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Traditionally, small business owners have relied on banks to give them small business loans and lines of credit to manage operational costs and invest in growth.
However, in recent years, the finance industry has evolved and gone in new directions; there are now many options open to small business owners that are looking for working capital.
Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether a bank or online lender is the best source for your small business loan:
Since the financial crisis of 2008, banks have been slow to resume lending to small businesses and lending hasn't reached the levels achieved before the crash. This is partly due to regulatory obligations - many big banks are required to keep more capital on their books and they are reducing the amount they lend to small businesses as a result.
Some banks are also reluctant to lend the smaller amounts of money that many small businesses prefer to borrow - so as a result, there is a funding gap in the market; many business owners want a size of loan that big banks are not willing to make.
The past few years have also seen significant growth in the fintech industry - with new technologies being developed to make financial services more efficient.
By using these new technologies, online lenders are becoming more efficient in evaluating borrowers and issuing small business loans with automated processes. For example, instead of looking at credit scores like a traditional bank, online lenders can use different types of data such as social media activity, logistics information and online sales totals to decide whether a business is credit-worthy.
Fintech has helped online lenders reduce costs and offer loans to a broader pool of start-ups and small businesses that might not have qualified for a loan under the traditional standards of bank lending.
The traditional process for getting a small business loan involves going to the bank, meeting with a loan officer and filling out paperwork. Online lenders offer a more streamlined, convenient process to help small business owners get quick decisions about their loan application, with no paperwork required.
Small business owners don't need to feel limited to the standards and expectations of the bank lending process. Today, more than ever, small business owners have options to get the working capital that they need to help their businesses grow.
Sponsored post. Copyright © 2016 Kabbage Online Small Business Loans.
You wouldn't believe how angry some of the entrepreneurs and business owners we deal with get about customers that won't pay their bills. Well, perhaps you would!
If you've experienced a customer that's given you the run-around on payment you'll know just how infuriating it can be. After all, there's plenty at stake - even highly profitable firms can be put out of business when the cash stops flowing.
Social media has transformed how easy it is to make it public just how annoyed you are with a customer who isn't paying their bills. I have seen a fair bit of discussion online about naming and shaming of late paying clients in recent months, but is it really such a good idea?
Trevor Tierney, a sole trader, obviously thinks so. He was so annoyed by late paying customers that he set up a website (called 60 days.com) where you can name and shame customers. For a small fee you can log in and report a late-paying offender, and have a look to see who else is there on the list.
Going public with your feelings about your customer might make you feel a bit better - and you could even see it as a public service to help make other business owners aware - but I strongly believe that you should keep your grievances to yourself. There are far better ways to work behind the scenes and bring in the payment, and there are good reasons not to wash your dirty linen in public.
First, there may be a good reason why your customer has not paid you. They may not have received your invoice or there may be some errors on it that they haven't told you about. How embarrassing would it be to go public, only to discover that there was a reasonable explanation after all?
Secondly, you might open yourself up to legal action by dishing the dirt on your customer. Lesley Kemp, a freelancer from Milton Keynes, tweeted about a Qatari client that had not paid her. As reported on BBC news recently, she was hit with a legal claim of £120k for defamation.
Thirdly, you risk harming your own reputation. Would you want to do business with a company that takes to Twitter or Facebook every time it has a disagreement with its customers?
I do not advocate naming and shaming your debtors. I believe it is almost certain to annoy them and lower your chances of collecting an overdue invoice. If you have a problem with an overdue invoice, why not look for professional outside help instead?
Copyright © 2016 Samantha White, ceo at My Credit Controllers, outsourced credit control and business debt collection specialists.
Virgin Media hosted what it called its "judges reveal" on Google Hangouts last week for the 2016 Virgin Media Business VOOM awards.
And what a reveal it was. Joining Richard Branson and Virgin Media Business managing director Peter Kelly are top-model-turned-businesswoman Tyra Banks, Spanx founder Sara Blakely and vlogger Marcus Butler.
The Hangout provided a chance for the judges to offer their top tips for pitching success and to reveal what they are looking for in potential winners. Here's what they said:
"The worst thing about pitching is when people repeat themselves. Keep it really short, really to the point. In two or three minutes you should be able to get your idea across. The concept of the elevator pitch is a very sensible one. You get the person's personality and idea all in the time it takes to get from ground to level 10. My best piece of advice would be my favourite phrase: Screw it, just do it!"
"A lot of investors say they don't invest in businesses, they invest in people. You have to see that the founder is passionate and aware of the sector that they are going into. They have that vision and won't stop until they get a yes. There is no such thing as 'this is not possible'.
When pitching, mention things that people know and how you have a new version or combination of that. When I pitched America's Next Top Model, I described it as a combination of American Idol, a stage show, with Real World, where people live together, but set in the modelling industry. That immediately made people go, 'oh, I get it'."
"Don't be nervous. If you are passionate about something you can generally talk about it no matter the circumstances. When I am talking about YouTube or healthy eating I find the answers are naturally there. At the same time I want to see entrants come in prepared and knowing what they are talking about. Don't be scared to receive criticism. You want your idea to grow so put it out there."
"I'll be looking for someone who has a vision for scale for their particular product or solution. We are looking for companies that want to VOOM and see theirs as a big product or solution with huge potential. I stick with the B's - have lots of belief, be brave and be bold."
"When pitching make people laugh or smile. I cold-called selling fax machines for seven years before starting Spanx and quickly learned through a lot of rejection that if I could make someone laugh or smile in the first 15 seconds I got another 15 seconds. Trust your gut, start small, think big and scale fast."
Copyright © 2016 Virgin Media Business VOOM 2016
Further reading:
A consistent influx of cash is key to running a successful business; but how do you maintain a regular cash flow?
There are a few techniques and sure-fire ways of tackling cash flow; but it's important to remember that it comes down to your individual capabilities around money management and the methodologies you incorporate.
The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to improve your cash flow and the more of these steps you take, the greater the benefit for your business.
Now that you have a comprehensive list of tips and techniques, it should be easier for you to ensure regular cash flow. Go ahead and revolutionise your business today.
Copyright © 2016 David Gormer, chartered accountant and founder of Square Mile Accounting.
Last year marked another landmark period for UK entrepreneurialism with more SMEs opening their doors for business. According to data from Companies House, 608,110 businesses were started in the UK in 2015, a new record and up from 526,447 in 2013.
This is further proof, if any were needed, that SMEs provide the backbone of the UK economy. But for each of these new businesses, the next big challenge on their exciting journey is deciding how and when to grow. Funding is the key issue: where is the money going to come from and how will it be spent?
That is why we established The Business Funding Show. It is the first and only exhibition focused exclusively on business funding and growth support. It takes place on the 2nd and 3rd of February this year in Old Billingsgate, London. The show will bring together two key groups of people - entrepreneurs and business owners that are looking for funding and leading finance and service providers. This new event will feature expert advice from titans of UK business such as Richard Reed, serial entrepreneur and founder of Innocent Drinks, as well as other leading figures such as David Buttress (Just Eat) and Lord Bilimoria (Cobra Beer).
The funding market has changed beyond all recognition in recent times and the days of a visit to the local bank manager are long gone. New players are entering the market with flexible and exciting channels of borrowing and lending. Advances in Fintech, innovative methods of working and access to information are just some of the drivers behind this growth; but all of the players in the this space are coming to the market for the same ends - to provide SMEs with the best type of funding to grow their business.
Whether you want to expand overseas, consolidate in your market or build your team, the Business Funding Show is opening its doors to provide you with the help you need to take the next step to grow you business.
But we know everybody can't make it to London. So, for those that can't, we've outlined the ten most common forms of funding below as a starter guide for those looking to take the next step on their business journey:
Business angels are wealthy entrepreneurs that are actively seeking to invest in enterprises based on dynamic business ideas. They'll want something in return, which is normally a share of the business. However, you'll not only benefit from their investment, you'll also get to reap the rewards of their experience.
If you need serious investment (£500k plus) then venture capital financing is the answer. This option is best suited for those who are primed for rapid growth and need a cash injection to get moving. However, don't expect to get a huge lump sum upfront. Generally speaking, VC funding comes in instalments to help manage growth effectively. You can also expect to give away a substantial portion of the business - but in return, you'll get significant help to scale-up.
Crowdfunding is a recent phenomenon which involves asking many people to invest specific amounts of money in your business, usually in return for something. Do it well, and you'll swiftly raise the money you need without spending too much in the process. However, it's not as easy as it looks, and in today's competitive market, you'll need to make sure your business idea stands out.
Peer-to-peer lending. Most peer-to-peer lenders are private individuals investing in a range of different business ideas. Opportunities are listed on specialist websites and some operate on an auction basis, which means, after completing an initial assessment, you can select a lender based on a rate of interest and loan period. However, you'll need a good financial history, and if you're a new company, you might be considered "higher risk", which will mean higher interest rates.
Asset financing offers a way to secure a loan against your capital assets and get money quickly for your business. The downside is clear however - fail to pay it back in the specified timeframe and your assets are seized by way of payment. However, if you're confident that you can fulfil the terms of the loan, it's a relatively simple way to get funding.
With invoice finance you can raise cash against future invoice payments from your customers. This comes in handy if you need to cough up cash for suppliers before being paid by clients. However, this type of financing isn't often available to those who sell direct to the general public. Likewise, if your clients don't pay - you'll have to shoulder the costs, plus interest.
A cash advance is the business equivalent of payday lending. This is a high-risk option and only suitable if you need the money fast and you know you can pay it back quickly. Otherwise, be warned, interest rates are eye-wateringly high.
If the banks have turned you down, but you have a sizeable pension fund, pension-led funding is a good way of getting your hands on a commercial loan. It's a simple concept - you secure your loan against your pension. However, the loan can't exceed 50% of your total pension fund.
Fancy getting some money without having to pay it back? Business grants are offered by governmental bodies and industry organisations. Every business wants to get their hands on these coveted grants, so competition is fierce and you'll have to work hard to ensure your pitch stands out.
Accelerators and incubators are there to give you the benefit of their expertise, support and mentorship - and they'll also be able to point you in the right direction for financial support within their network of investors. You'll probably need to pay a fee or give them some equity to secure their help, but it may be advantageous in the long-run.
The Business Funding Show takes place on 2 and 3 February 2016 in Old Billingsgate, London. Tickets can be booked on the show website.
Copyright © 2016 Arina Osiannaya, director of the Business Funding Show.
The state of your personal finances says a lot about you. Do you ensure that your debts are well documented, filed logically and always paid on time? If so, you are probably a dependable person who is easy to do business with.
On the other hand, maybe you are messy, disorganised and constantly pay bills late? If so, you most likely will have a hard time keeping other aspects of your personal life in order. Friends and family might characterise you as unreliable – and even untrustworthy.
It's not just friends, spouses and family who may judge you based on the way you conduct your financial dealings. Banks and other credit providers are likely to question whether to lend you money based on your past history with other lenders.
For some, this assessment is nothing to fear. But if you have a shoddy record of unpaid bills and a trail of angry debtors, it is certainly cause for alarm. Your inability to get credit can wreak havoc on your personal life and prevent you from buying a home, taking a vacation or planning your wedding.
While the hindrances to your life that poor credit can cause are annoying, many people do not realise that the mistakes they make with money in their personal accounts can also have massive repercussions on their business. Small time entrepreneurs who have a brilliant business idea may be left frustrated and regretful when they realise poor money and finance choices from the past now prevent them from starting their own business.
Credit is crucial to any small-business owner struggling to get started. There is no doubt that banks will look at your past personal credit when determining if they should give you business credit, and without these loans it may be impossible to buy stock, rent premises or hire staff. Your dreams of starting your own business may be dashed before you even get your idea off of the ground.
If you're planning to start your own business, it's never too early to start focusing on the health of your personal finances. Here are some of the first steps you can make to assess your viability as a potential borrower:
Once you have started on your journey from credit zero to hero, you will increase your chances of receiving credit from banks and lenders when the time comes to start your own business.
Sponsored post brought to you by Experian, © 2015
When you are running a business, most of the time you are focused on three things: getting more customers; increasing sales; and earning more profit. So when, for example, sales are not really happening, I find at The London Coaching Group that most business owners start "reacting" and implementing activity to get more customers. "Let's run an email campaign", or maybe "Let's do some SEO" or "Let's get on the phone and call some customers."
A lot of random approaches start creeping in to their marketing activity – and it starts to get messy. What needs to be understood here is that these three things are important, but at the time of setting goals – when you are clarifying and planning the destination for your business.
From a day-to-day and marketing point of view, however, these are not what you should be focusing on. The really important considerations are the items that lead to these outcomes. "Of course" most people say, but I assure you, most businesses do not focus on the right variables on a weekly basis.
The main thing you need to get into the habit of is measuring and managing the Five Levers that lead to these outcomes:
You can download a one-page PDF of these Five Levers of growth here, with an explanation of each one. You should print this out and stick it up on your wall to constantly remind you of where your focus should be.
But the real key to managing these figures is to ensure you have a weekly business dashboard where you are gathering and monitoring these important stats. There are two main reasons that I believe almost every business owner should have a weekly business dashboard:
If you do not have a weekly business dashboard, then the truth is that you are not staying on top of what is happening in your business. This may be ok, because your business is operating fine right now, but as soon as something is not operating properly, instead of catching it at the start, it could become a major problem before you even know it is happening.
Here are a few of the must-have elements on your weekly business dashboard:
You will notice that this list does not include things such as conversion rates, which lend a deeper, richer analysis. That is because the weekly dashboard is not intended for that, you should be using those in your monthly dashboard. On a weekly basis, you want to review these eight pieces to get a quick overview of what is happening, and ensure you are on track.
Ideally, you should be measuring these against targets, which you should determine at the beginning of the year, or the quarter, as a part of your strategic planning. Creating a weekly dashboard is one of the first exercises I do with new business coaching clients. Not once have I had a business come back to me and tell me that keeping that dashboard maintained was a waste of time.
On the contrary, I have had multiple clients that have come back to me years later to let me know that they still use their weekly dashboard, as it really is the perfect way to keep on top of their business.
With the coming of age of a few businesses dashboard specialist companies, which allow data in businesses to be measured and reported event on a real-time basis, there is really no excuse today to not have a dashboard in your business.
Copyright © 2015 Shweta Jhajharia, principal coach and founder at The London Coaching Group. Follow her on Twitter.
Whether you become a sole trader (ie are self-employed) or set up a partnership or limited company, starting your own business is relatively simple, quick and inexpensive, which partly explains why so many people continue to do it. Last year, a record-breaking 581,173 new businesses were registered at Companies House. Per capita, more new businesses are started in the UK than in the USA.
However, the survival rate for new businesses remains low. About half of all new UK businesses fail within three years and 90% are gone within 10 years. And only 4% of start-ups achieve a million-pound turnover after three years. For those who survive the three-year test, achieving significant growth remains a huge challenge, with many small firms staying more or less a similar size.
Some small businesses are restricted by business models that can't be scaled, while others are run by people who simply don't have the know-how, experience, drive, vision or leadership skills to grow a business. Some businesses fail to attract the right people or find the right strategic partners to enable growth.
For most businesses, organic growth by reinvesting profits will only take you so far, usually at a much slower pace. Without doubt another reason why some small businesses fail to grow is lack of funding.
If you really want to take your business to new heights, external investment or funding can unlock the door. I co-founded ezbob in 2012 and since then funding from institutional investors and the UK government-supported Angel CoFund has enabled us to grow our business so that, alongside our sister company, Everline, we've now provided more than 6,000 business loans and lent more than £60m to fellow UK small businesses.
Business angel or private equity investment might not be available or preferable (not everyone wants to concede ownership or control in exchange for investment). Grants from public sector organisations exist, but they're few and far between.
You might think you could turn to your bank for a loan to help fund your growth ambitions, but there are no guarantees your application will be approved. That's partly why 'alternative sources' (ie not from banks) now supply 25% of lending to UK SMEs, according to an FT.com report in February, which also said that many smaller businesses are discouraged from applying for bank loans as a result of previous rejections or the cost implications.
The most suitable business growth funding option for you will be determined by how much money you need, when you need it, your turnover, whether you're prepared to put up any assets as security or concede any ownership or control. These are all key considerations.
Trying to grow a business inevitably involves some risk and it takes time and a lot of hard work, but the results can make it worthwhile. Above all, you need to ensure you get the funding you need to match your circumstances and ambition.
Copyright © 2015 Tomer Guriel, co-founder and CEO of ezbob. Follow ezbob on Twitter.
Every business manager will know what a struggle money can be and one of the most difficult decisions can be how to get the funding needed to help your business grow. The banks aren't always an option and many people don't want to give up control of something they've worked hard for, but being the most obvious choices – what else is left?
When it came to starting Taxicode, co-founder Nigel and I decided the best option would be to fund it ourselves. This meant control of the business was not split between investors; big loans were not hanging over our heads; and while growth has been slower compared to our externally funded competitors, it has all felt much more ours and we've been able to act out our vision as we intended. This is not for everyone, of course, but as we had finances built up from previous business ventures, it worked for us. Several years on and we're generating decent turnover and achieved £2m in bookings last year.
Many of us will be familiar with the concept of crowdfunding by now. It allows members of the public to put money towards a project, usually receiving something back in return depending on the amount they've put forward. Technology, video games, community projects, events and films have all found funding this way. Crowdfunding also helps build audience engagement with your brand early on, something not necessarily true of other options.
Peer-to-peer and peer-to-business lending work in a similar way to crowdfunding, but for a loan rather than to raise equity. This means that larger sums of money can be raised in one go, instead of waiting for individuals to put the money forward.
Business managers can also make the most of the resources they already have. Invoice finance allows business to raise finance against any invoices they have waiting, drawing down the balance when customers pay, whilst pension-backed lending allows business owners to unlock the value of their own personal pension to finance the company.
These options can help to create a steadier cashflow for the business – while pension-backed lending is more suited to those that have already spent several years building up their finances, these options can be used throughout the business's life cycle to combat any financial struggles encountered.
Whatever route you chose, there will inevitably always be risk, but business managers should not feel deterred just because traditional options don't appeal. There's something out there to suit everyone's needs.
Copyright © 2015 Jonathan Kettle, co-founder and director of nationwide online taxi-booking service Taxicode.
Start-ups in the UK are booming, with Tech City now the third-largest technology start-up cluster in the world after San Francisco and New York. Start-ups also provide the main source of recovery growth in the UK and Europe. The European Commission knows this and has set aside billions of Euros for innovative small businesses. However, very few businesses in the UK seem to know about this pot of gold.
The EU's new research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, was launched last year and has €80bn to spend over seven years. Some 15-20% of this is earmarked for innovative businesses, either on their own or in collaborations with universities and other businesses. The grants are prestigious and can open doors, as a House of Lords report noted: "We believe that EU R&I programmes represent an excellent financial and networking opportunity for UK businesses".
The Horizon 2020 'SME instrument' will provide €3bn over the next seven years to small and medium-sized businesses that develop products and services. This covers everything from feasibility assessment (€50k grants), to development and demonstration (up to €2.5m) and then access assistance to risk capital.
The €100m 'Fast Track to Innovation' pilot opened in January 2015. Frustratingly, you won't find Horizon 2020 opportunities on Innovate UK's main funding page; they are displayed through a separate resource centre called Horizon 2020 UK.
A much broader source of money opens up if you collaborate. The Eurostars programme, which boosts competitiveness and open markets, is for groups of innovative small businesses. However, the lion's share of Horizon 2020 funds is available for big multi-national collaborations of universities and small businesses teaming to deliver solutions to societal challenges. More than 70% of projects funded so far have at least one SME partner.
To enter such collaborations you need to be in networks that enable you to find the right partners. If they have previous experience, that helps a lot. One such network is the Vision2020 Horizon network, which I work with. It has nearly 40 universities and more than 100 SMEs, all seeking to cluster into groups to target Horizon 2020 funding. Another network is the Enterprise Europe Network. EU grants and University-business networks are a great way to put booster rockets on your innovative start-up.
Copyright © 2015 Dr Mike Galsworthy. Mike is a consultant in research and innovation policy. Follow him on Twitter.
It isn't just personal current account customers who can take advantage of the free Current Account Switch Service to swap between banks, because small businesses up and down the country can make the most of the service, too.
Launched by the banking industry in September 2014, the service ensures that existing payments such as direct debits or standing orders will be moved to the new account automatically, and any transactions that do go through to the old account will be redirected to the new one for 13 months, so payments won't go missing.
The company making or taking the payment using the old account details will also get a message instructing them to update their records with the new account information. On top of that, the service is backed by a guarantee that means that if something should go wrong during a switch, any charges or interest will be refunded.
Until the service was brought in, changing from one account to another could be a lengthy process, typically taking between 18 and 30 days after the new account had been opened. That was a huge hurdle for cashflow-reliant small businesses, with worries about invoice payments ending up in the right account or suppliers not being paid according to terms, with the possibility of late payment charges being incurred.
But that time's been reduced to seven working days from the day the switching process starts to when the switch takes place.
One of the drivers behind the Current Account Switch Service has been to increase competition between banks and make it much easier for small businesses to vote with their feet when it comes to picking the account that works best for them.
So, is it time for you to look at whether you're getting a good deal with your business banking? Here are the things you should consider…
If your business is a limited company you must have a business account. If you are a sole trader or partnership, you could use your personal current account, but that can make your finances messy. Keeping personal and business accounts separate is the better option.
Some banks charge a fee for business banking services, some don't. Other costs are transaction-based, such as fees for cash withdrawals, cheques, Bacs transfers and overseas payments. Think about what you need to use and check the charges for each service. Some providers offer free banking, either for a set time or with limits on the number of transactions per month. Look at the penalties for exceeding those limits, and any charges that kick in when the free banking period ends.
Costs can be quite high but will vary between banks. Check interest rates, set-up fees and the amount you can borrow this way.
Many business accounts come with these facilities, but ask to see if you're eligible for a debit card – and a cheque book, if you need one – before changing to an account where you might not qualify.
With the new Current Account Switch Service you can change your provider again, quickly and easily.
Not as long as you repay any outstanding overdraft with your old bank or building society. If there are any problems with payments as part of the switching process, your new bank or building society will put them right and make sure your credit rating is not affected.
2014 has been heralded as the year for crowdfunding. There are literally hundreds of platforms for people to choose from, but with share-based crowdfunding on the rise, consumers and small businesses are faced with a difficult choice.
Traditional crowdfunding platforms have huge user bases, tailored for product-based start-ups, which means that if you are lucky enough to make it onto the 'Popular' feed, your business idea will be viewed by millions. If, on the other hand, you don't instantly capture the imagination of would-be investors, your chances of getting funded through these types of crowdfunding sites tends to decrease significantly.
While traditional crowdfunding platforms with product-based models might be good for getting consumer-focused propositions backed, they are less effective when it comes to B2B companies, which may have products and services that are less appealing to the traditional crowdfunding investor.
The biggest issue with well-established crowdfunding sites is the high commission demanded – typically between 5% and 10%. Bootstrapped start-ups need all the financial help they can get and this is one of the many reasons we and other small businesses are increasingly choosing to go it alone with DIY crowdfunding.
One of the greatest benefits of DIY crowdfunding is the information businesses receive about their backers. Where traditional crowdfunding focuses on getting the money through the door, you won't know necessarily why or where your product adds value to those people.
By setting up your own crowdfunding site or even by looking for VC funding, that market research data is more readily accessible. Moreover, it enables the business to constantly better itself and innovate based on feedback from the customer, business or angel.
One of the biggest problems with most crowdfunding platforms that have recently been damaging start-up businesses is being over-funded. Although some of the most recently built sites such as CrowdCube are able to trade in shares, traditional product-based crowdfunding platforms do not. This means that businesses opt to give something else away in return for investment – usually the product itself.
This isn't often an issue for most businesses because the funding provides the opportunity to scale production. However, when campaigns are grossly over-funded, this can cause problems with meeting the demand for products in exchange for funding, rather than focusing on 'paying' clients.
Examples of this can be found all over traditional crowdfunding platforms and can cause massive delays for the business. While some may view this as a justifiable sacrifice, there are risks involved with this that can impact on the successfulness of the business' future. You can spend so long fulfilling those owed orders that you'll never have time to fulfil any new ones.
The huge user bases of popular crowdfunding platforms still make them a very attractive option. That said, as fewer start-ups are willing to give up such a large percentage of their funding in commission it isn't difficult to see a future in which start-ups primarily use their own platforms for serious funding.
In-house developers within tech start-ups make creating self-funding platforms a realistic proposition, particularly if it provides flexibility and information as well as funding. These DIY crowdfunding platforms also provide the consumer with a much more interesting investment opportunity: not only being able to buy the product, but also buy shares in it.
Perhaps the product-based crowdfunding model isn't broken just yet, but with more and more small businesses creating self-funding platforms, to crowdsource more serious investment, it can certainly be argued that the writing may be on the wall – especially in the B2B space.
Copyright © 2014 Tim Fouracre. Tim Fouracre is CEO of Clear Books. Clear Books is currently raising £3.3M, which will be the largest ever B2B crowdfund in the UK.
I have a Room 101 nomination. It's media headlines and political comment telling us that 'businesses are unable to access funding from banks, we have to get the banks lending again, we need to make alternative funding available'.
This has been so noisy since the 2008 sub-prime bubble burst that I'm convinced it's merely a default utterance when political parties sense that 'business' hasn't been in the headlines of late. The tone sounds so desperate at times as to imply an imminent hiatus if this matter isn't addressed. I'm not convinced that the need for bank funding is as important as we're led to believe.
We accept as fact that since 2008 the banks have reined in their lending, as a response to previous over-lending. A good entrepreneur will secure investment from other sources, because they will perceive the banks' reluctance to lend merely as a challenge to overcome. Other sources of funding may even be more appropriate, because some can bring additional commitment and proven commercial expertise.
Interestingly, among my local business community there is no issue around borrowing from banks, it's a message that you mainly hear in the media and from politicians – but why?
Historically we've been programmed to approach banks for finance. 2008 caused a paradigm shift and while those of us running our own businesses on the frontline are comfortable with this, the banks and politicians haven't caught up yet. There are two reasons – ego and economics. The banks and the City have always been thought of as the 'big boys' to whom us small firms should turn for support. They're used to being in control – to dominating us.
However, 2008 showed that they aren't that great at managing their own businesses. Their validity to dominate has been undermined, but their ego has not been humbled yet. I'm not an economics expert, but I'd guess that the banks and the State are used to profiting from failing SMEs. Finding money from elsewhere takes away income from the 'big boys'. These are the real reasons for SMEs needing financing from the 'big boys' being in the headlines, it is their income streams that are being affected.
Our UK DNA as a nation of shopkeepers has prevailed and revealed its talent for resourcefulness and diversification. We don't need the 'big boys'. Question is – how long will it take them to adjust to their new relationship with us? Maybe we'll start asking for their investment once more when they've grown up and proved that they can run their businesses as well as they have expected us to run ours in the past.
Blog provided by Samantha Acton, who founded Domestic Angels in 2002, which provides home cleaning services across the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch areas.
In recent years, electronic payments have grown in popularity along with the demise of the cheque and fewer consumers carrying cash in their wallet or purse. Card payments have become the preferred method for payments, with shoppers expecting small businesses to accept debit and credit card transactions in a physical (ie offline) environment. The need for secure online payments has also grown as more merchants look to ecommerce services in a bid to drive sales.
E-commerce is becoming more accessible and affordable for even the smallest businesses, and complete end-to-end solutions for web design, shopping carts, online security and even virtual terminals are available in this increasingly sophisticated marketplace.
Fixed or mobile chip and PIN acceptance is ideal for physical trading environments, such as retail, hairdressing, accounting, hospitality and other business that processes transactions. For tradesmen on the move there is a whole host of new innovative mobile related payment technologies that are rivalling cash.
Methods range from devices that attach to a mobile phone and are capable of accepting card payments, to the digital mobile wallet and a portable chip and PIN device that runs off GPRS. All of which allow companies and sole traders to receive payment for goods and services on the spot.
When selecting a payments provider, merchants should consider options other than their bank. An independent supplier is more likely to offer a cost effective solution, along with support and benefits. What businesses need to consider is what method would best suit their customer base. And what methods is their customer base familiar with and happy to use.
Innovative digital payment options are great when it comes to the younger tech savvy customer, but merchants must also consider more mature shoppers. Overall security and industry requirements are a top priority and must be thought about when deciding on a digital payment method.
When selecting a payment option, SMEs should work with a third party that can provide not only the technology – online or physical – but guidance and a transparency of capital costs and fees, both monthly and annual. What many small business may not realise is that there are other options available to merchants that are more beneficial than simply using their personal bank.
Whichever payment method is selected, if an SME trades in both a physical and online environment, by joining up their payment offering they can gain an overall picture of transactions and the customer, which provides valuable insight for business decisions and strategy planning.
Blog supplied by Gareth Poppleton, managing director at Retail Merchant Services.
Does your business have a blog, website or video channel? If so, you could start asking people who visit your site to start donating Bitcoins.
Online currency, you can use it to buy things such as domain names, electronics, food and professional services.
The value changes a lot. In January 2013 it was only worth about £10, but by late November it had reached a high of £750.
There are many ways. You could start donating your computer power to help run the network (a process called 'mining') or you could sign up to an exchange such as MtGox.com and buy some with pounds. Unfortunately, both of these options can take time and effort and you might end up losing money. A safer and simpler bet is to start taking Bitcoin donations.
The Bitcoin community is very generous. Bitcoin users know that the more people who own Bitcoin, the more plausible it becomes as an idea. Also, because it's really easy to donate, you might be pleasantly surprised by how much you could earn.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to start…
You'll need a wallet to receive, send and store Bitcoins. There are three types of wallet: software, mobile and web. The Bitcoin website features a useful guide and a list of downloads to help you get started. For maximum security, we recommend that you choose one that doesn't use a third party. To avoid cyber theft, you should always encrypt your wallet with a strong password. We recommend one at least eight characters long, using a combination of numbers, symbols and upper/lowercase letters.
Once you've set up your wallet you'll be given a wallet address. You'll need this so people know where to send donations. It will be a string of between 27 and 34 numbers and lower/uppercase letters beginning with a 1 or 3.
Accepting donations is as easy as posting your Bitcoin address on your blog/website. You may want to provide or link to some info about Bitcoin too in case users without any Bitcoins also want to donate. When you have a donor, your wallet will message you a notification telling you how much has been sent. Your Bitcoins are then free to save or spend as you wish.
Blog contributed by Nick Chowdrey, finance and accounting writer for Crunch, online accountancy firm for freelancers and small businesses.
With all the hype surrounding crowdfunding, knowing what the different options are and which specific benefits they offer can seem difficult. To help you remember you can use the acronym DREIM, which stands for:
Of the five models, donation is perhaps the simplest to understand. Basically, it's a form of philanthropy, whereby people give money to a good cause. Donors are left with the warm feeling that comes from knowing they've done something positive by funding a project with social value.
Within the arts, this has traditionally been represented by the concept of a sponsor or patron of an artist or field of creative work. There are many of these in crowdfunding, perhaps the most well known being JustGiving, but others include Spacehive, which is dedicated to social or community causes, and Unbound, a special model where authors ask the crowd for funding to help turn an idea into a published book.
This is the model that most comes to mind when people think about crowdfunding. The crowd pledges money to a project and gets something in return, such as a poster or item of merchandise. The reward model is represented well on both sides of the Atlantic by the likes of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but there are plenty of UK sites, such as Bloom Venture Catalyst and Crowdfunder, and these support projects ranging from artists to zoos.
This is where the project's management (could be a business owner) offers a share of the profits to the crowd. Once money is made or the project is sold, the investors get a share (well, that's the idea). This is risky, because start-ups often fail, so the likes of Seedrs, which specialises in this model, requires would-be investors to pass a test before they can invest. But the good news for investors (and entrepreneurs using this model) is the government has introduced the SEIS (Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme) and EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme), which offer tax breaks for investors. There are restrictions and the best place to learn more is by visiting the HMRC website.
Equity usually means giving away some control over a project or business, of course. This could be difficult for some people, which is why this model of crowdfunding needs careful consideration before you proceed. When you give away equity you will also need to seek legal advice, which costs money and takes time. Investors generally look for growth businesses they can scale up and sell in the future.
This model is similar to getting a bank loan except you get the loan from the crowd and it is on your terms rather than a banks. As with equity, you may find a lack of enthusiasm in your business unless you can prove its potential for major growth. Another problem could be higher rates of interest. The headline numbers might look the same as a high street bank, but you need to consider fees charged by the crowdfunding platform and the payment processor. This all adds up.
Mixed is just as it sounds – a mix of models. For example, the Crowdbnk platform offers reward or equity, which is why careful consideration is advised before crowdfunding your project. Plus, you need to check the provider is FSA regulated (Crowdbnk is), which will ensure you are covered should they go bankrupt or if you find out a campaign is fraudulent.
Blog supplied by Chris Buckingham, lecturer and founder of crowdfunding research agency minivation.
Running your own business can be exciting, draining, liberating, stressful and satisfying – all at the same time. Doing it without outside investment can be a risky proposition, but with risk comes reward. While some people might view having a small budget as a disadvantage when starting a business, in my experience it proved highly beneficial in the long run.
I started market analysis consultancy White Space with my business partner Nick using just our individual hard-earned savings and no investor support or bank loans. We've now been running for eight years, rent a large office in central Oxford and work for more than 70 of the world's most recognisable companies. There are many positives to funding your own business, and here I'm going to share some of my experiences and provide practical tips on how to overcome any disadvantages.
As a business owner, you'll be under constant pressure to make decisions that are critical to the growth and direction of your business. Make sure you are clear about your overall strategic direction by applying the following principles:
Self-funding your business will cause you to reassess and prioritise your personal expenses. In the early stages, you will be surviving off very little, without the comfort of a steady income. Many financial survival tips are obvious, such as 'save money wherever you can'. Here are three that are less obvious, but just as important:
Despite wanting to conserve your cash without any major capital outlays, there comes a time when a business needs to accelerate. A steady growth model is far more scalable and allows you to fully test the market before expanding further. You are also much less likely to fall victim to the cycle of 'boom and bust'.
The right time for growth is when your business is in the middle of a successful period, with a few strong months just gone and a couple more forecast to follow. Be aware that expansion will eventually require additional resources to succeed, including labour, equipment, finances and more micro-management.
My experience has shown that the old adage – 'revenue and staff numbers for show, profit for dough' – still rings true. It can be exciting to feel like you are expanding, but never take your eye off the bottom line. For the vast majority of start-ups that are not expecting to be the next Twitter, this is the only true measure of success.
Self-funding your business can provide many advantages, from enormous personal satisfaction to being able to take a greater share of the spoils when your business succeeds. Making sure you have the right business proposition, the passion to make it happen and being realistic about what you can and can't achieve are key to a successful and scalable business start-up model.
Blog supplied by John Bee, managing director of Oxford-based market analysis consultancy White Space.
I ask every audience I talk in front of one key question: "What's the most important thing to measure if you want to find out how well your business is doing?"
And, without fail, people always come back to me with the wrong answer! They call out 'sales' or 'turnover' or 'profit', but they hardly ever mention the right and probably only answer that really matters – 'cash'.
In reality, it's impossible to carrying on trading if you run out of cash.
In the current economic chaos there are plenty of casualties, the weak and vulnerable businesses will go bust. More worrying is the profitable businesses that go to the wall because they run out of cash.
So, how do you keep your head above water? In basic terms, sell something people want; make sure the difference between what you buy it for and what you sell it for is big enough; find a way to get people to buy from you, take massive action. And, of course, make sure you collect all the money you are owed:
As a self-confessed serial entrepreneur I hate the detail and intricacy of putting cash-flow processes in place, but you can't afford not to.
Blog supplied by Robert Craven of the Directors' Centre, who shows MDs and business owners how to grow their sales and profits. His latest book is Grow Your Service Firm.
Business costs continued to rise during 2013, with energy costs still the most commonly seen increase among small businesses, according to the national business group, the Forum of Private Business.
The Forum's Cost of Doing Business survey, carried out among its members, shows firms are still facing an uphill battle to make ends meet, despite positive signs of an economic recovery as the infographic below demonstrates.
The results showed that 94% of businesses saw an overall increase in their business costs. 87% of businesses reported an increase in energy costs, 83% in transport costs, 78% a rise in marketing costs, and 69% a rise in the cost of raw materials/stock.
Worryingly, the report also identified that 41% of small business owners admitted to being unable to pass any rising costs onto customers, forcing them to cut their own costs to keep prices static. Just 2% were able to pass on costs in full.
Alexander Jackman, the Forum's Head of Policy, said: "The major reasons for increases in prices were predominantly down to transport and energy prices rising, coupled with the continued weakness of sterling for importers. The economic outlook may be better but costs still remain an issue for our members and a key focus of our lobbying and support services."
"Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if there is going to be any respite from energy hikes any time soon, despite the ongoing political pressure to take action to introduce more competition in the market, with many of the major players recently announcing significant increases and others expected to follow suit."
While annual inflation continued to fall from 3% to 2.7%, the research also found that prices have continued to rise faster for micro, small and medium-sized employers at 6%, although this is less than the 6.7% figure reported by the Forum the previous year in research into business costs, suggesting things are improving – albeit slowly.
There was a significantly lower proportion of businesses concerned by credit restrictions last year, with a higher proportion seeing credit restrictions as having little impact on their operations. However, credit restrictions were still apparent, with 26% of businesses feeling they had less leeway in coping with business costs than they had the previous year.
81% of firms indicated that rising business costs had been detrimental to their business. 73% had cash flow issues as a result and it had a detrimental effect on 51% of firms when looking to invest. 51% also reported that it has been damaging for employment levels and 63% felt that it had inhibited their plans for growth.
Despite the recent positive news on the economy, rising business costs could continue to restrict the ability of many SME's to take full advantage of the signs of recovery, with 83% of business owners quizzed expecting prices to continue to increase, and 16% expecting a significant increase.
The most frequently cited exacerbating factors were customers paying late (59%) and competitors offering products below cost price (51%). Excessive administrative demands forced on businesses by the government, banks and customers meant that 35% of businesses had not been able to focus on business activities. Changing payment terms had been a problem for 24% of businesses in dealing with suppliers, and 26% in dealing with customers.
"The findings suggest that significant action is still needed to tackle late payment, through strengthening the Prompt Payment Code to prohibit businesses from signing the Code if they have extended payment terms in the last 12 months. We would also like to see the government make it compulsory for PLCs to declare their annual payment time statistics in annual audits to support better payments.
"As well as positive action on late payment we'd like to see further steps to help small firms with business overheads. We'd like a freeze on business rates and small business multipliers in 2014. An extension of small business rates multipliers until the end of the current parliament would also be welcome and we'd like to see the government commit to undertaking independent research into business rates. While the Chancellor's announcement of a fuel duty freeze at the Conservative Party Conference in 2013 was a welcome move, we feel that further action should be taken to investigate where further savings could be made across government to ensure that fuel duty is not raised again before the end of this parliament."
What advice would I give to someone starting out in business who may be worried about funding? Today, I think people in need of funding and hoping to start a new business tend to approach the banks automatically, by default. Then, if they're declined, the big question is – 'What next?'
To those people, I would say that I think it's never been a better, more exciting time to explore different avenues.
The difficulty with the banks and getting loans through conventional methods has meant other opportunities have had to appear through necessity. There are plenty of different models and lots of people actually looking to invest in new businesses – look at crowd funding, for example.
It can be worth considering friends and family, too, and approach them for investment, although you've got be careful that you're very clear on the terms early on.
Which investment am I most proud of? I find it really difficult to pick a favourite investment. When I'm visiting a business or I have to be especially focused on one in particular it has 100% of my attention. It becomes all that I can think of, all that I can see and it becomes the one that I love the most. But when I walk out the door or shift my focus to another investment, that becomes the one I absolutely want to do.
I've got a portfolio of 19 businesses that I'm currently invested in. It's been known to flux up to a maximum of 30 and down to ten.
There is one that I'm very pleased I got involved in and it was a cloth mill called Fox Brothers, which started in 1772. It was the last cloth mill left in the South West and it was dead – absolutely on its knees. I didn't know that when I invested.
I'm pleased to say that now it's doing well and I'm really proud to have been involved. I like to think that if I hadn't found it, and it hadn't found me, it would have died and a part of our heritage would've been lost.
This exclusive insight was taken from an interview conducted by cityindex.co.uk when Deborah recently participated in the city index celebrity trader challenge. Find out more about Deborah and her views by visiting her website.
Further reading
According to research published recently by membership organisation the Forum of Private Business (FPB), business costs in 2013 in the UK have increased at a rate of "3.5% ahead of inflation".
The FPB's latest Cost of Doing Business survey, based on responses from its members, concluded that "firms are still facing an uphill battle to make ends meet, despite positive signs of an economic recovery," says the organisation.
The FPB reckons 94% of businesses have seen an overall increase in their business costs in 2013, with 87% having to cope with an increase in energy costs, 83% with higher transport costs, 78% with a rise in marketing costs and 69% with higher raw materials/stock costs.
Margins continue to be squeezed, with two-fifths (41%) of respondents unable to "pass any rising costs onto customers, forcing them to cut their own costs to keep prices static" (just 2% were able to pass on costs in full, says the FPB).
"The major reasons for increases in prices are predominantly down to transport and energy prices rising, coupled with the continued weakness of sterling for importers," explains Alexander Jackman, FPB head of policy. "The economic outlook may be better, but costs still remain an issue for our members and a key focus of our lobbying and support services.
"Unfortunately, it doesn't look as if there is going to be any respite from energy hikes any time soon, despite the ongoing political pressure to introduce more competition in the market, with many of the major players recently announcing significant increases and others expected to follow suit."
Although annual inflation has fallen from 3% to 2.7%, prices have continued to rise faster for businesses (6%), although, says the FPB, this is less than the 6.7% it reported last year.
Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents have experienced cashflow issues as a result of rising business costs, which has had a "detrimental effect on 51% of firms when looking to invest", while "51% also reported that it has been detrimental to employment levels" and "63% feel that it has inhibited their plans for growth".
Despite the recent good news on the UK economy, increasing business costs could hamper many business's ability to take advantage of recovery, with 83% of respondents expecting prices to continue to increase and 16% expecting a "significant increase", says the FPB.
"Businesses, like consumers, are facing a lot of upward cost pressures at the moment," notes Phil Orford, FPB CEO. "When looking at how to dampen energy price rises and other cost pressures for households, the government shouldn't ignore the fact that businesses are facing similar challenges. Political efforts to positively impact on the cost of living should not be funded through increasing the costs of doing business."
Sites such as uSwitch, UKPower and comparethemarket.com enable businesses and individuals to compare energy prices and try to find a better deal.
Further reading
Mobile Chip & PIN payments are becoming more popular around the UK. This is mainly due to the fact that they are an inexpensive and modern way to increase profit.
For a while now, small-business owners have been unable to accept card payments due to problems with traditional card readers. This is due to the fact that they involve lengthy and expensive contracts, monthly fees and equipment that is bulky and hard to transport. Mobile Chip & PIN payments solve this problem by providing a non-contract service, with no monthly fees and a sleek modern design that fits with any business image.
There is no doubt that there are benefits to employing mobile rather than traditional Chip & PIN technologies, however, you may be asking yourself why it is necessary to even take cards?
One reason is that accepting cards gives your customers the option to pay by a variety of means. This might sound like a non-issue, however, one of the biggest reasons that merchants loose business is interrupting "customer flow". Specifically in the situation where a customer wishes to buy a product, but has no cash on them, if the customer cannot pay by card they simply have no option but to leave. In this case, the merchant has not only lost out on a sale, buhas also lost a customer whose opinion is valuable to your business.
This brings us to the second benefit of accepting card payments – customer satisfaction. Most businesses strive towards providing excellent customer service, after all, for small businesses referrals are often the best advertisements of all. Disappointing the customer by not offering a convenient way to pay may come back to haunt you by damaging your reputation.
However, the direct benefits do not stop at the customer. Taking card payments means that your business does not have to run the risk of having large amounts of cash stored, it also saves on daily trips to the bank to deposit the money. Perhaps the biggest advantage to a small business owner, though, is that is allows for more efficient accounting. By accepting more cards and less cash, it means that your transactions are easier to keep track of, which is vital for financial planning.
Mobile Chip & PIN payments are secure, with all reputable companies required to pass rigorous security checks and verifications. They are also convenient for both customer and merchant, and are a great tool to increase profit. So why not find out more?
Blog supplied by mobile card payment solution provider payleven.
One of the earliest challenges faced by all start-ups concerns finance. No matter how great an idea you've had and no matter how well thought-out your business plan is, you'll need to have enough funding to get your fledgling venture off of the ground.
Maybe you've pursued crowdfunding, borrowed money from friends and relatives, perhaps even turned to a high street bank for a business loan, or approached alternative finance providers for help. Whatever route you've chosen, before long you and your business will have to face the same daunting question – what to do when this money has run out?
Start-up funding is intended to give businesses a chance to get off the ground, of course. In the very earliest stages of a business's life it's almost guaranteed to be operating at a loss, and those expenses will need to be covered somehow.
You might need to invest in premises, staff, equipment and more besides, so start-up finance is a necessary step in order to see your business through those hard, frightening and exciting early months.
If all goes to plan, start-up funding should act as a stepping stone to help your business to become self-sufficient before the cash runs out completely. Very few start-ups operate at a profit for the first few years, but if you've played your cards right, you'll be breaking even before your start-up funds are all spent.
It's possible to pursue growth during the period when many fledgling firms find it difficult to compete, even when a challenging economy makes business opportunities difficult to come by.
Building momentum can be difficult at this stage, but if you've got the right people around you and have built a team of committed, hardworking individuals, it's eminently possible to get moving in the right direction once more. Sometimes, however, it's necessary to pursue another form of business finance if you are to move from stagnation to expansion once more.
The business world is built on finance, and until a business has reached the stage where it is sufficiently profitable to sustain itself and grow, it must rely on the assistance of small-business finance facilities instead.
Invoice finance providers offer facilities that can fund growth, based on your business's internal sales ledger. Alternative lending options such as invoice finance and discounting are more flexible and thus more suitable for growing companies than traditional bank loans, so if you're looking to move your business forwards without incurring additional debts, you're likely to benefit significantly.
You could also look at peer-to-peer lending (ie the lending of money to unrelated individuals without going through a traditional financial intermediary), crowdfunding (ie the collective cooperation, attention and funding by people who pool their money and resources together to support other businesses or organisations) or possibly an overdraft.
The period immediately following your business' first few months can be intimidating and confusing, and it may seem as though the last thing you want to do after your small business funding has all been spent is pursue yet more finance. Sometimes, however, it's necessary to take the bull by the horns and actively pursue growth in order to spare your business from years spent merely treading water and making ends meet.
Blog provided by David Richards of Gener8 Finance Ltd.
Financing a business has traditionally meant asking a few people for large sums of money. Crowdfunding – one of the most talked-about funding channels in recent years – turns this idea on its head by enabling businesses to use the Internet to ask a multitude of potential funders for defined, comparatively small amounts of money.
The question of how to fund and share profit more creatively was hotly debated at this year's Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network 2013 event. Speaking at a pre-conference workshop on accessing capital, Springboard Enterprises president Amy Millman stressed the importance of getting the right source of credit, suggesting that crowdsourcing can provide an innovative means of becoming a more social, community brand in opening a company up to a broader and younger pool of shareholders.
And with funding options drastically reduced in the wake of the global banking crisis, small businesses are jumping at the chance to get their finance from ordinary people: the crowd. But with little regulation, is this young credit market really a safe and viable option for businesses looking to meet their growth ambitions?
Crowdfunding essentially means asking a crowd of people for a fixed amount of money for a business venture or specific project in exchange for a reward. As a relatively new market, the credibility and stability of crowdfunding needs strengthening – something increased regulation will help bring about.
Currently, just a limited number of platforms are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, meaning many crowdfunding companies are handling transactions without adequate protection – even if the UK Crowdfunding Association has a practice code in place to protect those involved. Few sites can ensure an investor won't lose money in the event of the platform collapsing.
Ensuring potential investors have as much information as possible about a start-up is essential for informed decisions. That's why any business looking for funding via these channels must be totally clear about why they need the investment, how it will be used, and how much they need to reach their growth and profit targets.
Unlike traditional pitching, potential investors are unlikely to have met the start-up, so must be made to feel part of the success story. A company needs to tie-in their crowdsourcing outreach with a social and media engagement strategy. Of course, the nature of both social media and crowdfunding means that entrepreneurs must be ready to receive feedback – both the good and bad – in a very public domain.
Ultimately, any business looking to raise funding through crowdfunding must do their due diligence before diving into these still largely untested waters. Not all crowdfunding platforms will be appropriate for the business or project in hand, so research is essential.
And it's not for the faint-of-heart. It can be a lot of work to kick-start and maintain the momentum that will see a project through to its desired end. But crowdfunding can also provide a start-up with unique exposure and feedback from those who matter most – your target audience of 'ordinary' people.
Blog supplied by Sarah Shields, executive director and GM, consumer, small and medium enterprise, Dell UK.


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Should Sebastian Vettel prove victorious again in the 2015 Formula One Driver's Championship this would make it his fifth title in a row – a
Sebastian Vettel's season could be set to go from bad to worse. The reigning world champion smiled meekly at Spa-Francorchamps when he responded to boss
Sebastian Vettel is targeting a podium finish at his home race next weekend. The German has had a difficult first half to 2014 in the
Sebastian Vettel tops the wet free practice three for the British Grand Prix. The reigning world champion was just .109s quicker than his teammate Daniel
Daniel Ricciardo is world championship material, according to F1 legend Gerhard Berger. Berger, a former race winner for McLaren and Ferrari, said he has been
Sebastian Vettel says questioning his credentials as a quadruple world champion is "disrespectful". After four consecutive titles successes, culminating in the ultra-dominant second half of
Sebastian Vettel has admitted his 2014 troubles are far from over. The world champion said that even if his run of poor reliability ends soon,
After four consecutive world championships, Sebastian Vettel's fall from grace has been swift in 2014. Although a chassis change after China appeared to have worked

subset: commoncrawl


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With the arrival of warmer temperatures state, health officials plan to issue public health advisories based on the levels of harmful algal bloom toxins in recreational waters at state park lake beaches and boat ramps.
LISBON, Ohio — Skip Hawk is Ohio's close political divide personified. The 66-year-old retired foreman pondered his fall ballot options over a gravy-slathered breakfast at the Steel Trolley Diner recently and figured he'll probably
CONCORD, N.H. — As the nation stares down a heroin and opioid crisis, corrections officials and lawmakers are seeking new ways to keep drugs out of jail cells as visitors and inmates continually find ways to smuggle them in. While drugs in
Disease fight goes overseas for former Elmore resident.
2 doctors tell FTC hospital is worse since the merger.
Dozens demonstrate at Toledo Planned Parenthood.
Veterans, their families, and community members are invited to a veterans' town hall at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The event, which is a free and open forum, will give attendees a chance to air concerns to veterans affairs leadership. Benefits and
He will speak today at the Kent Branch Library.
Law enforcement officers run 7 miles from Sylvania to Toledo Police Museum.
Government: Too much depends on where you live.


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Man arrested after pursuit
HYDE PARK – The Lamoille County Sheriff's Department has cited a Barre man for burglary in Hyde Park Thursday.
The sheriff's department says Michael Jenkins, 21, broke into a residence on Route 100. The homeowner came home and found Jenkins and he ran out of the house and drove off in the homeowner's truck. The sheriff's department says Jenkins drove the truck into a swamp and fled on foot, but was found later at a residence where he claimed to have fallen through ice.
Jenkins was cited for burglary, aggravated operating without the owner's consent and leaving the scene of an accident. He was lodged at the Northeast Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.MORE IN This Just InBURLINGTON As part of a federal effort to dismantle drug trafficking organizations in Vermont,... Full StoryMONTPELIER A new net-metering program is in the final stages of being revised by the Public... Full StoryMIDDLESEX The Agency of Transportation is set to begin replacing a bridge on Route 2 that spans... Full Story
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Man out of the hole
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Man Out Of The Hole Stock Photo20-24 Years,Achievement,Adult,Adults Only,Balance,Breaking,Business,Businessman,Color Image,Copy Space,Creativity,Digital Tablet,Giving,Hole,Horizontal,Humor,Inspiration,Japan,Kyoto Prefecture,Mouth Open,One Man Only,One Person,One Young Man Only,Only Men,Opportunity,Paper,People,Photography,Shirt and Tie,Simplicity,Studio Shot,Torn,Waist Up,White Background,Wireless Technology,Young AdultPhotographer Yagi StudioCollection: DigitalVision Yagi StudioBreak through the paper, Businessman puts forth a tablet


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Some foods contain copious amounts of sodium, and we don't even notice. Due to the use of additional flavors, our taste buds don't necessarily discern the saltiness. For example, a single sandwich may contain half or more of the daily … Continue reading
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This is a guest post by Katie Sullivan Morford, MS, RD and was originally published here. This is my new favorite sandwich bread. The fact that my children like it too is a big plus, since it's a significant upgrade, … Continue reading
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text:
The Hill: Pawlenty: Sununu has knack for colorful language'
Pawlenty, who is rumored to be on the vice presidential short-list, evaded questions about being potentially being the presumptive GOP nominee's running mate, but said he expected Romney's pick to bring "different ingredients, different dynamics" to the ticket.
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Video Industry News Video Company News Technology Industry News Technology Company News Novelty Industry News Novelty Company News Gay Industry News Gay Company News Legal Industry News All Company News
Released: Apr 01st, 2002
Running Time: 107
Director: Jules Jordan
Company: Pleasure Productions
Cast: Jade Marcella, Lexington Steele, Kaylynn, April (I), Angel (I), Leandra, Jules Jordan, Erik Everhard, Blazer
Critical Rating: AAAA
Genre: All-Sex
Jules Jordan at his best.
In what must be one of Jules Jordan's last features for Pleasure Productions, the rising directorial star - actually, he's pretty much risen already - delivers yet another eminently watchable all-sexer. Employing excellent editing, good camera angles and movement, and what appears to be a slight fisheye lens for some of the close-ups, Live Bait 7 is a riveter from beginning to end.
Start with Angel, a young beauty reminiscent (at least here) of Shane, who finds Erik Everhard waiting in her closet for some mish, cowgirl, doggie, spoon and reverse cowgirl before getting both Everhard and Jordan off with b.j.s.
Another excellent entry is Blazer, who wonders aloud what Lexington Steele is like in the sack. This blonde has a very attractive way of moving her hips as Steele fucks her missionarily on the couch, and with two anal positions included, this is one winner of a scene.
Also well worth mentioning is Jordan's scene with April, not so much for the sex, which is excellent, but for the long voyeuristic lead-in to the action, which is director/cameraman Jordan at his best.
All in all, a sure pre-nom for Best All-Sex Tape.


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Steve Perry, the former front man of "Journey" shocked fans in St. Paul, Minnesota when he joined indie-rock band "The Eels" on stage .
First singing a song with The Eels, Perry then took over the microphone to rock out to a couple of classics including "Open Arms", "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezing'".
The performance was the first time the notoriously reclusive rocker stepped out of the shadows solo since 1995. His last performance with journey was 23-years-ago.


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PREVIEWS: "Daredevil," "Uncanny X-Men," & More Marvel Comics On Sale August 3, 2016
Comic Books
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Darren Aronofsky is reportedly close enough to a deal with Fox to direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2 that talks have turned to shooting portions of the sequel in New York so that the filmmaker and star Hugh Jackman don't have to inconvenience their families.
According to Deadline, the studio is looking to begin shooting on a New York sound stage in March to accommodate Aronofsky's awards-season obligations following the Dec. 3 opening of Black Swan. From there, production will move to Japan, where most of Wolverine 2 is set.
Written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie), the film is based, in part, on the 1982 Wolverine miniseries by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, and has Logan battling ninjas and the politics of the criminal underworld for the heart of his ex-lover, the daughter of a Japanese crime lord.
The first Wolverine opened on May 1, 2009, and went on to gross $373 million worldwide.
Hopefully there won't be anymore cartoon claws and no more stupid Adamantium bullets and that Wolvie will dawn his mask Spidey has his mask so does Cpt. A. where is Wolvies mask damnit!
I think you are deluding yourself. Unless they are leather biker suits, this series (a la Singer) hates costumes more than "SMALLVILLE". Unless you consider Mystique, no one in this series has ever worn a mask or attempted to disguise an identity. While you are reflecting on a grand total of 4 movies to check my facts, I will move to another topic.
By the way, Cyclops doesn't count; he was wearing a protective visor or eyewear. Magneto and Juggernaut do not count either; they were wearing protective headgear. In fact the mask aspect of Juggernaut's headgear was removed entirely.
Also while we are being exact, Wolverine of the comic is something like 5'2 or 3 feet tall. Hugh Jackman is 6'2 or 3. If you are still looking for comic semblances you will continue to be disappointed.
Brother, to be honest I feel your pain.
Sorry, I'm having an involuntary and convulsive geek attack and yes I wish I could stop this, (please forgive me).
When Colossus and Iceman use their powers their identities are typically obscured. So no, Colossus and Iceman do not count, what you are seeing is an innocent manifestation of their mutant powers. They are making very little attempt to mask their identities.
Please don't respond I need to rest.
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Skip to comments.Intended Catholic Dictatorship
Posted on 08/27/2010 11:45:13 AM PDT by Hank Kerchief
click here to read article
Any dictatorship is a bad thing. Religious ones just have a more extreme following as the followers are dong "God's will."
Revolution And Counterrevolution was written by Plinio Correa de Oliveira - a Brazilian professor who had no authority in the Catholic Church and whose teachings are widely regarded as heretical.
He does not speak for the Church - anyone who knows what the Catholic Church is, knows that the Pope and the bishops (as a group) speak for the Church.
Not even individual bishops have authority to speak for the Church, let alone random laymen like Oliveira.
Does Reginald Firehammer actually know anything about "The Holy Roman Empire" or does he use it because its a wonderful coincidence that 3 left-wing buzz-word cliches can be strung together into a phrase that actually exists in the English Language?
But don't let the facts get in the way: go ahead and read some Bat-Sh*t crazy person and get all wee-wee'd up.
I like how they think they are "The Church".
The apostolic nuncio for the United States (the Pope's ambassador to the US), has publicly declared that Gruner is not a Catholic in good standing and that he is suspended from public ministry. He has not had clerical faculties for more than 30 years.
Don't stop him with facts, he's on a roll.
Bigotry and hatred against Catholics, it's been missing from FR for a day or two. It was due.
Just watch the flies gather for the poop. A few have arrived already.
Is Reginald Firehammer a real person or is he a creation to make anti-Catholics look stupid?
This site is not affiliated with the Catholic Church in any way, and the presenters openly reject the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In other words, you are using three non-Catholic sources to slander the Catholic Church.
I'm not a Catholic and I only have one question: IBTZ?
Got that? "Catholic civilization is the structuring of all human relations, of all human institutions, and of the State itself according to the doctrine of the Church." The other name for this is called "totalitarianism," the complete rule of every aspect of life.
Does this mean that evangelical Christians do not seek to structure all human relations, institutions and the state itself according to their doctrine? If not, then why are so many so busy fighting about which candidate will do just that? Are evangelicals trying to reform society and the State after their own faith actually totalitarians?
Catholics are definitely taking over America. I can see it all around me. And they are headquartered in Spring Grove PA 17362
Their leader is Robert.
Robert Ritchie.
A blogger no less!
Delusional bilge.
Hey who gave away the plot!!!! That durn Dan Brown he stirred up the pot and now our plans for world domination have been ferretted out!!! DANG IT!!!
Drats. You figured out our scheme. If it wasn't for you meddling kids...
Well back to the drawing board.
((insert evil laugh here))
Come now they don't need to create a persona in order to look stupid.
This is someone's warped idea to equate Roman Catholicism with Islam. I would bet they took an article about Islam and replaced "Islamic Worldwide Caliphate" with "Catholic Dictatorship" and "Islam" with "Roman Catholic", etc.
They are making a false analogy, don't fall for accepting the premise.
Huh?!? Where? When? That's a slander of a good faithful group.
And they rescinded the video in question in this blog post and apologized for its erroneous content.
From their website:
Some Clarity 08-18: The Catholic Government Vortex requires an apology and clarification. This is it.
So how much did the Muzzies pay you to post this?
Christianity and theocracy are mutually incompatible, and this has been the experience since the dawn of Christianity. Calvin tried to establish a theocracy in Geneva - and it failed. The Puritans tried to establish one here - and it failed.
A theocracy is where the religious law and the civil law are the same, and the state is governed by the clergy. The only group that does this is Islam (Mormonism would have done it, but the US Army knocked that out of them).
State churches are churches that the state approves for its official functions and as the official recorder of civil acts (marriages and burials, primarily), and are not a good thing. But at least the Catholic Church never appointed a secular ruler as leader of the church, as the Anglicans did with Henry VIII. Being a state church undermines the church and is one of the reasons the Lutherans were never able to fight back against Hitler very effectively.
But it still acknowledges the fact that the Church and the State are two separate entities. Mosque and State are one and the same.
This Catholic would love to set Reginald straight on this issue.
Though I think Mr. Firehammer is full of prune juice, I can foresee something akin to the Holy Roman Empire stirring back to life if (and only if) the secular world remains supine in the face of aggressive Islamic expansion.
And of course, the western world would probably fear the Catholics more than the Caliphate on their doorstep. Perhaps they *should* be fearful. After all, we do have the Holy Hand Grenade.
A "good, faithful group" would never put that kind of garbage up in the first place.
They're sorry because they were caught.
Despite your protestations, you cannot legitimately claim that these individuals have any authority to speak for the Church. They simply do not.
Moreover, I find it fascinating that this "good, faithful group" does not provide the names and qualifications of any actual people on their site.
Hi again, Hank. How are things in atheist-ville? I hope you're well and doing fine. :)
Bingo! Anyone can call themselves "Catholic" but that doesn't mean they follow the tenets of the Church. Take, for example, Pelosi, Kennedys, Kerry, etc.
Dude! Loose lips sink ships! Now everybody will know!
A big steamy pile of poop at that.
Awwww....are they all out of Troll food where you come from?
I don't have any either. Try a nice mosque.
*Don't bet on the ham though.
"Does Reginald Firehammer actually know anything about The Holy Roman Empire or does he use it because its a wonderful coincidence that 3 left-wing buzz-word cliches can be strung together into a phrase that actually exists in the English Language?"
He uses it because it is the phrase used throughout the Catholic Encyclopedia, such as:
...and hundreds of more times.
If you think it is a bad phrase, perhaps you should let them know.
I still can't understand how some ignore the deadly power of albino monk assassins.
"So how much did the Muzzies pay you to post this?"
All the quotes are from Catholic sites, and all the links are to Catholic sites. If you have a problem with the content, perhaps you should address the above question to them.
Sure it does.
Try "homosexuality is fundamentally disordered" or "marriage is between one man and one woman" in a public setting or try saying a prayer out loud in a public school and you'll see how far your wet dream is from reality in this country.
We live under a secular humanist dictatorship which actively persecutes Christian morality and will do so increasingly as time passes. There are certain things which most definitely can not be said in public in the US in 2010.
Instead of fretting about the Holy Roman Empire which has about as much chance of returning as Babe Ruth has of suiting up for the Red Sox, you might want to give a thought to the coming marginalization and persecution of Christians in this country. That's the real issue.
This is a total non issue and a straw man.
"And they rescinded the video in question in this blog post and apologized for its erroneous content."
It would be very helpful if you could provide a link to the actual apology. Your link only goes to the site.
Thanks for the comment.
The church also mentions eunuchs.
*Cue scary music as all male non-Catholic freepers cover their...
"you are using three non-Catholic sources"
Err... do you mean they are not Catholics? They seem to think they are Catholics. Other Catholics seem to think so to. Why would they have those sites if they are not Catholics. I think I'll take their own word for what they over what you say they are.
To the author of the Declaration of Independence, meanwhile, Catholics represented a profound threat to the fledgling American republic.
"History furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government," Thomas Jefferson wrote. "In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty."
"If you or anyone else wants to know if the head of the Vatican City State has the agenda of restoring the Holy Roman... READ what the current Pope has said."
I'm quite sure there are no such intentions, but I'm also quite sure if there were, the Pope would not be writing them down for the world to read.
What???? - the "Holy Roman Empire" did exist, but how exactly does the fact that it is cited in a Catholic Encyclopedia mean the Pope is on a mission to create a Catholic Dictatorship????
If you do not accept the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, if you do not accept the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and if you do not acknowledge the Pope's teaching authority - well, you can call yourself whatever you want, but you're still not a Catholic.
That's not how it works.
I think Ill take their own word for what they over what you say they are.
Brilliant statement.
Hank Kerchief, I am the Emperor of North America and I am royally assessing you a fine of $10,000.
If anyone says that I am not the Emperor of North America and that you do not owe me any money, remember: you have to take my word for what I say I am over anyone who would contradict me.
"He [Plinio Correa de Oliveira] does not speak for the Church ..."
The there is nothing in the article that says he does; but, he certainly speaks for himself as a Catholic, and for all those Catholics who agree with him.
He was not a Catholic, he was a heretic who allowed his small group of followers to teach that his (Oliveira's) mother was a quasi-divine being and that he himself was a divine being (known as "The Axiological Principle").
Oliveira was, putting it mildly, a troubled individual.
But why stop at Oliveira?
There is a guy who lives in his mom's basement in Delia, KS named David Bawden. But he claims that he is Pope Michael I and that Benedict XVI is an impostor.
Why not cite him as a source, too?
I'm holding out for the Holy Baptist Empire to be headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Actually I am interested in why the Catholic Church is both a political system, with its own sovereign state, ambassadors, political leader, etc. and a religious system, with the same leader as its political leader. The only reason I can see is they want both political power and religious power in the world. WHich is exactly what Islam has.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord,we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be be side ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that He died for all, that they which live not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconcilation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:10-21)
Catholic monarchists are a bunch of loonies.
But still, they're talking about a state church and not a theocracy.
The Protestants were the only ones who were really big on theocracy. Look at Calvin. Look at the English Puritans who overran the Anglicans (members of the state church). And it didn't work for them either.
"Instead of fretting about the Holy Roman Empire which has about as much chance of returning as Babe Ruth has of suiting up for the Red Sox, you might want to give a thought to the coming marginalization and persecution of Christians in this country. That's the real issue."
I have.
Defending Christianity and Christians:
Opposing the normalization of homosexuality
It is not a political system. Like any other church, even down to the Unitarians, the Catholic Church has its own internal laws and its moral laws.
The Catholic Church has never been the same as the civil ruler, and in fact, the reason that many Catholics died was because of the conflicts between the civil ruler and Church authorities.
Henry VIII tried to establish himself as both the civil and religious ruler, but that didn't work because Christianity can't work that way, so all he really did was make Anglicanism the state church with the king or queen of England as its head.
The Catholic Church has NO civil power. The only place it has any power is the Vatican, which is a tiny fictional state composed mainly of a handful of clergy and religious that was set up to defend Catholic sites - such as St Peter's Basilica - from secular powers that were trying to absorb or even destroy them.
"you have to take my word for what I say"
Well, no, I don't have to take anyone's word about anything. I chose to take their word about what they believe they are over what you believe they are.
If you don't see any difference between someone saying what their religion is and someone saying they are Emperor or North America, I think you have a problem.
Wow, nice to know that the loons I encounter elsewhere are just as loony about Catholicism as they are about science!
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2011 Mazda Tribute for Sale in Edmonton, Alberta
2011 Mazda Tribute
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