Business Focus >>

Leading the homeworking revolution, we profile 30 of Britain's brightest entrepreneurs who run their businesses from home and say it's more than a lifestyle benefit - it's a competitive advantage too.

• Sales & marketing
  A great sales team is the engine of your business. A great marketing plan and strategy is their fuel. This sales and marketing section provides stories, leads and ideas for your sales management team. It also contains loads of marketing tips from successful entrepreneurs – from their approach to marketing communications, network marketing, consumer and business to business marketing. For even more material about online business sales and marketing, try our internet business section.
• Leadership
  Leadership is one of the great skills of a successful entrepreneur. In this section, there’s loads of material on leadership styles and leadership development. Can you improve your own leadership qualities? How do you spot future leaders and give them the right training? And, for one last time: what’s the difference between management and leadership?
• Business technology
  Our business technology section is about making IT work better for your business. You’ll find stories about companies innovating with technology, improving their business communication, as well as advice and tips on buying, using and optimising all the tools of business technology – software, hardware and telecoms. Business technology is at the heart of all successful businesses today – so keep your competitive edge sharpened!
• Employment
  Employment law – and carrying out good employment practices – can give entrepreneurs some of their biggest headaches. It shouldn’t have to be so. From screening and checking employment applications, using employment agencies, offering part-time or flexible employment policies, as well as keeping up with all the changes in employment law, this section has it all.
• Internet business
  Internet business is today’s growth business. Here’s how. Our internet business section is for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business via the internet. (And who doesn’t?) The dark arts of internet business marketing – such as search engine optimisation and e-mail marketing – are covered, as are the issues around internet sales, fulfilment and security.
• Finance and banking
  Our finance and banking section covers all aspects of business finance. Read about entrepreneurs making the best use of business loans and grants. If you are buying or selling a business, or preparing your business for sale, then you’ll find tons of relevant corporate finance advice and stories here. We also discuss business banking services, leasing and finance for cars, equipment and other assets, as well as new services in internet business banking. If you want to read more about finance and banking, then visit our sister site www.realfd.net - the web site for finance directors.
• Business franchise
  This is our in-depth look at the franchise business. Who is providing real franchise opportunities? How can you grow your business using the franchise model? Which business sectors are providing new opportunities for a franchise?
• Corporate governance
  Corporate governance sounds dull. But it isn’t. Good corporate governance can be the difference between success and failure. Our corporate governance section deals with key issues such as board appointments, non-executive directors, business ethics and running effective board meetings. Corporate governance is about having a well-run business – and we all want that, don’t we?
• Office space
  Office space, as the title suggests, is a really functional section. From your office desk, chairs and supplies, to office rents and rates, to finding a new office for your business, it’s all here. We also look at the serviced and virtual office space providers – do they have the right office space for your business as it grows?
• International business
  International business is the section for the global entrepreneur. The internet, the growing European market, and the rise of India and China, mean that many more companies now have to be an international business. So, from export and import to business travel, our international business section has advice and material to grow your business across the world.
• Business education
  Here’s our real business school. Business education focuses on the details – how to write good business letters – and the best business writing that’s been published. We look at formal business education and how it can help you and your management team. Maybe there is no better business education than actually running a company, but a little extra learning won’t hurt.
• Business woman
  Few publications promote the successful business woman as much as we do. For example, we hold several of the UK’s top business woman awards – the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, the First Women Awards, the Women of the Future Awards. Here, though, you’ll find our Business Woman gallery, with stories and biographies from many of the country’s most successful businesswomen. So, if you’re a business woman looking for inspiration, recognition and a great network, look no further.
• Family business
  The family business is at the heart of the UK economy. And what makes a successful family business isn’t just a great marketing strategy, sound finance, or great products. There are distinctive issues that a family business must face. Inter-generational succession can cripple a family business. Tax and trust issues can be the tail that wags a family business dog. That’s why we have this special section. And, after all, two brothers are co-founders and directors of this company, so do we qualify as a family business?
• Carbon footprint
  Is your carbon footprint oversized? Here you will find our carbon footprint calculator and other carbon footprint tests. There are stories for entrepreneurs about how they have reduced their personal carbon footprint. In fact, there are more carbon footprints here than Robinson Crusoe could shake a stick at.
• Entrepreneur profiles & lists
  A section with lots of profiles of many famous entrepreneurs. The Branson CV? A brief biography of Stelios? You’ll find them here. And there are lots of lists of entrepreneurs. We all like lists – the rich list, the best list, the worst list. Plus famous quotes about entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, and for entrepreneurs. And among the profiles and lists, we answer one big question: Enterpreneur? Enterprenuer? Enterpeneur? Entrepeneur? Entreprenuer? Enterpenuer? Why can’t we spell “entrepreneur”? Why did we need a French word?
• How to...
  Do business in China. How to sack your staff. How to do business in India. How to whip your sales force into shape. How to do business with the French. Every month, we compile a new "27 ways." Actually, it could be "27 things" or "27 lessons". You get the picture. And each one is compiled from the experiences of entrepreneurs. So join in. Add your comment. Be quoted in our next "27 ways" - here and in Real Business magazine. This is our ultimate “how to” guide.
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