Business plan: what is it good for?

It may sound crazy, but part of planning your business plan is planning what you want to do with the business plan. Having a business plan is a good idea even to get your ideas straight and have a plan in mind when you get going.

How to forceast financials

One of the key parts of any business plan for a start – especially if you are looking for investment or funding from a bank or third party – is to look at how to forecast the financial side of things.

Alternative banks: Who are they?

There is a whole raft of new banks and related ways of raising money for your business that offer advantages over some other methods.

How to achieve business angel delight

One of the key ways many small businesses grow is through business angel investors. While larger operations have increasingly been turning to official venture capital firms, angels offer smaller start ups a lower level of funding and much more besides.

Funding your start up

The one thing all new businesses need is money. Getting things off the ground – even in your back bedroom – requires investment. And once things start to move along, you often need more cash.

Eight ways to bag a crowdfunding investor

Equity crowdfunding can give ecommerce businesses a direct way of securing the capital they need to start up or grow; by showcasing their business online to ‘armchair investors’.

Focus on funding: Alternative funding sources

Traditional money lenders are not splashing cash like they used to. According to new figures bank lending to businesses fell by £300m in the first quarter of 2013. Thankfully there are now swathes of alternative funding sources to pick up the slack.

Focus on funding: Reducing costs

If you want to start a business with minimal investment, there are ways you can keep the costs lower. Saving money in certain areas frees up some of your cash to invest it where it’s really needed.

How to calculate gross profit

Your ecommerce business’s gross profit margin is one of the most important factors for you to monitor. Here’s why.

Seven ways to get your cash flow flowing

Strong cash-flow is the trick to any successful ecommerce business. Here are seven ways of keeping your cash flow flowing.