Tips and Tools – Page 134 – Business Plus Baby

August 12, 2015

A beginner’s guide to car leasing

Supplying your workforce with a company car can be a costly business, but one way to reduce that expense is leasing. While buying a fleet of cars means tying your business to a contract or hire purchase arrangement, leasing offers more flexibility. Contract hire and finance leasing are among the options, with a different set of tax breaks to consider.

Typically a leasing policy could see a vehicle hired for the duration of the contract fall under your company’s ownership by the end of the lease period – usually three years or 60,000 miles. And although some packages come with strict terms that cover car maintenance, a maintenance contract can be added to the monthly cost of a car lease, to make caring for your car hassle-free, especially for high-mileage vehicles (check out What Car’s guide to maintenance packages here).

If you’re thinking of leasing company cars, here are the plans to consider. As The Daily Telegraph points out, you could make substantial savings.

Contract hire

Probably the most popular form of leasing company cars. A vehicle is leased with a mileage cap and for a fixed time frame, after which the car is returned. An up-front fee, usually of three months’ rental, is paid, followed by monthly payments for the duration of the lease period.

Pluses? The company sidesteps the risks of owning the vehicles, such as a lower than anticipated resale value, while maintenance costs are often taken care of. However, that could mean the company misses out if a car has a higher than predicted resale value, and that cheaper maintenance options are unavailable.

But the biggest draw is that the car is never owned. Therefore it can be claimed as a business expense in tax returns.

Finance lease

Rather like buying a car personally using a finance deal, this arrangement means you ‘buy’ the car for a set period by paying off a loan month by month. These monthly payments can be reduced should you opt to pay a larger chunk at the end of the lease period. At the end of the deal you have the option of paying a small fee to keep the vehicle on – although you still won’t technically own it.

A portion of the charges your company pays can be offset against tax.

Hire purchase

Just as if you were making a personal purchase, this is a straightforward plan that begins with a deposit and is completed by paying a certain amount each month until the car becomes your company’s property. Since the loan is secured using the vehicle, it stands to be repossessed should you fall behind on payments.

Any depreciation and the interest on the fees you pay can be claimed against tax.

Contract purchase

This is a lease combined with a service fee for maintenance, which the leasing company carries out. After a set number of the monthly payments, as well as one larger, final payment, the vehicle becomes the company’s property. It can then be sold back to the leasing company at an agreed price.

August 12, 2015

Everything You Need To Know About Windows Migration For Your Business

Windows 10 has arrived and, predictably, has proved popular with 14 million machines said to be using the system within a day of its release.

The rush of interest is not just the preserve of die-hard Microsoft fans either. On the verge of the system’s release, a study from Spiceworks found that 96 per cent of IT decision makers were interested in Windows 10 and three quarters expected to migrate within two years.

Those enticed by the prospect of better security, performance and multi-device working need to think seriously about migrating.

Here’s what you need to know about the process…

It’s easier than before

Jumping from Windows XP to 7 was a fairly onerous task for many businesses and probably left scars that cause firms to fear embarking on another migration. The good news is that the process should not be like that again. As the OS technology has improved, so too has the migration process. That should mean that apps and devices are more naturally migrated and the sorts of compatibility issues experienced in the past do not surface.

It can largely be automated

Not only is Windows 10 a system built to be more naturally compatible with what has come before, but the migration process has evolved and now involves much less time and effort than before. Companies such as 1E offer a ‘zero touch’ method that has automated a large part of the process. Large-scale automation vastly reduces the need for time-sapping desk-side visits, meaning that it is now possible to migrate while maintaining business as usual.

It is the chance to streamline

It makes no sense for a business to migrate parts of its estate that are not really required. With that in mind, anyone looking to migrate must conduct a full audit of their software. This could reduce the amount of licenses required and ensure companies are able to use this as an opportunity to get on top of their IT asset management.

Get used to it

Software updates will have to become a natural part of a business’ operation. Windows 10 is set to be the last Big Bang release of its kind, with Microsoft delivering item-by-item updates for the working parts of the system. Businesses looking to migrate should not see this as the end of the process or something done in isolation. They need to find a way to keep their business running while staying on top of system changes.

Training

Businesses should not forget that a software migration is actually about moving users over, not simply a technical matter. The beauty of Windows 10 is that it should have a familiar feel to anyone who has used Microsoft’s products to do business with in the past, albeit with handy additions on safety, multi-device working and file management. However, organisations shouldn’t lose sight of people and any training requirements needed during the initial switchover period.

When it comes to a Windows migration it’s important to realise that this is a much more natural process than previously. It is quicker and smoother and can be done without denting productivity. It’s also a chance to rationalise an IT estate and begin a process of regular, largely automated, software updates – which appears to be the future for Microsoft.

August 10, 2015

How the fashion leaders of today made it to the top

Obviously there must be leaders in the world of fashion; if there weren’t then who would we follow? These are people who are making noteworthy changes in the world of wearable design, whether that’s creating something fresh and exciting or always showcasing the latest trends.

But how did they get to where they are today and who decided that they could dictate what we should be wearing and how we should style it?

Primarily, it is designers that first come to mind when considering fashion leaders, those who have earned the right to be constantly treading the boards of the catwalk, deciding what clothes constitute as ‘fashionable’. From Vivienne Westwood and Donatella Versace to the likes of the celebrity-turned-fashion designers, such as Victoria Beckham.

But there are also members of the media that have earned the credibility to pass their opinion of fashion trends on to potential consumers. Fashions most famous Editor, Anna Wintour, has been at Vogue for 25-years, in which time she has built up such a reputation that she received the Outstanding Achievement Award at last year’s British Fashion Awards for her tremendous contribution to the industry. Why? Well, she is also a businesswoman as well as having fantastic knowledge of fashion.

Much like many other thought leader, along with hard work and determination in the cut-throat world of fashion, Wintour will have made bold business moves that played an integral part in reaching the top. So what exactly did she and people like her do, to get there?

They have built a brand

This is probably the most important thing to do and something that has taken many from followers of fashion to leaders in their field. They have built a brand and created a community.

For example, Burberry became iconic for their print with, which their brand was built around; that distinctive tartan pattern that adorns their range means that it is instantly recognisable. It is the whole package that will attract an audience and keep them coming back to hear what you have to offer next.

They are forward thinking

Fashion leaders are not thinking about now, they are thinking about next year and the year after. While fashion followers are deciding what to wear this summer, fashion leaders will already be thinking about what they should be wearing the following season.

They create amazing content

This includes blogs, product descriptions, visual communication including images and video. The climb to the top requires more than simply wearing great clothes. They need to be backed up with content, displayed through the correct imagery and described in a way that sells the item but also reflects the brand.

You need to be shown more than just a skirt, but rather THE skirt. There is a huge difference between seeing it on a hanger and being shown it on a ‘cool girl’ at a festival and picturing yourself as her. Whether it’s kids watches, ladies shoes or men’s suits, those who excel in the world of fashion know who their audience is and then target them directly.

They are ALWAYS new

This goes without saying, in the ever-changing world of fashion you need to not only keep up with your competitors but get ahead of them. Constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas, all while holding on to your uniqueness and the essence of your brand.

For example, Victoria Beckham had to shake off her Posh Spice/girl power image and work to be taken seriously in the fashion industry, she was criticised for sticking to a tried-and-tested formula of chic black, but has since silenced the critics with a circus-inspired collection for Spring 2016.

They use their connections

Fashion leaders cross over, building connections, which in turn help to put them at the forefront of the industry. Returning to Anna Wintour, as an example of someone regularly considered part of the “FRow” at fashion weeks, she is often pictured with the likes of Chanel’s Karl Lagerfield, as well as playing an active role in fundraising and supporting creative talent.

She was also responsible for founding the careers of esteemed designers such as Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen, which proves that using connections goes both ways.

These are just a few examples of what it takes to get to the top of the fashion chain, but also confirms that the key makings of a fashion leader come from having good business sense alongside your knowledge of fashion.

August 1, 2015

Unexpected essentials for your cleaning business

Anyone who thinks that cleaning is just a matter of soap and water and possibly a sponge or mop is mistaken. If you’re running a cleaning business, you will have to include a full inventory of all of the latest cleaning products, as well as a few unexpected items.

Be prepared for anything

Lord Baden Powell instructed the nation’s boy scouts to ‘be prepared’ and anyone who runs a cleaning business will be well aware of this motto. You should always include a pair of gloves from Brosch Direct in order to protect your hands. Every cleaning job is different and until you actually arrive at your client’s house or business, you don’t know what type of nasties you’ll be expected to eradicate. Keep yourself protected and stay healthy.

Cleaning clocks – take a rope

Last year the iconic timepiece Big Ben was treated to a deep clean. The job demanded care and precision and the expertise of an abseiling team in order to carry out the work efficiently. Of course this was a specialist contract but an article in The Daily Mail highlighted the importance for any cleaning company to think in a lateral way. Buckets and sponges were also very much in evidence for this particular contract.

Take the meat tenderiser

There are, of course, some stains that modern cleaning products just can’t remove.
If you run a cleaning business you can’t ever tell a client that a stain has defeated you. This is the time to employ some imagination. Meat tenderiser is fantastic at removing some difficult stains. It’s also cheap which is another bonus.

Protein based stains are often tricky to remove and this is where meat tenderiser comes into its own. Simply go into your local supermarket and invest in this wonderful product. Meat tenderiser breaks down the protein in meat, hence its name. The product needs to be made into a paste and then placed on the offending stain. After about five minute, rinse off the paste and you’ll find that the stain will have disappeared.

Cleaning plants

You will always anticipate that you’ll have to clean carpets, furniture and other basic items, but don’t forget that house plants also require maintenance. There’s nothing that makes a room or house look shabby than a dusty plant. According to The Huffington Post you only need to give the leaves a gentle wash with some water in order to remove bacteria and dust. You may find it helpful to place larger plants in the shower!

Alternative uses for your daily bread

A post on the blog Larger Family Life suggests that bread is a wonderful resource for removing dust and minor stains. You may get some strange looks from your employer, but once the stains are removed they won’t really care how you removed them.

If you already run a cleaning business you’ll know all about ingenuity and imagination. These attributes are essential in all aspects of life, especially when confronted by a large and seemingly insurmountable stain.

July 28, 2015

How To Achieve Business Success Through Project Management

Whether it’s one-off campaigns, the launch of new products or services or changing the way you do an existing function, any business will have to deliver projects.

Success is important in any of those scenarios and to achieve that you need effective project management. Here’s our guide to how this can help your business to thrive…

Clarity

Whatever your project is, it needs to be clearly defined. You need to understand precisely what it is you hope to achieve, when you need to have done it by and set out the way you can measure the success of the project.

Personnel

A good project manager is worth their weight in gold. This role has probably been given a bad press by the television show The Apprentice, with the project managers being the people who more often than not carry the can for their team’s failings.

Yet, in real life, these people are the lynchpins or your strategy – sitting at the heart of the project and, ultimately, ensuring the goal is achieved. You need to find someone who understands what you want, has the right skillset to achieve that, has a good track record, is well-organised and analytical.

You are trusting this person with a key role, but that doesn’t absolve you of any further responsibility – it’s your job to liaise properly with this person and ensure they get the support to deliver what they need to do.

Specialist

A project manager will need to identify what skills a business possesses and which it lacks when it comes to delivering on a particular task. So, whatever you need – be it abrasive recovery systems, legal advice or even translation of foreign transactions – the project management process should identify these at the earliest possible opportunity and go about securing the most cost effective options for these.

Budget

Speaking of being cost effective, one of the key functions of the project management process should be to keep a close eye on the money involved and ensure the budget is being stuck to. Your business will suffer if you allow costs to spiral; the project itself might end up being incomplete if the coffers run dry. Your project manager should keep a regular check on every piece of expenditure and monitor this like a hawk.

Analysis

Monitoring the money is crucial, but the project management process is about analysing every element of the scheme. That means regularly reflecting on what is going well and what isn’t and measuring progress against that set out in the plan. By never letting matters drift so they get behind, you’ll be on track for an efficient delivery of your project.

Flexibility

This analysis is not about forcing your project to be micro-managed within an inch of its life – far from it. While it’s important to have a plan, it’s also important that, if things don’t work, you’re able to be flexible and adapt to circumstances that arrive during the delivery phase.