LATEST! 19th June 2013
(scroll down to see full list; previous month's (May 2013) Viewpoint); Latest eBOSS contents

Scroll down for: A Home and Small Business Viewpoint by Len Tondel, from 1st June 2013

By way of explanation. The term 'home business' consists of two words. 'Business' is the second one; it's there to qualify and support the word 'home' and all that goes with it - and not vice versa. Consequently, we also list below, items which are of interest and value to the home. Whether in its context as an office or as a part of your family and lifestyle but always directed at the improved prospects and enjoyment that running a business from home, in its entirety, can bring.

For a current, multi-part overview of starting and running a business from home, go here: http://www.homebusiness.org.uk/features.htm

HBA/BusinessesForSale joint SPECIAL OFFER: 25% discount on the website's service. Here are the details: Code: SELLABIZ-25
How to use: The user must email sellabusiness@businessesforsale.com with the subject line of “SELLABIZ-25” and their message will need to have their contact details (both an email address and phone number) for the discount to be applied. One of our account managers will then contact them and walk them through the set-up process.

19.06.2013: Royal Mail staff vote to boycott rivals. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/19/mail-staff-vote-for-rivals-boycott/

Official release: Government welcomes customer service Kitemark. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-welcomes-customer-service-kitemark

House price bubble warning. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22949429#

Pensioners less gloomy over finances. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2013/jun/18/pensioners-financial-crisis-age

Fewer Britons holidaying abroad. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/19/fewer-britons-holidaying-abroad/ Not a bad thing for the British economy and local, small and home businesses; despite the efforts of Little Engerlandt tabloids and politicians to show our holidaymakers the way abroad.

Shop owners sacrifice own wages to keep stores open. http://www.acs.org.uk/en/Press_Office/details/index.cfm/obj_id/6EB7735D-CA4E-4259-A116425DD4A723EB. Shop owners are sacrificing their own wages in order to keep their stores open and pay staff, according to a survey by the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS). The survey, which polled over 1,100 independent retailers across the UK, revealed that 55% of shop owners believe that they earn less than the minimum wage. ACS Chief Executive, James Lowman, said: "Rising business rate bills, energy costs and increasing competition from small format supermarkets are all contributing factors to the figures." (EnterpriseQuest)

Not one of those day-to-day realities of running a business which will be appearing in the Government's tabloid propaganda, I suspect.

Expert sets out High Street vision. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/18/expert-sets-out-high-streets-vision/

Should you avoid a fixed energy tariff? http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/19/should-you-avoid-a-fixed-energy-tariff/

New cars should use less fuel. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/18/new-cars-should-use-less-fuel/ Another shaggy dog myth which has been doing the rounds for the past century or so. The consumer might want a more economical car; no-one else does. From Exxon to governments to manufacturers to Top Gear. There's no profiteering in it. That's why the average fuel consumption for motoring today is just about unchanged since the Second World War. And why the successful production of electric cars - in the United States especially - was also strangled, once again, about a hundred years ago. And the plebs? They just love it!

Fraud identity capital is East Ham. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/19/east-ham-identity-fraud-capital/

Trending: hand-drawn maps. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/gallery/2013/jun/18/hand-drawn-maps-readers-favourites-in-pictures

18.06.2013: Think-tank calls for higher NICs for self-employed. http://www.freelanceuk.com/news/4318.shtml Self-employed people currently benefit from tax breaks worth over £1.6 billion a year because they pay National Insurance contributions (NICs) at lower rates than employed staff, according to a report by the think-tank CentreForum. The report's author, Adam Corlett, believes this differential also provides a tax avoidance loophole and has urged the Government to equalise National Insurance levels and remove the 'tax bias towards self-employment'. However, the report also calls for Class 2 National Insurance to be scrapped to help reduce the tax burden on self-employed people with very low incomes. (EnterpriseQuest)

While identifying the NIC 'tax bias' towards the self-employed, the think-tank doesn't see fit to point out that on the other hand, the self-employed very rarely take days off sick, work far longer hours than salaried staff, have far fewer paid holidays - if any at all because the self-employed don't get statutory holiday pay - are responsible for finding their own work on a daily basis and are paid on results or output only. Then of course, there are the pension disadvantages of being self-employed: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-2335657/Self-employed-miss-91-500-work-pension-payments-half-retirement-plan-all.html But despite all of this, the self-employed sector makes a positive contribution to any economy rather than simply living off it. Like academia, for example. And a few hundred other employment sectors to boot.

Of course, were the think-tank to be taken seriously for their laudable suggestion that everyone should make an equal contribution to a level taxation playing field and thus, to the country's economy - which we are all for - then let's start with the really serious evaders, shall we? And ask that think-tanks - like the self-employed have to - find their own money to fund their own activities. Rather than profiting from the current tax bias towards Big Corp who in turn, fund academics to come up with schoolboy arguments underpinned by half-arsed research to support any given myth. Or alternatively, just sponge off the entire taxpayer-funded education system which as the whole world can see, has produced such splendid results in recent years! Which might have something to do with being paid for an entire tax year in exchange for a mere 39-week appearance. At 30 hours a week. If they're not feeling poorly.

A quarter of small business owners regret starting up. http://www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk/getting-a-job/quarter-of-self-employed-regret-taking-the-plunge/ A quarter of small and medium-sized business owners regret starting their own firm and 23% would not do it again if they had the chance, according to a survey by Viking Direct. Just over a quarter of firms in the retail, leisure and finance sectors regretted starting up, while only 14% of respondents in the technology sector said this. In addition, 44% of respondents believe Government policies have no positive effect on their business. Despite this, 65% of smaller firms expect to expand and 29% forecast an increase in profits in the next three to six months. (EnterpriseQuest)

I don't suppose we'll be seeing this fact introduced as an economic health warning in the pleb-blurb for a Government start-up loan? No. I didn't think so.

Families more positive about their finances. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22942315#

British bailiffs are turning ugly. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/18/british-bailiffs-are-turning-ugly/

Retiring abroad costs British pensioners £10.6 billion. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/17/retiring-abroad-cost-british-pensioners-10-6-billion/ Talking to Brits who have committed to a life abroad usually follows the same pattern: their only research into their life-changing move has been a glance at British tabloid headlines and so they think that the £ is still worth the same as it was in Queen Victoria's day. The endless media-bashing of the euro always forgets to mention one, critical thing. The pound is in an even worse state than most other currencies and has been for a few years now. But all is not lost. Brits abroad can always turn their hands to running a 'Bed & Breakfast'. Over a 4/5 month season. Without any visitors. Or a gardening service. Except outside battery-housing Britain, 'gardens' frequently tend to run to acres and need to be managed with chainsaws, brushcutters and tractors which cost thousands to buy. Never mind the learning curve. A bit of d.i.y. for the natives, perhaps? Yeah. Right.

EU and US in 'biggest ever trade deal in history'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22943170# I'm not quite sure why this article is showing a picture of David Cameron. He had nothing to do with the coup. Anyway, the UK is coming out of the EU because it can do better without it. Right?

Cameron's conservatory push for homeowners comes under fire. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10126100/Neighbours-CAN-veto-unsightly-extensions-and-conservatories-after-all-Eric-Pickles-says.html Despite all the fuss in the media, the proposals will only affect 2,900 extensions a year. So another total irrelevance conceived on the back of an increasingly rare fag packet.

Reminds me of a poll I saw recently for Big Brother. Only 7% of those polled thought the series should continue. Fast forward to propagandashitewriters, tabloid TV columnists and there you'd think the series was up for a BAFTA award, despite doing no more than hosting every useless wannabe, has-been (and copper) who doesn't have anything relevant or worthwhile to be getting on with.

eBay seller returns policy doesn't suit me. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jun/17/ebay-seller-returns-policy

The website that names lousy tippers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/aug/17/the-website-which-names-lousy-tippers I like this!

5 Reasons You Really Need A Business Plan (article). http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/sbinformation/1371049200.htm

17.06.2013: The risks of moonlighting and how to avoid them. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/17/the-risks-of-moonlighting-and-how-to-avoid-them/ A useful piece of research for once.

Savers turn to peer-to-peer lending. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/15/savers-turn-to-peer-to-peer-lending/

The £ must fall further if Britain is to have lasting economic recovery. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/rogerbootle/10123660/The-pound-must-fall-further-if-Britain-is-to-have-a-lasting-recovery.html?placement=mid3 Cheerful start to the week. Nor is it any kind of solution. What's needed is responsible, competent and honest governance. An end to politicians fagging would be a good start.

Credit unions 'need more powers'. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/17/credit-unions-need-more-powers/ Everyone has been agreed on that for donkey's years. Except the banks, of course. And who do our governments work for ? Apart from the Yanks? (Although it's all pretty much the same cesspit.)

Is this the end of a rogue trader's dishonest day's work? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/10122357/Is-this-the-end-of-a-rogue-traders-dishonest-days-work.html

Trending: vinyl LPs making a comeback. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/407862/The-old-fashioned-LP-record-is-back-and-that-s-vinyl Now that all our yoof need is a decent, British Quad hi-fi system (sadly, now owned by the Chinese) and we'll be getting back to a bit of 50-year-old quality. And CLASS. Not some cheapo plastic bungs stuck in sheeps' ears. Trouble is, where are our youngsters going to get the money from?

Energy efficiency ups home values. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/17/energy-efficiency-ups-home-value/

Recession causing consumers to desert organic produce. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/organic-farming-hits-the-skids-as-recessionhit-consumers-desert-the-sector-8660916.html

Millions of travellers being priced off UK railways. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342764/Millions-priced-railways-Rise-ticket-prices-sees-number-journeys-drop-million-months-2013.html Yet another Thatcher legacy coming good.

16.06.2013: Smaller firms experiencing difficulties with backup and recovery. http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240185363/Backup-and-recovery-challenges-most-small-businesses-study-shows Most small and medium-sized firms experience difficulties with data backup and recovery, according to a study by Veeam Software. The study, which polled 500 smaller firms in Europe and the US, revealed that 85% are experiencing financial challenges with backup and recovery, 83% lack capability and 80% struggle with complexity issues. The study also found that an average of 33% of respondents' virtual infrastructure is not backed up and 55% plan to change their backup tool for virtual servers by 2014. Ratmir Timashev of Veeam said: "More and more small and medium-sized enterprises [SMEs] are being subject to the same IT challenges and business pressures as large enterprises." (EnterpriseQuest)

Online retailers hit back at tax plan. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10122501/Online-retailers-hit-back-at-tax-plan.html No surprises there. Orders have obviously come in from tax-evading, U.S. Big Corp. Just as much as tax-evading British Big Corp. Who, just like the Treasury and government, don't give a collective diddly squat about entrepreneurial opportunities for plebs whether it be on the internet - or behind a market stall. Still. There will be much semblance of democratic debate, though.

Mentoring and James Caan start-up loan help London party planners. (Advertorial). http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/407846/Mentoring-and-James-Caan-start-up-loan-for-London-party-planners How complicated life has become. When I went into party plan thirty years ago, I, just like every other party planner and market trader in the country, talked nicely to the supplier to simply obtain an extended line of credit. It takes a bit of doing if you're just starting out but it is possible. Capital outlay: £0. With 'the internet revolution' I suppose all that has changed. Plus, 'party planner' referred to in this 'advertorial' is function or event organising and not the direct selling version which this term is historically associated with.

Google plans balloon network to extend reach of the internet. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jun/15/project-loon-google-balloon-internet Fully approved and financed by the U.S. military.

Swiss offering a safe haven for your data. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/comment/jim-armitage-swiss-can-offer-a-safe-haven-for-your-data-8659914.html

Booking train tickets early could save hundreds of pounds. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/407888/Booking-train-tickets-early-could-save-families-hundres-of-pounds For many years I have subscribed to this 'standard' advice but more recently I have become increasingly dubious of marginal price advantages outweighing what are numerous inconveniences.

In my particular case the main problem is the French, whose once-excellent rail and transport services have degenerated significantly over the past decade. At the same time, the very cheapest advance-bookings are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Consequently, if your planned journey is affected by industrial action, severe weather or just trade union fascist thugs looking for an extra day off, then changes to your itinerary will almost certainly require new tickets. That will include the UK or any other part of Europe as any failure along any stage of your journey produces a domino effect.

In the majority of cases, you will be able to get replacement tickets but only like-for-like and if you are trying to make up for lost time and want to re-schedule wasted meetings for example, then you will be facing the cost of new tickets at astronomical, short-notice prices. You will not only have to queue again but explain at length what you want and why. You will have the cost of multiple calls to your destination to re-arrange everything. If you can't get to the ticket office then dial in still more wasted time in online booking, which with French sites particularly, isn't designed to be efficient or rapid. There may even be hotel stays to factor in.

The handiwork of French CGT socio-fascist emmerdeurs apart, a major national strike in any country will impact on all forms of transport regardless of specific sector, as large numbers of travellers look for alternatives to complete their journeys. And it really isn't worth it.

What I have found is - forget advance and especially online booking. Turn up at a ticket office, aiming to travel off-peak. Deal with someone who is invariably a nice, experienced and knowledgeable professional who will immediately tell you what the cheapest offers are. Buy an open-ended return ticket for just a few pounds more than it would cost you to buy one months earlier. No stress. No hassle. Very fast. Very little difference in terms of price. Infinitely more flexible.

The only challenge after that is, if you are travelling by rail in the UK, finding a station seat to wait on; and a litter bin. I suspect it's down to passenger conditioning; preparing the plebs for a rail journey of standing room in rolling shitpits, only. It can't be down to economics because the expenditure on railway stations in the UK at the moment is absolutely astronomical.

Anyway. Ignoring all that, here's the latest RailEurope newsletter. http://www.raileurope.co.uk/?tabid=119&source=june_eurostar&affiliate=relnew803

Every job in Britain's wind farm scam is effectively subsidised to the tune of £100,000 a year. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/10122850/True-cost-of-Britains-wind-farm-industry-revealed.html That's almost as much as the cost of subsidising Britain's and America's murder industry. By us plebs and other defenceless victims. For whom there are no subsidies whatsoever. And a kick in the bollox at 65. Or at 67, for most of you. Or at 80, for today's yoof. All obligingly set up by numerous governments and their media scrotes from all around the world.

15.06.2013: Online shops need to ramp up disabled access. http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/06/14/online-shops-need-to-ramp-up-disabled-access/

CNET Community: How feasible is it to continue using Windows XP when Microsoft stops supporting it? http://nls.cnet.com/pageservices/viewOnlineNewsletter.sc?list_id=e497&send_date=06/14/2013

Big banks lose 2.4 million customers in protest at their incompetent and criminal activity. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jun/13/big-banks-lose-customers-protest Since a 'spokesman' for a High Street bank told me a few years ago that it takes a movement of around 50,000 accounts for a bank to sit up and take notice, this sort of figure should do the trick! Good to see consumers voting with their feet on this kind of scale.

Fresh strikes to hit Post Offices. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/14/fresh-strikes-to-hit-post-offices/

Offshore leaks app discloses tax haven users. http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jun/15/database-app-icij-tax-havens To help plebs identify companies they should boycott. If they can be arsed.

Bad landlords face licensing crackdown. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/jun/14/bad-landlords-licensing-crackdown

Latest interactive guide to Europe's arms trade. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jun/13/interactive-investigate-europe-arm-trade Interesting to see how the socialist, caring French have become the EU's #1 Merchants of Death, exporting more chemical agents alone (like those the US have 'found' in Syria) than the rest of the EU combined. Happy timing for the Americans, CIA wigheads, their British fags and the continuing supply of arms to global terrorism. Paid for in cash, money, by plebs, pensioners and small businesses from around the world. And the lives of millions who ain't got no cash, money.

French tax authorities finally persuade David Beckham to hand over his French club earnings to charities. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/david-beckham-finally-agrees-deal-to-donate-34m-psg-wages-to-french-childrens-charities-8659789.html I never thought I'd hear myself congratulating the French taxman but on this occasion, "Chapeau, messieurs!" What was originally conceived as a shite-cheap publicity stunt to impress English tabloids and their carrot-IQ readerships, has at least seen a cause infinitely more noble and worthwhile than cheating, doped-up professional football, gain some benefit.

'We'll cut taxes so companies move to Britain', says Cameron. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/tax/10122005/Well-cut-taxes-so-companies-move-to-Britain-says-David-Cameron.html Errr. David Cameron's 'companies' are already avoiding paying tax. Is his usual propagandashitewriter on holiday?

Plans for simpler energy tariffs in disarray. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/10122203/Plan-for-simpler-energy-tariffs-in-disarray-after-EDF-submits-opposing-proposal.html That's more like it! At least some of Da P.M.'s team are still on message.

Public waste costing families £4200 a year. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/407695/Public-waste-costs-families-4-500-a-year That will be all those flavour-of-the-day consultants, gurus and nano-celebrities, then. Mind you, for a country with a ruling class which pissed the world's greatest empire up the wall in under a hundred years, this is peanuts.

Online entrepreneurial pair handed MBEs. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/15/online-entrepreneurs-handed-mbes/ and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22909473 That's it, is it? Just two (TWO; 2) online entrepreneurs - from the same online business - receive honours this year. Some digital entrepreneurial tsunami, that is. And how many gongs have gone to the financial sector this time? Well, according to the official press release, the 'Industry and the Economy' nosebag gets 10% of the total 1182 awards. That's over 100.

Contractor loses £1000 a week dream role after offering to buy Muslim recruiter a bacon sandwich. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2342111/I-lost-dream-job-I-mentioned-bacon-Contractor-axed-1-000-week-IT-role-unwittingly-saying-hed-treat-Muslim-recruiter-breakfast-sandwich.html

I'm reminded of an exhibition I went to. The stand next to me was being manned by a keen youngster from Little England, to-the-right-of-Texas, who kept approaching the all-foreign visitors with a beaming smile and introducing himself with a "Hi". Without exception, no-one he greeted showed any enthusiasm for starting a conversation. Later that morning, a bemused fellow-delegate from the host country whispered to me, (loosely translated), "You would have thought he'd have started to 'come down' by now and become a bit more discreet."

That's the problem with a 'modern' education. It doesn't do the business.

Finally, some jolly weekend reading taken from Mark Anastasi's latest Laptop Millionaire newsletter. http://www.laptopmillionaire.tv/ I'm sorry if none of it conforms to the Government's official line, nor to the messages of endorsement sent out by its P.Pro.Ps (Preferred Propaganda Personalities). But the plain fact of the matter is that only a tiny handful of business hopefuls will ever make it big; and I'll bet you not one of them will have done so by following 'official' guidance or media press releases.

8 Shocking Facts, Quotes, & Statistics about the Job Market

#1: A SHOCKING three-quarters of the world's adults do NOT have a full-time job. According to Gallup's new "Payroll to Population" metric, only 27% of the world's adults were employed full time for an employer in 2011.

#2: The True US Unemployment Rate is 23.6%. (36.7m Americans are Unemployed). According to CNN, there are 86 Million “Invisible”
Unemployed in America. According to John Williams, an economist who runs ShadowStats.com, the true number of people currently out of work is at 23.6%. That’s a whopping 36.7 million Americans.

#3: "The middle class is dead. Most jobs that existed 20 years ago aren't needed now..." James Altucher wrote recently: "The middle class is dead. A few weeks ago I visited a friend of mine who manages a trillion dollars for one family. No joke. A trillion. He said: “Look out the window. All the cubicles are empty. The middle class is being hollowed out. [...] It’s all outsourced or technology has taken over for the paper shufflers. You’ve been replaced. Technology, outsourcing, a growing temp staffing industry, productivity efficiencies, have all replaced the middle class. Most jobs that existed 20 years ago aren’t needed now."

#4: Technology and the Web are destroying far more jobs than they create. "Over the past 15 years, the global economy has experienced structural changes to a degree not seen in nearly 150 years. Put simply, the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s has given way to a post-industrial economy. In this post-industrial economy, technology has now evolved to the point where it destroys more jobs than it creates." Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/labor-day-2012-future-work

#5: We are returning to Depression Era unemployment. Between 1929 and 1933, U.S. GDP fell around 30%, and the stock market lost almost 90% of its value. In 1929, the unemployment rate averaged 3%. In 1933, 25% of all workers and 37% of all non-farm workers were unemployed.

#6: “The job-for-life generation told us that if we worked hard we'd end up with a great retirement. If we stuck at that soul-sapping job, when we were 60 we could live fabulously, travel and have a whale of a time (assuming you make it that far). Wait a minute... would those be with those same retirement plans that went down the tube in the crash of 2008? Where thousands upon thousands of regular people who had worked their whole life for the dream at the end were left stranded?"

#7: "Workers over 50 are the new 'unemployables" http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/26/news/economy/over-50-unemployables/index.html

#8: “Young people in bankrupt western nations [...] society is going to force-feed you a s*** sandwich. Higher taxes, more debt, fewer prospects, and a much lower standard of living await you. University graduates are forced into lowly jobs such as cleaning lavatories. Youth unemployment in the Euro area stood at 22.6% . in July. In Spain it rose to 52.9%." Source: The Evening Standard, 20 September 2012

So, what is the solution? --> Think like an entrepreneur. Add more value.

Simon Black says: "The average Korean works 1,000 hours per year more than the average German. Here in Thailand, people who don't have a job simply create one for themselves -- selling fruit on the streets, fixing flat tires, whatever they can do to trade their skills and labor for income."

Finally, I want to leave you with this quote from Robert Kiyosaki's book 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad'...

“Most people work very hard, for little money, clinging to the illusion of job security, looking forward to 3-week vacation each year and a skimpy pension after 45 years of work. If that excites you, go for it. [...] Most people never see the trap they are in. Every morning, they get up, they get ready, and hurry out to work. Do they look happy to you?

Why do they do it? Because everybody else is. [...] Every day they wake up with this fear gnawing at their soul. They rush off to work, hoping that a paycheck will kill the fear. Money is running their lives, and they refuse to tell the truth about it ...”

14.06.2013: Freebie Friday. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/14/freebie-friday-this-weeks-discounts-deals-and-freebies/

Can't afford to go bankrupt? A Debt Relief Order may be the answer. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/13/cant-afford-to-go-bankrupt-a-debt-relief-order-may-be-the-answ/ Around £700 versus £90, in other words.

Can I get a credit black mark removed? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/jessicainvestigates/10118315/Can-I-get-a-credit-black-mark-removed.html

Why Britain needs a Small Business Saturday. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/10118818/Why-UK-shops-need-a-Small-Business-Saturday.html Still more propaganda from the W.C. (War Criminal) Party which has done more to destroy British small business interests than any other single influencing factor. What IS needed, are politicians who have a genuine interest in the country's welfare and can be seen shopping and rubbing shoulders with the general public, like Bruce Willis, 'ON A DAILY BASIS'. And not just vote harvesting with a gimmicky sound-bite every couple of months plus a bit of Twattering.

Own-brand sausages contain most meat. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/14/own-brand-sausages-have-most-meat/ Looking at the prices in this article, even own-brand supermarket sausages work out more expensively than sausages made by your local butcher where meat content will often be double - but the prices remain about the same.

I'm also hearing on French radio this morning that after five months of the horse-meat scandal, a consumer programme has finally picked up on the well-known fact that cheap, imported and drug-contaminated Neddy continues to arrive in the country - from the U.S.A. and Canada - and not from their favourite whipping boys, Eastern Europe, Spain or G.B. And France is Europe's biggest consumer of supermarket-shite-wrapped-in-plastic-and-disguised-as-food, despite everyone pretending to know a thing or two about gastronomy; and trying to maintain their myths of food traceability and public food safety standards. You can imagine our Froggy friends are not amused just at the moment. Well: those who aren't on strike or still on their Easter holidays.

So as we keep saying. Support your small, local butcher or producer - wherever in the world they might be. They are just like us. They are us.

EU to end mobile roaming charges from next year. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/10119159/EU-to-end-mobile-roaming-charges-next-year.html

Yahoo files patent for influence-based advertising. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22895781#

Pensioners' incomes rising fastest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22890906# One reason why they are scammers' preferred targets.

Homeowners being warned on setting up 'trust' schemes. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/14/homeowners-warned-on-trust-schemes/ Another official scam in the early stages of evolution.

Air passengers facing summer of travel anarchy. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/air-passengers-face-summer-of-discontent-warns-europes-biggest-airline-8658145.html It wouldn't be so bad if the strikers actually had fair and reasonable grounds for their protests. However, in this particular case, the opposite is true. These are already the fattest, laziest pigs at the fonctionnaire's trough and once again, it is the hard-working majority which has to suffer the consequences of French social elitism and exploitation.

The luggage that will never be lost. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10118962/The-luggage-that-will-never-be-lost.html That's great! It can now be found simply and quickly still in some other country. If you are travelling via or to or from France.

Quirky British seaside events this summer. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/10118491/Quirky-British-seaside-events-this-summer.html

Man calls police saying prostitute breached Sale of Goods Act. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/13/man-calls-police-saying-prostitute-breached-the-sale-of-goods-ac/

Official ruling in the complaint against ex-Farepak director. http://www.frc.org.uk/News-and-Events/FRC-Press/Press/2013/June/Outcome-of-disciplinary-hearing-against-William-Ro.aspx The Farepak shaggy dog story, with full official blessing, continues. The auditors, next.

Thoughts for the weekend: Brian Tracy talks about the 'Law of Income': "You Get Paid In Direct Proportion To The Amount Of VALUE You Deliver According To The Marketplace!

Your financial success is directly related to the size of the problem you solve for other people (solve BIG problems and you'll make BIG money). You will always be paid in direct proportion to the work you do, how well you do it, and the difficulty of replacing you. Do more than you are paid for. There are never any traffic jams on the extra mile."

In another book of his, Brian also states: "Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What's in it for me?"

Weekend Larf #1: 'We won't win wars if we have more spending cuts', claims Army Chief. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/10119637/Army-chief-we-wont-win-wars-if-we-are-cut-again.html So what 'wars' have 'we' won over the past century, then? As opposed to just being on the winning side? And awarding the fruits of military defence budgets to American instead of British companies. (And has this statement been cleared with the Pentagon's Propaganda Unit?)

Weekend Larf #2: Britons are the second most prolific Twitter and Facebook users in Europe. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2340893/Britons-second-prolific-Facebook-Twitter-users-EUROPE-fifth-aged-65.html Obviously some correlation with Britain's piss-poor economic standing and sliding value of sterling against the euro.

13.06.2013: Official release: New bill of rights to help businesses and consumers. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-bill-of-rights-to-help-businesses-and-consumers

The new Consumer Rights Bill: what you need to know. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/13/the-new-consumer-rights-bill-what-you-need-to-know/

Sainsbury's boss adds his weight to an online sales tax. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10116437/Sainsburys-boss-Justin-King-calls-for-new-online-sales-tax.html

North-west businesses lacking confidence because of eurozone. http://www.enforbusiness.com/news/lack-confidence-eurozone-holding-businesses-back-20139894

100 pensioners caught in mobile home retirement scam. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2340222/100-pensioners-caught-mobile-home-retirement-scam-spending-140-000-properties-told-live-permanently.html Then, there are millions of pensioners who have been caught by the official, contribute to a pension scam.

Ban for BT adverts offering 'free' YouView box. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/10116360/Ban-for-BT-adverts-offering-free-YouView-box.html

Geneva most expensive location in latest Club Sandwich Index. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2340669/Visit-Geneva-spend-packet-Swiss-city-overtakes-Paris-Club-Sandwich-Index-rates-worlds-expensive-locations.html Beating Paris into second place. Where I can't imagine anyone being able to buy an edible Club Sandwich, anyway. Plus, how do you get to Paris these days?

M.P.s call for HMRC to investigate Google's tax avoidance. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/06/12/google-tax-investigation-hmrc_n_3428823.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk1%26pLid%3D186787 Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about introducing some laws to address corporate tax evasion, instead? No? Thought not.

12.06.2013: Fancy a free house? http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/12/fancy-a-free-house/

Rate move will help credit union loans. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/12/rate-move-helps-credit-union-loans/ Taking a credit union loan isn't about getting the very lowest rates. It's about getting preferential treatment; being considered and helped when sharks are circling in the vicinity; it's about people helping each other; all the values in other words, which have prevented credit unions gaining more than token support in the UK.

Self-employed urged to prioritise pension planning. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-2335657/Self-employed-miss-91-500-work-pension-payments-half-retirement-plan-all.html Business owners and self-employed people have been warned to prioritise personal pension planning as they do not receive contributions into company pension schemes from employers, which, on average, amount to over £90,000 over the working life of an employee, according to research published by Prudential. Stan Russell of Prudential said: "We know from our research that a significant proportion of self-employed workers have no private pension however, the state pension alone is not enough for a good standard of living in retirement, which is why saving as much as possible into a pension from an early stage is crucial." (EnterpriseQuest)

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if the majority of self-employed folk could AFFORD to prioritise pension planning?

Hospitality and tourism industries to create 30,000 new jobs by 2015. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/11/hospitality-jobs-to-be-created/ All we need now is for the Government and the media to start singing from the same hymn sheet and we might be getting a result.

On the other hand, this is where we actually are: Britain losing business 'every minute' due to Chinese visa controls. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/10114052/Britain-losing-business-every-minute-due-to-Chinese-visa-rules.html

The surprisingly long, C19th-old list of 'visa nationals' can be found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/general/visa/ (Click on Are you a visa national? at bottom of page.) Unsurprisingly for the present government of fagging, swivel-eyed loons, whereas a visitor from the Vatican requires a visa, visitors from the most prolific terrorist state in the world by far, the U.S.A., can come and go as they please.

New laws to help consumers enforce verbal agreements. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339914/Record-builder-make-sure-sticks-word-New-laws-help-consumers-enforce-verbal-agreements.html

Passengers forced to wait hours for baggage at Manchester Airport. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/11/passengers-forced-to-wait-hours-for-baggage-at-manchester-airpor/ So this is what happens to passengers who refuse to pay out for the latest travel scam, £50 to queue-jump, is it? http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/07/50-to-queue-jump-at-manchester-airport/

Letting agents' fees out of control. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/12/letting-agent-fees-out-of-control/ Too many snouts in the trough again. Everything used to be manageable until 'buy-to-let' became fashionable and with it, a new generation of wine-bar dwellers, the 'guppypreneurs'. Can't read, can't write, can't do sums, too idle or too stupid to even change a tenant's lightbulb but do watch The Apprentice or Dragons' Den and dream of being tomorrow's millionaires. Perfect scam fodder in other words, and all up for the latest formula for making money without doing any work.

Spark Energy referred to Ofgem after surge in complaints. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/12/spark-energy-referred-to-ofgem-after-surge-in-complaints/

National Audit Office to investigate Government premium-line scams. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339654/Expensive-government-premium-rate-phone-lines-probed-spending-watchdog-claims-ripping-millions.html

Name firms that mistreat consumers, says Citizens' Advice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22868820# Eyes up! Mind you, that would also compromise and embarass the political party suppository (donor) system. So we won't be having it!

Bilderberg conspiracy theories are absolute nonsense, declares Ken Clarke. Who failed to declare his interest in the group. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338936/Bilderberg-2013-Ken-Clarke-called-Parliament-answer-questions-conference.html Live and let live, I say. If people want to meet in private then by all means let them do so. However, once the taxpayer has to fund that meeting - and at considerable expense - then transparency in the public interest is called for. Especially when one looks at the list of delegates. And especially, especially when politicians and media propaganda presenters spend so much time denying and ridiculing there's anything fishy going on - without addressing one, solitary fact or issue. Which, coming from British politicians and the media, is tantamount to a signed confession of serious skulduggery afoot. At the very least.

MP wasters rack up 3 million Arsebook hits. (Plus online betting and gaming.) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339955/How-MPs-racked-3m-Facebook-hits-Figures-waste-thousands-hours-social-networks-betting-sites.html I blame the people who voted them in, myself. Can't the public find some stray dogs to vote for at the next elections, instead?

Garden Shed of the Year contest. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/11/shed-of-year-love-garden

National Events Guide. http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=78b146a49ba79b6c0b4751da5&id=4238c6e325&e=bf4b3c7991

Trending: plum charming. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/what-kind-of-music-does-a-plum-charmer-play-anything-by-the-stones-or-deep-purple-8654510.html

11.06.2013: Two thirds of SMEs want to stay in the EU. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/10111475/Small-firms-want-to-stay-in-EU-to-keep-trading-links.html That may well be the case but it's not the majority no more so than this country's greater economic interests which will determine whether or not Britain's politicians keep us in the EU. It's up to the U.S. - which so far, is well onside for Britain staying in.

UK consumers set to 'loosen belts' this year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22838241# Sounds like a very precise and accurate economic model they're using.

Current account switching to be 'hassle-free'. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22844105# Yet another shaggy dog promise which has been running for as long as the one about an internet-led economic miracle.

LLoyds Bank admits to PPI complaints issues. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/11/bank-admits-ppi-complaints-issues/

Hard cash making a comeback. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339311/Hard-cash-makes-comeback-count-pennies-Using-notes-coins-feeling-control-spending.html Yay. Nothing like a roll of notes in your pocket for that feelgood factor; getting some instant results; and avoiding the scrutiny of GCHQ.

Boot sales - your rights as a buyer. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/11/boot-sales-your-rights-as-a-buyer/

Four in ten micro-businesses are underinsured. http://www.investortoday.co.uk/news_features/poor-planning-costs-nations-entrepreneurs-C2A314bn Small firms risk losing £1.4 billion in annual revenue by failing to safeguard against business threats, a report by Lloyds TSB has revealed. According to the report, 38% of micro-businesses with ten employees or fewer had been affected by theft, vandalism or damage in the past year, and almost of third of them were unable to operate fully for more than a week, while one in five were unable to trade for up to a month. Despite this, 36% of micro-business owners have not taken any measures to protect their business and 40% are underinsured.

Annual round of summertime strikes by idle, overpaid, French parasite fonctionnaires to hit travellers again. (And French economy.) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/10110750/French-strikes-hit-British-holidaymakers.html

The future home: self-sufficient in meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/the-future-home-selfsufficient-in-meat-fish-vegetables-and-fruit-8652465.html Sounds like an old-fashioned smallholding to me. Or, used to be, before Agri-Corp, banks and governments destroyed them all. Now - just another high-tech shaggy dog story.

Businessman defends himself with a stick against a burglar - and gets charged with GBH. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2339258/Businessman-vs-burglars-midnight-fight-premises-Now-HES-GBH-charge.html Which is why so many 'businessmen' have left and are leaving Britain for countries where crime is managed by non-press-baron lackeys doing a bit of wheelie-bin sniffing and snooping on the side. Of course, had our defendant been an American businessman who dropped bombs on and killed millions of innocent civilians, he would have been applauded, lauded, rewarded and publicised as a 'hero'.

10.06.2013: What should you declare when selling your home? http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/10/what-should-you-declare-when-selling-your-home/

The dark internet: the Tor System. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/the-tor-system-welcome-to-the-dark-internet-where-you-can-search-in-secret-8651364.html

CCTV controls on security sytems which could be used to snoop on neighbours. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10109384/CCTV-new-controls-on-private-security-cameras-to-stop-homeowners-snooping-on-neighbours.html Unless the CCTV system is made in the USA, of course, in which case it will come with full 'Exempt From International Law' certification. It could be an issue for home businesses with potential security issues, though. Especially in areas with a high frequentation of Tory hoodies.

Cost of shotgun and firearm licenses must rise, says police chief. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10108764/Cost-of-shotgun-and-firearm-licences-must-rise-say-police-chiefs.html It's looking like a double-pronged attack on home business security, all of this.

Unemployed to be offered a £24 PC and £2.99 per month broadband. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/10/benefit-claimants-offered-24-pc/ This will allow the Pentagon to fill in those holes in its database of UK plebs, in readiness to send in Blackwater and the drones when the country starts rioting from hunger and cold. Kind of a modern take on Marie Antoinette's 'let them eat cake'. Or, 'let them eat good 'ole US-military computer spyware', instead.

For home businesses which have already laid out a lot of money for kit and crap internet connections, it does make them wonder I suppose, if it wouldn't just be easier to go back on the dole. In the meantime, tax-evading Big Corp has possibly obtained an extra 10 million accounts financed by the taxpayer; and tabloid propaganda has more bullshit to crow about along the lines that this will help the country become digitally-enabled. Errr. That's what thick politicians and commercial interests have been pushing for twenty years. And all we have is a recession which is likely to continue for a few more years if not for ever. How about a few saleable skills, instead? Basics like literacy, numeracy and life and social skills? Then, once politicians, parents and teachers have acquired these fundamentals, they can be passed onto the country's youth! After that, we could even anticipate a 50:50 business start-up survival rate and not just 1-in-10 and then back on the dole again. The much-improved chances of finding jobs could then conclude the FOURTY years which have been wasted since the countrys' bosses/employers first flagged up their concerns.

As it is, treble whammy, chaps. Gongs all round again. Arf. Arf.

Phishing scam victims who didn't even own a computer. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/10/tragic-phishing-scam-victims-who-didnt-even-own-a-computer/ eBay coming in for a bit of stick again. You know. That U.S. military spying company which avoids paying our taxes.

Trending: online reputation management. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10107511/Online-reputation-the-only-asset-worth-protecting.html The problem with this is that curing and mending an online reputation can become obsessive at worst, time-wasting at best. If you are running a business, especially a home business, time is too valuable a commodity to be wasted on unproductive issues which arise out of online diarrhoea from saddos, sickos, Tory hoodies-cum-Government advisers and total wasters. Which of course, just like buying design-flawed software which constantly needs patching and protecting, is precisely how the whole internet scam starts to work in the first place. Next little earner on the horizon: an anti-snooping app. Or three.

It occurs to me that with the internet being such an uncontrolled, lawless territory a valid consideration for home businesses should be the degree of internet-dependence. Having nothing to do with social media, the cloud, even a website, may end up being a much more efficient and profitable business model than our latter-day gurus would have you believe. None of the tradesmen I work with for example, have a website nor do they 'do' social media. On the other hand they are all very busy and my plumber has even bought his second villa, now. (In Portugal, though. Less chance of seeing drunken Brits pissing in your swimming pool, in Portugal. No more so than in France although there, you have a bunch of nutters in charge who think your villa is their villa, and any kind of financial punt at all at the moment, is a bad idea.)

Anyway. Were millions of small businesses to do the same, the subsequent drop-off in business for the internet's giants would work a multiplicity of wonders! Instead of mere digital snooping, the CIA, Google, the local council and the HMRC would deploy drones to fly over your home, instead.

Households registered with the Telephone Preference Service receive double the number of nuisance calls. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338625/Nuisance-calls-nightmare-Blocking-service-fails-stop-phone-pests.html Hardly surprising, is it? Just like late payment recommendations.

09.06.2013: Euro crisis is over, claims France's Francois Hollande. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22832471# Really? France's 'crisis' certainly isn't over, though.

Building firms could face public contract bans over blacklisted workers. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/building-firms-could-face-bans-over-blacklisting-of-workers-8650774.html

New task force to 'save the High Street'; after failure of last official publicity stunt, the Mary Portas Travelling Circus. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/406164/Mary-Portas-failed-to-resuce-the-hight-street-so-is-there-a-new-saviour Well, the latest mob certainly has the credentials and I wish them luck. A pity this Government can't get on with doing the business first, then going after the sound-bites, second.

Broadband firms get go-ahead to ruin beauty spots. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2338257/Broadband-expansion-Fury-broadband-firms-ahead-ruin-beauty-spots-putting-cables-telephone-poles.html I thought they had been doing that for years? Or is this like the 'latest news' about security services gathering and sharing information? Which has also been going on for years; or centuries, actually.

Online banking: act quickly after transfer mistakes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22815716#

Using IMAP to access emails. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/advice/10106006/Using-IMAP-to-access-emails.html

Laugh of the century. MPs to quiz Americans on data snooping. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mps-to-quiz-americans-over-uks-role-in-email-spying-8650796.html This would be the same collection of political scrotes who gave a U.S. manufacturer of weapons of mass destruction the UK's last National Census to carry out, would it? And have awarded one public IT contract after another to American companies? In fact, it would be quicker to ask which official contract HASN'T gone to the Yanks; despite repeated late-delivery and over-budget underperformances which have cost the British taxpayer billions of £s. When perfectly competent British companies, gasping for work, have systematically been ignored, leading to large-scale unemployment which costs the country yet again, billions of £s.

If there is any 'quizzing' to be done then it's questions which need to be asked of our M.P.s to establish if they have any ideological (i.e. public school fag = Oxbridge = ex-KGB or CIA recruit/sleeper) or commercial interests in the contracts which have been awarded; or if they are simply so dangerously incompetent that in the country's best national interests, they should be sectioned under the 1975 Mental Health Act.

08.06.2013: Claims management companies to be named for breaking rules. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/08/cmcs-to-be-named-for-breaking-rules/

2.6 million drivers could face up to £1000 fines. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/07/2-6-million-drivers-could-face-1-000-fine/

Vodafone pays no UK corporation tax. Yet again. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22817704# Cue: huffin' and puffin' press release from Government's propagandashitewriters. Outcome: No change.

Banks to stop unfair overdraft fines. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337752/Banks-stop-unfair-payday-overdraft-fines-hit-customers-waiting-receive-money.html So what other scam will the banks introduce to compensate for ensuing losses?

Four ways that negotiation can boost your wealth. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/comment/10106101/Four-ways-that-negotiation-can-boost-your-wealth.html

Facebook makes ads look more like user posts. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/10105061/Facebook-makes-ads-look-more-like-user-posts.html The move has received the full approval of the Pentagon's Terrorist Development Unit. Little Engerlandt's rapid response corp(se), W.O.R.M. and the tabloids are to be fully briefed in July. 2018.

Wind farms are a complete scam, says Government Minister. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337466/Wind-farms-complete-scam-claims-Environment-Secretary-says-plans-turbines-causing-huge-unhappiness.html Yes, we all know that. (Apart from carrot-IQ plebs, of course.) It's been common knowledge for years. Aided and abetted as they have by politicians of all shades; and the media. Ditto for North Sea oil. And the internet. Next, fracking. And anything else new 'Da P.M.' gleans from his head-banging session with the Bilderberg Terrorist and Pleb-Milking Club this weekend.

£50 to queue-jump at Manchester Airport. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/07/50-to-queue-jump-at-manchester-airport/ Does our Wannabe-Prime-Minister-Of-Consummate-Incompetence-And-Propaganda, Theresa May, know about this little money-grubbing ruse? Because fast-tracking passengers (other than royalty and heads of state) and thus putting increased pressure on immigration and customs officers is a very good way of making it easier for 'terrorists' to slip into the country. (Especially murdering FBI and CIA nutters wearing wigs.) Let alone eroding the country's enshrined democratic and commercial principles of 'First come. First served'. Or does that particular rule only apply to bent and incompetent politicians these days?

13 Tips For Delivering A Memorable Presentation. (Article) http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/sbinformation/1370444400.htm

Latest Association Resource newsletter; international vacancies; news; etc. http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=1ec0948bb8a32e26fd201c2a9&id=64208650d4&e=cf9ae972da

07.06.2013: Freebie Friday. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/07/freebie-friday-this-weeks-discounts-deals-and-freebies/

Strong uplift in consumer spending. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/06/strong-uplift-in-consumer-spending/

10 Clever Ways People Make Money in Today's Economy. http://www.oddee.com/item_98576.aspx

The Hot 100 of the UK's rising business stars. http://realbusiness.co.uk/article/20078-the-hot-100-2013

Best joint bank accounts. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/07/the-best-joint-bank-accounts/

Sendmybag.com: beat budget airlines' rip-off baggage charges.

Fake Microsoft callers scamming thousands. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/microsoft/10103649/Fake-Microsoft-callers-scamming-thousands.html

How to become a business success; have a broad face. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2337229/How-success-business---make-sure-broad-face.html Buggrit. Game's up!

The Great Entrepreneurial divide. 90% of self-employed are in the north. AND they are more creative. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-2335247/The-North-South-divide-90-self-employed-hotspots-northern.html It seems the north is becoming a freelancers' hub although these statistics do make me wonder a tad. Some interesting 'comments' following the article include a post from someone in France (ostensibly) who says that 'self-employment' is a form of tax avoidance. Obviously from a 'parasite fonctionnaire' who belongs to that modern social sub-clique of despising business activity but constantly whining to be fed, watered, clothed and indulged by it. While contributing nothing to society in return, of course. It is a free world (apart from the U.S.) and if self-employment or business is such a profitable touch why don't freeloading bloodsuckers 'have a go' themselves? Then they can contribute 90% of their time and income to help make the world a better place. Historically however, this has not nor will it, ever happen because there are two, major requirements for successfull self-employment. A brain. And a work ethic. Qualities which bureaucrats simply don't possess.

A final thought. For all the charitable, voluntary work and sponsorhip I do, I almost never see a civil servant, a bureaucrat or a fonctionnaire amongst the volunteers. The helpers are invariably other members of the business community; retired folk; even single-parent mums wanting to make a modest contribution to a better future for their children - but just about NEVER a social parasite. Now why's that?

Co-op's Enterprise Hub acknowledged a success. http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/12583

FESPA Printing Exhibition, ExCel, 25 - 29 June 2013. http://fespa.me/interface/external_view_email.php?O910987357471253978487676443528

My Business Saver for best telecomms and broadband deals. (Ad.) http://www.mybusinesssaver.com/

06.06.2013: One-in-four would consider financing SMEs. http://www.enforbusiness.com/news/one-four-would-consider-financing-smes-20139860

More support for female entrepreneurs. http://www.enforbusiness.com/news/more-support-female-entrepreneurs-20139866

Letting spare rooms could net £69 billion. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/05/letting-spare-rooms-could-net-69bn/ It's always been our advice to people thinking about starting a 'home office' or home business that they should consider letting their spare room first and look elsewhere for bespoke, commercial premises. Many authorities these days offer business starter units with all-inclusive heating, lighting, reception, telephone-answering, basic furniture, high-speed broadband, meeting room, storage, etc, packages which can usually be a lot cheaper than setting up and running your affairs from home. It depends what kind of business you are in, obviously, but do beware of the old chestnut that a home business will inevitably be a 'cheap' option.

Younger shoppers driving increased British food sales. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/05/shoppers-seeking-out-british-food/ Good for them. We certainly can't rely on the older generation who are responsible for the whole mess in the first place.

Bank card thefts at ATMs have tripled in past year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22783910#

Facebook virus that empties your bank account. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/06/facebook-virus-that-empties-your-bank-account/

10 Bizarre Business Ideas That Made Millionaires. http://www.oddee.com/item_97180.aspx

Electric heating up by £282 a year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22781595#

Property prices have turned one-in-five Brits into 'paper' millionaires. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/houseprices/10099187/Property-prices-turn-one-in-five-middle-aged-workers-into-paper-millionaires.html Making Britain the richest, broke country in the world. Just after Greece.

'In the digital world we'll soon all be working for free - and I refuse'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/05/digital-economy-work-for-free

Graduate placement service. http://www.xlgraduateplacement.co.uk/index.php Seems like a keenly-priced service putting graduate-assisted projects even within the reach of home business budgets. On the other hand, although £400 a week doesn't seem like a lot of money to pay out for someone with experience and professional skills, it's far too much for someone who might turn out to be no more use than a tea boy. In fact, I've seen graduates who can't even do that.

I'd put my money on a school-leaver and train them up myself. That way you don't have to deal with someone who's got ideas above their station yet still needs to be 'trained up' anyway. Like the eminently newsworthy James Caan, for example. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/former-dragons-den-star-james-caan-takes-flight-after-awkward-start-to-internship-campaign-8645209.html

Online shoppers offered 5% extra cashback. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/10098969/Online-shoppers-offered-5pc-extra-cashback.html

10 cheap holiday alternatives. http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/travel/405267/Top-10-cheap-holiday-alternatives When I saw 'cheap alternatives' I thought we were going to see a list of British destinations. Mais, non. Au contraire. Anywhere but and including the region which sends 'millions' of illegal 'back door' Moldavian grannies to this country to steal our jobs and live off benefits. Not a very patriotic or logical choice for a Little Engerlandt tabloid, eh? Although propaganda hacks often labour under the misapprehension that working people get the same six-figure salaries they do and can afford to jet around all over the world to exotic destinations.

Myleene Klass wins Entrepreneur Award. http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/405358/Myleene-Klass-wins-Entrepreneur-Award Who on earth is Myleene Klass? What Entrepreneur Award? And no, the link doesn't help because it's yet another one of those 50-word tabloid 'articles' for plebs, which tells you absolutely nothing.

Professional auction series. http://www.proauction.ltd.uk/

How to protect your stay-at-home gadgets. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/features/how-to-protect-your-stayathome-gadgets-a-burglary-can-teach-you-important-lessons-about-security-8646452.html

Sussex - a British county to avoid. Fracking on the way. http://newint.org/blog/2013/06/05/balcombe-fracking-resistance-britain/?utm_medium=ni-email&utm_source=message&utm_campaign=-enews-2013-06-06 Apart from all the scientific and historical evidence against fracking, you can tell it's an opportunist scam above all because the English tabloids have got behind the idea and are giving it their full support. Still. It is one step up from promoting the murder of civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Mali and, fingers crossed, Turkey. Mebbe. In the meantime, if you're considering a house and/or business move to Sussex - then consider again.

In the meantime, the very best of luck to the local campaigners.

Local communities offered more say over wind farms. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22791815# Way to go. IF the offer ever sees fruition. A hopeful sign, though, putting Britain on the path towards democracy.

05.06.2013: Union chief warns of 'sweat-shop' Britain. UK http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/05/union-chief-warns-of-sweatshop-uk/ and Most publicans below minimum wage. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/05/most-publicans-below-minimum-wage/

Isn't this the nub of the problem, though? Relatively well-off salaried workers and their trade union barons peddle the old, traditional myths; Big Corp and big businesses sustain that myth; whereas, as always, the self-employed and small businesses in the middle get caned by the myth. Except it isn't a myth to them. It's reality. Unfortunately, despite their overwhelming numerical superiority, the self-employed have never joined forces to obtain a decent livelihood for themselves. It's always been a case of divided they stand; divided they fall. And that is exactly how successive governments have wanted things to stay.

Pension warning for self-employed. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/05/pension-warning-for-self-employed/ Now there's a coincidence. The problem is, who can you trust these days to look after your money and help it grow for the next fourty or fifty years and then continue to pay out for perhaps thirty years or so after that?!

UK construction sector returns to growth. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22768282#

Blacklisted construction workers seeking compensation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22766635#

Beware the passport rip-offs. (Including the official ones. Ed.) http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/04/beware-the-passport-rip-offs/

British booksellers seek curb on Amazon as French government promises 9 million euros to help its own traditional sellers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/04/british-booksellers-seek-amazon-curb Nice to see the French government being pro-active on this issue. Whereas of course, there is the usual, predictable whining on most forums from carrot-IQ plebs who are happy to see jobs sacrificed to keep down their costs: so that they can own two, Chinese-manufactured dummyphones; a tablet and a laptop from Taiwan; big flatscreen Korean telly to watch endless American repeats; a sub to Sky; three secondhand cars (one German, one Japanese, one South Korean) with French lo-profile tyres and East-European-manufactured big-bore exhausts; an American Pit Bull; eighteen tattoos and - four starving children. And have never heard of a library. Not having seen one mentioned on Britain's Got Talent. Or in Australian tabloid doppelganger, The Sun. (News International.)

Later, down at the French-cloned gastro-pub, having several drinks of Australian Fosters with the lads, the topic of conversation will be all those immigrants coming over stealing jobs and ruining British businesses with cut-price labour; and not being able to afford to take 'the kids' on holiday to Spain this year.

Yeah. Right.

'eBay's debt agency kept threatening me'. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/jessicainvestigates/10095661/eBays-debt-agency-kept-threatening-me.html

Hi-tech banking fuelling phobias. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/405062/Hi-tech-banking-fuels-our-phobias Like hate-preaching tabloids and the space they continue to give to the country's murderers, war criminals, crooks, religious and political freaks and pissheads, then?

Hunt is on for 900,000 people owed Premium Bond payouts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22773531#

Britain suffering highest food and energy inflation in the EU. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2336010/Britain-suffers-highest-food-energy-inflation-EU-crippling-squeeze-households-continues.html

Restaurant-goers should order smaller portions of chips to avoid waste. Says £30 million a year quango. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335828/Restaurant-goers-order-smaller-plates-chips-avoid-waste-Government-recycling-advisers-declare.html Leaving behind chips on plates has nothing to do with them tasting like cold, soggy shite, perhaps? I can't remember the last time I ate some decent chips even in supposedly 'quality' eateries; other than my own. The other problem of course, is getting decent potatoes for chips these days. Still, I'm sure our tax-dodging US multi-national food chains will be happy to oblige with even smaller portions.

04.06.2013: Family spending power at 12-month low. http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/12526

Bank lending continues to shrink. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22752201#

The surprising amount of cash in the attic. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/04/the-surprising-cash-in-the-attic/ Beats borrowing money from 'the Government' to start a little or home business - any day.

Councils should 'use business rate cuts to boost high street'. http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/news/new-business-rates-
regime-could-drive-new-wave-enterprise-communities-says-report Local authorities should use their new powers to reduce business rates under the Localism Act to help regenerate high streets, a new report by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK), 3Space and Meanwhile Space has said. The report makes several recommendations to councils, including establishing business rate policies that support social and economic value creation, sharing examples of policies with other local authorities, and introducing Social Enterprise Zones and Meanwhile Enterprise Zones ('meanwhile' refers to interim temporary use of vacant property). (EnterpriseQuest)

Talk about the blindingly obvious! Next steps: a £100,000-a-week consultation for twelve months. Book next year's team-building and inter-staff shagging junkets at £15,000 per executive. Continue to engage with property developers and large supermarket chains.

Council hounds inventor to death. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335172/Peter-Williams-Council-accused-hounding-inventor-death-relatives-bankrupt-sent-bailiffs-unpaid-tax.html Now that's what I'm talking about!

Call to level tax system between online and store-based retailers. http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2453 The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has set up a working group to examine the tax system for the rapidly-changing retail industry. BRC Chairman Ian Cheshire and Sainsbury's Chief Executive Justin King met with Danny Alexander, the Treasury Chief Secretary, in April to discuss the fact that online retailers pay less tax than high-street retailers. Director General of the BRC Helen Dickinson said: "The reality is that retail is a people- and property-intensive sector and, while the reduction in headline Corporation Tax is valuable, other taxes on both people and property have continued to rise." (EnterpriseQuest)

Just like U.S. proposals, then. Blindingly obvious yet again and only ten years late. Still, a good pretext to send some officially-appointed knob polishers over the pond to say 'Hi' to their superiors at the Pentagon. Followed by a press release in the tabloid propaganda that they've diligently stumbled across another American idea cum initiative.

'Don't help your child get a job', says Government's new 'social mobility' guru and Dragons' Den entrepreneur, James Caan. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10096836/New-Coaltion-social-mobility-tzar-James-Caan-tells-parents-Let-your-child-try-and-fail-before-trying-to-help.html That's handy. One way of addressing the youth unemployment issue and which will helpfully, push the increasingly desperate ones towards self-employment and a Government Start-Up Loan. Which Mr Caan is also 'in charge' of. (Under 25s lack financial skills. http://www.express.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/404538/Under-25s-lack-financial-skill ABSOLUTELY perfect.)

It could generally be good news for the country, though. If, without the customary introductions from Daddy, inbred, public-school educated fags don't end up in politics, banking or the media any more.

In the meantime, news of James Caan's employment of his own daughters has rapidly hit the news. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/james-caan-in-row-over-jobs-for-daughters--after-telling-parents-not-to-unfairly-help-children-8643709.html Once again, hypocrisy and double standards which are a perfect fit for our clueless yet cynical, current government.

Germany to recruit Britain's brightest apprentices. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335479/Germany-recruit-British-apprentices-Work-study-offer-lure-brightest-youngsters.html If it's not Germany, it's Canada; or Australia. Leaving behind the product of parental and educational failure for the Government's new social mobility, celebrity 'Tsar' to deal with. And British businesses with no other choice than recruiting East Europeans; and another government 'guru' to whom the media yet again, award a Russian title.

Leading cheddar-maker abandons business due to rising costs and supermarket competition. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/cheddar-maker-to-abandon-cheese-business-due-to-rising-price-of-milk-and-supermarket-competition-8642946.html Not to worry. The arms business is increasingly looking up now the Turkish Spring has started; that Syrian investment is paying off nicely.

'Meat is a treat' says M.P. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/meat-is-a-treat--mps-advice-to-the-public-as-global-food-shortages-loom-8643029.html Perhaps it would help if we could eat culled badger, instead? So. Never mind being seen behind the steering wheel of a new Roller. A successful business-person's bling for the future will be a Tesco carrier bag with a half-a-pound of diced Neddy. Luvverly.

And the farmers say . . . http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2335424/Eat-meat-face-food-shortage-Nannying-MPs-astonishing-warning-unhelpful-say-farmers.html 'Unhelpful', eh? I bet that's been sanitised a bit!

Not to worry. With an annual taxpayer subsidy of over £5 million, the House of Commons eaterie and 13,000 or so passholders should be able to continue lending our meat producers a hand. We can all keep an eye on the menus here: http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/foi-responses/foi-disclosures-2012/foi-disclosures-july---september-2012-/house-of-commons-restaurants-and-bars/

Help at last for internet addiction. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10093011/Help-at-last-for-the-addicts-enslaved-by-the-internet.html I see a good home business opportunity here. An online counselling service for internet addiction. (Just as the Government is making internet access for all its public services, mandatory.)

Create your digital brochure for just £5. (ad.) http://www.pagetiger.com/?ORID=1466

Scanning and cloud document storage service. (ad.) http://www.ukdocumentscanningservices.co.uk/Scanning-and-Cloud-Storage.htm?dm_i=1O49,1IARA,99W2NX,54NWA,1

NLP Diploma Course, London, Module One: 23-24 July, Module Two: 20-21 August. (ad.) http://www.vievolve.com/what-we-do/nlp-accreditation/diploma/

Trek Uganda 2014 (see the mountain gorillas), last few places available. http://action4charity.co.uk/interface/external_view_email.php?C9182008908830159659415366363815 Something every student should do during their gap year/s. Especially Oxbridge louts.

03.06.2013: Copycat firms fooling the public with Google's help. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334861/Copycat-firms-fool-public--Googles-help-Rogue-websites-pay-names-appear-search-results.html I think everyone is agreed that Google needs to put its house in order; from tax evasion to kiddy porn to the moving goalposts for SEO. For many years, a simple search in our sector of 'home business' would reveal mainly useful websites and information. Today, it's mainly vacuous rubbish, endless insurance products and scams.

Tesco Mobile leads for customer satisfaction. http://www.internationalsupermarketnews.com/news/12545

BT increases costs for line rental. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/03/bt-increases-costs-for-line-rental/

About affiliate marketing (articles). http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/onlinebusiness/1369839600.htm

Italian workers occupy their factory to start their own business. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/how-being-laid-off-paid-off-for-italian-car-workers-8641347.html

Micro-trend: monogramming. http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/galleries/TMG10089806/Micro-trend-Monogramming.html

Sell council homes on eBay, say M.P.s. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/03/sell-council-homes-on-ebay-say-mps/ To encourage people to 'engage digitally', apparently. Which I am sure, is a major priority for council-house tenants. As is same-sex marriage.

On the other hand, barely has the media outcry died down over American Big Corp avoiding their moral obligations to our taxman and hard-pressed taxpayers, when lo and behold, a ragbag of half-wits comes up with a suggestion like this. I suppose there aren't any British online estate agents? Of course there are! Many of them home businesses, too. Although I doubt our M.P.s will have been sitting down to discreet meetings with any of those.

Question is, will our duly elected idiots give away British jobs and business faster than 'illegal immigrants' can take them? So what's the next cunning plan? Change the national anthem from 'God Save The Queen' to 'Fag For America'?

Royal Mail just misses its First Class target. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/06/03/first-class-post-target-missed/ Yes, but that missed target is where my cheque is . .

University of Essex Business School, event calendar. http://www.essex.ac.uk/ebs/bmt/calendar.aspx

02.06.2013: Avon leading direct sales surge during recession. http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/404387/Avon-leads-direct-sales-surge-during-recession Not a surprise. Despite its long history of success, direct selling is a much-overlooked business activity. First port of call for anyone interested in further information is the Direct Selling Association: http://dsa.org.uk/index.php

France worse off than 1970s Britain. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/10093809/France-worse-off-than-UK-in-the-1970s-Axa-chief.html Great news. Everything's gonna be OK, then.

People using social networks can't spell. So wot? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/10092151/People-on-Twitter-cant-spell.-So-wot.html A fundamental premise of British education, too. Which, as we can all see, is so successful at preparing our yoof for life as socially responsible, happy and productive adults. Innit?

Many moons ago I ran a specialised technical translation agency, and although China was the country with which we did the most business, my largest, single client by far was an internationally renown German company which produced turnkey, automated production solutions. For a couple of years, I and a team of translators and proofreaders, worked almost permanently for this customer.

However, before any work was signed off, I had to sit down with the German Technical Director and go through a final proofing, word-for-word. At that stage, as if my fifteen years of professional language experience and qualifications in those days wasn't enough, (although 'qualifications' don't count for much in commercial translating) I appreciated still more that no matter how good I thought I was, this man, even working into a language which wasn't his mother-tongue, was better still. I was also extremely sensitive to the fact that if every aspect of the work I wanted to be paid for wasn't perfect - and I mean PERFECT - it would have to be done again. And that there wouldn't be a 'next time' for more business in the future.

The fact that the modern world of internet business gurus and associated jockeys still can't make money, despite all their latest technology and trends, would suggest that it might be an idea to revert to basics again; to remember that people who run big ticket businesses, not unreasonably, recognise and expect the very highest standards of work before parting with their money. And aren't even going to think about approaching some idle, unprofessional slob who can't reed and rite there own langwidge.

(And before any smart-alec points out the errors in my own daily grammatical output, I blame the French. And the internet. And if it's good enough for the 'papers, it's good enough for me. And, I can't be arsed any more.)

Contactless payment technology being exploited by thieves. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2334468/How-30million-wi-fi-credit-cards-plundered-cyber-identity-thieves-exploiting-contactless-payment-technology.html Not just the banks, then?

London shortlisted for Gay Games. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/404258/Olympic-spirit-could-be-returning-to-London-after-city-is-shortlisted-for-Gay-Games 'Homosexual' Games is a better term, I think. 'Gay' is a much-abused, old-fashioned English word meaning 'happy' and as I know a few homosexuals both as friends and running businesses, especially in France, 'happy' is the last thing they are at the moment.

On the other hand, with Westminster already well established as the Bent Political Fag Centre Of The World I can't imagine anywhere on this planet as a more appropriate venue. Other than Tel-Aviv. For at least 10,000 stand-up comics as well as English public schools, business has suddenly picked up.

Record numbers of Argentinians visiting Britain. (Despite Engerlandt's hate-preaching tabloids.) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333993/Argentina-invades-Britain-Record-numbers-tourists-spend-100million-UK-despite-renewed-tensions-Falkands.html I'm surprised Theresa May's bumbling brownshirts haven't yet slapped visa restrictions on visiting Argentinians. In the interests of continuity and consistency with other visiting nationals like the Chinese - who we haven't even had a 'war' with; not in living memory.

'A home should be a right, not a business', says Spanish official. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22701384 Take cover for a new and massive influx of clueless Brits with little or no money. Plus English criminals fleeing the police and embarrassingly lavish praise from judges.

01.06.2013: 46% rise in illegal fuel 'pop-up' garages. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22716007# That's the entrepreneurial spirit for you; even if driven by necessity, probably, rather than the usual corporate greed.

Top Ten summer pubs; 2-for-1 lunch deals. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2013/may/31/top-10-summer-pubs-england-wales

Guardian Masterclasses newsletter sign-up for courses for business start-ups (or just new skills). http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian-masterclasses/signup/newsletter-sign-up Calendar: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian-masterclasses/masterclasses-calendar

Trending: personalised luxury. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/10091649/High-rollers-flyers-and-floaters-welcome-to-bespoke-Britain.html It doesn't have to be just about Rollers and floaters. I know a home-based jewellery business which is doing very nicely from high end commission jewellery at the moment; and my plumber fitted out a bathroom with gold-plated accessories last year. A first for him. Wealthy people fall into two, distinct groups, in my experience. Those who are discreet and have style. And those who are wealthy but have absolutely no style or class whatsoever and are as cras as their botoxed face-jobs. Fortunately for us, it's all money just the same.

eBay blocks $100,000 auction for place in heaven. http://www.aol.co.uk/video/ebay-pulls-auction-for-spot-in-heaven-after-bids-reach-nearly-100000/517800626/ Oh... My... God... Awesome.

Well - what do you expect from a country with a 4-word vocabulary and space missions manned by monkeys? (Mind you, tattoed Essex slappers are catching up fast.)

Smile and keep your customer. http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/05/30/smile-and-keep-your-customer/

Renewed problems for NatWest banking app. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22727075#

Green construction key to growth. http://www.enforbusiness.com/news/green-construction-key-growth-20139835 I seem to remember the same thing being said about the internet. Twenty years ago.

Are drones the future of delivery? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2333741/Are-DRONES-future-delivery-US-firm-plans-vast-network-deliver-drugs-post.html Another step towards a full-blown Orwellian 1984; another step toward further mass-unemployment; another step towards reduced business opportunities for the little man. I can see it coming, though. With bent politicians' rates for questions in the House of Many Windows down to just £4000, there is little hope left. It used to be £10,000 + and ministers only. Nowadays, each and every Jack and Jill Shite MP thinks they have a commercial value and wants to appear on I'm A Celebrity Monkey.

£1 million start-up competition launched. http://www.enforbusiness.com/news/million-pound-startup-competition-launched-20139838

Dragons' Den businesswomen a turn-off for young, aspiring female entrepreneurs. http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/404055/Dragons-fire-dampens-spirit-for-budding-female-entrepreneurs Well now, I always thought Dragons' Den was a turn-off for ANY aspiring businessfolk.

With our usual gratitude and thanks to BAD News and Cobweb Info.

Len Tondel

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eBOSS June 2013 contents:

Introduction: 25% HBA Member discount from Businesses For Sale.

AIMS for Home Business Alliance members:

Pick of the News:
Rural broadband funding deadline extended; New measures to allow premises to change use; Copying of designs to be criminalised; Contactless payments on the increase; Social media agencies expected to vanish within ten years; Not enough small builders approved for Green Deal; Agriculture industry income slides, research shows; Rising food prices impact restaurants’ profit margins; Catering sector growth hindered by bureaucracy; Digital technology funding announced in Scotland

'Gone to India . . .' by Rachael Ross and the 'How To Work Successfully From Home Guide'.
Rachael's June Guest Article: How To Successfully Run A Home Business With Children

Tax and VAT News
FREE! 101 Insider Business Tax Tips
Tax cheats - where are we now?; HMRC guidance - can it be relied on?
Tax Relief For Home To Work Travel - article
HMRC VAT car and van update; HMRC help business cash flow; 'HMRC launch online tax help for small businesses'; Making money from a hobby; etc, etc
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A Crocodile In Canterbury For Creativity by Colin Edwards

Lean Start-Up 101

How To Keep Your Customers Coming Back

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