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The Knowledge - The Resource - Finance

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 » Accounting
 » Business angels and venture capitalists
 » Business plans
 » Grants and bursaries
 » Insolvency help
 » Loans
 » Merchant services providers


Compare quotes
Wouldn't it be nice to save yourself the hassle of going out to the market to get comparison quotes for finance products? Wouldn't it be great if you could go to just one website and get the three best quotes on the market for what you want. Well, Better Business brings you this facility. Find the three best finance quotes at the touch of a button for:
  • Business loans;
  • Asset finance;
  • Car leasing;
  • Trade finance;
  • Business credit cards;
  • Commercial mortgages;
  • Buy-to-let mortgages;
  • Factoring;
  • Invoice discounting.
W: Click here to compare rates

Accounting

Be Paid On Time
Helps businesses to be paid on time every time.
W: www.Bepaidontime.co.uk
Better Payment Practice Group
Organisation set up to reduce late payment of commercial debt; offers information on how to get paid on time.
W: www.payontime.co.uk
Cranleys
Accountancy services and fact sheets.
W: www.cranleys.co.uk
Factoring Helpline
Factoring and cash-flow solutions.
W: www.factoringhelpline.co.uk
Finance Management Development
Free resource on financial management development, includes downloadable documents.
W: www.financialmanagementdevelopment.com
Just Claim
This site aims to provide a simple and straight-forward guide to taking someone to court. It also contains links to the resources, for example, forms and court leaflets, that you are most likely to need when making a claim.
W: www.justclaim.co.uk
Pay Prompt Limited
Offers several programs that offer an online satisfcation survey as well as payment reminders.
W: www.payprompt.co.uk
Small Business Finance Tips
Information on all areas of small business financing, including effective business plannaing and sourcing of business grants.
W: www.smallbusinessfinancetips.com

Business angels and venture capitalists

Beer & Partners
Specialists in private equity for firms seeking between £100,000 to £2,000,000. It has offices across the country and regularly holds Investor Presentations where their clients can meet directly with investors.
Master's Yard, South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2ES, UK
T: 08701 633 033
F: 08701 633 044
W: www.beerandpartners.com
Business Link
Advice is available to businesses to help them improve the performance of their business through best practice projects, together with funding advice
W: www.businesslink.gov.uk
British Business Angels Association
This brings together companies seeking investment with investors looking for the right opportunity.
New City Court, 20 St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RS
T: 020 7089 2305
F: 020 7089 2301
E: liz@bbaa.org.uk
W: www.bbaa.org.uk
British Venture Capital Association
Official body representing the majority of venture capital and private equity in the UK. They publish a booklet on all their members plus some information on what kind of venture capital they offer.
3 Clements Inn, London WC2A 2AZ, UK
T: 020 7025 2950
W: www.bvca.co.uk
Cadmus
A corporate finance house for small and medium sized business. Company disposals corporate finance advice, acquisitions, refinancing, management buy-ins, company grooming management buy-outs, The HSBC UK Enterprise Fund for the South East.
T: 01273 835 455
W: www.thecadmusorganisation.ltd.uk
Community Development Finance Association (CDFA)
The cdfa is the trade association for Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are sustainable, independent financial institutions that provide capital and support to enable individuals or organisations to develop and create wealth in disadvantaged communities or under-served markets.
Room 101, Hatton Square Business Centre, 16 Baldwins Gardens,London EC1N 7RJ
T: 020 7430 0222
F: 020 7430 2112
E: info@cdfa.org.uk
W: www.cdfa.org.uk
Development Capital Exchange (DCX)
DCX is for business people and their advisors to exchange news of private equity, joint venture, strategic alliance and merger opportunities at the SME and middle-market level. They are an information exchange only and do not get involved in individual transactions.
PO Box 75, Leominster, HR6 8WZ, UK
T: 0870 742 0998
E: ceo@dcxworld.com
W: www.dcxworld.com
Entrust
A business angels network for companies established or setting up in the North-East.
W: www.entrust.co.uk
Finance Wales
This exists to help small and medium sized businesses in Wales to realise their true potential for innovation and growth. It can improve your access to both funding and support.
Oakleigh House, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3DQ, Wales.
T: 0800 587 4140
F: 029 2033 8101
E: info@financewales.co.uk
W: financewales.co.uk
Find your ideal business partner
Business partner online matchmaking service.
W: www.findyouridealbusinesspartner.com
Great Eastern Investment Forum
GEIF links early stage companies seeking capital with business angels.
W: www.geif.co.uk
North West Regional Development Agency
Responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest.
W: www.nwda.co.uk
Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network.
Links investors and entrepeneurs.
W: www.oion.co.uk
Prelude Ventures
A leading early stage, technology-focused venture capital company.
W: www.prelude-ventures.com
Solent Investment Opportunity Network
A service to early stage companies and private investors in the Solent area.
W: www.solenthub.co.uk
South West Investment Group
South West Investment Group - SWIG – is the largest provider of complementary loan finance to small and medium sized businesses in the South West.
W: www.southwestinvestmentgroup.co.uk
Strategy Consulting
Claims to have direct access to the largest business angel network in Europe, worth up to £3m.
W: www.strategy.nildram.co.uk
Triodos Match Ltd
Links businesses which need capital with people who have capital.
W: www.triodos.co.uk
Trinity Venture Capital
SME's in North Manchester can get subsidised consultancy to increase growth and competitiveness.
W: www.tvc.com
Venture Capital Report Ltd
VCR Directory Online is a searchable database of information on 3,000 investors in unquoted businesses across Europe and Israel including business angels, venture capital firms, private equity houses, secondary fund managers and corporate venturers.
W: www.vcrdirectory.co.uk
Venture Site
Not-for-profit UK matchmaking for business angels and entrepreneurs.
W: www.venturesite.co.uk
Unlimited
Social entrepreneur awards. If you can demonstrate commitment to projects that benefit your community, you may be eligible for practical and financial support.
W: www.www.unltd.co.uk
Xenos
The Wales business angels network.
W: www.xenos.co.uk

Business plans

Business Plans
Are you trying to develop a business plan that will get the attention of a bank or investor?
W: www.fundedplans.com
Equity Link
Dedicated to finding, understanding and building successful businesses.
W: www.equitylink.co.uk
First Tuesday
Global e-commerce network.
W: www.firsttuesday.com
PlanWare
Freeware and shareware for compiling financial projections for new and existing businesses.
W: www.planware.org/freeware

Grants and bursaries

Grants and funding for the new or small businesses depend very much on the geographical area in which you run your business, as well as the type of business you operate or intend to.

Talk to your local Business Link (or national equivalent) advisors. See under Business Advice.
Grant Aid Services
Helps businesses obtain grants for capital projects, research and development and overseas joint ventures - both from UK sources and those of the European Union. It operates on a contingency basis - no grant - no fee!
Clarendon House, Bridle Path, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 1UB, UK
T: 01923 239 543
F: 01923 239 643
E: jmb@grantaid.demon.co.uk
W: www.grantaid.com
Grant Net
Find grants via this online grants directory.
W: www.grantnet.com
Employers Training Pilot
If you need to cover the costs of covering employees jobs while they are away being trained the Learning and Skills Council can provide finance.
W: www.etpprofitfromskills.org
Enterprise Advisory Service International
Offers access to funding for start-ups, established small and medium size firms, corporate and inward investing multinationals.
4 Sussex Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO5 3EX, UK
T: 02392 875 761
E: enquiries@govgrantsglobal.com
W: www.govgrantsglobal.com
J4b
Free to SMEs, J4b helps businesses everywhere of every shape and size find out about any grants, soft loans and awards for business, whether EU, National, Regional or local.
Its website is continually updated and its goal is to provide SMEs with a transparent, honest interface between grant applicants and grant providers.
W: www.j4b.co.uk
Local Investment Fund
Provides finance to social and community enterprises that have been unable to source finance from traditional sources.
W: www.lif.org.uk
North West Equity Fund
North West Equity Fund for business growth, buy-ins and buy-outs for businesses in the North West.
W: www.nwef.co.uk
Prince's Youth Business Trust
Helps young people who are unemployed, under-employed or of limited means, aged between 18 and 30, to develop confidence, learn new skills and get into work. It offers a Development Award Grant of £50 - £500. Grants can be used for buying equipment, find childcare or help developing new skills. Based in London with regional offices around the UK.
18 Park Square East, London NW1 4LH, UK
T: 0800 842 842
F: 020 7543 1200
W: www.princes-trust.org.uk

Insolvency help

Help
Insolvency, liquidation and business turnaround advice for directors.
W: www.help.co.uk
Business debt line
Sponsored by the major High Street banks, Business Debtline is a free, confidential and independent helpline for people who have cashflow and debt problems. They also have a list of excellent Golden Rules for when you are in financial difficulty, as well as a sample letter to send to creditors.
T: 0800 197 6026
W: www.bdl.org.uk
Debt Help UK
Explain your situation and find out the right solution for you. Talk to their panel of recommended experts over the phone, via e-mail or even ask them to visit you, to help you find the right solution for you.
T: 0800 0789 056
W: www.debt-help-uk.org.co.uk
K2 Partners
Business rescue and finance.
T: 0870 922 0420
W: www.rescue.co.uk
The MacDonald Partnership
The MacDonald Partnership specialises in business turnarounds of financially distressed businesses. Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1HQ
T: 020 7496 1010
F: 020 7374 8341
E: info@tmp.co.uk
W: www.tmp.co.uk
R3
R3, the Association of Business Recovery Professionals, is the leading professional association for insolvency, business recovery and turnaround specialists in the UK. It promotes best practice for professionals working with financially troubled individuals and businesses.
8th Floor, 120 Aldersgate Street, London, EC1A 4JQ
T: 020 7566 4200
F: 020 7566 4224
E: association@r3.org.uk
W: www.r3.org.uk
UK Advice
Free advice on small business bankruptcy, collections, bankruptcy law, credit problems, director disqualifications, consumer bankruptcy and criminal prosecution in UK. The company is working within a broad range of industries including manufacturing, retail, distribution, high tech and real estate.
Naylor Parkes Associates Ltd, Lawford House, Lawford Close, Birmingham, B7 4HJ, West Midlands,United Kingdom.
T: 0845 430 7676
W: www.ukadvice.com

Loans

Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme (SFLGS)
The SFLGS allows High Street banks to lend money to new or existing businesses that have a viable business plan, but lack the personal or business assets necessary to secure normal borrowing. The Government guarantees the lending bank against default by the borrower. Contact your bank for more information.

Merchant services providers

Ask your own bank for more information and the services they offer.
Barclays EPDQ
W: www.epdq.co.uk
e-clear
W: www.eclear.net
HSBC Secure ePayments
W: www.hsbc.co.uk
Metacharge
W: www.metacharge.com
Netbanx
W: www.netbanx.co.uk
NoChex
W: www.nochex.co.uk
Planet Payment
W: www.planetpayment.com
Protx
W: www.protx.com
Raise Finance
Asset Finance Broker.
W: www.raisefinance.co.uk
Realex Payments
W: www.realexpayments.com
Rosebud Fund
If you are based in Lancashire, the Rosebud Fund provides loans and equity finance from 5K-500K.
W: www.lcdl.co.uk
SecPay
W: www.secpay.com
Secure Trading
W: www.securetrading.com
Skypay
W: www.skypay.co.uk
Web-Merchant
W: www.web-merchant.co.uk
WorldPay
W: www.worldpay.com

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