Established Business

RESOURCES

There are many more resources available on this site to members.

How an Accountant Can Help Manage Your Business

You might have some skills in keeping books and preparing financial statements and tax returns, but are they enough to make your business succeed? After all, you are in business to work the business and make a profit and for this you will need specialist help. Studies of business failures show that half fail within three years and three-quarters close within five years. Getting the right advice from the start makes you think about your proposed business plans and prevents you from making a bad investment or becoming a fatality. Click to download

DTED Business Guide #2

No business activity – whether it be marketing, sales, production, administration or planning – exists independently of the financial factors governing the operation. Finance is the ultimate business reality. Careful preparation is essential when it comes to borrowing. It begins with a study of the financial requirements of your business and a matching of the appropriate loan facilities to those requirements. Once the financial requirements have been identified, you need to ‘sell’ the business proposal to the financier. While a well-prepared business plan or loan proposal may be regarded as your passport to finance, your ability to obtain the loan on cost-effective terms that suit you will depend upon your negotiating skills in the loan interview. Click to download

DTED Business Guide #5

In the guide titled The Keys to Business Success, business planning, including its ongoing use as a management tool, was listed as one of the keys. This guide focuses on what a business plan is, the

benefits of planning and how to prepare a plan for your business. There is a well-known saying in business that business owners do not plan to fail, they merely fail to plan. This saying draws on the results of small business studies which show that owners who plan their businesses are much more likely to survive and prosper. Does this sound as though business planning is the ‘magic formula’ for success? Not so; business life is not that easy. While business planning is not a guarantee of future success, it certainly helps to understand, plan and evaluate key steps in the decision-making process. Click to download

DTED Business Guide #7

Irrespective of the product or service, consumers today want choice. Unless your business provides what they want, at prices they can afford and are willing to pay, your future in business could be bleak. Marketing in a small business means attracting and retaining customers. Matching what people want with what you can profitably supply is what marketing is all about. This guide examines what’s involved in marketing, explains how to develop a competitive edge, outlines the ingredients for a marketing plan and offers tips on how to make your advertising effective. Click to download

DTED Business Guide #23

No-one can be an expert in every field. As a small business proprietor, you cannot hope to have at your fingertips the answer to every problem that may arise in the day-to-day operation of your business. Most small business failures occur due to a lack of balance in experience by owner-managers, especially in management. Being in business for yourself does not mean doing everything by yourself. You should consider the need for an extended management team outside your business to advise you in specialised areas where you may lack knowledge, ability or experience. Your professional advisers should be considered an integral part of your managerial decision-making. This guide discusses the benefits of the effective use of professional advisers, how to choose them and how to use their skills to your advantage. Click to download