Contractor bosses criticise Stride over IR35 reform comments

APSCo, IPSE and Qdos take issue with the financial secretary to the Treasury.

Training tax rules 'should be uniform for one-person traders'

A single way to treat courses no matter how attendees freelance is fairer, chancellor told.

Treasury takes over 'extend off-payroll rules' rhetoric

The officials who can decide to widen April's rules talk of 'fairness' and 'unchecked behaviour.'

Tax simplification unit has VAT in its sights

Three ways to ease Value Added Tax's complexity said to be incoming.

Desirable people's allure 'limited to desirable jobs'

The unattractive are a shoo-in for uninteresting work, at the expense of the good-looking.

Desirable people's allure 'limited to desirable jobs'

The unattractive are a shoo-in for uninteresting work, at the expense of the good-looking.

What HMRC's Jim Harra doesn't get about IR35 reform

Blinkered and naïve, the Revenue is digging a deeper hole for itself.

Brits with offshore interests risk 200% tax penalties

Less than a year to correct UK tax issues or filings for your offshore matters.

What HMRC's Jim Harra doesn't get about IR35 reform

Blinkered and naïve, the Revenue is digging a deeper hole for itself.

Brits with offshore interests risk 200% tax penalties

Less than a year to correct UK tax issues or filings for your offshore matters.

Contractors' Questions: How to pay a contractor for a one-off job in Ireland?

‘It's the contractor who requires a tax clearance certificate, not the UK umbrella.'

Brexit uncertainty prompts IT contractor 'lock-ins'

Conditions for IT contractors improving despite EU ambiguity, or perhaps because of it.

'More than just IR35 to fear in Autumn Budget'

Other anti-contractor measures, affecting take-home pay, regarded as just as likely.

'Uppal should take on tax too, not just late payers'

A true champion of small businesses would tackle IR35 and the dividend tax, says Qdos.

MPs told of bankruptcy risk for EBT users

Appeal for HMRC to be 'sympathetic,' despite its 'business as usual' stance.

Low salary-high dividend payments soar

Contractors' preferred way to pay spreads to the general economy, beating forecasts five-fold.

3 Ways to Keep Good Employees

They say that good help is hard to find. And while that is very true, it is even truer that good help is hard to keep. It becomes even more true when it is referring to startups. And that is just one of the challenges startups have to face. By its very nature, a startup is an unproven venture. Quality help will want certain assurances such as:

• There will be ongoing work tomorrow, and into the future
• They will be paid adequately, and on time
• There is room to grow with the company

Startups can’t really promise any of that. They are surviving on venture capitol, one round at a time. If you are going to convince a top engineer working for one of the major tech companies to jump ship and work for you, there are some things you will need to have in your favor.

You will need a big idea that feels like an inevitable sure thing. Or, you will need an important idea that makes other jobs seem trivial by comparison. And even with those things, you are going to need a heck of a sales pitch that allows your prospective employee to catch the vision you have for the future.

To keep them, you are going to need at least three more things:

Recognition

Regardless of the amount of money you pay, no one wants to feel their efforts are being taken for granted. Trophies are just one form of recognition that is used from youth sports events to awards for top entertainers, and everything in between. There is no reason your company shouldn’t use them as visible tokens of recognition for a job well done.

This type of recognition takes the guesswork and anxiety out of the age-old question, how are things going with this job? Visible signs of recognition and achievement are tangible ways of knowing that things are going well. And when a person knows for certain what it is they did right, they will be eager to repeat the action, and do it even better the next time.

Authority

There are things more important than money. Many people quit high-paying jobs to strike out on their own. They might even work for someone else for lower pay if it gives them the responsibility and authority over an aspect of the job they really care about.

To keep your best employees, you are going to have to give them some amount of authority over an aspect of what they are doing. Authority is about trust. It is about independence. When you give a person authority, you are saying that you trust them enough to make sound decisions about important things.

There are few draws more enticing than authority. The one in authority also is the one with the responsibility. We do our best work when the work really matters. Many people thrive on responsibility. And they will work harder and stay later to prove themselves worthy of that trust. If you want to keep great talent, give them authority.

Advancement

No one wants to think they are stuck in a dead-end job. Doing the same job year after year is not especially stable nor comforting to the one stuck doing that job. For one, the world changes. And you have to change with it. If you never expand your usefulness to the company beyond that for which you were hired, you will have nowhere to go when that job is eventually reduced or eliminated.

Second, if the company never sees you as worthy of more responsibility, that is a problem. And it usually ends badly. Don’t leave your best workers languishing in a state of stagnation. Make sure they understand that they are not only appreciated, but that they can advance within the company. If they have no chance of upward mobility, they will opt for outward mobility.

Good help is hard to find. But when you do, be sure to keep it by offering recognition, authority, and advancement. If you don’t, your competitors most certainly will.

Saving on the Costs to Run Heavy Machinery

Heavy machinery is costly for any company that needs to deploy it. Moving it can require separate trucking and use always carries a cost downstream. Planning ahead for the worst case scenario is a smart idea, but there are small steps you can take every day to ensure equipment lasts well into the future.

More Durable Equipment

One of the best ways to cut costs is by ensuring that the parts most at risk for wear over time remain strong for as long as possible. It’s unreasonable to stop work or to try alternative methods to reduce degradation, but an overlay plate could add extra layers of durability.

Plating your materials, and your machinery, allows it to last far longer under intense conditions. Some plating can withstand extreme heat, while other forms are built for heavy impact or resistance to abrasion. Whatever the primary source of degradation, you can find a way to protect from it and extend the life of parts. Weigh the costs of reinforcing your machinery with better equipment and you may find the difference in yearly repairs is less.

Cutting Maintenance

There are two things you can do in your day-to-day operations that will help reduce the need for frequent maintenance. The first is to adopt checklists of everything you do. These checklists tie into the next point about training operators, but their function is primarily to observe everything is in running order and to try and catch problems before they become serious and lead to downtime.

The second way to cut maintenance is to perform daily inspections. Put those checklists to work with daily inspections, and make sure you’re testing for the problems that may crop up when machinery is dormant. If you maintain good contact with your dealer, or with your maintenance person, a thorough visual inspection can uncover wear in places your workers aren’t coming into contact with on a regular basis.

Train Your Operators Well

When operators follow best practices, they reduce the odds of accidental damage from misuse. If your machinery is equipped with the right monitoring equipment, you can pinpoint specific issues where additional training is needed.

This equips employees with important skills they will use for the future, and it ensures your equipment isn’t used beyond its functional lifespan. However, training is an investment in both time and money. Don’t waste it; audit your training programs to be sure you’re providing up-to-date information employees can use on a practical level.

Form a Downtime Plan

Have a plan for downtime, which is inevitable. This is your time to run errands, follow up with clients or contacts you haven’t spoken to in a while, or concentrate on training. Improving the business in ways outside of actual work holds a great deal of value.

Think about ways you might grow your business, or keep a running list of the small tasks you can’t get to. When downtime occurs, start ticking items off of that list.

Final Considerations

Budgeting for repair is a good idea, but make sure you set aside some cash for rental equipment and other unforeseen consequences. It helps to buy quality parts that carry guarantees on usage as well. Quality parts almost always make up for the cost in their long-term use.

It’s also helpful to look at your options for leasing or renting equipment as well, especially if you’re expanding. The demand for business isn’t always predictable, but keeping a budget for leasing helps protect you from that risk.

NHS regulator faces IR35 legal challenge

Off-payroll rule implementation was 'unlawful,' NHS unions allege.

Alert over 'very confusing' October tax deadline

Guidance, examples and a calculator called for to cut through complexity.

New scam impersonates VAT form to deliver malware

Crooks exploit HMRC's fault-finding reputation, to get you clicking on an illusion.

TfL blames IR35 changes for project delay

First public body to ban PSCs is now the first to suggest its services to taxpayers will suffer.

Why it's perilous to put all BBC PSCs in the dock

The press pack's reporting of the Glenister case is wrong, unhelpful and dangerous.

Limited company actor faces £150,000 tax bill

BBC Hustle star says he's the victim of a cash grab -- over his employment status.

Hammond wants a 'bold' Autumn Budget 2017

Chancellor tipped to go big on November 22nd, making IR35 reform a firmer prospect.

Why Brand Consistency Matters

Although branding is a word often used in marketing, its meaning has changed over time. Initially, it was used by cattle ranchers to identify their cattle.

Later, it was somewhat synonymous with “trademark,” a label to inform a consumer about the manufacturer of a product. For instance, Coca-Cola is a carbonated beverage made by the Coca-Cola Company.

In today’s world, branding has acquired an even more subtle meaning: it’s a way of influencing perception. For instance, Coca-Cola is not just the name of a soda. It’s a carbonated beverage that offers the distinct flavor and taste of a secret formula patented by the Coca-Cola Company. A branded name is now associated with the unique qualities of a product.

Once you understand that branding is linked to consumer perception, one shaped through public relation and advertising campaigns, it becomes clear why maintaining brand consistency, especially for companies just starting out.

Without a brand name, you risk confusing your product with other similar, generic products. Consequently, your company name, brand color scheme, logo design, etc should be the same across all sales platforms, advertising, and promotions. For example, if you’re at a trade show, your POP displays, point of purchase display signs, should be in harmony with existing brand graphics and imagery. Branding consistency will help consumers quickly identify your business and product line.

Think of a Brand as an Asset

An asset is something that is useful and offers value, often monetary value.In that sense, a brand is an asset.

Since consumer view one more brand favorably than other producers in an industry, they are more likely to buy their products over and over again. For instance, people who favor the Apple brand are convinced that its technology is superior to all other computer manufacturers. According to Wired, however, Apple gained marketing traction because of its superb marketing: “Sculley marketed Apple like crazy, boosting the advertising budget from $15 million to $100 million.”

Although perception is intangible, it can be your business’s most important asset. If you make a distinctly superior product, name recognition will help you differentiate your product from everything else available in your niche.

Branding creates a sense of connection between your company and a customer. People who like your brand will consistently purchase your product and recommend it to others. In return, your business will have an to identify the demographics and psychographics of people who like your product. Understanding your audience’s preferences makes it easier to get feedback on what improvements to make and what new products to roll out.

Why Stay Consistent

Although your organization may still maintain the same core values and mission purpose, as well as continue to produce high-quality products, inconsistency with branding will weaken its image. Once you’ve developed a strong brand, you have to be consistent—otherwise, you’ll begin to lose market share.

2 Big Branding Mistakes to Avoid

When companies are inconsistent about their branding, particularly one that they’ve spent a long time developing, it’s usually because they either change their business name or their branding elements.

1. Changing a business name:  Once you’ve found the perfect name for your business and begun to develop your brand avoid changing the name because you’ve discovered an even better name. Resist this creative impulse because it comes with certain attendant risks: loss of established marketing equity, consumer confusion, and high expenses to advertise the name change. Sometimes a name change may be warranted if a company wants to change its business model, enter a new market, or because of an acquisition or merger. However, unless, there are strong reasons for changing a name, it’s not a good idea.
2. Changing branding elements: When a company becomes national or international, it has to clearly communicate its various branding elements to all its branch offices so that they can be accurately replicated in all marketing materials. If it fails to do this, then creative ideas and cultural influence will make it difficult for consumers to recognize the original brand.

In the final analysis, without a brand, it’s difficult to differentiate your product from other similar products; however, with a strong brand, you’ll be able to get your share of a marketplace and build a large following of brand enthusiasts over time.

Limited company actor faces £150,000 tax bill

BBC Hustle star says he's the victim of a cash grab -- over his employment status.

Hammond wants a 'bold' Autumn Budget 2017

Chancellor tipped to go big on November 22nd, making IR35 reform a firmer prospect.

No Patience for Patients? Here are the Medical Jobs for You

The medical field is one of the most sought after career paths in the world. If you think about the job most associated with helping other people, a physician will likely be the first thing that comes to mind. Becoming a doctor is one of the noblest things a person can do with their lives.

It is also one of the better-paying jobs you can do regardless of where in the world you happen to live. While it is true that some lineman whose name you don’t know, on a losing NFL team, with a mediocre career likely makes more than the average doctor, that player’s career will be short and brutish. And at the end of it, he will need to spend what money he has saved on seeing a good doctor.

Not only is being a doctor a noble job and one of the highest paying jobs, it is also one of the most respected jobs. There is much esteem associated with saving lives. That said, there are many people who would love to contribute to that cause, but who have an aversion to close contact with, well, people. The good news is that there are many ways to contribute to the healing arts without becoming a doctor. Here are 5.

1. Pharmacist

You probably felt like a pharmacist the first time you used one of those online pill identifier tools to help a loved one figure out what those pills were. You know, the ones in the bottle with the worn out label. It is the feeling you get when you help someone sort out a medical issue without the 12 years of school.

That feeling might lead you to pursue formal pharmacy career training. The average annual salary for a pharmacist is over $112,000.

2. Lab Technician

A lab technician can expect to make $37,000 on average. But that can go up to $60,000 annually depending on a number of factors. The medical industry runs on labs. A doctor cannot make an informed decision about anything before taking a swab and sending it to the lab for analysis. If you happen to be the one providing that analysis, you will have a huge impact on every aspect of a person’s healthcare.

3. Hospital Administration

A well-run hospital saves more lives than a poorly run hospital. We tend to see hospitals as utilities. But hospitals are also businesses. They have to be profitable, well-staffed, well-equipped, and extremely well-financed. Hospital administrator is one of the many jobs you can do that does not require direct patient contact.

A hospital administrator can expect to make around $237,000. Other hospital executives tend to earn much more than top-paid surgeons. Hospitals can’t save lives if they go bankrupt and close their doors. So if you are thinking of going into business, why not the business of saving lives?

4. Medical Transcriptionist

You know all those recordings doctors make full of incomprehensible terms, someone has to comprehend them, and write them down in a usable form. That is primarily the job of a medical transcriptionist. Depending on the program it should take no longer than two years, and could take as little as 6 months to complete training. A High-school diploma or GED is the only other prerequisite. Expect to make about $37,000

5. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Health records are meaningless if not properly ordered and maintained. That is primarily the job of a health records technician. Billing and coding is a subset of that work. Some employers will require an associate’s degree. That generally takes two years. Some programs only require a certificate that can be obtained in less than one year. One can expect about $38,000 on average.

You don’t have to spend your days scrubbing for surgery in order to help people. You can be a pharmacists, a lab tech, a hospital administrator, a transcriptionist, or a records tech. Either way, you are still doing something quite noble. You are still making money. And you are doing highly respectable work.

Expat contractors twice as likely to face HMRC scrutiny

Taxman's tie-ups to get data automatically are making him probe more, not less.

Late payment tsar has his work cut out – poll

One-person firms unware of the 'SBC,' and unconvinced the state is serious.

Public sector IT: what's afoot for contractor skills

There's a three-fold story unfolding, and part of it features a 30% rate increase.

Contractors' Questions: Can I remove company address if I'm in danger?

Desperate and under threat, but one limited company boss can still take action.

Contractors' Questions: Is my agency right to say I must be a brolly?

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Contractors to have their say on GDPR contracts

Your last chance to discuss data protection guarantees, before you have to make them.

Contractors' Questions: How to file accounts for a dormant company?

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IT contractor demand grows despite no September bounce

Very hot August for IT contractors made last month miss its normal trajectory.

Choosing a Limited Company Accountant

Everything you need to know about finding the right accountant for your limited company.

HMRC accused of peddling IR35 'propaganda'

Top taxman goes on the offensive over the off-payroll rules, but he's on the backfoot -- again.

Paul Uppal MP appointed Small Business Commissioner

Former businessman with 20 years' experience hired as the UK's late payment tsar.

Public sector IT: what's afoot for contractor skills

There's a three-fold story unfolding, and part of it features a 30% rate increase.

Contractors' Questions: Can I remove company address if I'm in danger?

Desperate and under threat, but one limited company boss can still take action.

Contractors' Questions: Is my agency right to say I must be a brolly?

Fibbing or following policy? One unsure MoD contractor gets help on his agency's claims.

Contractors to have their say on GDPR contracts

Your last chance to discuss data protection guarantees, before you have to make them.

Contractors' Questions: How to file accounts for a dormant company?

Top tips for when you don't want to pay an accountant 'just to enter a zero.'

IT contractor demand grows despite no September bounce

Very hot August for IT contractors made last month miss its normal trajectory.