site support navigationpage contentuseful information navigation

Business guides  Managing your business

Running your own business requires a wide range of skills; you will need to be able to cope with competition and negotiate deals with suppliers.

Management skills

Management skills – how to identify your needs and manage change

This guide looks at developing your management skills and managing change - two areas that are critical for any business owner to master.

Management skills – marketing and sales

This guide provides a general introduction to marketing and selling in your business.

Time management

One of the keys to the success of your business is to maximise the time you spend on activities which add the most value.

Managing stress

How can stress affect you and what can you do to overcome it?

Growing your business

Growing your business – is it right for you?

Growth is a sign of success and ambition, but with it comes responsibility, potentially greater liability and as yet unseen pressures.

Planning to grow your business – where to start and what to consider

This guide will help you determine whether you and your business are ready for growth.

How to manage change, even in a long-established business

Significant change may be planned or forced upon you. This guide provides information to help you cope with change.

Coping with competition

There is always a competitor lurking in the wings ready to try and entice your customers away with a special offer, lower price or promise of better service.

How to achieve a competitive advantage

Competitive advantage does not necessarily mean lower prices; the key is to find other ways to make customers want to buy from you.

Planning

How can I protect my business from risk?

Businesses face many hazards but getting the right insurance could help protect you against many of them.

Contingency planning and crisis management

For any business, large or small, the worst thing that can happen is an unexpected event that stops you trading or drives your customers away.

Taking time to see the wood for the trees – planning ahead

Regular reviews of your long-term goals and business strategy are vital to the overall running of your business.

Planning for hard times

It's easy to thrive in business when the economy is booming. However, you can find yourself facing hard times with a business which isn't properly prepared for survival.

Exit planning – knowing when and how to call it a day

This guide identifies how you should go about planning for the day when you decide enough is enough.

Negotiating a better deal

How to negotiate better deals from your suppliers

There are many ways you can acheive cost reduction, from supplier selection to better negotiation.

Getting the right deal – negotiating skills

Many prices in business are not fixed, either for buying or selling. There are also countless arrangements, terms and conditions that are negotiable.

Finding the right utility provider

Whether you're starting your business from scratch or moving to new premises you'll need to organise the supply of basic utilities.

How to find the right professional adviser

A professional adviser may be key to the success of your business so you need to ensure you will be able to work well with them and trust their advice.

Importing and exporting

Importing supplies successfully

This guide looks at the benefits of importing, then takes you through the various requirements, processes and customs practices you need to consider.

How do I go about exporting? And how can I minimise the risks?

Companies always face a degree of risk when they decide to start exporting, but the rewards for those who compete successfully are considerable.

Let us help you

I'd like to open an account
Whether you are starting a new business or moving your existing account from another bank we have an account to suit your needs.