By Natasha Lomas, 29 October 2007 14:35
NEWS
The UK's 4.5 million small businesses are keen for the government to do more to help them grow.
A report from BT Business reveals almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of SMEs believe the government could do more, compared to just seven per cent that think ministers are already doing all they can.
SMEs are particularly keen for government to simplify regulations: 74 per cent think this would improve their prospects, while a reduction in business-related taxes would also be useful according to 70 per cent of the businesses polled. Meanwhile, half of SMEs think government could offer greater incentives for small businesses.
The BT report - entitled The State of the Small Business Nation - also highlights areas SMEs feel they lack expert knowledge. These include finance (37 per cent), HR (30 per cent) and sales and marketing (25 per cent).
The report divides SMEs into three categories: start-ups, home-based businesses and growing companies - and found that across all three categories the key priority is growing the business. It also found 60 per cent of new businesses are started from home.
Comments
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1. Richard Davies
Complicated is not the word! I have to spend £800 per year on an accountant to process my year end because the forms etc. are just so complicated.
That is £800 that could be put to much better use.
I wonder how much is spent in the UK per year on paying people to fill out forms / navigate a company through the nightmare that is dealing with government legislation.
Heres a good one for you...'its not illegal to avoid paying tax, its just illegal to evade paying tax'.
This statement highlights the problem perfectly...if you have the money in the first place, then you can hire someone to basically bend the system to get what you want and then the people who can't afford it have to follow the default and pay more!!!
This world stinks as our systems are becoming increasingly unfair!
2. Richard
Not true of freelance businesses:
Some freelance businesses may want to grow but most want to remain as agile one or two person businesses.
Until wrecked by New Labour - in policies apparently driven by ignorance & envy - the flexibility of the freelance sector did much to help larger UK businesses to compete and to provide UK jobs..
Most of these freelance businesses simply want an end to government interference and to pointless restrictions on their work; they want to be allowed to return to what they do best - providing their expertise in the way which best serves their clients; without the continual threat of ever changing, poorly defined taxation.
So, we need the immediate end to stupid regulations such as IR35 and S660 etc.; an end to constant tinkering with corporation tax, national insurance and capital tax rates.
Government interference has already forced many highly skilled people to close their freelance businesses or restrict their activities. Unless stopped, the proposed changes to CGT etc. will persuade even more to close before the large tax rises due in April 2008.
3. Roger Huffadine
Growth is one thing & frequently bad for SMEs. Government help to cut red tape is another thing completely and shouldn't even be considered in the same survey. I have the skill & resources to start another business but it isn't worth it these days because of all the government imposed bullshit. Strip away the 95% crap that inhibits start ups and you would see many more start ups succeeding.