Business Growth

How can small businesses plan for Christmas?

With yuletide almost upon us, how can an SME ensure they properly prepare for the holiday close-down?

Business Growth

A Simple Guide to Strategy for Small Business Owners

Being a small business owner comes with unique challenges, but navigating the world of strategy doesn’t have to be one...

Business Growth

The Road to Personal Freedom

Creating a business that functions effectively and independently of you ultimately provides you with a more valuable business. It also...

News

New Business Doctor: Boost for Businesses in Bath and Bristol

We’re thrilled to introduce Bruce Spain, the latest addition to our team. Bruce will operate in Bristol and Bath in...

Business Growth

How AI Can Drive Business Growth: Benefits for SMEs this year and Beyond

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a present-day reality that has the potential to revolutionise some...

People

Addressing the skills shortage in the UK

The most common issue facing our clients today is people. Recruiting, retaining and getting the most from their teams is...

Business Growth

Green Practices for SMEs: Building a Sustainable Future

The Importance of Sustainability for SMEs In our article Planning for a Successful Year we talked about the importance of...

News

South West SMEs to benefit from new Business Doctor

Seasoned businessman Raphael Fiorentino has joined forces with the national SME support network Business Doctors, bringing his unique skills and...

People

The small business owner and mental health 

Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be highly stressful. According to a study by...

People

Think about this before going into business with family

Before jumping head first into a new family venture, here's three useful tips!

News

Business Doctors launch in Northampton

Business Doctors open new advisory office in Northampton We are delighted to introduce Alastair McLeod, Business Doctor for Northamptonshire. Alastair...

Business Growth

How to Write a Business Plan

Why you need a business plan A business plan will provide you with a clear outline of all the actions...

News

New SME Advisory Service in Hounslow

Per Jonsson recently joined forces with the business support network Business Doctors and will support businesses in Hounslow, Richmond, and...

Business Growth

Planning for a Successful Year

How are you feeling about this year?  You probably spent the latter part of December talking, eating, drinking and hopefully...

Business Growth

Bringing your business growth strategy to life - Making it happen 

Here comes the exciting bit in which you can see your plans come to fruition (part 3/3)

Business Growth

The six tentacles of the owner's trap...

Roadblocks to business growth The Owner’s Trap  Many individuals set up businesses because they are looking for freedom. Freedom from...

Business Growth

How to develop a business growth strategy

  “A business growth strategy is a long-term document that sets out how your company will evolve to meet current...

People

What is business purpose and why is it important?

What is the meaning of purpose?  The Oxford Dictionary defines purpose as ‘The reason something is done or created or for...

Finance

12 tips for improving your business cashflow

January is a notorious time of year for businesses having tight cash-flow. Take a look at the next 12 tips...

News

Business Doctors launches new support service in Coventry

National SME Advisory Network, Business Doctors introduces Ryan Cartern the new Business Doctor for Coventry and Warwickshire. Ryan Cartern (left)...

Business Growth

The Ultimate Guide to Business Growth

Most entrepreneurs are driven to start a business ultimately; they want to see it grow, yet they often reach a...

People

Top tips for finding a business mentor

Are you one of the many business owners that don’t have a confidante within the business? Do you feel isolated,...

People

The benefits of business mentoring

Research conducted by Simply Business, showed that even before Covid became a thing, business owners were already feeling isolated –...

News

New SME Advisory Service for Worcestershire

Steve Ennis is the latest business professional to join the Business Doctors network and will be operating in the county...

People

What is a business mentor?

Business owners have been under increasing pressure since the onset of Covid back in 2019. Getting the workforce back in...

People

Elements of leadership: The characteristics of effective leaders in business

We have looked at why leadership skills are important to business owners, the benefits to your bottom line, improved morale...

People

What are leadership skills and how can business owners acquire them?

You may have set up your business as a result of a passion for what you do, the desire to...

News

Business Doctors launches new office in Milton Keynes

Business Doctors is delighted to announce the launch of a new office UK office The new office in Milton Keynes,...

People

Why leadership skills are important for business owners

A business strategy defines a business by giving it a set of values and purposes. It will provide you with...

News

Launch of New Business Advisory Service in North Yorkshire

The new business advisory service will be headed up by Ian Howard, and will be providing support to businesses in...

Business Growth

Challenges facing SMEs in 2022

Challenges Facing SMEs in 2022 The SME market is incredibly vast so far in 2022, with a variety of small...

News

Business Doctors Bulgaria celebrates anniversary with event

Almost one year since Veselin Genev opened up our first office in Bulgaria, founders Matt Levington and Rod Davies joined...

Finance

Financial challenges facing business owners

Over the last few months we have been exploring some key challenges facing business owners in 2022. We’ve already covered...

Business Growth

Issues affecting businesses part-three

Supply and Logistics Over the next few months, Business Doctors will be exploring the key challenges small businesses across the...

People

The Evolving Workforce

Talent and People What is talent, and why is it important in business? What comes to mind when we hear...

Business Growth

Issues affecting businesses in 2022 - Part two

The post-Brexit reality for SMEs Over the next few months, Business Doctors will be exploring the key challenges small businesses...

People

Matt Levington on getting back into business mode

It’s a funny month, January, the first week back is always a bit interesting trying to get your head around...

People

Issues affecting businesses in 2022 - part one

Issues affecting businesses in 2022 – Part One – People   Get your business firing on all cylinders again! The...

Business Growth

How is your Sector Performing Post-COVID?

All business sectors struggled to some degree throughout the pandemic, even if there were some instances of success. According to...

Business Growth

How is Your Business Feeling Post-COVID?

Getting back to business post Covid Thankfully for small businesses across the UK, the dust has finally started to settle...

Finance

Financing your Business Post-COVID

The Real Cost of COVID to Small Businesses It’s time to get back on track with your venture and start...

People

Effectively Managing Your Remote Workforce

The Challenges of Managing Remote Workforces There’s a lot to be said for in-office working. For many SMEs, the workplace...

People

Beyond the Numbers - How is Your Business Feeling?

How is your Business Feeling Post-COVID?   In light of Mental Health Awareness week in May, and the events over...

People

Is now the time to hire your first employee?

Does your business have the resource needed to grow? You may have experienced growth in lockdown and are considering whether...

Business Growth

Branding - Is it Time for a Refresh?

  Well-managed branding can give you a genuine sustainable competitive advantage. This is especially relevant if you are looking to...

Business Growth

Business Vision, Mission and Values - Why are they so important?

VMV are the very foundations upon which you will build a solid, sustainable & growing business. The importance is grossly...

Business Growth

Strategy

Goals...are you using yours properly?

Getting your business goals right I often find that when I speak with people about business goals and more importantly,...

Business Growth

Strategy

It's better to GIVE...and improve your business in return

It’s time to take a long hard look in the mirror…to understand your capabilities as a business, and what makes...

Business Growth

Keep Calm and Carry On...2020 is nearly over!

What a year 2020 has been For many I hear I can’t wait for 2020 to end, and frankly who...

Business Growth

Sales

Sales on the slide? Then OPEN the door

Increasing lead generation and sales in the current climate Human beings are hardwired to avoid pain and gain pleasure. Scientific...

People

Your team

Employees: The importance of getting them engaged

Employees: The importance of getting them engaged The Oxford English dictionary defines ‘engagement’ as ‘a promise, obligation, or other condition...

Finance

Are you heading for a cash crisis?

Cash is different from profit. Many ‘profitable’ businesses have gone under – although on the surface they may be trading...

Finance

The mystery of cash flow

What is cash flow? The Cambridge dictionary defines cash flow as: the amount of money moving into and out of...

Finance

Why do fraudsters target SMEs?

Small and medium sized businesses are a prime target for online fraud!

People

Appointing an external CEO

Stepping back from the day to day running of the business is a major decision for the founder.

All about you (the business owner)

People

Building a management team - when is it time?

When is it time to think about a management team? For small business owners, taking the big step to expand...

Finance

The Number '1' Trap

There are lots of potential traps when it comes to running a business. Some of the obvious pitfalls include: Not...

People

Get the basics of managing your staff sorted - only then think about the progressive stuff.

Any business needs to get the basics of employing staff sorted: employing staff legally is obvious but having a staffing...

Finance

Are we having smart conversations?

Enquire more, advocate less To really understand what is happening in business but in any situation, we need to enquire...

Business Growth

Business Management

The Elephant in the Room

So what can an SME learn from a corporate? Not much you might think as they are so fundamentally different....

Finance

Plan your way out of uncertainty

Frustrating right?  How on earth have we as a country gotten ourselves into this current pickle?  It seemed like a...

Finance

How do I improve my pricing? (Finance Part 5/5)

"How a small increase in price, can give a big boost to the bottom line?"‚¬

Finance

How can I increase the cash in the business to grow? (Finance Part 4/5)

"How many ways can a business owner raise money?"‚¬

Finance

I'm struggling to pay the bills (Finance, Part 3/5)

"Cash is King, so how do I make sure customers pay on time?"‚¬

Finance

I cannot budget what I don't know

"A bad plan is better than no plan but how can I forecast what I don't know?"‚¬

Finance

What story do the numbers tell? (Finance, Part 1/5)

"How can I make the story behind the accounts better?"‚¬

People

Your team

What people aspects can set a business apart?

Business owners, would you like an engaged workforce?

People

Your team

How can managing staff be made easier?

Business owners, is managing your staff a stress? Reset with staff performance management

People

Your team

How can I avoid square pegs in round holes?

Business owners, how can you get the right staff doing the right things? Reset with an organisation stucture and job...

People

Are staff issues holding back the growth of your business?

Business owners, are staff issues holding back your business? Reset staff issues with these 3 steps ...

Business Growth

Marketing your business in the digital age

Find out out the fundamentals of marketing in the digital age

People

Top tips for a first hire

You can never repeat the process of recruiting your first hire so be intelligent about it

People

Expanding your workforce

How do you know when is the right time to take the plunge and expand the workforce?

Finance

How to select the right business bank account

Small business owners now have more options than ever for choosing a bank and can select one which caters for...

Finance

Smarter Invoicing for Cash Flow Health

5 useful steps to improve your invoicing process and reduce cashflow worries.

Finance

Keeping a handle on costs

What can start-ups and SMEs do to bring down costs in the early years?

People

When is the right time to hire a management team?

The management team should evolve over time with the needs of the business.

Business Growth

Business Doctor's guide to bidding on public sector works

An explanation of how to bid public sector work and how frameworks can add value to a business.

Finance

Top tips to manage your business cash flow through the summer months!

The summer months for businesses can notoriously be a tight period for cash. With low productivity levels, staff on holiday...

News

Business Doctors makes its first move into mainland Europe

"I am looking forward to bringing the Business Doctor's unique brand of jargon-free, hands on SME support to Brussels and...

Finance

Growing your business

Here's some market metrics to help you target the customers you want

Finance

Raising money for your business - what you need to know

What you need to know to boost your chances of securing a business loan

Finance

For small businesses cash is still king

10 simple tips to help improve your cash flow position

Finance

Getting the right funding for your 2017 business budget

Will you need additional funding to grow your business in 2017?

People

How to Nourish Future Female Company Leaders

To attract talented young women to a workplace and support them in pursuing their careers to higher levels, we have...

People

Your team

6 low cost ways to improve employee engagement

Staff turnover costs British businesses at least £4.13bn every year, so what can you do as a business owner or...

Finance

Cash Flow Q&A for Small Firms

Do you want to learn more about cash flow for small firms? Read our Cash Flow Q&A with Business Doctor...

People

Uncategorized

Why engagement is critical to the success of your business

Culture : How things are done around here Engagement : How employees feel about how things are done around...

Finance

Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity but cash is reality!

What steps can you take to ensure that your businesses doesn't become a casualty to bad cash flow management?

Finance

How to find additional funding for your business

Gaining access to additional funding can give your business the boost it might need.

Finance

What are research and development tax credits?

A typical R&D Tax claim is in excess of £47,000 per UK company, is your company eligible?

Finance

How to get 4 x faster growth than your average SME

Heard about Growth Accelerator but want to learn more?

Finance

Professional services: A new world order?

The 'Big 4' Accountancy Firms offer more than just accountancy services. Can a SME accountancy practice deliver Business Solutions to...

Finance

How is your company doing financially?

One of the eight factors that contribute to your company's sellability is your financial performance. Specifically, the size of your...

Business Growth

Uncategorized

Does not having a business mission and vision hinder growth?

Mission or Purpose with a vision powers everything in your business

People

Your team

Have you built the right team for your business?

Building the right team, with individuals working to the best of their abilities, will see your business grow. A square...

People

Employee Motivations

In conversations with business owners, there is evidence that businesses are stabilising and in some cases showing signs of growth....

Finance

Barrier to growth number 2: "It's too expensive"

How can you justify investment in the development of a strategy?