Tips & Advice

There are several benefits of being in business, including the increased adaptability and flexibility than other larger companies may sometimes lack. However, customers will often associate SME`s with being ill-equipped to carry out a quality job.To help with this, these tips can make it appear your newly formed company appear more important:

Office: yes or no?

Having offices can certainly help clients see that you are clearly established, because there is real concrete evidence to this effect. However, if they are not likely to visit your offices, then hiring out a mailing address will have the same effect at a fraction of the cost, allowing you to continue using your home, office, services and other, more flexible alternatives that work out much more cheaply.

Having a tip-top website

Today, people expect from a well-designed website one that loads quickly and allows them to discover the products and contact details. Therefore, make sure that your site is certain to help convince them that they are dealing with a professional, reputable company. Why not write blogs about business achievements, using pictures of the front of the office or somewhere similar with an elegant look to make them keen to see more.

Get away from email failure

Having an e-mail which is overly personal or that has a Hotmail address for example, will not make you look significant enough. Contacting through e-mail is as important as the address of the office to create a professional impression, so make sure that the e-mail address says it's a good deal.

Logo or not

The company logo can do a lot to even the smallest businesses to exude professionalism, if you choose one that combines style and timelessness. Getting the right kind of logo takes time, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

Keeping things Tidy and Organised

You may have to take care of the cleaning of office space to give the best impressions, but what about your desk?If your office is a mess, it is likely to be much less efficient than it could be. An untidy or unorganised work surface hinders the member of staff`s ability to do their job as efficiently as possible, so you must bear in mind the following tips to keep your desk clean in action and create surroundings that make your company look great:

Place the bin close to your desktop

Having a bin a short distance from the workplace is one of the simplest steps you can take to keep your desk clean. Place all rubbish straight into the bin, and stop allowing it to build up on the desktop.

Incorporate a physical inbox

It could be something as simple as a paper tray that can hold all incoming documents. This way, you will know exactly where they are and when you need them.

Go paperless

It is a big ask to go paperless 100% in an office space, but there are many elements, such as notes, which can and should be transmitted digitally, if you want to keep a clean and tidy office environment.

Schedule Cleaning

You should try to regularly commit to a schedule of cleaning your desk. By assigning a specific period of time to sorting out your desk, it is more likely that it will actually do its job more effectively.

Remove excess

If something does not have to be on your desktop, just get rid of it and the saem applies around the office. For a start up business, these tips should set you on the right road to success.First impressions are so important, a virtual office can provide the same benefits as a real office. A virtual office gives a small business the same advantages but without the expensive overheads. A good virtual office provider can help your company with a prime mail forwarding address in areas such as London, a professional PA call answering service, and a registered office address for your company. Ultimately an established business will be able to give the right impression, for start ups and SME's getting off on the right footing can prove trickier.

If you run your business from your home office, you have to consider everything from decorations to furniture to the floorplan.These tips will help you make the best use of what you have:

Basic business needs

Unless you are lucky enough to live in a mansion, it is likely that the room reserved for office space at home is not as big as you want. Therefore, to not feel suffocated by furnishings, you should only fulfil the basic requirements.These include having a desk the right size for the location and type of equipment (if you have a laptop, a smaller desktop will do) and a comfortable chair to work in for long periods.

Suitable Decoration

While you do not want to fill the office space with unnecessary frills, you will not have to opt for a pure functional look when it comes to design. Add some photos or paintings on the walls, and make subtle use of colours that you like and that make you feel more energised. Having the odd flourish will add comfort to your surroundings and make the effect less clinical.

Organisation is a priority

Even if you have worked hard to create a sense of space in your home office, you may be undermined very quickly after starting work there if you start drowning in clutter. The amounts of paper in particular can quickly start piling up, and if not properly organised and stored away in files, you will quickly start wasting lots of time and space. If you do not have enough room in your current filing cabinets, you can use any existing chest of drawers or cupboards as a place to store your business documents.This blog was brought to you by Your Virtual Office London the mail forwarding, registered office and virtual office experts.

Every business is different, however, your company`s insurance policy requirements will usually be determined by exactly what it does, its framework, area and if you have staff members. A specialized insurance agent can assist you in choosing the kind and level of protection plans that best fits your organization`s needs, however in this content we have a quick look at the primary types of company insurance policy you could possibly consider. We have several in depth articles on various types of insurance cover should you require additional information.Initially we`ll examine the actual property that your organization has to secure and then proceed to other attainable types of insurance coverage you`ll require for your company.

Properties insurance

In the event you own an freehold building, you should cover it against natural risks such as flooding as well as other water destruction, fire, explosion etc. If you`re making use of your residence for business functions, verify that you`re protected for the company use – many insurance providers provide combined insurance policies such as either home or home office insurance cover.When you hire a business property, it`s better to look at the conditions of the lease contract to establish who has liability for covering them – you or the property owner.

Contents, company resources and tools insurance

Consider covering any company resources and tools, PCs and other products. Similar to your home items insurance, be careful never to undervalue the worth of anything you require to manage your company – the value covered should reveal the substitute cost. Pay specific interest to highly-priced tools that your company cannot operate without. You should think about if you only have to protect on company property or if you would like broader coverage. For instance, if notebooks are taken out from the workplace and utilized off site.In case your business is work at home, you`ll have to look into the terms of your residence insurance plan. It`s likely that the current insurance will have to be modified or changed to cover tools utilized in the course of company.Your Virtual Office London help small businesses increase their productivity through the use of our prestigious virtual office services. If you would like to discuss how we can help you, don't hesitate to get in touch.

How often do you have organised team meetings to see participants where they walk through the door of the conference room, sit down and talk with their neighbour or read the program, but have no eye contact you? For a constructive meeting, and to run events in an energetic and positive note, it`s best to encourage people to participate in the meeting.Before people enter the conference room, you want the vibe to be optimistic, energetic and ready for action, and the participants will naturally imitate your actions and mood. However, if only one person shows negative body language, it can have a negative effect on mood, so you need to be careful.Open the meeting with an icebreaker before informing people why the meeting was called and what your goals are. You can open proceedings with a game, and can ask people to write on a piece of paper something others do not know about them and put them in a bowl on the table. The group may then try to guess who it belongs to, which relaxes the members of the congregation.Thank people for their contributions and acknowledge any successes, no matter how small they are. You can also ask people to remind their team of the actions that they are responsible for, so it can be controlled if people aren't invested in the topic of the meeting. Before the end of the meeting, relate the conversation back to non-compliance or concerns.

How to improve one-on-one meetings

Individual meetings with your team are a great way to increase employee productivity, report problems and improve employee development individually. This is why it is so important that manager`s monitor the time for regular meetings with employees individually.If you do not already have one on a regular basis, you should think from now on, and if not, consider implementing the following:

Make it every day

Celebrating a casual meet is a great way for employees to feel comfortable. The meeting could be a cafe or bar, not an office or conference room space, for a more relaxed feeling to get the most out of their employees.

Lunch

Organised meetings for lunch are perfect for those times when you want to link to an employee and get to know them a little better. They will be less self conscious and more likely to open on the table in the office table.

Input from the employee

Prior to the meeting, let the employee in on the schedule and points of discussion. By including them in the build-up, you can help them feel more valued and empowered in their work.

It should be concise

Meetings are usually long and boring and can become unproductive. Keep meetings short and to the point, and interesting to keep employees on board and committed throughout.

Keep track

It is always good practice to follow up on ideas and suggestions transferred in one-on-one discussions, if you're going to take full advantage of the time spent.Your Virtual Office London provides virtual offices and meeting rooms in London, if you are looking to hold a meeting we provide modern meeting rooms for your clients.

When you start a business it is important to think about the type of company you will be and what consequences this will subsequently have on your taxation and personal liabilities. Your Virtual Office London provide free expert advice on this matter to all clients, more often than not it makes a lot of sense to become a Limited company and trade under this legal status. If you do own a Limited company you would often take your profit as a dividend. A dividend is taken by a shareholder, only a shareholder in the company can take a dividend, staff or employees are unable to do this if they do not own a share. A shareholder can take a salary and a dividend, depending your personal circumstance we would advise you to talk to us about your situation and how a dividend can help reduce your tax overheads.Dividends are subject to the highest tax bracket in which income is between £31,865 and £150,000. This is after taking into account the personal allowance that is taxed at 32.5%.Part of that obligation is represented by the dividend tax credit of 10%, but an additional 22.5% tax on the gross dividend is paid by the shareholder. In some cases, the dividend does not belong to any of the basic rate or higher rate tax bands, but rather include both. In this case, dividends will be taxed at the basic rate, and the remainder to a higher rate.Dividends, which are located in the additional rate tax band, will have a taxable income of over £150,000 and are taxed at 37.5%. Some of them have a tax credit of 10% of the dividend. This means that there is no tax of more than 27.5% of the gross dividend payable. This is equal to 30.56% of net dividend received.The shareholder must always be prepared to pay additional tax. This happens when the dividend income falls in the highest rate, or as additional rate tax bands. This means that the dividend will have to be set aside to meet tax obligations.This additional tax paid to HMRC, has a deadline of 31 January following the tax year in which the dividends are received.Persons are subject to its own declared dividends received under the tax refund.Due to the effect of a dividend on the overall fiscal position of the individual, tax advice from an accountant should be sought prior to the payment of dividends to your firm. This can also determine the optimal combination of wages and dividends. Shareholders may elect to waive dividends, but these exceptions should be made before the announcement of the dividend.

It is always important to greet people in a positive way to create the right impression. Of course, you should take special care to people who you have not seen or met before. Wether you have a virtual office or a mailing address you will still need to ensure when you meet a client for the first time you properly engage. First impressions are everything and something as simple as a greeting can have a lasting impression on your client.You want to get people in the mood to attend the meeting. For this to happen, it is important to make everyone feel at ease. Some participants may have had a stressful journey. Keep this in mind and be as careful as possible, and be sure to comply with professional standards. The following tips may be helpful to you:

Warm smile

A smile can go a long way to get a first meet just right. Shy people can fully appreciate a smile, even if they are about to enter the room for a family reunion. What's more, you can give them the confidence to perform well in the session. If you're a little unsure, practice your smile alone.

Eye contact

Eye contact is essential when welcoming someone new. However, it is important to not stare - you do not want anyone to feel embarrassed. If people feel inhibited before the start of the meeting, their nervousness may limit their participation to the detriment of the results of the meeting.

Shake hands firmly if necessary

A firm handshake may be a reasonable way to greet someone. However, not everyone likes this kind of contact; therefore adapt your behaviour to the situation that is before you. Also, see how to approach the person; do not feel tempted to sneak up on them, as this may have an effect that was not intended.

All companies need to maintain high performance. It is important to develop specific procedures that increase the efficiency of the collective. Many of our virtual office customers ask us how they can increase their businesses productivity.You`re probably trying to maximise the performance of your business right now. However, you may find that your positive intentions do not translate into action. It can be difficult to maintain general habits, especially if you are a person who finds it difficult to meet the New Year`s resolutions. Develop a plan for the whole team to come together and you'll be in a good position.

Prioritise work properly

Personnel work will not go well, if the work is not a priority. Important tasks must be performed prior to trivial matters. You must assign topics and activities rationally and within a reasonable time, or the quality of work may suffer if you do.

Avoid multitasking, if possible

Your team can not do it right if you are trying to do everything at once. It's a great idea to make the most of them focus on particular aspects of the project, who will then be able to concentrate.

Keeping things tidy as the work progresses

Being tidy is a must if you want your employees to be more effective. The office should not be allowed to become a mess for even half a day, so you may want to encourage people to eat away from their desks.

Colleagues should cooperate

While some tasks require a special unit, it is necessary to promote cooperation between members of the team and create a united effort. Someone can be re energised if they help another person achieve something. An act of kindness can be beneficial for both parties, so remind people of the value of teamwork.When a business achieves an efficient work flow and is properly organised an increase in productivity and output will be achieved. The business will then be properly positioned for growth and should see steady incline in new business.If you would like to talk www.yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk please do get in contact with us today, we are always happy to help discuss your requirements and provide expert advice where needed.

When the company makes a profit, the benefits paid to all shareholders are classified as dividends. Because of the potential tax benefits, small business owners often pay a dividend in both the salary and not just one or the other.Like any other type of income, someone with dividends from UK corporation tax will pay personally. This article provides an overview of the taxation of shareholders of dividends in the UK. Whether you own a business and run the company through a virtual office or work from home as a shareholder in a Limited Company you will probably take a dividend from the profits. We look to explain how a dividend is taxed;

How does the dividend tax credit?

To escape the double taxation of dividends paid by the company will pay tax or income tax, which is known as a tax credit for dividends to the shareholder shall be provided in order to avoid double taxation. This tax credit is offset by the income tax due on income from dividends.For now, the tax credit is 10%. The tax credit is calculated by dividing the amount of net dividend of 9 net dividend is then added to the deduction. This then gives the "gross dividend", which is the sum of income tax. This is the starting point that determines whether further tax is due.When a shareholder receives the dividend plus the tax that you pay, depends on the total income. This includes income from salaries and pensions, bank account and other savings or dividends received.Taxation of dividends are at the same prices, if you bring your own small business or PLC, which is listed on the stock exchange. The same is true for dividends received from trusts or open-ended investment companies. However, combining the interests of the corporation is subject to different rules, unlike dividends.

Here are three tax rates applicable to dividends:

• The basic rate consists of a taxable income of up to £ 31,865 will be taxed at 10%.
• The higher rate band, comprising of taxable income between £ 31,865 and £ 150,000 and is taxed at 32.5%. This part is included in the dividend tax credit.
• A decrease in revenues from dividends in the band of another kind, consisting of taxable income of more than £ 150,000 is taxed at 37.5%.

The tax of 10% of the gross dividend received is completely covered by the tax credit a 10% dividend. Dividend income is taxed after the adoption of any savings and includes the use of or premiums.

Firstly, not every candidate fits every job. The task of finding a suitable employee is often a major challenge. The employer should clearly formulate what they are looking for when it comes to employees:

• Is training necessary - yes or no - and if so, what?
• Is work experience necessary or can it be appropriated in operating these too?
• What working conditions prevail - shift work, night work, regular or irregular hours, overtime readiness is necessary, etc.?
• Are special skills needed, such as certain license categories, languages, computer skills, etc.?

These and similar questions should be answered clearly and honestly. However, it should not be too far up the measure of who you accept. Employees who are continually challenged are neither happy and permanently in the company, such as employees who have to struggle daily with excessive demands.

New staff - what to consider:

As an employer, you take a lot of responsibility for your staff. This is particularly the case in the area of insurance and accounting. The contractor has therefore the need to perform some messages:- Application for an operating pointThe application may be made by phone, mail or by completing a form. All necessary information can be found in the Internet.- Notification of the company at the trade associationEvery business owner has to pay contributions for its employees in the legal professional association. Whoever is responsible for the individual depends on the industry. When in doubt, this information can be obtained via the Internet, or the Chamber of Commerce.- Registration of the employeeAt the start of employment, the employee must be notified to the competent institution. Certain sectors will have your staff report on the first day of employment, but most industries have this done over a longer period of time.If you enjoyed this article you can read more on Your Virtual Office London business blog.

To avoid any shortcomings for your business, it is a good idea to opt for business interruption insurance. This is the best step your company can take, to ensure that there are no losses incurred due to an interrupted business.By getting covered under business interruption insurance, one can ensure that their business would not face any losses due to an abrupt interruption and they would be able to get the business back on track with much ease. This is mainly because the incapability to generate revenues when the business is subject to damage would be covered by the insurance. Business Interruption Insurance can be procured as an additional extra to the existing business insurance package.

When can I raise a claim?

When your business is subject to any of the above mentioned conditions, you are liable to claim a compensation fee. Based on the below mentioned factors, you may raise a claim with the insurance provider when you are not able to generate sufficient revenues.a) The margin between the estimated and actual profits, which occurs due to a business interruption.b) Reduced income due to high operating costs, such as temporary relocation, procuring goods at higher prices due to various factors etc.c) Damage to the records of accounts of customers due to which you are unable to recover revenues from them.When you raise a claim, the payment is made subject to the policy constraints. By opting for business insurance, you would be free from losses when your business is interrupted. Moreover, the chain reaction would be avoided due to which a business slips to losses and is unable to raise funds.Also, in events of shortcomings or interruptions, your business would be able to bounce back and resume with the business. However, it is best recommended that you understand the scope and limitations of the policy precisely before opting for one.Your Virtual Office London have helped thousands of small businesses progress to become successful enterprises. If you would like to discuss how we can help you please contact the team today.