Bizpro Ltd - Virtual Assistants » Small Business

Bizpro welcomes new franchisees!

Kerry — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 21:17:12 +0000

Wow, what a great week! Bizpro completed our first franchise training course and can now really welcome our new franchisees to their own Bizpro businesses. We had great fun over the four days and had fantastic feedback from the newest members of the Bizpro team…

In the course we covered all aspects of business – from setting up and establishing a Bizpro business; getting clients, marketing, accounting, networking, etc; to growing a Bizpro business; working with associates, adding value, to name but a few. It was a great week, even if I do say so myself, and now our newest franchisees are fully geared up to go out there and create a great new business for themselves.

So I guess the next step is the introductions!

A huge welcome to Erika Smith, who has taken on the franchise for Bizpro North Somerset, and Emma James, who has taken on the franchise for Walsall & Wolverhampton.

Erika has extensive experience in working across a variety of industries in a variety of PA & administrative management roles. Proactive & professional, Erika always prepares for the unexpected, making her an ideal Bizpro business assistant and with a personal motto of ‘Get it right first time, every time and on time’, we just know Erika is going to do very well in her new Bizpro business.

From the tender age of just 15, Emma was working as a book keeper in her spare time, and has enjoyed an extensive and varied career in PA, Administration and accounts ever since. With a refreshingly positive attitude and outlook, Emma’s confidence and enthusiasm for her new venture, combined with her practical use of modern technology and ideas will make her a valuable addition to the Bizpro team.

All in all, it was a great week, and a really successful course. We’re already planning for the next one, and can’t wait!

Virtual Assistants Improve your Business Image.

Kerry — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:16:12 +0000

One of the biggest things that separate big companies from their small competitors is the level of support enjoyed. Large companies are typically better staffed, which means they have the personnel necessary to perform a number of services that simply make big corporations look more professional to clients. Small business owners typically have to do all the work themselves or most of it. This leaves them scrambling and often looking less professional than they could. When it’s time to gain a big business advantage, even a company staffed by one can enjoy an edge if a virtual assistant is relied upon for help.

Assisting clients that want to adopt a “big business image” is one of the most rewarding endeavours that Bizpro undertakes. When a virtual assistant is used to take some of the workload off a small firm, every aspect of an operation can benefit. Some of the ways in which a virtual assistant can help even the smallest of companies enjoy a bigger, more professional image include:

Assisting with organisation – Virtual assistants thrive on tackling the time consuming, tedious jobs that are extremely important to most companies. Some of the things pros in the field can help out with on the organisation end include making appointments on clients’ behalf, organizing contact lists, scanning business cards and even filtering emails.
Assisting with presentations – When reports need to be typed, notes transcribed or even PowerPoint presentations created, virtual assistants can get the job done.
Helping with bookkeeping – A good virtual assistant can tackle more than basic office jobs. Many of us pride ourselves in having the ability to take the burdens of payroll, credit control, invoicing and even VAT returns off a company’s plate.

It’s not uncommon for clients and potential clients to perceive big businesses as being more professional. Even the smallest of companies, however, can gain an advantage in this department by obtaining help with the “little jobs” that matter a lot.

The Budget – How will it affect small businesses?

Kerry — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:47:06 +0000

There seems to be one word on everyone’s lips at the moment; Budget. It’s something that affects us all, and this year we’ve been waiting with baited breath amid all the speculation, so here’s what BizBlog’s guest blogger, Phil Hendy of Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants based in Malmesbury has to say about it:

Chancellor Alistair Darling presented his Pre-Budget report on Monday 24 November 2008.

As anticipated there was a concentrated effort to introduce measures to protect and support businesses through the difficult and challenging economic climate. The measures are also intended to help individuals and those on lower incomes.

So, what are the main changes that affect small business in the short term?

Reduction in the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 15%. This is effective from 1 December 2008 and will revert on 1 January 2010.
Personal tax allowance to increase to £6,475 for the 2009/10 year.
Deferral of increase in lower rate of Corporation tax. Therefore the rate will remain at 21%.
Trading losses will now be able to carry back losses of up to £50k for three years.
The capital allowance regime on cars costing over £12k will be based on CO2 emissions from April 2009.

There are longer term affects, most notably the increase to national insurance, which will increase by 0.5% from April 2011.

In addition individuals earning in excess of £100k will start to find their tax burdens a lot more complex and expensive from April 2011.

The VAT issue is the one that will affect most businesses, not only from a cost position but from an administrative change. One area to be wary of are businesses using cash accounting. It is important that the rate at the date of supply is used, not the date of payment. This could make Vat returns, particularly for the first quarter of this a little more complex.

Anyone using manual or computerised book-keeping systems should ensure that they are updating at the appropriate rates. Sage have already issued guidance notes on how to amend their systems.

Loss making businesses should ensure that accounts are finalised and tax computations submitted as soon as possible after the year end to obtain repayments. In addition it would be worth considering a change in accounting date to increase the relief available.

Finally, an area that has been overlooked by some is the introduction of a Business Payment Support Service. This is intended to give help to businesses that are struggling to meet their liabilities in respect of all taxes. This will certainly be of benefit to most businesses in the current climate as it could help cash flow and budgeting.

Our detailed release, as well as other useful information, can be found here.

For further information or if you wish to discuss this further feel free to call me on 01666 823201 or email Phil@msmalmesbury.com .