There is more to being in business than having a 9 to 5 job. Being your own boss seems idyllic when you are employed, have regular hours and a regular income. Being able to work as and when you want, where you want and how you want is the flexibility you crave when you are employed. Being able to be choosy about the people you work with and the work you do is an exciting prospect. …

I have been asked several times recently how much to pay someone both in terms of a new employee and as a pay rise. There are really 3 things to consider when you are deciding what to pay: …

Having some time off over Christmas and New Year allows time to think and plan. New ideas are born and business plans developed. Its an exciting time for new businesses. The early stages of development and the prospect of doing something for yourself is motivating.
 
 But it can be daunting too …

Its that time of year when we may be thinking about how to reward our employees for their support during the year. Perhaps you are thinking about giving them a Christmas bonus or perhaps a bottle of wine and some chocolates. Or maybe you are planning to take them out for a Christmas meal or having a party. …

If you want to expand your business you need people to support you as there is no way you can do everything yourself. But it seems that business owners are reluctant to employ anyone and would rather use an associate or a consultant than commit to someone joining their business. Even if they need someone to do the day to day administration it has become more common to use someone who is self-employed. Why is this? …