Almost everyone knows somebody with a business idea they've been talking about for years.

 Here's why starting small, finding real customers and testing demand can be more valuable than months of planning.

Taking a holiday sounds straightforward until you're the person who answers every enquiry, handles every problem and keeps the business running.

A humorous look at switching off and making time away possible.
Short summary

The flights are booked, but the business still needs you.

Discover why taking time off can be difficult for small business owners and what can make the next holiday a little more relaxing.

Independent businesses don't need to pretend they're enormous to appear professional.

A humorous look at corporate language, exaggerated branding and why customers may prefer a business that sounds like itself.

From mysterious references to “our team” to corporate jargon nobody understands, small businesses sometimes hide their best qualities behind big-company language.

Competing on price can attract customers, but being the cheapest isn't always the best business strategy.

 Here's how independent businesses can communicate their value and make pricing decisions with more confidence.

There's always somebody willing to charge less.

Learn how to explain what makes your business different, attract customers who value your work and avoid competing on price alone.

arge businesses have technology and scale on their side. Independent businesses can offer familiarity, flexibility and human service.

Here's how to turn those strengths into reasons customers choose you.

You don't need to match a national company's marketing budget to compete.

Being approachable, responsive and memorable can give customers compelling reasons to choose a smaller business.

Meetings can solve problems, build relationships and help teams make decisions.

They can also swallow an entire morning without achieving very much. Here's how to tell the difference.

Before booking another meeting, ask whether anyone actually needs to be there.

A cheeky look at workplace meetings and how to make them earn their place.

Businesses spend plenty of time looking for new customers, but their regulars can reveal what really works.

 From repeat bookings to recommendations, here's why paying attention to existing customers can uncover opportunities.

wo businesses don't need to compete to benefit from the same customers.

 From cafés and retailers to accountants and tradespeople, clever local partnerships can open doors that advertising alone may not.

Your next customer may already trust another local business.

Here's how introductions, recommendations and simple collaborations can help both businesses grow.

Airbnb began with an unconventional idea: offering paying guests somewhere to sleep in somebody else's home.

Its early story offers a lesson for entrepreneurs who have an idea nobody quite understands yet.

Some business ideas sound absurd until somebody proves customers want them.

Airbnb's beginnings show why solving a real problem can matter more than sounding impressive.

Every business has something that absolutely must keep working.

From café fridges to delivery vans, here's why small warning signs deserve attention  and how a simple backup plan can save a working day.

Some job adverts read like a wish list for a superhero.

But the best candidate might be the person who doesn't tick every box.

 Here's how businesses can rethink recruitment without lowering their standards.

A prime Cambridge address sounds like the dream, but some businesses may do better somewhere less obvious.

 From destination shopping to appointment-only services, here's how to make location work in your favour.

Too many business adverts are full of impressive-sounding promises that tell customers almost nothing.

Here's why clear, specific messages beat another photograph of people shaking hands.

Your advert might be reaching hundreds of people.

That doesn't mean anyone understands it, remembers it or wants to click.

A packed restaurant looks like a successful business.

But once food, wages, rent, energy and all the other costs are paid, a busy Saturday night can tell a very different story.

Businesses are buying AI tools to save time, but some are discovering that generating work is easier than finishing it.

Is AI genuinely making the working week shorter?

Customers are calling, orders are coming in and the diary is full.

So why does the business bank account still look so miserable?

We examine the gap between sales, profit and cash.