to all of Emma Jones’s books, “Turn your talent…” is peppered with case studies from people who have been there and done it, putting a human face on the trials and challenges ahead.

There are additional sections on trade shows, marketing and in the event of a successful product, the opportunities to take the product into other countries. This is a decent, solid book that no creative person should be without if they are serious about making money from their hobby.

Turn your talent into a business by Emma Jones is available from Amazon priced £8.71 (2/12)

I'm a strong advocate for entering awards: winning the Inspirational BusinessMum of the Year award in 2009 took my business to the next level, and since then ACEInspire has won Best Start Up 2010 in the BusinessMum awards, and been listed in the Mumpreneur100 for 2011. If you are looking for an award to enter and have a good business idea, enter the Orange Different Business competition: 

Orange is looking for the UK's next different business.You could win a year's backing and support to make it happen. There is a fabulous package which could really help someone get a business off the ground: I'm entering an idea that Erica and I have come up with which would really be something different to what we do now. It would be fab if we win – but I'd be equally over the moon if someone entered this Win Your Business competition having seen it on Family Friendly Working and won as a result!

You know Erica and I always full of ideas, and we know that continually coming up with something new is critical to business success. This competition has come at a great time as we have not just one but six different ideas that would allow us to diversify. A couple of our ideas need serious investment, and I've picked one of those to enter the Orange Different Business competition. New business ideas, especially those that are a bit different, always come with an element of risk. The Orange Different Business prize package could really help our idea – or your idea – succeed. Orange aren't just handing out cheques. The prize ensures you have the support, advice and investment to get you on the road to success and change your life forever.

Their panel of judges includes some of the UK's most successful business leaders – tell them about your innovative new idea and you could become the UK's next different business.  Visit www.winyourbusiness.com for more information about Orange's Different Business Competition and to enter.  http://orange.co.uk/differentbusines Sponsored Post   http://orange.co.uk/differentbusiness

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