To take your business to the next level of success, you must sell more, whether to existing customers, new customers or both. You may have to launch new products or services, target new types of customers or sell in new locations. Selling overseas can be transformative, with technology now making this quicker, easier and cheaper. But people will not buy from you if they do not know you exist, or what you offer and why they should buy it from you. Marketing makes this possible. In simple terms, marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell and convincing them to buy from you and keep coming back for more. Read on to find out how to harness the power of digital marketing to grow your business. What is digital marketing? Digital marketing describes using online channels, technologies and methods to promote brands, products and services. Digital marketing can enable all businesses to reach targeted audiences, even with limited budget and know-how. Businesses of all sizes, types and sectors can use digital marketing to: build brand awareness and trust significantly increase their reach target specific customers sell more and ensure customer loyalty. The advantages of digital marketing Cost-effective: You can reach many people even with limited budget. Targeted: You can target specific customers. Effective: Get it right and it can bring fantastic results. Measurable: You can track clicks, leads, conversions, etc, learn and improve. Scalable: You can scale up your digital marketing and as your business grows. Key digital marketing channels 1 Your website Your website should look professional (it encourages trust), work well and successfully showcase your products and services. It needs to explain what sets your business apart and why visitors should buy from you. Websites are a huge influence on buying decisions. Your website imagery should be engaging, attractive, high quality and “on brand” (ie consistent with what your business is and stands for). Your website should not be overburdened with images, text or pages. It should be fast-loading, mobile friendly and easy to navigate. Your website should be your main marketing hub. Top tip: Make sure your website features clear calls to action (eg “Buy now!”, “Contact us”, etc) on every page in several places. 2 Search engine optimisation (SEO) Even in the age of AI, your website should still be optimised for search engines (Google chief among them). Even though AI tools answer questions directly, they source from top-ranking websites. Successful SEO is about making your website discoverable, relevant and trustworthy. The right keywords must appear in the right density and in the right places (ie headings, subheadings, body copy, title tags, meta descriptions and image alt text). Top tip: Your website should feature valuable, relevant, engaging and regularly updated content that is original and authentic, because this also aids search engine visibility. 3 Email marketing Sending emails to customers/prospects to promote products, services, share content, news and offers remains one of the most cost-effective digital marketing channels. It is a proven way to attract and retain customers for little cost. Email marketing includes welcome emails sent to new customers, monthly newsletters, promotional emails with news of discounts, events, sales and product launches, as well as re-engagement emails. Success is determined by having good email subject lines, as well as concise, engaging and appealing content that is timely and relevant, with strong CTAs (calls to action). Regularity is also key to success. Make sure your contact lists is well maintained and only include people who have opted in to receive your emails. Also, A/B test different versions of your emails to see what brings the best results. Top tip: Segment your customers/prospects (ie split them into smaller groups who share similar characteristics, needs or behaviours) and send tailored versions to each. 4 Social media Social media marketing means creating and sharing content on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, etc, to achieve marketing goals. It can be a highly effective way to increase awareness of your brand, generate leads and sales, build relationships with customers and prospects, support them and create a loyal community around your brand. Social media marketing can be highly cost-effective. Your campaigns can be highly targeted, while potentially giving you access to a huge audience (an estimated 5.66bn people around the world use social media). Paid social media means paying for advertising to promote your business on social media. These ads are typically labelled as “sponsored” or “promoted”, but they too can increase reach, visibility, engagement and conversions. Top tip: Success comes from setting measurable objectives, having a clear strategy, understanding your audience, choosing the right platforms, creating engaging content and analysing your performance to improve. Consistency and timing are crucial. 5 Digital advertising This means displaying adverts (eg banners, images, videos, etc) on third-party websites, apps and social media platforms. Advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network, Meta Ads or programmatic ad exchanges. Ads are served based on user behaviour, context or real-time bidding, with performance trackable. Display advertising can be a great way to retarget visitors who left your website without buying. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising involves paying a fee each time someone clicks on your advert, so you buy visits to your site. Ads appear on search engines, social media platforms or websites in ad networks. PPC offers many advantages: your ads can appear at the top of search results soon after you place them, campaigns can be highly targeted and easy to measure, while you can also set daily or campaign budgets to control spending. Top tip: If you are new to PPC advertising, choose the right platforms, set budgets and start with limited test campaigns, so you can ditch or scale based on your results. 6 Content marketing Content marketing means creating and sharing value-rich, relevant content to attract, engage and retain customers. Content marketing can be used to establish authority, build trust and relationships, whether through blogs (for your website or someone else’s), videos (tutorials, explainers, case studies), podcasts, infographics (visuals that aid quick understanding), how-to guides, whitepapers or webinars (live or recorded online sessions) that provide genuine value. Top tip: Your content should help your customers or prospects to solve problems, answer questions or increase their knowledge. Good knowledge of your customers’ needs should guide your content choices. 7 Mobile marketing Mobile marketing targets customers and prospects via their smartphones and tablets, using SMS and MMS messaging (direct text or multimedia messages), mobile apps (in-app ads, push notifications, etc), websites (optimised for small screens and fast loading) and social media (“mobile-first” platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc). Because 95% of UK adults aged 16+ own a smartphone (source: Ofcom), mobile marketing potentially offers great reach for UK businesses. Top tip: Keep your SMS marketing messages short and clear, with a strong call-to-action. You need to gain consent before sending SMS marketing messages, while offering recipients the opportunity to easily opt-out. Which digital marketing channel should you choose? A wide range of digital marketing channels is available, and a mix rather than just one or two is likely to provide the solution. Offline marketing options, such as leaflets, brochures, postcards and print adverts, still work very well for many UK businesses, so some of these might be part of your overall marketing mix. Continually test and measure your campaigns, so that you can learn and improve. If something is not working – stop doing it. Why waste any more time or money? How to plan a digital marketing campaign 1 Decide your objectives Make them SMART: Specific: You should know exactly what results you need to achieve. Measurable: Assessing key metrics allows you to judge success. Achievable: Your aims must be realistic, otherwise failure is inevitable. Relevant: Your aims should align with your business’s broader growth aims. Time-bound: You should have a clear deadline for achieving your objectives. Setting SMART goals ensures that you know exactly what you need to achieve and by when, so you can stay focused and judge campaign success. SMART objectives enable the tracking and evaluation of results, so you can improve your success. Examples of SMART objectives: Increase your website traffic by 10% within two months; generate 20 new leads a week; or increase your online sales by 20% by the end of the quarter. Ultimately, your aim should be to sell more, of course. 2 Target the right buyers Be clear about which customers you are targeting and let other decisions be guided by your deep knowledge of them. If you lack that knowledge, carry out market research to avoid the risk of wasting time and money on ill-conceived campaigns. Top tip: Segment your customer base (ie split it into smaller groups by age, location, buying habits, sector, size, etc), clearly define your specific target audience and tailor your messaging/content to their needs, tastes and behaviours. 3 Choose the right marketing channels Knowing precisely which customers/prospects you are targeting should tell you which channels to use – providing your knowledge of them is good enough. While mobile marketing, TikTok and X might be right for some customers, for others it could be LinkedIn, email, blogs, digital advertising or offline marketing. Top tip: Most business use a mix of channels, with experience telling them which ones deliver the best results. Find out what channels work best for you, but always monitor your results and remain open to changing tactics. 4 Create engaging, valuable, individual content Once again, knowledge of your target audience is key. How can your content solve a problem for them, help them to save money or time or increase their knowledge? Your content must engage and hold people’s attention. It should be visually appealing. A constant stream of blatant sales messages will turn off many people; be much more creative than that. Provide clear value, be original, relevant and timely. Top tip: To save time and money, repurpose content across various marketing platforms to maximise your reach. 5 Measure and improve where possible Always analyse key metrics, such as CTR (click-through rate), page visits, page views, conversion rate, CPA (cost-per-acquisition). They help you to evaluate and improve the performance of your digital marketing campaigns. Crucially, you need to find out what your return on investment is, to see whether a campaign has been worthwhile or not. Adjust your budget and tactics based on performance. Top tip: Run test pilot campaigns. Focus on one or two channels before extending. Learn from each campaign and seek to improve. Budget permitting, get help from digital marketing experts, if it will cost-effectively bring you better results. Digital marketing key takeaways Marketing is critical to growing your business. Marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell, convincing them to buy from you and keep coming back for more. Digital marketing means using online channels, technologies and methods. Digital marketing is highly measurable, scalable, cost-effective and you can target specific customers. It can deliver impressive results, even with limited budgets and experience. The key digital marketing channels include email, search engine optimisation, social media, advertising, content and mobile marketing. Your website should be you key marketing hub. A mix of offline and online (ie digital) marketing channels will likely provide the right solution for your business. Find what works for you and do it well.

Many more UK businesses are now using ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to streamline their operations, reduce their costs and grow more efficiently. Whether managing your cash flow, people, stock, orders or customer relationships, ERP software allows you to conveniently integrate your core business functions, make best use of your resources and maximise the efficiency of your systems. Ultimately, ERP software can make your business more profitable. ERP software reveals critical data in real time, so that you can make smarter business decisions based on current information. It can support your regulatory compliance and help you mitigate a wide range of operational risks. The significant amount of effort, time and money that you save by using ERP software can be used to grow your business. Read on to learn how ERP software could help you make your business more successful. What Is ERP software? ERP software can enable a business to run more smoothly and efficiently by centralising management of all its key operations, including finance, stock, HR and customer relationship management (CRM). You can think of ERP software as like having a central digital control panel or dashboard for your key business functions. Did you know? Large companies were enjoying the benefits of ERP software in the 1970s. Some 20 years later, ERP software became available to smaller businesses, with cloud computing fuelling more widespread adoption in the 2000s. ERP software business benefits ERP software enables businesses to remain well-organised, more efficient and better-informed in real time about their health and performance. ERP software automation can bring significant time and cost savings on business admin and management. ERP software enables people in various parts of a business to access and share critical data, which can deliver efficiency gains. ERP software enables owners and managers to make smarter business decisions – sooner and guided by real-time data. ERP software can enable a business to provide superior customer service, for example, by allowing better customer relationship management and more personalised communication with customers. The dangers of not using ERP software Businesses that do not use ERP software can be hamstrung by operational inefficiencies. Manual processes such as data entry, inventory tracking and invoicing can take much longer, while human error can be more likely. Lack of automation can mean having to repeat tasks time and again, which damages productivity and adds an unnecessary additional cost burden. Without ERP software, data is usually stored in disconnected systems, making it much tougher to get a reliable overview of operations, which is key to effective management, decision-making and planning. Incomplete or outdated information, especially regarding finance and sales, can lead to poor decisions. There can be security and compliance challenges, too. Data security is more difficult to manage across several platforms, while regulatory compliance (eg GDPR) can become much more challenging. Without ERP software, you and your people may struggle to share information efficiently, which can lead to duplicated effort and misaligned goals. ERP systems centralise data and workflows, facilitating better collaboration. And as your business grows, not using ERP software can lead to bottlenecks, as your systems start to get overwhelmed. Key considerations when thinking about ERP software “Modules” are specific components or capabilities within a larger ERP system. Focus on modules that will directly support your operations and growth. Accounting and finance are key, of course. Your ERP software should save you time by automating repetitive financial record-keeping tasks. Inventory management is key for businesses that sell products in volume. If that includes you, your ERP software must help you track stock, manage orders/reorders and warehouse operations efficiently. CRM digital tools can enable you to manage leads, track sales, build strong customer relationships and improve your marketing success. HR and payroll ERP software modules can make managing staff records, payslips and compliance with employment regulations easier. Reporting and analytics are key to making informed decisions. Your ERP should offer reliable real-time insights into how your business is performing, so that your key decisions are based on reliable data. Mobile access can be important, too, because it can allow your people to work wherever they are. Integration with your other digital tools is a key consideration, too. Cost is another important factor, of course. ERP software pricing varies widely, influenced by number of users, modules, implementation and training costs, and your customisation needs. Expect to pay between £50 and £500+ per user/month. Did you know? Most small businesses choose cloud-based ERP software, which offers lower upfront costs, subscription-based pricing, automatic updates, remote access and scalability. On-premises ERP may suit businesses with strict data control needs or larger organisations, but it requires more IT resources and greater upfront investment. Examples of ERP software for small businesses Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: A cloud-based ERP that integrates finance, sales and operations with strong mobile access and scalability. Ideal for businesses seeking a unified platform with Microsoft ecosystem compatibility. Find out more. NetSuite ERP: Consolidates finance, inventory, CRM and e-commerce into one system, eliminating data silos and manual duplication. Could help you make better informed decisions and better manage your cash flow. Find out more. SAP Business One: Integrates core functions such as finance, sales, inventory, purchasing, CRM and production planning. Strong on inventory and production management, so could be a good fit for businesses in complex supply chains. Find out more. Zoho One: Created to help growing small businesses win more customers, manage their people, track their cash flow and manage their operations on one unified system. Find out more. Odoo: An open-source ERP that offers more than 30 core modules including accounting, CRM, inventory, manufacturing, HR, project management and eCommerce. Highly customisable; install only the modules you need. Find out more. Many other ERP solutions are available, so, guided by your specific needs, research your options thoroughly. Tips on choosing the right ERP Start by identifying your top “pain points” and focus on key problems you need your ERP software to solve. Carefully consider your processes/workflows and think about where ERM-enabled automation could save you time and money. Also think carefully about whether you need industry-specific features or would a more general small-business ERP would provide the benefits you need. Seek ERP software recommendations from other businesses. Find out the pros and cons of their ERP software. Research good options online and consider whether the costs are in line with your budget. Contact ERP sellers and ask them to explain why you should choose their software. Take advantage of free demos, so you can try before you buy. Focus on key modules first, then expand to others. Also find out what support and onboarding is available, so you can get the most from your new ERP software from the start. CRM key takeaways Many more UK businesses are now using ERP software to streamline their operations, reduce their costs and grow more efficiently. ERP software allows you to integrate your core business functions, make best use of your resources and maximise the efficiency of your systems. ERP software shows critical data in real time, empowering you to make smarter business decisions based on current information. ERP can support regulatory compliance and help you mitigate a wide range of operational risks.

Businesses store valuable customer information in many ways. For some, this knowledge lives only in the minds of the owner, with contacts stored in a mobile phone, little black book or a basic card index box. 13 CRM FAQs 1 What is CRM software? 2 What information can I store in CRM software? 3 How much does CRM software cost? 4 How can CRM software enable me to sell more to my customers? 5 How can CRM software save my business time and money? 6 How can CRM software make my marketing more successful? 7 What common challenges can CRM software solve? 8 How can I tell if my current CRM software needs upgrading? 9 Aren’t all CRM systems the same? 10 What should I consider when researching CRM software options? 11 Are there any sector-specific CRM software requirements? 12 What are examples of popular CRM software? 13 What is the best way to introduce a new CRM solution? Others use spreadsheets to record customer details, making the information easier to access, share and store securely online. But CRM (customer relationship management) software goes much further by helping you save time, reduce costs and increase sales by unlocking the full potential of your customer data. To help you understand how CRM software can make your business more efficient, customer-focused and profitable, here are answers to 13 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CRM software systems. 1 What is CRM software? CRM software enables businesses of all sizes to store, organise and manage valuable information about their existing and prospective customers. It keeps all your customer data in one place, making it easier to track interactions, follow up on leads and build stronger relationships that drive sales and growth. 2 What information can I store in CRM software? Information or data that you can store within CRM software includes: customer contact details communication history (emails, calls and meetings) sales records (purchases, agreements, quotes) marketing activity (campaign engagement, preferences, etc) support-related information customer behaviour (eg website visits, etc). 3 How much does CRM software cost? The average cost of CRM software ranges from £10 to £50 or more per user per month, depending on features and provider. Many CRM software providers also offer free plans or flat-rate pricing. 4 How can CRM software enable me to sell more to my customers? CRM software helps you log every customer call, email, and meeting, so you can easily track interactions and have more personal, informed conversations. By giving you a clearer view of each customer’s habits, preferences and needs, it helps you build stronger relationships, spot new sales opportunities and turn leads into loyal customers. 5 How can CRM software save my business time and money? CRM systems conveniently bring all your customer information together in one place, helping you streamline your processes and work more efficiently. CRM software can automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual data entry and improve communication and collaboration between team members and parts of your business. 6 How can CRM software make my marketing more successful? CRM software helps you run more effective marketing campaigns by arming you with accurate customer data so you can target the right people with personalised messages. It gives you valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviour, helping you boost engagement, improve your response rates and get a better return on your marketing investment. 7 What common challenges can CRM software solve? Disorganised customer information scattered across handwritten notes, spreadsheets, emails and out-of-date systems. Knowing some information about some of your customers, but not enough to maximise your sales. Time-consuming customer admin tasks that slow you and your people down and ultimately waste money for your business. 8 How can I tell if my current CRM software needs upgrading? You might need to upgrade your CRM software if it no longer gives you the customer insights you need or makes it hard to access accurate, up-to-date information. If your system can’t grow with your business, integrate with newer tools or support your growth plans it may be holding you back instead of helping you move forward. 9 Aren’t all CRM systems the same? No, software-based CRM systems vary. There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” CRM software solution, you need to find the right CRM software solution for your specific needs. 10 What should I consider when researching CRM software options? Scalability: Can it grow with your business? Integration: Does it connect with your existing tools and systems? Simplicity: Is it easy enough for you and your people to use? Automation: Will it save you time and money by making tasks easier? Analytics: Will it tell you the customer information you need to know? Cost: What value will you get compared to other options? 11 Are there any sector-specific CRM software requirements? This can be a major consideration. For example: A small retailer may need their CRM to identify and send targeted offers to customers based on their purchase history, preferences or behaviour. Manufacturers often sell through distributors, wholesalers or dealers. They will need their CRM to track communication history and order patterns, while automating follow-ups for reorders, product updates or service reminders. A construction firm might use its CRM software to track tender bids, log estimate requests and other inquiries from potential clients, as well as follow up in good time. A haulage firm might use its CRM to automate its customer notifications by linking it to its fleet management system and sending real-time updates via email or SMS to clients about delivery status, delays, etc, keeping customers better informed and reducing customer communication costs. 12 What are examples of popular CRM software? HubSpot CRM: All-in-one platform that can enable you to better manage your marketing, sales and customer service. Its free CRM tools can help you to track leads and automate customer follow-ups. Salesforce: A powerful yet scalable CRM platform that can help small businesses to better manage their customer relationships, sales pipelines and service interactions all in one place. Zoho CRM: Offers an affordable, easy-to-use platform to manage your sales, customer interactions and marketing, all from one dashboard. It helps you to automate routine tasks, track leads and improve customer engagement. Pipedrive: It automates follow-ups, tracks communications and provides clear insights into sales performance, which can save you time and boost your productivity. Simple and scalable. Other CRM software options are available, so be thorough when researching them and find one that best suits your needs and budget. 13 What is the best way to introduce a new CRM solution? Set clear goals: Decide exactly what functionality and information you need your new CRM to give you. Clean your existing customer data: If stored, before importing into your new system, audit and standardise your customer records. Delete duplicates and outdated entries, as these will simply waste your time. Get your team onboard: Their full involvement will ensure that your CRM system serves their practical needs and maximises value to your business. Provide training and support: Provide onboarding sessions and ongoing support. Your people should know how to get the best of out of your CRM and what to do if they have any issues. Start small, get more advanced: Begin with core features provided by your new CRM, then expand into more advanced automation, integrations and analytics, so that you can truly maximise your return on investment.

If you want to grow your business you need to sell more, whether to existing customers, new customers or both. Getting the sales you need to really transform your business could mean having to sell new products or services, or target new types of customers, or sell in new countries. Selling overseas can really take your business to new heights and technology makes this quicker, easier and cheaper than ever. 12 Digital marketing FAQs 1 What is digital marketing? 2 Why do businesses use digital marketing? 3 What advantages can digital marketing provide? 4 How important is my website to marketing my business? 5 Is optimising my website for search engines still worthwhile? 6 What is the key to successful email marketing? 7 How can I use social media to market my business? 8 What is digital advertising? 9 What is content marketing? 10 What is mobile marketing? 11 Which digital marketing channel should I use? 12 How do I plan a digital marketing campaign? Marketing is central to your growth ambitions. People cannot buy from you if they do not know you exist. They also need to know what you sell and why they should buy it from you. In basic terms, marketing is attracting people’s attention, getting them interested in what you sell, convincing them to buy from you and earning their loyalty. Digital marketing has overtaken offline marketing and it is now powering the success of many UK businesses. To increase your understanding of digital marketing and how to use it to grow your business, below are the answers to 12 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about digital marketing.  1 What is digital marketing? Digital marketing means using online channels, technologies and methods to promote a brand/business and its products and services. Businesses of all sizes can use digital marketing to reach targeted audiences, even with little or no budget and limited marketing knowledge and experience. 2 Why do businesses use digital marketing? Businesses of all sizes, types and sectors use digital marketing to build brand awareness and trust, increase their reach, target specific customers, increase their sales and keep customers coming back for more. Because it can be highly effective and does not necessarily require huge budgets, digital marketing can deliver an excellent return on investment. 3 What advantages can digital marketing provide? Cost-effective: You can reach many people even with a limited budget. Targeted: You can “segment” your market and target specific customers. Effective: When digital marketing works, it can bring excellent results. Measurable: You can track clicks, leads, conversions, etc, learn and improve. Scalable: You can scale up your digital marketing as your business grows. 4 How important is my website to marketing my business? Crucial – websites are hugely influential when it comes to people’s buying decisions. Your website should be your main marketing hub. Having a professional-looking site encourages trust and strengthens credibility. Your website should work well and do a great job of showing off your products and services. It should tell visitors what makes your business special and why they should buy from you. Your website images should be attention-grabbing, attractive, high quality and in tune with your brand. Your website should not include too many images or pages or too much text. It should be fast-loading, mobile friendly and easy to navigate. 5 Is optimising my website for search engines still worthwhile? You should still optimise your website for Google and other search engines. Even though AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini answer questions directly, they still “scrape” (ie take information) from top-ranking websites. SEO (search engine optimisation) can make your website discoverable, relevant and trustworthy. The right keywords must appear in the right density in headings, subheadings, body copy, title tags, meta descriptions and image alt text. Valuable, relevant, engaging and regularly updated content that is original and authentic can boost your search engine visibility, as can backlinks from other websites. 6 What is the key to successful email marketing? Email marketing remains hugely popular. It is a proven way to attract and retain customers for little cost. Sending emails to customers/prospects to promote products, services, share content, news and offers can be a highly cost-effective digital marketing option. Email marketing includes new customer welcome emails and monthly customer newsletters, as well as special emails promoting discounts, events, sales and product launches. You need strong email subject lines and your email copy should be concise and engaging, with timely, relevant content and clear calls to action. Sending emails regularly is advised, but do not overdo it (once a month is recommended). Your email contact lists should be “clean” (delete old contacts) and only send your emails to those who have given permission (they should also be able to opt out). Another proven tactic is “segmentation”, which is splitting your customers into smaller groups who share similar characteristics, needs or behaviours, sending tailored versions to each. Also A/B test two different versions of your emails to see what works best and learn from your results. 7 How can I use social media to market my business? Many businesses create and share content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, etc. It can be a great way to raise awareness of your brand, generate leads and sales, build relationships with customers, support them and create a loyal online community. Social media marketing can be exceptionally low cost and your campaigns can be highly targeted, while giving you access to a huge audience. Paid social media means paying to advertise on social media and when they appear, ads are labelled as “sponsored” or “promoted”. They can be highly effective. For social media marketing, as with other options, your approach should be well planned. And you should have measurable objectives, a clear strategy and know who you are targeting. You must choose the right platforms, create and share high-quality content and analyse your results, because it can allow you to improve. 8 What is digital advertising? It refers to displaying adverts on third-party websites, apps and social media platforms. Advertisers use platforms such as Google Display Network, Meta Ads or programmatic ad exchanges. Display advertising can be a good way to retarget those who have visited your website but left without buying. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is where you pay a fee after someone clicks on your digital advert. Your ads can appear at the top of search results very quickly. PPC campaigns can be carefully targeted and easy to measure, while daily or campaign budgets can be set to limit your spending. 9 What is content marketing? Content marketing is creating and sharing content that is relevant and provides value to customers and prospects. It can establish your authority on certain topics, build trust and relationships with customers, whether through blogs, videos, podcasts, infographics, how-to guides, whitepapers or webinars. Your content must provide genuine value. It should help your customers or prospects to overcome challenges, save money and time, be more successful or knowledgeable. Content marketing is not broadcasting sales messages. It is about getting people to know, like and trust your brand, so that they later buy from you. 10 What is mobile marketing? Mobile marketing is targeting potential and existing customers via their smartphones and tablets. You can use SMS (direct text) and MMS (multimedia) messages, mobile apps (in-app ads, push notifications, etc), your website (optimised for small screens and fast loading) and social media (“mobile-first” platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc). Mobile marketing can be a good option, especially as 95% of UK adults aged 16+ own a smartphone (source: Ofcom). You need to gain consent before sending SMS marketing messages, while recipients must be able to easily opt-out. Keep your SMS marketing messages short and clear, with a strong call-to-action. 11 Which digital marketing channel should I use? There are many digital marketing channel options and one is unlikely to offer a total solution. You will need to choose a mix of channels – online (ie digital) and offline (ie non digital). Offline marketing includes leaflets, brochures, word of mouth, postcards and print adverts, which still work well for many UK businesses. Measure the success of all your campaigns, so that you can learn and improve. Find out what works and do it as well as you can. 12 How do I plan a digital marketing campaign? Begin by setting SMART objectives: Specific: Decide exactly what results you need to achieve. Measurable: Analysing key digital metrics enables you to judge your success. Achievable: There is no point in setting aims that are unrealistic. Relevant: Your objectives should align with your overall growth aims. Time-bound: You should set a hard deadline for achieving your objectives. Make sure that you target the right buyers with the right content and messaging, using marketing channels that will reach them. Be engaging and authentic. Provide clear value; be original, relevant and timely. Your content should be visually appealing. Repurpose content across various marketing platforms to maximise your reach. Use digital analytics to “measure what matters” (eg click-through rate, page visits, page views, conversion rate, etc). Calculate your return on investment, and if something doesn’t work – stop doing it. Adjust your budget and tactics based on your successes and failures. Run test pilot campaigns, trailing one or two channels before going bigger. Budget permitting, get support from digital marketing experts, because it could bring you far better results.

With the value of online retail in the UK reportedly worth £127bn in 2024 and global retail online sales projected to reach £4.8 trillion in 2025 (source: The Federation of Small Businesses), it is no wonder that the already large number of UK businesses selling online continues to grow significantly. The UK has hundreds of thousands of registered ecommerce-only businesses, while a huge number of UK “bricks-and-mortar” retailers and other SMEs also sell online to generate much-needed additional income. Online now makes up almost 30% of UK retail sales, when that figure was less than 3% in 2007 (source: Office for National Statistics). About 52m people in the UK (three quarters of the population) were expected to make online purchases in 2025, confirming the UK's position as one of Europe’s most digitally active consumer markets. Ecommerce can be a game-changer for UK SMEs – and not just those in retail. If you want to set up an ecommerce business or your small business wants to start selling online, read on for practical ecommerce tips that could help you succeed and grow. What is ecommerce? Short for electronic commerce, ecommerce means buying and selling products, services and subscriptions online (ie via the internet). They are purchased via websites or apps, with customers paying by credit/debit cards, digital wallets or other online means. Orders are delivered physically or digitally (eg software or subscriptions). Key benefits of ecommerce Ecommerce can provide many advantages over selling offline via a traditional “bricks-and-mortar” shop. Potentially, you can sell to a huge customer base of people in other UK locations and countries all over the world. Selling online can be far cheaper when compared to offline (no huge premises overheads), while enabling you to sell 24/7, 365 days a year worldwide. And you can carefully track your results and customer behaviour, so you can improve or rethink your approach, guided by reliable data. Main ecommerce channels You can sell via your own website (if it can accept payments and process orders) or create a separate ecommerce website (many use website-building solutions such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, etc). You can also sell via online marketplaces (eg Amazon, eBay, Etsy) and social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. Your choice of ecommerce channels should be determined by several key factors, such what you are selling, your target customers, cost of selling (eg marketplace fees, website building/hosting fees), your knowledge/skill and your overall business marketing strategy. Many UK SMEs combine online marketplaces (which offer great reach), social platforms (which can be great for engagement) and their own website (which gives them complete brand control). Top tip: Find out exactly how much you will pay in fees before you start selling on marketplaces and social media websites and factor it in when setting your prices. How to start selling online 1 Decide your ecommerce target market You should know who you want to sell to and what their wants, needs and behaviours are. This should guide all your ecommerce choices. If your knowledge is lacking, carry out reliable market research. As well as online research, speak to members of your target market directly. Find out what they think of your products, services and prices. It could enable you to improve your offer and prevent expensive mistakes. 2 Research your ecommerce competitors Carry out online research to find out what your competitors sell, how they sell it, how much they charge and whether they offer any deals, discounts or special offers. Read online reviews (good and bad) to find out what their customers think of their products, services and value for money they receive. How can you be more attractive? Do their weaknesses offer you any opportunities? How can you compete against their strengths? 3 Choose your ecommerce channels Will you sell via your own website or create a separate ecommerce website? What about online marketplaces and social media platforms? You could choose more than one channel (many sellers do). If you plan to build your own new ecommerce website and lack experience, look at popular website-building options such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, etc. Take advantage of free trials so you can better understand what it involves. Using predesigned templates can make the job easier and quicker. Budget permitting, consider getting help to build your ecommerce website, but get detailed quotes before agreeing the work. Your website should be fast, mobile-friendly and designed to quickly convert visitors into buyers. The navigation should be clear, the check-out easy, and your product images should be high quality. Include detailed descriptions that sell your products or services, as well as positive customer reviews and endorsements. Clearly explain your shipping, exchange and return policies. As a general rule – keep it simple. Top tip: If you plan to use online marketplaces and social media platforms read their advice on how to sell. Find out the exact costs of every channel you choose. 4 Decide what you will sell and set your prices Knowledge of your target market should guide your choice of products and services. Online research and tools such as Google Trends and Amazon Best Sellers can also tell you what products are in demand online. Alternatively, you could target a niche market, which means aiming your products or services at a specific group of customers. The latter can prove a highly successful strategy. Think carefully when setting your ecommerce prices. You do not have to charge less when selling online, but bear in mind your competitors’ prices, all your costs/fees, customer price expectations and delivery charges (especially if selling overseas). 5 Offer secure payment options and reliable shipping Offering secure, easy and convenient payment options and reliable shipping is essential. Get it right and it helps to build trust and customer loyalty. Get it wrong and it can lead to cancelled orders and a flurry of negative online reviews. Payment options include debit/credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Buy Now, Pay Later (eg Klarna), bank transfer, Direct Debit, etc. Shipping can include flat rates, higher rates for quicker deliveries, free-shipping thresholds, alternative carrier rates and free local delivery or pickup. 6 Use digital marketing to drive sales Customers need to know you exist, as well as what you sell and why they should buy it from you. A mix of marketing channels and strategies can be used to attract and retain ecommerce customers, including SEO (search engine optimisation) to ensure that your web pages rank high up in search engine results pages, advertising (including pay-per-click advertising on Google Ads and Facebook Ads), social media marketing (Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest can be great for showcasing products), email and mobile marketing (eg texts, WhatsApp messages). Top tip: Displaying retargeting ads on websites and apps, social media sites and search engines can be an effective way to bring back website visitors who have left without buying. 7 Analyse key metrics and improve Closely assess the analytics data of your website and/or other ecommerce channels to better understand your performance. Identify what is working well and where you need to improve. Key ecommerce metrics include: bounce rate (ie percentage of visitors who land on a webpage and soon leave without any further activity), conversion rate (ie how effectively your site turns visitors into buyers), total sales revenue, average order value, customer acquisition cost, customer lifetime value, repeat purchase rate, cart abandonment rate, refund and return rate, etc. Top tip: Offering cost-effective rewards, deals and exclusive offers can help to build customer loyalty. Make returns easy and always provide great customer service. It is cheaper and easier to sell to existing customers, so look after them. Key considerations when selling online to customers overseas You need to display your prices in other currencies. You must be able to accept payments in other currencies, which can be made easier by international payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay, etc. All transactions should be seamless, secure and cost-effective. Your couriers must be reliable, while having to pay for international shipping can add significantly to your prices for overseas customers. Some products may require export licences or be restricted in certain countries. They are likely to have their own consumer protection laws, too. Your customers may have to pay tariffs, local taxes and customs duties, which can make your products more expensive than local alternatives. You may also have to add pages in other languages to your website. Also work out how you will answer customer enquiries in languages you don’t speak. Your customer service must always be highly professional and responsive. Top tip: If you have not sold online to customers overseas before, you can dip your toe in the water by first targeting one or two English-speaking countries where buying online is popular. See how you get on before broadening your horizons. Ecommerce key takeaways Ecommerce potentially offers considerable commercial returns. Ecommerce can enable you to sell to a huge customer base. It can be much cheaper than selling offline and you can sell 24/7, 365 days a year. You can sell via your own website, a separate ecommerce website, online marketplaces and social media platforms or a mix of these. You must offer secure payment options, reliable shipping and excellent customer service. It is easy to analyse ecommerce key metrics, so you can improve and sell more. Digital marketing is key to your ecommerce success. Use a mix of channels. Selling online to customers overseas brings additional challenges.

In recent years, use of artificial intelligence (or AI as it is more usually called) has become much more common for people all over the UK – including many small-business owners. 15 AI for business FAQs 1 What is AI? 2 Are businesses like mine using AI? 3 What is the difference between generative and traditional AI? 4 How are businesses using AI? 5 How does the affordability of AI enable businesses to compete and grow? 6 Can you give some sector-specific examples of AI use? 7 Can you give examples of popular AI tools that businesses use? 8 How do I start using AI in my business? 9 How much should I involve my team in AI decisions? 10 What key factors should guide my AI choices? 11 Should I restrict my application of AI to begin with? 12 Should I get AI training? 13 Could my business become over reliant on AI? 14 Does AI get it right every time? 15 Is my data secure if I use AI? Everyday tools such as Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant use AI to understand our speech, answer our questions, set reminders and send text messages for us. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and Spotify use AI to recommend movies, shows or music based on our previous choices. And on social media, AI curates our feeds, prioritising posts and ads based on our behaviour and interests. While concerns have been raised over the implications of AI, it is already bringing a wide range of benefits to millions of people in the UK – many small-business owners among them. From saving time and cutting costs to improving efficiency and productivity, AI is helping many SMEs grow and compete more effectively. To help you understand how AI can support your business, here are answers to 14 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about using AI as a business owner or manager. 1 What is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) describes the ability of machines or software to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. This includes learning from data, recognising patterns, making decisions and solving problems. AI can automate repetitive tasks and analyse substantial amounts of information rapidly. 2 Are businesses like mine using AI? Businesses of all sizes operating in a variety of sectors now use AI to boost their efficiency, productivity and profits. As AI continues to evolve, learn and get better, many more businesses of all sizes are likely to use AI much more often. 3 What is the difference between generative and traditional AI? After you type a question or command, generative AI creates new content, including text, images, music, video or code for you. After you type a question or command, traditional AI (also called narrow AI or analytical AI) uses logic or rules to analyse data to make decisions, predictions or recommendations. An example could be a small retailer using traditional AI to analyse historic sales data to ensure that it does not order too much or not enough stock for the summer period. 4 How are businesses using AI? Customer support: many businesses use AI-powered chatbots as a cost-effective way to manage customer inquiries, resolve issues and offer 24/7 customer service. Task automation: many businesses use AI-powered tools to automate repetitive tasks such as invoicing, inventory management, report generation, data entry, etc, which saves them valuable time and money. Marketing and sales: AI can better enable businesses to personalise email campaigns and optimise online ad targeting. AI-enabled predictive analytics and CRM software can boost leads and conversion rates. And AI is being used like never before to generate marketing and social media content. Operations and logistics: AI can play in a key role in streamlining supply chain management. Even small logistics firms in the UK are using machine learning to reduce delivery times and costs. Decision making: AI-driven dashboards and analytics platforms can help owners make smarter, data-driven decisions in real time. AI can also be used to test your thinking, for example, when you are developing a new product. AI can help you to update your business plan or evaluate your strategic growth options. 5 How does the affordability of AI enable businesses to compete and grow? Cloud-based AI platforms and subscription models make AI affordable to even the smallest of businesses. Because they are affordable and easy to use, small businesses can access the same advanced tools as big companies, which helps to level the playing field. AI can also play a key role in helping small businesses to scale without having to significantly increase their overheads and headcount. 6 Can you give some sector-specific examples of AI use? Retail: A small, independent clothing boutique could use AI to analyse customer purchase history and send personalised marketing messages and emails to encourage repeat sales. Hospitality: A small hotel could use an AI-enabled chatbot to respond to booking queries and sell other services (eg breakfast deals), freeing up staff and boosting revenue. Professional services: An accounting firm could use AI-powered transcription and summary tools to streamline client meetings and generate reports faster. E-commerce: An online seller could use AI to predict demand, manage inventory and quickly generate product descriptions for sales and marketing. Construction: A small UK building firm could use AI to improve its project planning, reduce costs and streamline operations. AI could also be used to help generate estimates and tender for new projects. Manufacturing: AI could help a small UK manufacturer to boost their productivity, reduce waste, improve quality control and make better-informed strategic decisions. 7 Can you give examples of popular AI tools that businesses use? Chat GPT: A generative AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that can understand and produce human-like text, images and speech in response to user prompts. Copilot: According to Microsoft, its AI-powered assistant is “designed to help you work, learn and create more efficiently across devices and apps. It’s your everyday AI companion,” built into Windows, Microsoft 365, Edge, etc. Google Gemini: It is integrated into Google Workspace tools such Gmail, Docs and Sheets, making it accessible and practical for everyday business tasks. Canva Magic Studio: AI-powered creative toolkit built into Canva that helps users design, edit and generate content more efficiently. HubSpot AI: Suite of AI tools called Breeze designed to enhance marketing, sales and customer service within the HubSpot platform. It helps businesses automate tasks, personalise customer interactions and make smarter decisions. Zapier AI: Uses AI to streamline workflows, connect apps and build custom chat bots without the need for writing code. Helps businesses save time by automating repetitive tasks. Many other AI solutions are available, so be thorough when researching AI options best suited to your specific needs. 8 How do I start using AI in my business? Start by identifying tasks within your business that are repetitive, time-consuming and expensive, perhaps where mistakes are more common, too. Think about how AI could save you time and money by automating such tasks. 9 How much should I involve my team in AI decisions? They should play a key role. Ask your people whether they can suggest pain points where AI solutions could benefit your business. Perhaps they know of AI tools that you haven’t heard of. If you have budget, consider seeking advice from an external consultant. 10 What key factors should guide my AI choices? Thoroughly research cost-effective AI solutions that can be easily integrated with your existing software systems. These solutions should be easy to use. Look for free trials and low-cost plans for limited users. Also find out what support and onboard training is available and look for AI solutions that can scale as your business grows. 11 Should I restrict my application of AI to begin with? Do not go too far too soon. A better approach would be to trial one AI solution in a single area, measure its impact, learn lessons and plan before expanding AI into other areas. 12 Should I get AI training? It depends on the AI that you are using and your existing skill/knowledge level. Some AI is incredibly easy to use, so extensive training may not be necessary. YouTube offers many self-learning resources, although cost-effective, tailored training is likely to be the best way to enable you to maximise your benefits from using AI. 13 Could my business become over reliant on AI? Be mindful of the risk of relying too much on AI. It should be used to complement human intelligence and judgement, not replace it totally. 14 Does AI get it right every time? While AI is powerful, it can be flawed. AI can draw from poor-quality source data, while you also need to ensure that your own data is accurate and up to date, of course. Moreover, the prompts that you input into AI have a critical bearing on results. Asking the right questions in the right way is critical. 15 Is my data secure if I use AI? Reputable AI platforms are built with strong privacy and security protections, including encryption, access controls and compliance with data protection laws. Normally, your data is not shared unless you choose to do so, for example, by sharing a document. Moreover, AI systems do not store information you input unless memory or personalisation features have been enabled. Be cautious regarding sensitive data (such as passwords, financial or security information, etc). For added peace of mind, check the privacy policy of AI tools before using them and access only via secure networks and devices.

Whether you are managing stock, orders, customer relationships, cash flow or people, ERP software conveniently brings together your core business functions in one place, helping you make the most of your resources, improve efficiency and increase profitability. 12 ERP software FAQs 1 What is ERP software? 2 How can ERP software benefit my business? 3 What if my business does not use ERP software? 4 How can regulatory compliance be harder without ERP software? 5 How can using ERP software boost productivity? 6 What are ERP software modules? 7 What key factors should I focus on when researching ERP software? 8 How do small businesses in specific sectors use ERP software? 9 How much should I expect to pay for ERP software? 10 Should I choose cloud-based or premises-based ERP? 11 What are popular examples of ERP software? 12 How can I choose the right ERP software? By offering real-time access to critical data, ERP software enables you to make business decisions based on the most up-to-date information. It can also support your compliance needs and help reduce operational risks. To boost your knowledge and help you understand how ERP software can save your business time and money, while supporting growth and efficiency, we’ve answered 12 of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ERP software systems below. 1 What is ERP software? ERP software centralises management of key operations, including finance, stock, sales and marketing, HR, payroll, procurement, customer relationship management (CRM) and project management. Using ERP software brings everything together so you can work smarter, minimise costs and grow your business more successfully. 2 How can ERP software benefit my business? ERP software helps businesses to remain well-organised, more efficient and better-informed. ERP software automation can bring significant admin time and cost savings. ERP software enables people in various parts of a business to access and share important data, which can bring productivity and efficiency gains. ERP software enables owners and managers to make smarter business decisions guided by accurate information they can access in real time. ERP software can enable a business to provide superior customer service (eg by better tracking orders, managing customer relationships and personalising communication with customers, etc). 3 What if my business does not use ERP software? Without ERP software, businesses rely on separate systems to manage sales, stock and accounts. This can lead to duplicate work, data errors and missed opportunities, because information isn’t shared easily across the business. Using an ERP system brings everything together in one place, saving time, improving accuracy and helping you make decisions based on up-to-date information. 4 How can regulatory compliance be harder without ERP software? Regulatory compliance (eg GDPR, health and safety, etc) can be much more difficult when you need to manage critical information across several platforms. There can be additional data security challenges, too, when data is not stored centrally. 5 How can using ERP software boost productivity? ERP software enables you and your people to share information efficiently, which can prevent duplicated effort, while allowing all team members to use the same data to work towards the same goals. By centralising data and workflows, ERP software can better facilitate collaboration between all team members. So, for example, an online shop could use ERP to integrate its website with its inventory and accounting. When a customer places an order, the ERP system automatically updates stock levels, generates an invoice and sorts out shipping, freeing up staff to focus on customer service and sales. 6 What are ERP software modules? ERP software modules are specialised components within an ERP system that manage specific business functions, such as finance, HR, inventory, CRM, etc. Each module integrates with others to streamline operations and centralise data. So, for example, when the sales module processes an order, the finance module automatically records revenue in the business’s financial records, while, if stock is low, it triggers a purchase order in the ERP procurement module. 7 What key factors should I focus on when researching ERP software options? Focus on ERP software modules that will directly support your operations and growth. That is likely to include accounting, finance and cash flow management, sales and marketing, CRM, people management and payroll. Inventory management is key for many businesses, who need their ERP software to keep track of stock, manage orders/reorders and (possibly) oversee warehouse operations efficiently. Procurement and supply chain management can be an essential ERP software module, while other businesses need project management and/or manufacturing modules. 8 How do businesses in specific sectors use ERP software? Manufacturing: A UK manufacturer could use ERP software to schedule production runs, track raw materials and help ensure compliance with safety standards. ERP software could also play a key role in reducing downtime and defective products. Retail: A fashion retailer could use ERP software to synchronise online and in-store sales, manage seasonal stock and predict seasonal buying trends, helping to enhance customer experience and prevent overstocking. Logistics/distribution: A small regional distributor could use ERP software to optimise delivery routes, monitor warehouse stock and track shipments in real time, helping to minimise transport costs and better ensure delivery accuracy. Hospitality: A hotel chain could use ERP software to manage room reservations, coordinate housekeeping and analyse occupancy rates, to cut costs and ensure higher guest-satisfaction rates. Construction: A construction firm could use ERP software to manage its work on multiple job sites, as well as manage expenses and ensure regulatory compliance, helping to keep projects on schedule and within budget. 9 How much should I expect to pay for ERP software? ERP software pricing varies widely, determined by number of users, modules, implementation and training costs, your customisation needs, etc. Expect to pay between £50 and £500+ per user/month, depending on the complexity required 10 Should I choose cloud-based or premises-based ERP? Most small businesses choose cloud-based ERP software, which offers lower upfront costs, subscription-based pricing, automatic updates, remote access and scalability. On-premises ERP may suit businesses with strict data control needs or larger businesses, but it requires more IT resources and greater upfront investment. 11 What are popular examples of ERP software? Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central A cloud-based ERP that integrates finance, sales and operations with strong mobile access and scalability. Great for businesses seeking a unified platform with Microsoft ecosystem compatibility. Find out more. NetSuite ERP Consolidates finance, inventory, CRM and e-commerce into one system, eliminating data silos and manual duplication. Could help you make better-informed decisions and manage your cash flow more effectively. Find out more. SAP Business One Integrates core functions such as finance, sales, inventory, purchasing, CRM, and production planning. Strong on inventory and production management, a good fit for businesses in complex supply chains. Find out more. Zoho One Created to help growing small businesses win more customers, manage their people, track their cash flow and manage their operations on one unified system. Find out more. Odoo An open-source ERP that offers more 30 core modules including accounting, CRM, inventory, manufacturing, HR, project management and eCommerce. Highly customisable; install only the modules you need. Find out more. Many other ERP solutions are available, so, guided by your specific needs, research your options thoroughly. 12 How can I choose the right ERP software? Begin by identifying your key pain points and focus on problems you need your ERP software to solve. Think about where automation could help you save time and money by making your processes and workflows more efficient. Work out how much budget you can afford to commit each month to your ERP software. Carefully consider whether you need your ERP software to have sector-specific features or whether generic ERP software would work well for you. Seek ERP software recommendations from other businesses, research potential options online and consider whether the cost is within your budget. Contact ERP software providers and ask them why you should choose their software. Take advantage of free demos, to a get a better feel for the software. To limit costs, focus on key modules first, then expand where necessary. Also find out what support and onboarding is available. You and your people should know how to get the most from your new ERP software.

There are more than 180,000 management consulting firms in the UK and they employ a huge number of consultants who provide HR, legal, tax, management, marketing, IT and other consultancy services to businesses in all sectors. The UK consulting industry is worth £20.4bn a year and according to the Management Consultancies Association: “Digital and technology consulting, along with business transformation services, remain most in demand. As industries embrace AI and advanced analytics, UK consultants are helping organisations integrate these technologies to boost efficiency and competitiveness.” Consultants bring objective perspectives and specialised expertise that businesses lack in-house. Their influence can be transformative. If you’re considering using a consultant, the following steps could help you to achieve the best outcomes. 1. Set clear objectives Before searching for a consultant, work out what value they must contribute. What do you need to achieve and what is the deadline? What will success look like? Setting SMART objectives (ie specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) can really help, because as well as providing a framework geared toward delivering a tangible impact, it can also help you choose the right consultant. Examples of SMART objectives: increase online sales by 15% in four months reduce supply chain costs by 10% in three months introduce new CRM (customer relationship management) software and have all staff fully trained on how to use it within a month. 2. Choose the right consultant Sounds easy, but it can lead to expensive mistakes. Having clear objectives is key, because you know what skills, knowledge and experience your consultant should have and what you need from them. Ideally, they will have a proven track record of working for businesses like yours, while having sectoral experience could be essential. Seek recommendations from other businesses you know. Research your options online, contact consultants that seem suitable and fully check their credentials. Ask for references and find out what their customers say about them. Ask the consultant to clearly explain how they will meet your needs and expectations. Crucially, get a detailed quote (not estimate) and remember – focus on the value you will receive – it is not simply a question of finding the cheapest option. 3. Communicate your expectations at the beginning Poor communication are likely to get things off to a very bad start. It is a key reason why businesses do not get the results they need when using consultants. Before the project begins you should agree: deliverables, timelines and reporting methods how often and when you’ll be updated on progress payment terms what your ideal outcome looks like. You and your consultant need to be on the same page, with both parties knowing their roles and responsibilities. Don’t shy away from negotiating the best deal you can get from the consultant, whether on price, scope or schedule. Detail all key points in an agreement signed by both parties, so there are no misunderstandings. 4. Agree the right arrangement for your business Obviously, you must choose the right arrangement for your needs and budget. Several types of consultancy arrangement are common: Project-based contracts: Suited to a specific challenge, such as introducing a new software system, launching a new product or delivering staff training. Retainer agreements: You may need ongoing monthly support, for example, from a marketing consultant to manage your social media or digital advertising campaigns. Retainers ensure a consultant’s availability, giving you predictability. Short-term audits: Temporary audit engagements to address urgent business requirements, specialised projects or to fill resource gaps. An example could be bringing in a consultant to identify and mitigate risks linked to cybersecurity, data handling or regulatory compliance. 5. Involve your people throughout That should start early on when you are specifying your objectives and searching for consultants. Your people need to work in partnership with your consultant and provide them with all required information. Your employees’ insight could be pivotal to your consultant’s success. All parties should very see it as working in partnership, with your consultant a valued temporary team member. Encourage your people to speak to and learn from your consultant. Post consultation, you and your people should fully understand the consultant’s work and recommendations. 6. Commit to full implementation If you’ve picked the right consultant and they’ve done a sound job, you need to listen to what they’ve told you and implement their recommendations in full, otherwise you won’t get full value. Unfortunately, many businesses fall into the trap of paying good money for consultancy advice they ignore, whether partially or fully. Someone within your business (possibly you) should lead on implementation, with clear responsibility assigned to each action point. Hard deadlines should be set and adhered to, with progress carefully tracked. If necessary, seek additional implementation support from the consultant. 7. Measure your return on investment You and your people might have invested much time and effort in working with your consultant, and it may have involved a considerable financial investment. You need to measure your ROI by comparing your costs against the tangible outcomes delivered. Often there can be intangible benefits, too, such as improvements to your processes, staff morale and knowledge, and/or enhanced business reputation. If your results aren’t clear, seek assistance from your consultant. Ask them to demonstrate, with clear data, the impact of their work. If results are below agreed expectations, obviously, the consultant should explain why. Transformative value UK businesses of all sizes use consultants in many ways and areas. They can be a powerful additional source of support, giving you access to expertise, objectivity and ideas that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Obviously, you must know what you need to achieve. But if you take time to find the right consultant, work closely in partnership with them and act on their advice, it can bring real transformative value to your business.

Small businesses store customer information in different ways. In some cases, valuable knowledge about who customers are, what they want and how they buy exists only in the heads of the business owner and their team. Contact details are usually stored in a mobile phone, address book or basic card index system. Others use computer spreadsheets to record customer details, which makes the information easier to access, share and store securely online. Although better, spreadsheets offer limited value. CRM (customer relationship management) software goes much further by enabling you to better understand your customers and sell more to them guided by what your data tells you. If you want your business to start using CRM software or just want to find out more first, here are 10 things you need to know about CRM software. 1 CRM software isn’t just for big businesses CRM software enables businesses of all sizes to store, organise and manage valuable information about their existing and potential customers. It keeps all your customer data in one place, making it easier to track interactions, follow up on leads and build stronger relationships that drive sales and growth. The affordability of CRM software places it within reach of the smallest businesses. 2 CRM software can store lots of valuable data Customer contact details are fundamental, of course, but CRM software systems are so much more than glorified address books. Other important data that CRM software systems store includes communication history, with emails, calls and meetings enabling you to track conversations with your customers. CRM systems also contain sales records (ie purchases, agreements, quotes, etc), as well as marketing activity (eg campaign engagement, communication preferences, etc), support-related information, and, crucially, other important aspects of customer behaviour (eg how often they visit your website and which pages they look at). 3 CRM software might be cheaper than you think For very small businesses, entry-level CRM software with basic contact management and sales tracking costs £10-£50 per user per month, depending on features required. Larger businesses that want automation, reporting and integrations with their other software normally pay £50-£100 per user per month. Big companies that also need advanced analytics, AI and customisation pay £100-£1,000+ a month, but higher monthly charges are often for 5-10 users. The more users, features, customisation and scalability, the higher the monthly cost. Cloud-based CRMs are subscription-based, while “on-premises” solutions involve upfront costs. 4 CRM software can enable you to make more sales Logging every customer call, email and meeting is easier with CRM software. And being able to track all interactions enables more personal, better informed conversations with your customers. Better visibility of every customer’s habits, preferences and needs can allow you to build stronger relationships, spot new opportunities and make more sales and increase customer value. CRM can more your marketing more successful, too, because it is based on accurate customer data, enabling you to target the right customers with personalised messaging. CRM data arms you with valuable insight into customer preferences and behaviour, so you can boost engagement, improve response rates and get a better return from your marketing spend. 5 CRM software could save your business lots of time and money CRM systems conveniently bring all your customer information together in one place, helping you streamline your processes and work more efficiently. CRM software can also automate repetitive customer-related tasks, reducing manual data entry and enabling better communication and collaboration between team members and different parts of your business. 6 CRM software can help you overcome common customer challenges The things you know about your customers could be spread across handwritten notes, spreadsheets, emails and out-of-date systems. Some of the information might only exist in your head, where it can’t help others. You might know some things about your customers and prospects, but there might be huge gaps in your knowledge that prevent you from selling more to them. Time-consuming customer admin might be robbing your business of valuable time and money. CRM software can make a big difference in all of these areas and many more. 7 Not all CRM software solutions will be right for your business CRM software systems vary. One that works well for one business might not for another. There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” CRM software solution, you must do your homework and find the right CRM software solution for your specific needs. It might not be suitable for a business of your size or sector. It may have too many or not enough features or it might not work well with other software your business uses. It could be too complex or you might get better value from another CRM. 8 Consider these key researching CRM software options? Scalability is a key consideration. Your CRM software should comfortably be able to accommodate your business growing. Integration is another factor. You also need a CRM solution that integrates well with your existing digital tools and systems. Use needs to be quick and easy enough for you and your people. Its automation of repetitive tasks should save your business lots of effort, time and money. Your CRM analytics should reveal critical data about your customers and prospects. And as with all other things in business, the value your CRM software contributes to your business is a key consideration, and that is not simply a question of choosing the cheapest option. 9 SMEs in different sectors use CRM software for different reasons Small UK retailers use their CRM software systems to identify and send targeted offers to customers based on their purchase history, preferences or behaviour. Small construction firms use CRM software to track tender bids, log estimate requests and other inquiries from potential clients. Manufacturers that sell through distributors, wholesalers or dealers use CRM software to track communication history and order patterns, while automating follow-ups for reorders, product updates and service reminders. Small haulage firms use CRM software to automate their customer notifications by linking to their fleet-management systems and sending real-time updates via email or SMS to clients about delivery status, delays, etc. This keeps customers better informed and more satisfied, while reducing customer communication costs. 10 Introducing new CRM software can be easier if you follow these steps: Set clear goals: Decide what functionality and information you need from your new CRM software. Clean your existing customer data: If stored digitally, audit and standardise your customer records before importing into your new CRM software. Delete all duplicates and outdated entries. Involve your people: Their full support should ensure that your new CRM software meets their practical needs and maximises your business benefits. Provide training and support: Hold onboarding sessions and give ongoing support. Your people should know how to use your CRM to its full potential and what they should do if they have any problems. Start small, get more advanced: Begin with core features of your new CRM software, then try more advanced automation, integrations and analytics, so you maximise your return on investment.

Accounting software is one of the most widely used digital business tools. About 80% of UK SME employers that use digital tech use accounting software (source: GOV.UK), although the smaller the business, the less likely that is. Only a third of the UK’s solo self-employed use accounting software. Some don’t realise the benefits accounting software can bring or they mistakenly believe it to be expensive and difficult to use. Other business owners won’t be shifted away from manual financial record-keeping, whether basic computer spreadsheets or physical ledger books filled with handwritten information and numbers. Businesses that do not use accounting software undoubtedly miss out, while many users could be getting far greater value from their accounting software. If you want to find out the key advantages of using accounting software and how to get the most out of it, here are 10 things you need to know. 1 Manual bookkeeping has many drawbacks A quarter of small UK businesses still use basic computer spreadsheets or ledger books to record their income and costs, despite potentially costly errors being more likely and it taking up much more valuable time when compared to using accounting software. Paper records are not accessible to many people remotely and they can get lost or damaged (cloud-based accounting software mitigates these risks). Moreover, completing tax returns takes much longer when you use manual records, while creating cash flow forecasts and other reports takes much more time and effort. Did you know? Following the full introduction of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (which began in April 2026), in the coming years, most UK sole traders will be required to use accounting software to record their income and costs, and report quarterly summaries to HMRC, replacing annual Self Assessment tax returns. 2 Accounting software can help to keep your cash flow healthy Millions of UK businesses use accounting software to record their income and expenses efficiently and accurately. Being able to view up-to-date numbers and summaries on demand allows better financial management, for example, an owner can identify areas where costs need cutting or periods when sales need improving. By providing real-time financial insight, accounting software enables successful cash flow assessment, with detailed forecasts available in seconds, which can prevent cash-flow crises and business failure. 3 Accounting software can save you lots of time and money Accounting software automates repetitive tasks, saving businesses lots of time. For example, accounting software can be linked to bank and credit card accounts, with all transactions imported automatically. Regular payments can also be automated, while accounting software often comes with free invoicing capability, making it quicker to send invoices and chase when overdue. Expense management can be easier, too, for example, receipts can be snapped by smart phone, stored online and automatically recorded into the accounting software. Time savings bring significant cost savings, too, while accounting software enables many businesses to save on accountancy and bookkeeper fees. 4 Accounting software makes costly mistakes less likely With accounting software minimising manual data entry, omissions and errors are less likely, with built-in checks and validations also protecting data integrity. Manual entry omissions and errors, for example, not accounting for all expenses or overstating income, can result in unnecessarily higher tax bills. Moreover, automating regular payments and invoices means they won’t be forgotten or sent out late, which strains cash flow. 5 Your current accounting software might be holding you back Your current accounting software could be slow or crash a lot. There could be problems with updates or compatibility with other software. It may lack the automations or other features you would get from new accounting software. Accounting software has developed greatly in recent years, so, your existing software may not give you handy forecasting and budgeting tools that make cash flow management easier. Your current software may be desk-top based, which limits access, or it may not be as secure as is it should be. You may not be able to easily account for payments in other currencies. 6 Accounting software really isn’t expensive Small-business accounting software typically costs £10-£35 per month, depending on features and provider. Some platforms offer free basic plans for sole traders and micro businesses, while fees are higher (£40-£60) for premium options that offer, for example, advanced analytics, multi-currency payments, integrations, multiple users and superior support. Accounting software can be claimed as an allowable tax expense, so it can be deducted from your taxable profits. 7 Focus on your specific needs when choosing accounting software First work out how your current methods or software is letting you down and how new accounting software should make a difference. Get input from other team members and your accountant if you use one. Research popular accounting software that meets your needs and budget. Choose cloud-based accounting software that can be integrated with your other systems. Contact vendors for more information and take advantage of free trials. Also find out what free training and support is available. 8 Good accounting software can scale as your business grows Your new accounting software should be scalable. No matter how fast or how much your business grows, you should be able to add more users, with different levels of role-based access. Adding more features and functionality as your business develops should also be easy and affordable. And your software should comfortably be able to handle greater transaction volumes, more clients, multiple currencies, etc. 9 Introducing new accounting software in straightforward Decide when you will introduce your new accounting software and set a date/time for migrating financial data from your old system. Clean your data in advance, if required. Make sure your people get the training they need and give role-appropriate access to those who need it. Start with core accounting software functions then move on to advanced features. Automate repetitive tasks and connect to your other business software. Set alerts for spending budget thresholds and tax compliance deadlines. Monitor for any issues and seek feedback from all users. 10 You really need to maximise the value of you accounting software Use your software to regularly monitor KPIs (key performance indicators) linked to your sales, profitability, liquidity, cash flow and cost control. Accounting software can easily generate onscreen dashboards and reports, conveniently giving you critical information to inform your business decisions. Generate weekly/monthly/quarterly financial reports and give them your full attention. Create cash flow forecasts, too. Listen to what your numbers tell you – never ignore them. They can help to ensure the continued success and growth of your business.

Fuelled by continued growth in recent years, the UK has hundreds of thousands of ecommerce-only businesses, but online sales also provide a crucial additional source of income for many UK businesses that also sell offline. Some are “bricks-and-mortar” retailers, but many other businesses of all sizes, types and sectors also now sell online. 11 Ecommerce FAQs 1 What is ecommerce? 2 What are the key benefits of ecommerce? 3 What are the main ecommerce channels? 4 How do I choose the right ecommerce channel? 5 How much does it cost to sell on marketplace websites? 6 How do I start selling online? 7 How can I build a good ecommerce website? 8 What ecommerce payment options should I offer? 9 What about shipping when selling online? 10 How can I build customer loyalty online? 11 What should I bear in mind when selling online to customers overseas? UK online retail rales were worth an estimated £127bn in 2024, while global retail online sales were expected to reach £4.8 trillion in 2025 (source: The Federation of Small Businesses). British Chambers of Commerce research published in 2025 suggested that UK businesses that sell offline and online expect their digital sales to increase from 20%–26% come 2028, while those selling just to consumers predict exceptional growth of 31%–38%. Online sales now make up almost 30% of UK retail sales, when that figure was 3.3% in 2007 (source: Office for National Statistics). About 52m people in the UK (77% of the population) were expected to make online purchases in 2025, confirming the UK's position as one of Europe’s most digitally active consumer markets. Ecommerce can be a gamechanger for UK SMEs. If you want to set up an ecommerce business or your current offline business wants to start selling online, here are the answers to 11 ecommerce FAQs (frequently asked questions). 1 What is ecommerce? Ecommerce (short for electronic commerce) describes buying and selling products, services and subscriptions online (ie via the internet). Goods and services are bought via websites or apps, with customers paying by credit/debit cards, digital wallets or other online means. Orders are delivered physically (usually by courier or post) or digitally (eg software or subscriptions). 2 What are the key benefits of ecommerce? Ecommerce potentially offers many advantages over selling offline. It can give you the opportunity to sell to a vast number of customers elsewhere in the UK and in countries all over the world. Selling online can be much cheaper and you can sell 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Selling digitally also enables you to market your business more successfully, because you can accurately track your results and better understand customer behaviour, so you can do more of what works. 3 What are the main ecommerce channels? You can sell via your own website (if it can accept payments and process orders) or create a separate ecommerce website (using Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, etc can make the task easier). You can also sell via Amazon, eBay, Etsy and other online marketplaces, as well as social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. 4 How do I choose the right ecommerce channel? Your choice should be determined by what you are selling, who you want to sell to, costs (eg marketplace fees, website building/hosting fees), your knowledge and skill, as well as your overall marketing strategy. Many UK SME retailers use a mix of online marketplaces (which provide great reach), social platforms (which can be brilliant for engagement) and their own website (which gives them total brand control). 5 How much does it cost to sell on marketplace websites? You should know what fees you will pay before you start selling on online marketplaces and social media websites. Factor them in when setting your prices. Selling on UK marketplace websites typically costs between 5% and 15% of the sale price, plus listing or subscription fees, depending on the platform. If you plan to use online marketplaces, read their free advice on how best to sell via their platform. 6 How do I start selling online? Identify your target market: Decide who you aim to sell to, find out what they want/need and how they buy. Carry out market research – including speaking directly to target customers. Ask what they think of your products, services and prices. Research your competitors: Find out what they sell online, how they sell it and what they charge. Read online reviews to find out what their customers think. Work out how you can be better. Choose your ecommerce channels: Sell via your own website, a separate ecommerce website, online marketplaces such as Amazon, social media platforms or a mix of a few? Decide what to sell and set your prices: Knowing your target market should guide your choice of products/services and how much you should charge, which should give you sufficient profit. Use digital marketing to drive sales: You must let customers know you exist, what you sell and why they should buy it from you. A mix of digital marketing tactics can be used, including SEO (search engine optimisation), digital advertising (including pay-per-click), social media marketing, email and mobile marketing. Analyse key metrics and improve: Closely assess the analytics data of your website and ecommerce channels to judge your performance. Find out what is working and what isn’t. Learn lessons and find ways to improve. 7 How can I build a good ecommerce website? If you lack experience, popular website-building options such as Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Squarespace, etc, could provide a solution. Some offer free trials, so you can better understand what building your own website involves. Using predesigned ecommerce website templates can make things easier and quicker, while giving you a professional-looking website that offers good ecommerce functionality. Budget permitting, getting help from an experienced ecommerce website builder could provide more impressive results, but get detailed quotes before agreeing the work. To limit costs, you could still use a template from a popular website-building solution. Your website should be fast and mobile-friendly. Navigation should be clear, check-out should be quick and easy, while your images should be engaging and attractive. Include sufficiently detailed descriptions that sell your products or services. Keep it simple. Avoid too many pages and too much text. Your shipping, exchange and return policies should be clearly stated, as should any taxes applied to sales. 8 What ecommerce payment options should I offer? You should provide a range of secure online payment options and they should be quick and easy for customers. This helps to build trust, which can ensure that they have a pleasant experience, leave you positive reviews and keep coming back for more. Get it wrong and it can lead to shopping cart abandonment (ie where customers begin the buying process but leave your website without completing the purchase). Popular ecommerce payment options that customers want and expect include debit/credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Buy Now, Pay Later (eg Klarna), bank transfer and Direct Debit. 9 What about shipping when selling online? Once again, you need to offer a range of options, which can include flat rates, higher rates for quicker deliveries, free shipping thresholds (ie “Spend more than £50 and delivery is free”), alternative carrier rates and free local delivery or pickup. Get it wrong and it can lead to cancelled orders, lost customers and damaging online reviews. 10 How can I build customer loyalty online? Offering cost-effective rewards, deals and exclusive offers can build customer loyalty when you sell online. Make valid returns as easy as possible for your customers and always provide great customer service. If you get it wrong, apologise and make amends. It is cheaper and easier to sell to existing customers, so look after them. 11 What should I bear in mind when selling online to customers overseas? Before you start selling online to customers overseas carry out thorough research. It can be wise to target one or two countries with high demand and low barriers, possible English-speaking countries, before targeting other territories. You need to display your prices in other currencies on your website. You may also have to add pages in other languages or optimise for overseas search engines. Your products may need tailoring for other countries or you may need to sell completely different products with greater local appeal. Moreover, you may need to localise your marketing messages, images and packaging, too. You must also be able to accept payments in other currencies (using international payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, Worldpay can help). All transactions should be seamless, secure and cost-effective for both parties. The couriers you use should be reliable, while having to pay for international shipping can add significantly to your prices for overseas customers – which may put off some. Similarly, your customers may have to pay tariffs, local sales taxes and customs duties, which can make your products more expensive than local alternatives. This could be a big consideration when pricing your products and services for other territories. Some products may require export licences or be restricted in certain countries. Other countries have their own consumer protection laws with which you must comply. You may need to protect your trademarks and other intellectual property. You may also need to answer customer enquiries in other languages, outside of normal UK trading times.

About 80% of UK SMEs with employees that use digital technologies use accounting software (source: GOV.UK), making it one of the most widely used digital business tools. However, the smaller the business, the less likely it is to use accounting software. Only a third of the UK’s solo self-employed uses accounting software. 10 accounting software FAQs 1 What is accounting software? 2 Why do some businesses not use accounting software? 3 What are the limitations of manual bookkeeping? 4 What are the key benefits of using accounting software? 5 What are tell-tale signs that I need to upgrade my accounting software? 6 How do I choose the right accounting software? 7 What popular small-business accounting software is available? 8 How much does accounting software usually cost? 9 How do I best introduce my new accounting software? 10 How do I maximise the value of my accounting software? UK businesses are required by law to keep financial records, detailing their income and costs, with dates and sums given. An estimated quarter of small UK businesses still uses manual methods, ranging from basic computer spreadsheets to actual ledger books containing handwritten numbers. Those businesses are missing out on a range of benefits, while many existing users could be getting much more value from their accounting software. Accounting software could play a key role in helping you to grow your business. To increase understanding of the business benefits or enable you to get greater value from yours, below you will find the answers to 10 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about accounting software. 1 What is accounting software? Accounting software is a digital tool that enables businesses to efficiently and accurately record and manage their financial transactions (ie income and expenses), tax reporting and compliance. Accounting software can also allow a business to keep track of money it is owed by customers, as well as sums it owes to its suppliers. Accounting software is critical to successful cash flow management. 2 Why do some businesses not use accounting software? Some don’t use accounting software because they lack knowledge of the benefits or they believe it to be difficult to use and expensive, while other business owners are reluctant to change their existing financial record-keeping habits. Some businesses outsource their bookkeeping. 3 What are the limitations of manual bookkeeping? Potentially expensive mistakes can be much more likely when you use manual records and computer spreadsheets. You do not get the same time-saving automation and shortcuts that accounting software provides, while paper records cannot be accessed by many people remotely. Moreover, paper records can get lost or damaged. Using manual bookkeeping methods requires more time and effort, while completing your tax returns will be more time consuming. And it is more difficult to gain summaries of key figures from paper records and spreadsheets, so creating cash flow forecasts and other financial reports is much more challenging. 4 What are the key benefits of using accounting software? Using accounting software makes tax compliance quicker, easier and cheaper. Accounting software can automate repetitive tasks, saving your business lots of time by minimising manual data entry. Any time your business saves will automatically provide cost savings, while possibly removing the need to pay to outsource your bookkeeping. Accounting software means potentially expensive data-entry mistakes are less likely, with built-in checks and validations ensuring data integrity. The data within your accounting software will reveal your business’s actual financial health, so your management decisions can be guided by reliable real-time figures. Cash flow forecasts and other important financial reports can be produced quickly and with minimum effort. Accounting software also automatically calculates your VAT (if you are registered), Corporation Tax and Income Tax liabilities, so you can better budget for payment. Cloud-based accounting software offers encrypted remote access, facilitating collaboration between you, your team and your accountant. Your accounting software can also be connected to banking, payroll, e-commerce, CRM software, etc, giving you greater overall visibility and control. 5 What are tell-tale signs that I need to upgrade my accounting software? It could be slow and frequently crash or there could be issues with software updates and compatibility with your other digital tools. It might be time to upgrade your accounting software if it requires a lot of manual data entry. You should be able to cost effectively add users and features as required, with financial reports easy to produce. Your accounting software should give you access to forecasting and budgeting tools, so you can better manage your cash flow. It should be secure and cloud-based (ie accessible online), so data is available to team members wherever they are. Your business may simply have outgrown your existing accounting software. For example, you might need it to now record payments in international currencies, or you may want it to link to your inventory or CRM (customer relationship management) software. 6 How do I choose the right accounting software? Start by identifying how your current financial record-keeping methods fails to deliver and how new accounting software could solve pain points and bring other benefits. Get input from other team members and your accountant if you use one. Set a monthly budget for your new accounting software and research popular options that meet your needs and budget. Consider cloud-based accounting software that can easily be integrated with your other software. Contact vendors for more information and take advantage of free trials, so you can try before you buy. Ask what free training and support is available. Find out what the most cost-effective solution is – but focus on value (ie what you get for your money), don’t just go for the cheapest price. Do not rush your decision. 7 What popular small-business accounting software is available? Xero – Cloud-based, user-friendly and great for small businesses that need real-time financial tracking. Integrates seamlessly with UK bank accounts and is Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant. More information. QuickBooks – Powerful automation for invoicing, expense tracking and payroll. MTD-compliant, flexible pricing options, enables businesses to submit quarterly VAT returns to HMRC. More information. Sage – A trusted UK brand with a global customer base whose popular accounting software can help you manage your businesses finances, cash flow, invoicing and compliance. AI powered and scalable. More information. FreeAgent – Created for freelancers, sole traders and micro-businesses. MTD for VAT compliant, automates many tasks and easy to use, all in one cloud-based platform. More information. Zoho Books – Combines affordability, automation and scalability in a user-friendly, cloud-based platform. Includes invoicing, expense tracking, bank account reconciliation and financial reporting. More information. Other options are available, so research the market thoroughly to find the right accounting software for your specific needs. 8 How much does accounting software usually cost? Small-business accounting software typically costs up to £35 per month, depending on features and provider. Some platforms offer free basic plans for sole traders and micro businesses, while fees are higher for advanced tools (eg payroll, inventory, tax filing, etc), integrations and multiple users. 9 How do I best introduce my new accounting software? Decide when you will introduce your new accounting software and build in time for migrating the financial data from your old system. Make sure you and your people get the training required to get the most out of your new accounting software. Automate repetitive tasks (eg schedule recurring invoices and payments, etc) and integrate your new accounting software with your business bank and credit card accounts, as well as your other digital software as required. Give access to those who need it (which could include your accountant). Set alerts within your accounting software for spending budget thresholds or tax compliance deadlines. Start with basic features, then expand into others as required. 10 How do I maximise the value of my accounting software? Use your software to monitor KPIs (key performance indicators) regularly, such as gross and net income/turnover/profit, costs, operating cash flow, etc. Accounting software can easily generate dashboards and reports for KPIs. Make full use of your accounting software’s reporting features, to arm yourself with the numbers you need to make well-informed business decisions. Generate monthly financial statements and set aside time each week or month to study them carefully. Also learn how to create cash flow forecasts and keep a close eye on these to help you avoid running out of cash. Always refer to your most up-to-date figures before making important business decisions and be guided by what your numbers tell you – never ignore them.