2011 -
March
SOFTWARE - DOWNLOADING - 31.03.2011
BitTorrent: how exactly does it work?
If you decide to download a computer program, game, film, music album, etc., you will often land on a so-called BitTorrent site. How exactly does this work? Here’s the lowdown.
E-MAIL - MAILING LISTS - 31.03.2011
Making an e-zine that works
An electronic newsletter can keep your customers informed about your products and services, and temporary promotions, etc. But how can you ensure that your e-zine achieves its aim?
SECURITY - PRIVACY - 31.03.2011
Privacy protectors: do they really work?
As we all know, the Internet is an open book. However, there are so-called privacy protectors which purport to protect your private data on the Internet. What do they do, and are they effective?
WEB SERVICES - MISCELLANEOUS - 31.03.2011
Saving webpages for later use
Instapaper was one of the first services allowing you to save interesting webpages for later. A similar service, Read It later, is now rapidly gaining popularity. Here’s a comparison.
SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 31.03.2011
Free zipping?
To reduce the size of one or more files, it’s best to use a compression tool. Besides commercial programs such as WinZip, there are free alternatives as well. How good are they?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 31.03.2011
A new round in the browser war
We recently reviewed the new Internet Explorer 9, but in the meantime Google Chrome 10 and Firefox 4 are (almost) ready as well. Here are the main new features of these two browsers.
SECURITY - BACKUP - 31.03.2011
Making backups with LiveSafer
Making backups remains the best method for preventing the loss of important data. You can use a dedicated software program or an online backup service for this purpose. LiveSafer Unlimited comes in between. Convenient?
E-MAIL - SPAM - 31.03.2011
Less spam thanks to disposable addresses
Disposable e-mail addresses make an excellent defence against spam. What are they, why do you need them and where can you find them?
SECURITY - ANTI-MALWARE - 31.03.2011
Pharming: watch out for fake sites
Hackers are constantly coming up with new methods for tricking Internet users. “Pharming” is a very surreptitious technique. What is it and how can you defend yourself?
CONSUMER PRICE COMPARISON - 31.03.2011
Spring clean - make money
The launch of the new site SpeedSell, whereby you sell stuff that you don’t want, got us thinking about selling old gadgets and more. Let’s have a look.
VAT - 31.03.2011
Does an EU ruling mean an end to VAT on staff meals?
Subject to some exceptions, where you provide food for your employees, you’ll have to account for VAT on it. But a recent European Court ruling might change this, meaning you can reclaim any VAT overcharged. What’s the full story?
EMPLOYMENT STATUS - 31.03.2011
IR35 here to stay
The Budget confirmed that the IR35 rules won’t be scrapped. Instead, the Taxman has been told to improve administration of the system. What might this mean for your business?
PENSIONS - 31.03.2011
Tax breaks for excess pension contributions?
Under the new pension rules, the maximum contribution on which you can claim tax relief is £50,000 in any one year. If you pay more than this, you’ll be hit with a special tax charge. But is paying over the maximum all bad news?
INHERITANCE TAX - 31.03.2011
Is your income exempt from IHT?
The exemption for gifts “out of income” is possibly the most generous Inheritance Tax relief of all. But you need to know what counts as income if you want to make the most of it. So what’s in and what’s out?
PROPERTY - 31.03.2011
Olympic-size tax savings for renting your home
One of our subscribers intends to rent out her home to Olympic Games visitors next year. She spotted the Taxman’s recent press release on the subject, which suggests that some property income can be tax-free. Is this correct?
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES - 31.03.2011
Faster tax relief on equipment costs
In the Budget, Mr Osborne confirmed the massive cut in the annual investment allowance for the cost of machinery etc. However, there’s some compensation in the form of extended short-life asset elections. How can you benefit from these?
BUDGET - 31.03.2011
A good Budget for business?
It was predicted to be a quiet Budget but the Chancellor’s speech turned out to be full of surprises. Are they good or bad news for your business?
DIRECTORS’ BENEFITS - 31.03.2011
Tax-free and tax deductible life insurance
The death of a director can cause a financial hiatus for a company and all sorts of trouble for their colleagues. Your company has Keyman insurance for just this scenario, but is there a more tax-efficient alternative?
CONTRACTS - 31.03.2011
Binding contract or just an exchange of e-mails?
A recent High Court case shows us just how easy (and potentially expensive) it can be for a company to be caught up in a binding contract following an exchange of e-mails. So how can the directors ensure that this doesn’t happen?
DIRECTORS’ LIABILITY - 31.03.2011
Sub-standard stationery - that’s a £1,000 fine!
Since the Companies Act 2006 came fully into force in late 2009, Companies House has been taking a harder line on compliance. So if you haven’t updated your company stationery since then, could you face a fine or even prosecution?
PERSONNEL - 31.03.2011
Who owns company-generated LinkedIn contacts?
Many companies encourage the use of LinkedIn; it can be a good way for the directors to seek new business opportunities. But what happens when they leave? Who does their list of company-generated contacts belong to?
DIRECTORS’ TAX - 31.03.2011
Can directors claim EIS?
A friend is starting a new company and wants you as a fellow director. He says that you’ll get a tax break on the money you invest through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), but the Taxman says that directors can’t claim this. Who is right?
FINANCE - 31.03.2011
New “Solutions for Business” - but are they any good?
The government says it has designed a “streamlined portfolio of business support products” for directors like you; it takes effect from April. So what’s on offer in its “Solutions for Business” package and is it worth using?
NEW LEGISLATION - 31.03.2011
Agency workers: prepare for changes
Although the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 will soon be upon us, 93% of companies still need to prepare for them. What should the directors do?
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - 29.03.2011
Watching for fraud
Difficult economic times can provide additional motivation to dishonest employees to commit fraud against their employer. What can you do to reduce the risk of fraud in your business?
SPREADSHEETS - 29.03.2011
Formulae hidden in budgets
Budget spreadsheets have formulae defining relationships between revenues and costs. At some point, you’ll need to revisit each of these to check that they are still valid. How can you do this easily and effectively?
OFFICE EQUIPMENT - 29.03.2011
Standby savings
With an extended holiday period looming, you’re concerned that some PCs, monitors, printers, TVs etc. will be left on standby for a week. How can you cut these costs?
TECHNOLOGY - 29.03.2011
More cash from mobile phones
A new price comparison site has just launched which looks specifically at mobile phones. Can you really get cash from an old device - and will the new site help make it worth the effort?
CREDIT CARDS - 29.03.2011
The more flexible friend?
For whatever reason, you’ve come to rely on credit cards. However, you know that they come at a price. But did you know that the laws governing these flexible friends are changing - could you use them to save money?
OFFICE COSTS - 29.03.2011
Time to re-consider hot desking?
Although not a new idea, hot desking is re-emerging as a serious cost-saving tool in today’s tough economic climate. How does it work and can it really save your business money?
CASH FLOW - 29.03.2011
Home for your spare cash
Your company is lucky enough to have built up a positive cash reserve over and above what you need to fund your working capital. Rather than leaving it in your current account, what else can you do with it?
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS - 29.03.2011
Sales trends
Your managing director is worried about the low level of sales in the last quarter and is meeting the sales director to discuss. What sort of analysis should you provide to help them understand what’s happening?
PURCHASING - 29.03.2011
Reviewing new agreements
You’ve been asked to look over the terms of an agreement with a new supplier to check that they haven’t “missed anything”. What, as a finance person, should you check for?
PAYROLL COSTS - 29.03.2011
Compulsory pensions - when, not if!
You’ve heard that the compulsory pension regime for employers comes into force in 2012. How will this impact on the 2012 budget you’re preparing now?
PURCHASING - 29.03.2011
Smartphones - buy or rent?
One of our subscribers was asked to purchase iPhones for all the directors so they could keep an eye on how their competitors were exploiting “apps” to market their products. What’s the most cost-effective way to do this?
INSPECTIONS - 29.03.2011
Taxman trying to cash in on accruals
One of our subscribers recently received a routine VAT inspection. The VATman found nothing wrong with the records but issued an assessment because the VAT returns didn’t tie up with the company’s accounts. What was the problem?
REGISTRATION - 29.03.2011
Reducing turnover can increase profit
Is it possible to reduce your turnover, deregister from VAT and increase your profit? Surely this would be too good to be true and the VATman would have something to say about it?
PRIVATE USE - 29.03.2011
VAT on private use of goods?
You might not think twice about taking goods out of your business for private use, but what will the VATman think? At what point will he expect you to pay VAT on the use?
CASH ACCOUNTING - 29.03.2011
Improving your cash flow
You’ve heard that the cash accounting scheme allows you to account for VAT when you get paid rather than when you issue an invoice. How does it work and how do you join?
OVERSEAS VAT - 29.03.2011
Get your VAT back on overseas business trips
If you make business trips to other EU member states, you will of course incur VAT. There is a way of getting the VAT back and it’s recently been simplified. So how should you go about it?
ENFORCEMENT - 29.03.2011
New way to resolve disputes?
The VATman has introduced a pilot scheme aimed at resolving tax disputes in a more effective way. Is this good news?
CHEMICALS - 25.03.2011
Keep chemicals out of harms way
A fatal accident at a care home has provided a clear reminder about storing chemicals safely and keeping them away from potentially vulnerable individuals. What’s to know?
ASBESTOS - 25.03.2011
Can we clean our asbestos roof?
If you have a building with an asbestos roof, you may have found that moss has started growing on it, making it look unsightly. So can you get the pressure washer out to clean it off?
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH - 25.03.2011
Can you disagree with a fit note?
One of your employees has brought in a fit note which states that they’re OK to do their job with a few restrictions. But your better judgement says otherwise. Who has the final say?
WORKING AT HEIGHT - 25.03.2011
Don’t use that ladder!
Although the authorities have put increased resources into promoting safe working at height and how to use ladders correctly, a recent case proves that the message hasn’t got through to everyone. What happened?
H&S MANAGEMENT - 25.03.2011
Is the battle against red tape lost?
Reports indicate that the government is losing its battle against red tape and more legislation is on its way. Will health and safety be affected by this and, if so, what’s on the horizon?
FIRE SAFETY - 25.03.2011
Fire risks associated with chemical storage
You’ve heard that if you store dangerous substances on your site, you are under a legal duty to inform the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS). Why do you need to do this?
ENFORCEMENT - 25.03.2011
Inspections cut
There are plans to shake up the enforcement authorities’ inspection model. What changes are on the cards and when might this happen?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 25.03.2011
Off sick but they’ve taken an evening job!
An employee has been off sick for several weeks and you’re paying them full sick pay. However, you’ve just received a reliable tip-off that they’ve started a part-time evening job. Surely they can’t do this? What’s the legal position?
EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY - 25.03.2011
Employee steals from a client: could you be liable?
Suppose that an employee steals from a client. You’re going to face some embarrassment, but what about potential liability? According to the Court of Appeal, it could be your fault. So how do you avoid this?
MATERNITY PAY - 25.03.2011
Childcare vouchers and maternity leave
A pregnant employee wants to know if the childcare vouchers she currently receives could reduce her maternity pay entitlement. Why could it be better for both of you if she opts out of your scheme before going on maternity leave?
TRIBUNALS - 25.03.2011
Witness statements are the key to (tribunal) success
Not only can witness statements be the key to an employer winning at tribunal, they can fend off the threat of a claim. So what drafting tactics should you employ to make sure they’re as robust as possible?
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT - 25.03.2011
Have you tried the “Model Workplace” tool?
ACAS has developed an online tool which allows employers to assess the overall effectiveness of their workplace. It’s free to use and claims to offer “sound, practical guidance”. This could be useful, but is it really worth the bother?
RETIREMENT - 25.03.2011
The DRA changes - act now!
There have been some last-minute changes to the Regulations which will remove the default retirement age. Act quickly and it can still be used safely. How?
PAYROLL - 21.03.2011
New payroll limits
As another tax year ends, it’s time to update your payroll software and calculate the new tax-free salary levels for directors. What are the new limits?
FINANCIAL REPORTING - 21.03.2011
Recognising doubtful debts
Your MD is concerned about the adjustment made to the accounts by the auditors for bad and doubtful debts. He’s asked you to start to recognise doubtful debts in the management accounts each month. How do you do it?
BUDGETING - 21.03.2011
Where are we compared to last year?
Nearly the entire focus of management accounts is performance against budget. However, comparisons with how you were doing this time last year are also important. Is there an easy way to do this?
COMPANY LAW - 21.03.2011
Share repurchase
One of your director/shareholders is leaving the company and the other shareholders don’t want him to keep his equity but can’t afford to buy him out. You’ve heard of company share repurchase and wonder if that’s the answer.
OFFICE COSTS - 21.03.2011
Saving with serviced offices?
In a previous issue we explained how virtual offices can save companies money, but what about serviced offices? How do they differ, and are they a viable cost- saving alternative to conventional office space?
OFFICE COSTS - 21.03.2011
Paper cuts
Research shows that of the 10,000 sheets of paper the average worker goes through each year, 6,800 are wasted. Can cutting paper use really save that much money though?
CARS - 21.03.2011
Are friends electric?
Since January you’ve been able to get up to £5,000 towards an electric car. Does that make them financially less of a shock and even viable given the lower running costs compared to standard vehicles?
HEALTH & SAFETY - 21.03.2011
Gel cuts sickness costs
During the long winter months there’s a good chance of losing staff to colds and ‘flu. You’re fed up with the disruption and associated costs. So could alcohol gels help provide a solution?
REDUNDANCY PAY - 21.03.2011
Calculating voluntary redundancy pay
Your company needs to make some payroll cuts and has offered staff voluntary redundancy. But how do you calculate how much they can get without falling foul of the age discrimination rules?
CREDIT CONTROL - 21.03.2011
Does every customer need credit?
When recently reviewing the balances on your sales ledger you noticed that there are many invoices for relatively small amounts. Each one adds to your credit control time. Is there a way of avoiding this problem?
H&S MANAGEMENT - OLDER WORKERS - 21.03.2011
No time to retire
It’s been announced that the default retirement age (DRA) is going to be scrapped to give staff, “the freedom to work for as long as they want or are able to do so”. Does this move have health and safety implications?
SAFE USE OF MACHINERY - 21.03.2011
Buying a used forklift truck
Obviously, buying a used forklift truck can work out to be a much cheaper option than new. However, it can also introduce health and safety risks that you could do without. What do you need to look out for when making a purchase?
POLICIES & RECORDS - SAFETY PROCEDURE - 21.03.2011
Safety procedure
For certain tasks, asking staff to follow a prescriptive procedure should ensure that they are conducted safely. So that your documents cover all of the important points, why not use our new model document?
WORKING WITH CHEMICALS - 21.03.2011
The risks of spray painting exposed
A recent case which saw an employee suffer serious burns has highlighted why it’s vital to complete risk assessments that cover the use of hazardous chemicals and to implement the findings immediately. What happened?
ELECTRICITY - 21.03.2011
Are your underground cables safe?
Investigators have concluded that electric shock caused the death of two race horses during a race meet at Newbury. How did this happen and what lessons can be learned from the incident?
FIRE SAFETY - 21.03.2011
What’s a fire damper?
During a recent fire safety review, you were asked whether you maintain fire dampers in the building. What are they, where would they be found and if you have them, what should you do to maintain them?
HSE - 21.03.2011
HSE braced for cuts
In response to a significant reduction in its funding, the HSE is cutting jobs. Which posts are going and what impact is this likely to have?
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 21.03.2011
Collaborating via Google Shared Spaces
Google Wave was launched last year as a mix of e-mail and instant messaging, social networking and online collaboration. It now has a successor: Google Shared Spaces. Is it better?
SOFTWARE - WIDGETS - 21.03.2011
Widgets and gadgets on your desktop
Widgets or gadgets post information straight on your desktop. There are widgets for Windows Vista and Windows 7, and in addition there’s Google Gadgets. What do they add, and which widgets should you install?
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 21.03.2011
Windows tools for experts
Microsoft recently released its Sysinternals Suite, a free software suite containing no fewer than 67 tools and programs for making Windows perform even better. Here are a couple of useful tools from this collection.
PERSONAL WEBSITE - SITE DESIGN - 21.03.2011
What makes a good FAQ?
Your virtual visitors will want a good FAQ section on your business website. Where do you start? What should a good “question and answers” section contain? Here are the answers…
SOFTWARE - WINDOWS - 21.03.2011
Service Pack 1 for Windows 7: install now?
The very first Service Pack for Windows 7 was released recently. What defects does this Service Pack remedy, which new functions does it add, and how exactly do you install it?
SOFTWARE - BROWSER - 21.03.2011
What to expect of Internet Explorer 9
The new Internet Explorer 9 is as good as ready for everyday use. We tested the “release candidate” - the ultimate test version - to find out which new features we may expect.
WEB SERVICES - ONLINE COLLABORATION - 21.03.2011
How to send large files
To send very large files, you will almost automatically turn to YouSendIt. However, there are alternatives which don’t require registration or impose size limits. We put some of them to the test.
E-MAIL - WEBMAIL - 21.03.2011
Handy new features or extensions in Gmail
Gmail users will already know that new features are released all the time. But there are also external add-ons for Gmail which may be useful. Here’s an update.
SECURITY - MALWARE - 21.03.2011
Phishing: don’t be lured to dangerous sites
Even if you’re running up-to-date anti-malware tools, you should remain wary of devious attempts to lure you to dangerous sites. One of the most notorious methods is phishing. What is it, and how do you arm yourself against this?
WEB SERVICES - COMMUNITIES - 21.03.2011
Track your customers on Facebook and YouTube
You can use popular “social” websites such as Facebook and YouTube for business applications too, as long as you can ensure an excellent follow-up. “Tracking tools” can help you. How do they work?
GARDENING - 21.03.2011
Grow your own vegetables and herbs
There are many ways to save money. A popular way is to grow your own flowers, vegetables and herbs. We check out the best seed bargains online.
