With the New Year fast approaching this is a great time to stop, take a breath, and think of where you want your business to go in the future.

Our personal New Years resolutions are seldom kept. We promise ourselves that we will kick a bad habit, save money or get into shape. Most of us know (if we are truly honest) that we will never keep our resolutions but it makes us feel better just to make them!

When making your business resolutions keep them realistic and choose the ones that are right for you. It’s easy to get caught up in picking resolutions based on what the people around us are telling us to do. Unrealistic resolutions will only leave you frustrated and disappointed in yourself. …

For small businesses growing beyond one outlet can be difficult and expensive. The more you grow the more capital you need. Franchising your business can be a good way of expanding yet keeping costs minimal.

So how does franchising work? Well, to start with, your business needs to be successful. Nobody will want to franchise a business from you if it doesn’t make money. A franchised business needs to generate enough profit to make money for both the franchisee and you. …

When new entrepreneurs are trying to get their business off the ground, they are juggling so many balls in the air, that putting structured policies in place may not be the first thing on their mind.

However, when the time comes to hire their first employee, most entrepreneurs spend the time needed to put a formal contract in place – including a written holiday policy. …