By John Auckland, TribeFirst
If you’re raising money for your business, it is undoubtedly taking up a good deal of your time.  There’s nothing worse than spending your precious time on activities that are at best ineffective, at worst actively putting investors off the idea of funding your business.
Here are some of the common mistakes entrepreneurs often make when looking to raise money for their business?

Being unclear with your message

I run both accelerators for Virgin StartUp and crowdfunding bootcamps with Grant Thornton, and on both of these programmes I spend …

Single people within the professional community have little notion of the responsibilities associated with parenthood. In the past, taking on the role of a full-time parent would generally force an individual to put his or her career on hold for an indefinite length of time. This would often prove to be very frustrating and in some instances, financial hardships could arise. However, the advent of the Internet has given rise to an entirely new host of opportunities for those with the vision and the discipline. Online retail sales is a …

Does it feel like you’ve been working hard for years in hopes of climbing the career ladder? Up to this point, have you been overlooked each time a promotion came up? Well now the tides have turned and it appears it is finally your chance to shine and step into that coveted management position.
This is most certainly a time to celebrate your successes and revel in the excitement, but it’s also time to buckle down and ensure you go into the position in a strong and effective manner. Getting the …

By Amanda Hamilton, NALP
 Whether you work for yourself or run a small business, the most difficult thing to manage is cash flow. So, what can you do if you are owed money and the person is ignoring all your phone calls and letters?
 
Firstly, don’t panic!
 
It’s easy to start thinking ahead of yourself about the cost and aggravation of taking someone to court – especially if you have no experience of such things.
 
Stop right there. Most situations don’t end up in court but if there is no alternative, and if the …

By Marco Scotti, Figaroo
With the introduction of exciting new technology in the entertainment industry generally the world of nightclubs is changing.  I predict we’ll see many more women owning and operating nightclubs as they embrace new and disruptive technologies. Without the baggage of ‘this is how we’ve always done it’ I think we’ll see more women, and in particular younger women, making a name in the club world.
Technology will shift the way the industry is run, and this will provide opportunities for women to break into the industry as …

By John Auckland, Tribe First
We’ve said goodbye to 2018 and after celebrating on New Year’s Eve, we’ve felt just optimistic enough to make ambitious resolutions, though experience tells us they are likely to be forgotten within a few short weeks. Rather than recommending you neglect Netflix in favour of a gym membership or give up your favourite tipple for kale smoothies, I’ll give you something better: five reasons that show why 2019 is the year your business should use crowdfunding.
 Fundraising via crowdfunding rather than banks is seen as more viable …

A large number of dads are considering changing jobs to have greater flexibility, with many saying employers are still not aware that modern families have changed, according to a survey to celebrate the launch of the new Workingdads.co.uk website.
The survey shows 73% of dads are considering searching for a flexible job and 16% are actively looking for one. The Workingdads.co.uk site has been launched to offer new flexible jobs to dads and as a place where dads can keep informed about and debate issues relating to being a working dad. It will also provide …

February may have been grey and gloomy and we are all looking forward to Spring, but  new research has revealed how lighting can have direct impact on mood and wellbeing at home and in the workplace. A survey of 1,000 UK adults carried out by lighting supplier LED Hut, as part of the Brighter Britain report, found that 1 in 3 feel lighting – both natural and artificial – plays a crucial role in how they feel, encouraging feelings of comfort, security, and happiness.
More than 1 in 3 (31%) believe …

Credit checks can be confusing and many of us are unsure what they entail. That is why we have put together this handy guide, covering all the info you need to know.
What is a Credit Check?
A credit check is when a company looks at your financial history in order to assess your ability to repay the debt. The information on your credit report will include how much you have borrowed, the kind of credit you have and how well you have managed your lending, e.g. if you have any …

A late invoice payment can cause unnecessary hassle for a business. Cash flow problems, late wage payments and even a dip in company growth could be the results of a poor invoicing process.
However, there are ways to increase your chances of being paid in time and accessing finance to aid your working capital.
1. Invoice Discounting with Bad Debt Protection
With invoice discounting, your chosen financier pays you an advance on any outstanding invoices. Generally, this is at a percentage of their complete value – one which the pair of you …