Tips

The capital of a company is one of the first things that you must obtain to crystallise your dream of opening a business. Therefore, it is important to know how to attract investors to your start-up.The creator of iRobot, Rodney Brooks, had the idea of building a low-cost robot that could collaborate with workers in a safe, intelligent, low-cost way for companies who purchase the invention.It may only be an idea, but Brooks made an analogy between computers and robots with the argument that the adoption of worker robots would be similar to the introduction of personal computers in workplaces. This would result in higher office efficiency, more productivity and more jobs. This is why investors gave him $62 million to fund its start-up.So that your business idea has the support of more investors, we share a list of tips to help you create a connection with them.

Talk to the right people

The first step is to understand the interests of each investor, so we suggest you investigate your potential investors before talking to them about the ideas you have.This step will help you know if your company can adapt to and will thrive in the investment industry.

Create contacts

Once you determine who may be interested in investing in your business, you should look at ways in which the manager of one of the start-ups can present you with the investor.

Make a presentation

This refers to when you agree to an interview with the prospective investor and make a presentation that will tell your story in non-technical terms. In the presentation, you should talk about your team, the opportunity in the market, the need for the product, its value to the customer, your position against competition, how much capital you require to create the company and have a financial plan to present also.

Acknowledge your areas of opportunity

During the interview with the potential investor you must be honest in answering each of the questions you ask. If you do not have an answer, you should admit it and not lie about something you know about.

Listen carefully

It is possible that in the first meetings with potential investors, you fail to capture the interest of any of them; however, you should not discard the tips that they share.The best practice in such cases is to listen to feedback, absorb information and tailor your pitch.If you enjoyed this blog from Your Virtual Office London you can read more business tips and advice in our startup blog.

Every day entrepreneurs have to meet face to face with customers, suppliers or investors in order to maintain or grow their business. It`s important they should always keep a good image, since in many cases this may be a determining factor of doing business.The question is: how many times have you made judgments of a person just by their appearance? The personal image of someone can project confidence and trust, which often leaves those who don`t care about image out of business.Here are some tips on how to leave a positive impact on those around you through your image.

• One of the first things is to keep your clothes ironed and in excellent condition, as this will denote how careful and dedicated you are, and therefore with everything around you.
• Shoes are also a critical piece of outer wear for anyone, so make sure they are clean, shined and in excellent condition; if the heel or sole of the shoe is worn, send it to repair as soon as possible.
• Accessories are a fundamental part for a business role model, so it is recommended that they are of a decent and presentable quality.
• If you wear glasses, remember that they represent much of your personality; however, the most important aspect is that you go to a specialist to advise you with the kind of face you have and choose the glasses with which you feel most comfortable.
• Moreover, a black jacket is a basic item for most business owners, as this combines well with almost any clothing; it is a very versatile garment for both men and women.
• Men should be aware of facial hair, to keep this tidy and well managed. This reflects well on those making first impressions.
• Finally, never forget that what matters most is to gain trust from your customers and to show a good attitude about everything.

In the world in which we live, full of speed and an infinite need to be in constant communication, a market that is gaining ground every day has come in the form of mobile messaging apps (applications).This sector has experienced a sharp growth in the area of mobile apps, and is therefore where a potentially multibillion-dollar market for developers who choose to engage in this type of business arises.Today services like WhatsApp, iMessage, Line, Viber, Facebook Messenger or Skype account for the majority of mobile messaging market in the world. For this reason this market is expected to continue to grow over time, so if you are interested in investing in this area then we give you some options that will leave you to make money with this system:

Stickers or emoticons sponsored by brands

To be known and reach more users, many brands have taken on the task of creating stickers or emoticons for use on a mobile messaging service, these no cost to users either.

Souvenirs and toys

Try to get your pets, souvenirs or virtual Toys to be traded physically, it may make you earn a lot of extra money to your mobile messaging services.

Charge for use

Perhaps the least liked by users, this option can be useful for your mobile app. It is to charge a fixed monthly or yearly fee for the use of mobile messaging service. Just be careful with this option because unless your service is the market leader, users will go to the competition.

Collection of stickers and emoticons

You can create two types of stickers and emoticons on your mobile messaging service, free or paid; with the paid option, usually the design or animation makes them unique for users, giving them a greater sense of value.

Selling advertising

This option is also a bit annoying for users because from time to time a number of messages may appear in a small window or completely fill the user's screen with advertising for any brand, event or other application, either from the same creator mobile messaging service or other developers to pay for it. However, for many companies it will work very effectively.

When starting a business, an entrepreneur may not always have an office to conduct operations, since this would mean paying monthly rent, plus all the services like water, electricity and telephone, among others. One option to solve this problem is to work from home; however, doing so implies certain responsibilities and rules to establish from the outset, to maximise time and not fall into the routine.

1. For starters, someone who works from home should enjoy what they do, so it is important to fully believe in the project or task in which they are involved.
2. Personal image is another aspect that should not be neglected, since you must constantly remember that even spending a lot of time at home means you can`t spend all day in panamas. If so, then this situation will eventually be counterproductive to your motivation.
3. Establish work schedules and respect others around you, as if this is not done, you`ll gradually lose the personal life and everything becomes work.
4. Choose an area to work that is away from distractions like television. This will be helpful to avoid pausing while working, so it's easier to concentrate on customers or suppliers.Talking about your business some of the time with your family and friends can be a good option to vent your problems; however, if you want solutions, it`s better to surround yourself with entrepreneurs or a coach you occasionally can contact about business.
5. If you have people working with you, the best way to avoid problems in the future is to establish rules from the start, because if not, it will invade the space of your family, which in the long term will be annoying for everyone.
6. Finally, organise your time developing methods and organise processes to help you avoid deliveries outside of your work time and make your work more efficient.

For an entrepreneur, networking (i.e. creating a network of personal contacts) is very important for long term success. Even if your project is 100% online, you should not reject the idea of personally meeting other professionals - it has many advantages for the new business owner. Its important you network the right way, Forbes produced some tips on networking.

We trust who we know

One of the main benefits of networking is to enter a circle of trust of like-minded people. It's very simple: between a stranger and a person you know, the chances are you're going to trust the one you`ve made a connection with. Therefore, in the medium term, having a wide network of contacts will improve your chances of getting customers, partners, strategic suppliers, and various collaborations.

It is very easy to build a network

Anyone can network; it boils down to motivation and perseverance. Look to directories for similar companies to your own. Commit to visiting relevant industry exhibitions or conferences and lectures about your own business line. Opening the doors to communication often opens the doors to success, so share stories and gain valuable knowledge from others who have experience too. Make sure you take their contact details down to create a bond of trust. You never know when you might need their advice!

It is timeless

A network of contacts is always useful. This is because even if you change your occupation, many of the people you've known previously will remain of interest. And eventually others also are changing in their respective careers, so you'll have access to other sectors very naturally.You don`t have to go looking for a short-term outcome with networking. Just know what you're doing and let collaboration opportunities arise between people.

A source of motivation

Starting, consolidating and maintaining a business is a difficult task, especially if you undertake it alone. It is normal to pass through phases of discouragement. Having a network of contacts allows you to exchange these times with others, see that you are not the only one with concerns. It offers a change of scenery, advice, and to help recover lost motivation.

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.

Self Assessment, Are You Ready?

The online filing date for self assessments is 31st January, so make sure you have everything filed to avoid late filing penalties! If you need help or advice with working out your finances and filling out your return, get in contact with us today. Our team of experienced accountants can help advise you on what is needed and how much it will cost. As the deadline for self-assessment tax returns fast approaches each year, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are geared up and waiting for the deluge of millions of documents to come flooding into their offices and digital submissions to hit their accounts. Remember that if self assessment tax returns are not in by 31 January, millions of people will face a £100 fine if they do not get their forms in before the midnight deadline.

Don't be one of them! However, don't panic if you are one of those people who tends to procrastinate over their self-assessment submissions and always leaves it until the last minute. We are here to help take the stress out of the process for you, so whether you are simply too busy with your business to spare the time to complete your assessment, or you find the whole process confusing, we can help. Just give us a call on 0207 566 3939 to chat to one of our friendly team members, or alternatively fill out our contact form here, and one of our advisors will get back to you very quickly. It is better to be safe than sorry, and although it is a very British trait to leave things until the last minute, getting your self-assessment submitted in plenty of time can really take the weight off your shoulders.

Did you know that figures from HMRC shows a massive 569,847 self-assessment tax returns came in on the deadline date in 2014?I don't know about you, but I don't want to cause myself any undue stress by leaving it so late just in case something happens at the last minute that may prevent me submitting on time. What if you fall ill or your internet goes down? Yes, there may be lots of genuine reasons for not meeting the deadline date, but most are preventable by submitting self-assessment returns in plenty of time instead of risking it by leaving it so close to the deadline. Here are some prime examples submitted to HMRC of excuses given for missing the 31st January deadline: (Taken from the HMRC website).

1.) My pet dog ate my tax return... and all the reminders.

2.) I was up a mountain in Wales and could not find a postbox or get an internet signal.

3.) I fell in with the wrong crowd.

4.) I have been travelling the world, trying to escape from a foreign intelligence agency.

5.) Barack Obama is in charge of my finances.

These are pretty poor excuses to use and I am sure each person using these were landed with a £100 penalty for late delivery. Why leave it to chance? Let us help you to get your self-assessment filed away and off your mind. Contact us today.