Start Your Own Business

Some small-business owners don’t claim their full allowable expenses, which means they end up paying too much tax. Other small business claim for costs to which they’re not entitled, which can lead to problems if HMRC finds out.

In this episode tax expert Mike Parkes provides a valuable introduction to claiming allowable expenses aimed at sole traders and freelancers, including those related to operating a business from your home, utility costs, travel and vehicle costs, buying tools and equipment, etc.

Mike Parkes is Technical Director of Oldham-based GoSimpleTax, award-winning software that makes filing Self Assessment tax returns easier for sole traders, freelancers and others who pay Income Tax via Self Assessment. Mike has worked in the small-business and sole-trader accounting and accounting software space for almost 25 years, so he knows a thing or two about Self Assessment and allowable expenses.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on allowable expenses and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

This series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Running your own small business can bring many highs and lows. It can be very stressful at times, too. In this episode, esteemed expert Sir Cary Cooper provides practical advice on dealing with stress when running a small business, while explaining the dangers to yourself and your employees if you fail to manage stress and disappointment effectively.

Sir Cary Cooper is the 50th Anniversary Professor of Organizational Psychology & Health at the Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester. Sir Cary is also President of the Institute of Welfare and Chair of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing at Work. He is co-founder of the Robertson Cooper mental health, resilience and wellbeing consultancy, and has been described as the UK media’s first-choice expert for comment on workplace issues.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on how to manage stress and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

This series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

The history of family business Grasmere Gingerbread dates back to 1854, when Victorian cook, Sarah Nelson, invented Grasmere gingerbread and started selling it locally. Third-generation owners Joanne and Andrew Hunter now run the and Yasmine is their daughter.

As well as gingerbread – which is said to be the world’s best – Grasmere Gingerbread sells award-winning rum butter, toffee, fudges, chocolates, conserves, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Sauce, Kendal Mint Cake, ginger beer and other mouthwatering delights. Some years ago, Grasmere Gingerbread started to sell its delicious wares online and it’s proved to be a very wise decision.

In this episode, Yasmine retraces the steps Grasmere Gingerbread took to start selling online and shares her advice to other new and established small businesses that want to replicate Grasmere Gingerbread’s success.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

This series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Such has been digital marketing’s rise to prominence that you could be forgiven for believing that there’s no point in bothering with offline marketing when it comes to trying to attract new customers to your start-up or small business. But for many start-ups and small businesses, tried and tested offline marketing techniques continue to offer excellent returns, enabling them to attract and retain customers for a relatively modest budget.

In this episode, expert Tony Dowling, director of Swansea-based Real Inbound Marketing, runs through the main offline marketing options that are available to small businesses, including word-of-mouth, face-to-face networking, as well as newspaper, magazine and even local radio advertising. Tony shares his considerable insight, so you can learn how your start-up or small business can ensure the best results from offline marketing.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on offline marketing and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

This series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Record numbers are starting their own business. People of all ages, from all manner of backgrounds. Starting your own business is exciting and rewarding. And although it’s cheaper, quicker and easier than ever – there are risks and many pitfalls to avoid.

Sound advice from an experienced, reliable source can make a huge difference when you’re starting up. If you’re starting your own business or soon plan to, you really shouldn’t miss this superb second series. This short trailer will tell you why. 

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on starting a business and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

This series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Advice on achieving the right work-life balance, managing your time, feeling supported and safeguarding your health and mental wellbeing.

Running a small business can be highly demanding and working alone can make you feel isolated. In this episode, Christine Husbands joins us to offer tips on how to take better care of yourself, so you and your new business benefits.        

Christine is the managing director of RedArc, which works with the Federation of Small Businesses and other organisations, and provides advice and emotional support to help people to better cope with illness, disability, trauma or bereavement.

Visit Start Up Donut for more help and information and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

The first series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

An introduction to selling online, whether via marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon and Etsy, or your own e-commerce or general website.

In this episode we speak to online selling expert, Chris Dawson, who talks about the advantages of selling online and guides us through selling via popular marketplace platforms.   

Chris is co-founder and editor of Tamebay, leading source of intelligence and news for those who sell on online marketplaces, whether experienced “power sellers” looking to boost their sales or beginners looking for best practice advice. Chris co-founded Tamebay in 2006, but for eight years before that he’d been a full time eBay seller.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on selling online and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

The first series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

An unmissable introduction to the all-important business of online marketing and digital marketing methods you can use to attract and retain customers.

In this episode we speak to Aggie Meroni to find out all about social media marketing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, search engine marketing, so you stand a better chance of people finding your business via search engines such as Google, and organic and paid online advertising. You’ll also get an introduction to email marketing.

Aggie is the founder and CEO of White Bee Digital, a consultancy that helps start-ups and small businesses to build their online presence, so they can attract and retain more customers.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information about marketing your business online and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

The first series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Pick up top tips and learn key start-up lessons from the biggest experts of all – those who’ve actually been there and started their own business.

In this episode we speak to Lee DeSanges, founder of Birmingham-based Baked In Brick, a business he launched in 2015 from his garden shed. Soon Lee was cooking and selling BBQ chicken tikka wraps out of a modified Mini Cooper, as well as wood-fired style pizza at events and street markets. More recently, Lee opened his own Baked In Brick restaurant in Birmingham.

Find out what Lee would do differently if he had to start his business again and what his key start-up tips are.

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information about starting a business and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

The first series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.

Why it’s important to spend as little as possible when starting a business, where to get funding and tips on cash flow management and setting prices.

In this episode we speak to Guy Bridge to find out about the pros and cons of various sources of start-up funding. Is it possible to start a business with little or no money? What can you claim for when running your business from home all or some of the time? You can also find out about how to keep your cash flow healthy, which is arguably the most important challenge you face in business.

Guy is the CEO of Finpoint, a business finance platform that makes it easier for SMEs and their advisers to find the right business finance. Finpoint works with the Federation of Small Businesses and many other organisations. Previously, for 25 years, Guy worked in banking for HSBC, RBS and others, so he’s highly experienced when it comes small business funding and finance. 

Visit Start Up Donut for more free information on raising money and managing your cashflow, and sign up to the Donut newsletter for weekly start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

The first series of this podcast is brought to you thanks to the support of the Federation of Small Businesses.