Small businesses now demand a multitude of ways to talk to clients, customers and suppliers. Communication solutions incorporating phone, email, video conferencing and instant messenger are now a normality in todays world. Gone are the days of landline telephones and fax machines.

Clients and customers now expect convenient, reliable and quick ways to interact with your business. If your communications systems such as phone systems, voice, mobile, data and network infrastructure aren’t up to the task then you could be losing clients.

As an accredited reseller of phone systems to organisations across a variety of industries, we pride ourselves on our product knowledge, seamless system implementation and industry leading customer aftercare.

From cloud-based voice over IP (VOIP) phone systems, on-premises private Branch exchange (PBX) systems to mobile-based systems, rest assured we have a telephone system to suit your business.

Benefits of voice over IP phone systems for small businesses.

• Improve your workforce’s communication with functions such as direct dialling, conferencing, menu call routing and dialling.
• Save money on calling with our cloud based VOIP system meaning you spend less on hardware and maintenance.
• Help your business move forward and support flexible working with a up to date solution.
• Maximise you office workspace and declutter your desk with a new phone system.
• Simplify billing across landline and mobile solutions with one monthly invoice.
• Bring new staff up to speed quickly with minimal training and an easy to use phone systems.
• UK-based help desks provide you with a single point of contact and ongoing support.

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Often in the world of inks and toners things aren’t as simple as they could be. In fact, you’ll probably find there are a few grey areas! (pun intended)

In this article we’ll try to bust a few myths about the cartridge supplies industry, explore the different types of ink and toner cartridges available and explain how they can help your business.

Original Toners and Ink Cartridges.

Original toners and ink are, as the name suggests, “original” and made by the original manufacturer of the equipment or OEM, if you want to sound really smart at dinner parties.

These types of cartridge will often have a live patent protecting the cartridge’s design which means other manufacturers won’t be able to make copies of the cartridge.

As a general rule you can’t go wrong with original inks and toners. They’re reliable, offer good toner yield however are considerably more expensive than their compatible and remanufactured counterparts.

Tip: When ordering ink or toner cartridges online check your cartridge arrives wrapped in the manufacturer’s original packaging. If it doesn’t then it’s probably not an original product.

Compatible Toners and Ink Cartridges.

Compatible cartridges, otherwise known as generic cartridges will also work with your equipment. Just like original cartridges, compatible cartridges are made from new, however they’ve not been made by the original equipment manufacturer.

Compatible cartridges are often produced when the original equipment manufacturer fails to secure a patent or their current patent expires. This allows other manufacturers to design and release compatible cartridges onto the market.

You’re far more likely to find compatible inks and toner cartridges of equipment that’s been on the market for a few years.

Compatible inks and toners are a considerably more cost effective option when compared to original cartridges. The majority of companies in the print industry claim you can save up to 30% on your printing costs, so it’s definitely worth looking into.

Quality and toner yield can vary with compatible cartridges. To combat this some compatible manufacturers offer a warranty or quality guarantee giving you reassurance that you’re buying a quality product.

Remanufactured Toners and Ink Cartridges.

Remember that “grey area” we spoke about earlier? Well, this is it! Remanufactured toner cartridges, also know as recycled or refilled cartridges are the “second hand car sale” of the cartridge world.

What I mean by that is you can still get very good value for money however quality does vary so there are a few things you’ll have to look out for.

Remanufactured, recycled and refilled cartridges are not a new original product.

Recycled cartridges are made from reusing the parts and components of pre existing toner cartridges. There is no specific remanufacturing process used to create a recycled toner cartridge.

Refilled cartridges are named after the remanufacturing process used to make them. To refill a cartridge the manufacturer will drill or punch a hole to gain access to the toner or ink container. They then refill the container with new ink or toner. Once the container is refilled the last step is to seal the hole. Some manufacturers will replace components in a refilled cartridge to help extend its duty cycle.

Cheap ink and toner cartridges will often be a refilled cartridge as they’re relatively inexpensive to manufacture when compared to making originals. You can see significant savings, however quality and reliability can be compromised. Remember, the original cartridge was never designed for remanufacturing or to exceed its original duty cycle.

Managed Print Service – MPS

Tip: If you have a contract or managed print service (MPS) agreement for the printers and photocopiers in your office we suggest you read the terms and conditions of your service agreement as these will often dictate the type of consumables you’re permitted to use in your equipment.

Frequently asked questions:

Should I use original toner and ink cartridges in my printer?

Can I use compatible toners in my printer?

Which type of ink or toner cartridge is best for my business?

Should I use cheap ink and toner in my printer?

The post Original, Compatible or Refurbished Ink & Toner Cartridges appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Mono printers, laser printer and desktop printers are often a more cost effective way of printing for small businesses.

When it comes to deciding which printers to buy for your office things can easily become confusing. After all, there are so many different printer manufacturers and types of printer to choose from. In this article we will explain the different types of printer and the various uses and applications as each printer technology was designed and developed for a specific use.

Desktop printers

Desktop printers are designed to fit into small office spaces, they’re relatively cheap printers to buy and are also lightweight so will comfortably sit on your desk. They are not however, designed for printing a large volumes, you’ll need a photocopier for that. The majority of desktop printers will print on A4 paper in mono (black and white) and colour. Some desktop printers can print on A3 paper.

Tip: Whilst cheap desktop printers look like a cost effective option on the surface, we suggest you look at the ongoing running costs for buying ink, toner or other consumables. 

Mono printers

Mono printers are extremely cost effective as they only print in black and white. As a general rule the cost per copy or cost per print for a mono print is ten times cheaper than a colour cost per print. Most mono printers tend to be laser printers as the laser technology is perfect for printing black text, making them ideal for office printing.

Colour printers

The majority of colour printers will print in colour as well as black and white. The best type of printers for colour printing are inkjet printers. They’re cheap printers to buy, they can print on multiple types of paper, and are brilliant at printing high quality photos or images.

Laser printers

Laser printers use a technology whereby a laser beam is passed over a negatively charged cylinder or “drum” to define a positive and negatively charged image. The drum then collects electrically charged powdered ink (also called toner), which transfers the image onto the paper. The paper is then heated to permanently fuse the text or imagery.

Laser printers are affordable as they typically offer a lower cost per print than inkjet printers or other types of desktop printer and therefore have lower ongoing running costs. However initial cost of a laser printer is typically higher than an inkjet printer.

Laser printers are especially effective in office printing or home printing environments as they can print much faster than inkjet printers and can handle larger volumes of print.

Laser printers were the first developed by Xerox. They were the first printer and photocopier manufacturer to develop laser printing technology and released the original Xerox laser printer in the 1970s.

Tip: Laser printers and inkjet printers don’t perform well in cold conditions so if you work in a garage, workshop or warehouse you might want to look at dot matrix printers as an alternative print solution.

Inkjet printers

Inkjet printers are cheap printers to buy. You can pick up cheap printers for around £30, however inkjet printers cost per page or cost per print is usually higher than a laser printer. Also, the cost of replacing ink cartridges over time does add up, so the overall running costs are usually higher.

Inkjet printers are capable of printing on multiple materials such as paper, gloss paper, card and even some textiles. If you want to print colour photos or images then inkjet printers are the best option as they provide a better quality finish and better colour definition.

Most inkjet printers on the market come with built in WiFi, meaning no more wired connections which makes it easier to setup for office printing or home printing environments. Inkjet printers are typically found in the home, have low capacity paper trays and are designed for lower volumes of printing.

LED printers

LED printers use a similar technology to laser printers. The difference with LED print technology is it uses a light-emitting diode as a light source in the printhead instead of the laser. LEDs are more efficient and reliable than laser printers, as they have less moving parts, which reduces mechanical wear on the machine. Some LED printers will produce faster print speeds than laser printers so they’re effective for printing large volumes and office printing. Oki printers tend to use LED technology.

Dot Matrix Printers

Dot matrix printers are excellent for working in cold conditions such as a garage, warehouse or workshop. This is because dot matrix printers physically mark the paper instead of warming ink or fusing toner onto the paper which can be very tricky to achieve in colder climates.

Label printers

Label printers are different to ordinary printers. With a label printer they need to be able to handle rolled stock, or tear sheet (fanfold) stock. It’s because of this that the majority of label printers have a special feed mechanism attached to the printer. Label printers have a wide variety of applications, such as retail price marking and packaging labels.

Brother Label Printers and labellers tend to be the most widely used labelling solution for small businesses from a range of sectors, including healthcare, hospitality and retail.

Thermal printers

Thermal printers produce a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper, or thermal paper. The paper passes over the thermal printers print head which turns the paper coating black in the areas where it is heated, producing the image. Two-colour thermal printers can print both black and red colour by applying heat at different temperatures.

Wide format printers for printing posters. 

Wide format printers use inkjet technology for high-quality printing. Wide format printers can print banners, posters, trade show graphics, vehicle image wraps, architectural and construction  drawings and large format signage. Some of the most common large format printers are manufactured by Canon, Epson, HP and Oce. Wide format printers typically print onto a roll of print media as opposed to individual sheets enabling continuous workflow solutions.

Printer repairs and servicing near me. 

If someone in the office starts yelling “fix my printer” then it’s time to get on the phone to the printer repair guys. 

Printer repairs works in a very similar way to photocopier repairs. There’s usually a call out charge and an hourly rate charge for any printer repair service. The cost of fixing your printer can vary depending on the and your chosen printer maintenance company or the level of printer support in any ongoing printer maintenance agreement. 

If you have a limited budget then you can always refer to the printer manufacturer’s website for additional printer maintenance information, printer advice and printer care tips.  

Common laser printers, mono printers and desktop printers. 

Brother printers, Canon printers, Epson printers, Dell printers, HP printers, Konica Minolta printers, Kyocera printers, Lexmark printers, Oki printers, Samsung printers, Sharp printers, Xerox printers, Ricoh printers,

Printer Names

Kyocera Printers – Kyocera ECOSYS

Canon Printers – Canon MAXIFY, Canon i-SENSYS,

HP Printers – OfficeJet Pro, PageWide, LaserJet Pro, DesignJet

Printers, laser printers and desktop printers jargon explained.

MPS – MPS is the acronym for managed print services, (It is also used for managed print solutions.)

OEM’s – OEM’s stands for original equipment manufacturers. Some well known printer and copier manufacturers are Canon, Xerox and HP.

MFP’s – An MFP is a multi functional printer

MFD’s – An MFD is a multi functional device

TVP – TVP stands for total volume plan. A TVP contract works in a similar way to your personal mobile phone contract whereby you pay for a set volume of prints each month combined with the leasing cost of the photocopier.

Scan to email – Scan to email function allow you to email documents to yourself or to another recipient directly from your Internet-connected printer or photocopier.

Fax – Fax is very similar to an email attachment. Most people assume fax is a dieing form of communication, stuck in the dark ages or only used by dinosaurs, however in some sectors such as banking and finance, sending a fax is still widely used.  

Paper trays – A paper tray is the tray used to store the paper for the printer. Paper trays can be designed to take A3 and A4 paper sizes. Some photocopiers have high capacity A4 tray option for office environments that produce large volumes of print.

Document feeder – A document feeder is for scanning multiple documents, it usually sits on-top of the photocopier. Document feeders can scan at different speeds so if your organisation does a lot of scanning then ensure you select a photocopier that is up to the job.

Duplex printing – Duplex, or double-sided printing means printing onto both sides of a piece of paper. Duplex printing is a particularly useful way to reduce printing costs as you’ll use half the amount of paper compared to having your photocopier or printer set to single-sided printing.

The post Mono Printers, Laser Printers & Desktop Printers appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Why buy a domain name for my small business?

A domain name is the key to building your website and doing business on a global scale. However without a memorable domain name (otherwise known as a web address), then customers could struggle to find you or remember how to get back to your website.

Free domain names and Cheap Domains.

Some domain registration companies offer a free domain name or cheap domain name with when you register a domain for the first year, however keep in mind it’s likely the price will increase after the first year term.

Find the perfect domain name for your small business.

Finding a domain name for your small business is easy. Simply run a domain name check or domain name search by entering your preferred name into the search box on any domain name registration website and see if it’s available to be registered.

Best domain name registration company?

There are hundreds of domain name registration companies to choose from and all offer a variety of services such as domain name registration, website hosting, website design, virtual private servers hosting (VPS), cloud storage and email services.

When it comes to choosing the best domain name registration company for your small business it really depends on several key things:

• Your level of experience – If you’re buying a domain name and setting up a website for the first time then you’re probably going to need some help. Whilst some domain registrars offer very competitive pricing it can be worth paying a little bit extra to ensure you get technical support when you need it. Domain name registrars GoDaddy, 123-Reg and 1and1 offer 24/7 technical support and a live chat facility so you can ask for help and get your website up and running as quickly as possible.
• The domain registrars reputation and reliability – The reputation and reliability of the domain name registrar go hand in hand. The best domain name registration companies are reliable and therefore have a good reputation. Alternatively, if the domain registrar has a poor reputation, as a general rule, they won’t be reliable. We suggest you do some research about your chosen domain registrar, read reviews, check company accounts to see how long the business has been running and try to contact them to get a true reflection of the customer service. If the reviews are bad and they‘re a relatively new business then we’d suggest you tread very carefully. 
• Additionally, be aware some domain registration companies will offer loss leading pricing, yes the price does sound good however you could be opening yourself up to a host of issues. Difficulty managing the domain name, difficulty canceling your domain, overdue invoices from the domain’s registry office, domain transfer fees. It’s just not worth the hassle!
• The domain registrars security – If you’re planning on setting up an online shop whereby you’ll be accepting payments from customers online then you will need to select a domain registrar that can provide an SSL certificate and also has an excellent security rating. Immagine if a customer were to access your site, make a purchase and have their card details stolen. What would be the knock on effect and potential damage to the reputation of your small business? Even with the best security measures, a breach can still happen, but you’ll sleep much better knowing you’ve taken every precaution to ensure everything is as secure as possible.
• Hackers will also attempt to hijack your domain name. This is where they change the registration of a domain name without the permission of its original registrant. They will then either keep your domain name for their own purposes, posting anything they want to the domain or demand a ransom to release the domain back to you. If you make the smart choice buy from a domain name company with an excellent security rating then you should be able to avoid either of these scenarios.
• Your budget – As a small business you probably won’t have a exorbitant marketing budget and naturally, you’ll want to get the most for your money. Therefore the domain registrars pricing and renewal rates are really important to consider prior to buying a domain name.

Domain registration companies such as One.com offer a free domain name when you buy website hosting or a free domain name for the first year. This is a brilliant way to get your website up and running at very little cost, however you should always calculate the ongoing running costs of your website. The last thing you need is an unexpected cost when your domain name comes up for renewal.

The cost of your domain name will depend on the domain registrar, the domain name extension you choose and how long you want to register the domain name for. Typically, it’s more cost effective to register a domain name for several years than renewing a domain name on a yearly basis.

Some domain registrars will allow you to spread the cost of your domain name, website hosting and website design over several months, usually via a monthly direct debit payment.

Leasing a domain name is another way to spread the cost of your domain name. Domain name leasing is similar to a car lease and gives a buyer (lessee) the right to temporarily use a domain name over a specified period of time. When you lease a domain name you will make periodic lease payments to the seller (lessor) typically on a quarterly or monthly basis. Most domain lease agreements have an option for the lessee to buy the domain name outright, either within the lease period or at the end of the lease term. People usually lease domain names to get access to premium (high value) names without the high upfront costs.

We have listed a few popular domain name registration companies below:

Domain names with 123-Reg – Register your domain from only £3.49 with 123-Reg the UK’s largest domain registrar.

Domain names with GoDaddy – Register with GoDaddy and get your .COM or .CO.UK domain for just 0.99*!

Domain names with Names.co.uk – Get a free .co.uk and .uk domains when you register with Names.co.uk.

Domain names with Heart Internet – Save 15% off .UK domain names at Heart Internet.

Domain names with Easyspace – Up to 50% off .me domains with Easyspace.

Domain names with One.com – Domain and web space when you order with One.com.

Domain names with 1&1 – Register domains with 1and1 Internet.

Domain names with HostGator – Register domains with HostGator.

How do I backorder a domain name?

A backorder domain name is where you pay a domain registrar to monitor your chosen domain name. When the registration of the domain name expires, the domain registrar will then purchase the domain name on your behalf.

What is an expired domain name?

An expired domain name is where a domain owner has not paid the renewal fee and the registration has expired. This could be because the domain has been forgotten or because the domain name isn’t required anymore.

What os a bulk domain registration?

A bulk domain registration is where you register multiple domain names with one domain registrar.

Domain name transfers explained.

A domain name transfer is where you move your domain name from one domain registrar to another. For example if you originally registered a domain name with Godaddy and you now want to register the domain name with 123-Reg. To do this you should get in touch with your original domain registrar. Some domain registrars can complete the domain name transfer for you, however you should be aware they may charge for this service.

Bulk domain transfers explained.

A bulk domain transfer is where you transfer multiple domain names to a new domain registrar.

What are domain name extensions?

A domain name extension is the ending of a domain name. Domain name extensions are commonly referred to as a top-level domain (TLD), suffix, or domain root. There are several types of top level domain names. Examples of country specific domain names would be .uk for the United Kingdom or .ie for Ireland. Examples of generic domain names would be .business or .website. Some of the most popular top level domain name extensions tend to be .com, .org, and .net.

To prevent others from using similar domain names and to protect a brand’s identity, many businesses will register their name with multiple domain name extensions. This can also increase online visibility and attract more visitors to their website.

Which domain name extension should I choose for my small business.

It can be tricky for any small business to decide which domain name extension to use. We’ve compiled a list of domain name extensions below for small businesses in the UK to consider before buying your business domain name.

.com domain names – Used for commercial purposes

.org domain names –  Used for organisations

.net domain names – Used for networks

.info domain names – Used for information purposes

.co.uk domain names – Used for the United Kingdom

.biz domain names – Used for business

A few questions you should ask yourself when buying a domain name and choosing a domain name extension are:

1. Is the domain name easy to remember?
2. Is the domain name easy to type?
3. What country(s) are my customers searching from?
4. Are all my customers based in the UK?
5. Are the other domain name extensions already in use?
6. What keywords are my customers likely to search for and are they in the domain name?
7. Has the domain name been used for another purpose prior to me purchasing it?

Should I use a domain broker to buy a domain name for my small business?

If the domain name you want is already registered by someone else, you can use a domain broker to attempt to acquire it for you. Domain brokers make every reasonable attempt to contact the current domain name registrant and try to negotiate its purchase. Typically, there is a minimum fee and commission charge if the domain broker is successful. If you purchase your domain name using a domain broker then your purchase is usually non-refundable and non-transferable.

What is DNS?

DNS stands for domain name system. The job of the domain name system (DNS) is to convert text based domain names such as “www.smallbusinessesresources.com” into an internet protocol addresses or IP addresses such as 46.30.213.119 so computers can identify each other on the network.

The post Domain Names, Domain Search & Domain Name Registration appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

It’s a good idea to design your own business cards with a selection of colours that are in-keeping with your company logo and company colour scheme. This will help customers identify with your brand and remember your business. If your customer is happy with your work then they may share your business cards with their family and friends, this makes business card printing a relatively cost effective way to market your business and generate new customers.

Business cards are a quick and easy way to share important contact information. Your business card should include contact details such as your name, address, telephone number, email address and company website.

Where to design your own business cards online and get free UK delivery?

MOO Business Cards

Design your own business cards.

There are many business card printing companies that allow you to design your own business cards or upload your own designs for printing. You might recognise brands such as MOO, Vistaprint and Printed.com to name a few. Typically, you can select a design from their free business card templates or design your own business cards from scratch. Multiple card stock, card shapes and finishing options are available so it’s really easy to design business cards that are unique to your business.

Next day business cards.

Many business card printing companies, such as MOO, offer next day delivery. With MOO, if you select next day business card delivery and you’ve ordered before 12pm (GMT) Monday – Friday, then your business cards will arrive the very next day.

Card types for business cards?

Card types or paper weight is measured in grams per square metre (gsm) and can vary depending on your chosen business card supplier. We’ve listed the most popular types of business cards below:

Cheap business cards – Cheap business cards are usually printed on 300gsm – 350gsm card. Cheap business cards are typically available in various finishes such as smooth matte or a shiny gloss finish and are also available with rounded corners. Companies offering business card printing services may refer to cheap business cards as original business cards, standard business cards, economy business cards or low-cost business cards.

Premium business cards – Premium business cards have strong, non-bendy properties with a soft or or high gloss finish which gives them their smooth feel. They are available with rounded corners, gold foil, spot gloss and raised spot gloss finishing options and are typically printed on 350gsm – 400gsm premium business card stock. Business card printing companies such as Vistaprint and MOO have similar products called deluxe business cards and super business cards.

Luxury business cards – Luxury business cards, otherwise known as luxe business cards or ultra thick business cards are typically printed on ultra thick 600gsm card. They have an optional seam of colour which runs through the middle of the card. If you compare these to cheap business cards, luxe business cards are the gold standard and although slightly more expensive, they’re bound to make a lasting impression. Luxe business card printing can be completed on original business cards, square business cards or Minicards dimensions.

Recycled business cards – Recycled business cards, also known as green business cards are manufactured using recycled paper. The stock is typically 325gsm, is uncoated which gives green business cards a smooth white paper look.

Plastic business cards – Plastic business cards can be printed with a variety of plastic finishes. Translucent plastic business cards, tinted plastic business cards, satin plastic business cards and full colour plastic business cards are popular finishes. Plastic business cards are difficult to tear and are considerably more durable than original business cards.

Shapes and sizes for business cards.

Standard business cards – The standard UK size for business cards is 84mm x 55mm, they have an almost endless combination of stock and finishing options and most business card holders have been designed to fit business cards of this size.

Slim business cards – Slim business cards, as you might expect, are slimmer than standard business cards at 40mm x 85mm. They will fit into a standard business card holder and can be printed with matte, glossy or linen finish.

Square business cards – Square business cards are square in shape at 65mm x 65mm and can be printed with matte, glossy or linen finish. You can also add additional finishes such as spot gloss, raised spot gloss and gold foil.

Mini business cards – Mini business cards are the smallest cards of the bunch at 70mm x 28mm. They can be printed on ultra thick 600gsm stock or standard 350gsm stock.

Rounded corner business cards – You can apply rounded corners to square business cards, mini business cards, slim business cards and standard business cards. They are usually made using a die-cutting technique to ensure the best possible quality and the corners typically have a 5mm radius.

Professional or personal uses for business cards.

Personal business cards – Personal business cards are printed with your personal contact information such as your name, address, email address and telephone number. You can also include social networks or personal websites e.g LinkedIn, Twitter or blog.

Networking business cards – Networking business cards are an excellent way to connect with new people and share contact information at networking events. The majority of people attending these events will have some sort of business card or personal business card.

Appointment business cards – Appointment business cards are ideal for dental, hairdressing, doctor and dog grooming appointments. Appointment cards remind your customers of the time and date of their appointment and give them a way to contact you when they book again.

Parent business cards – Parent business cards help you easily swap details with other parents whilst you’re out and about.

Finishing options for business cards.

Glossy finished business cards – Laminate coating is applied to the card which gives a smooth and shiny texture. Glossy finishes are great for photos and colourful business cards.

Matte finished business cards – Laminate coating is applied to the card which gives it the matte finish and eliminates glare almost completely. Matte finishes are good for readability and is easy to write on.

Silk matte business cards – A silk matte coating adds an extra layer of durability and strength to the card making the finished business cards feel thicker.

Linen finished business cards – Linen finish is a unique woven texture type feel. It works best with designs that use less ink.

Spot gloss business cards – Spot UV is an ultraviolet varnish that enhances areas of the card making the colour look richer and shine with a varnish coated feel.

Folded business cards – Various types of folding can be applied to business cards. One of the most common folding options is a single fold as it doubles the space available to put information on the card.

Metallic finished business cards – Foil is printed to give a metallic finish by using heat and pressure. Heat activates the glue on the back of the foil and pressure is used to push the foil into the card. Gold and silver are the most common foil options for metallic business cards.

Raised spot gloss business cards – Raised spot gloss is a raised spot UV which can overlay your standard design or be an invisible element on unprinted parts of your cards.

Embossed finished business cards – Embossed business cards are made through heat pressing into the card or paper without any use of ink or foil. It gives a very strong texture to your business card and in some cases can give a 3D visual effect.

Double sided business cards – Double sided business cards are printed on both sides of the card.

Gold foil business cards – Gold foil detail can be added anywhere on your business card design. It can work in combination with your standard design or you can create your business card design using gold foil.

Tips for ordering business cards.

1. Make sure you check your spelling before you submit your order.
2. Check the telephone and mobile number is correct before you submit your order.
3. Use a font greater than 10-point for easy readability when designing your own business cards.
4. Check your business card supplier will accept the file type for your design, e.g JPG, JPEG, GIF, EPS etc…

Holders for business cards.

Plastic holders for business cards – Plastic business card holders are a basic and cost effective way to stay organised and keep your business cards in good condition.

Desk holders for business cards – Desk business card holders are particularly useful when presenting business cards in your reception, office or even at trade shows. Desk business card holders make it easy for customers to pick up your contact information.

Leather holders for business cards – Leather business card holders are super soft to the touch, easy to carry and made to last. Leather business card holders are a brilliant way to keep your cards in mint condition.

Minicard holders for business cards – Mini business card holders can me made from a range of materials and are designed to carry mini business cards measuring 70mm x 28mm.

The post Design the Ultimate Business Cards for your Small Business appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Payroll can be a headache for any small business owner. Paying employees, calculating wages, commission, bonuses, taxes and HMRC checks can take it’s toll. Combine that with an outdated payroll software, repetitive tasks and hours of manual data entry and you’ll soon be looking for a better way to do things.

Online accounting software for your small business!

Payroll is a highly important task, however with a clunky system no matter how much care is taken, there’s still a chance mistakes will be made. Everyone makes mistakes, however the knock on effect can ruin the relationship, morale and loyalty of your staff. In some cases the damage is already done, so ideally you want to get your payroll right first time, every time.

Outsourced payroll services for small businesses.

Traditionally payroll software or payroll systems haven’t been particularly user friendly and if you’re the one that gets stuck with this task then it can become a bit of a chore. Typically most small business owners are rushed off their feet and payroll is definitely something you don’t want to be doing in a rush, which is why many outsource payroll to third parties or have an in-house team to manage the workload.

This is of course a more convenient option but remember you’re passing commercially sensitive information to an external business which can open up a whole can of worms regarding data protection laws. If you do choose to outsource payroll then you’ll find yourself in a strange situation where you’re paying someone to calculate how much you need to pay other people, which is bizarre!

Legal requirements for payroll UK.

UK businesses also have payroll legal requirements and obligations to abide by, such as keeping track of what is paid to staff and the deductions that are made, reports and payments made to HMRC, employee leave, sick leave and absences, tax code notices, taxable benefits and any expenses. You’ll also need a record of your payroll giving scheme documentation, including agency contract and employee authorisation forms.

You must report accurately and keep a copy of these records for 3 years from the end of the tax year they relate to. HMRC may check records to make sure you are paying the correct tax amount and if full records are not kept then HMRC may estimate what you have to pay and charge you a penalty fee of up to £3,000. Which is a lot of money for any small business.

How to improve the payroll process for your small business.

With recent developments in technology, one option is to switch to a cloud based payroll software. A cloud based software is where the application is run and stores data on the internet.

What are the benefits of cloud payroll software?

There are a few key benefits to cloud payroll software and online payroll systems for any small business considering the switch. Whilst features differ between each software developer, we’ve listed the benefits you could expect from Xero’s online cloud payroll system below.

Cloud payroll software clearly documents and backs-up files in the cloud. That means all your payments, deductions and other records are stored securely online, are accessible at any time on any device with internet access and can be easily produced should you have an HMRC check. This should speed up the audit process, help avoid any hefty fines and ensure you’re complying with UK employer reporting regulations.

An automated payroll system will minimise mistakes and free up your time by automating payments to employees, tax authorities and third parties. This will allow you to focus on other areas of your business as well as reducing errors, therefore keeping staff happy on payday.

If you’ve previously outsourced payroll then you can make considerable savings and stay in full control of your data, minimising any data protection risks. Alternatively if you manage the payroll yourself or employ a dedicated in-house payroll team then you will see saving on salaries, overheads, desk space, benefits and other employment costs.

Best cloud payroll software for small businesses in the UK.

There are plenty of payroll software packages to choose from. Quickbooks, Sage and Xero to name a few. Ideally you want a cloud accounting software that’s capable of evolving with your business. Xero online accounting software has payroll functionality built in allowing you to edit employee information and add new employees as you go, so it’s built to grow with your business.

How much does Xero cloud payroll software cost?

With Xero you select a plan that suits your business and then add the payroll elements you need. All Xero plans include up to five payroll employees free of charge for six months. After this period payroll pricing is from £5 per month, plus £1 per month for each additional person added to a maximum of 200 people.

Xero plans as of 1st February 2017.

Starter – £7.50/mo for initial 3 months – then £10.00/mo

Standard – £16.50/mo for initial 3 months – then £22.00/mo

Premium – £20.62/mo for initial 3 months – then £27.50/mo

The post Cloud Payroll Software, Online Payroll System and Payroll Services for Small Businesses in the UK appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Managed print services keep your printers and photocopiers working, whilst providing savings of up to 30%. An managed print service can keep your small businesses printing costs under control, implement an efficient and reliable print solution and improve efficiency across the board.

Which photocopier is best suited for my small business?

There are a range of photocopiers and muti functional devices (MFD’s) available on the market today, all manufactured by various brands and with varying types of technology. 

The majority of A4 and A3 photocopiers come with print, copy, scan capabilities as standard, however you can add a fax kit, finishers and other ancillaries if required. With the exception of mono photocopiers, most colour photocopiers will print in mono and colour. 

Mono only devices are relatively cheap photocopiers to run as they’re designed to print large volumes of print in black and white which means the average cost per print or cost per copy is a lot cheaper than colour counterparts.

Photocopier repairs, service and maintenance for small businesses.

When your copier breaks down you’re going to need a photocopier repairs or photocopier maintenance company to come and repair your copier. Most photocopier repair companies will charge you a call out fee and then a half hourly rate until they complete the job. 

For example from: £65 Initial call out charge (Includes 30min on site) 

+£50 per additional 30min on site

Any parts required will be additional to these costs and some photocopier maintenance companies will charge travel costs. 

Paying separately for photocopier servicing can become quite expensive, especially if your photocopier keeps breaking down. Most companies will enter into a managed print services agreement (MPS) or photocopier service contract where the cost of photocopier repairs, photocopier servicing, parts and consumables are all included in the contract. 

Managed print services benefit most businesses because it eliminates any surprise bills for photocopier repairs, this enables accurate forecasting and helps the cash flow of the business. Managed print services also improve business efficiency as the photocopier maintenance engineers will regularly carry out photocopier servicing to ensure the device is working correctly, maximising machine uptime. In the event of a machine breakdown they will usually send a local photocopier engineer to fix your machine. Most managed print service contracts include an 8 hour engineer response time, however this can vary depending on your chosen photocopier supplier.

Printer repairs and service for small businesses. 

If you run your own business and hear someone across the office yelling “fix this bl**dy printer” then it’s time to get on the phone to the printer repair guys. 

Printer repairs works in a very similar way to photocopier repairs. There’s usually a call out charge and an hourly rate charge for any printer repair service. The cost of fixing your printer can vary depending on the and your chosen printer maintenance company or the level of printer support in any ongoing printer maintenance agreement. 

If you have a limited budget then you can always refer to the printer manufacturer’s website for additional printer maintenance information, printer advice and printer care tips.  

How can a print audit of our photocopiers and printers help my business? 

A print audit is where the health  of your printers and photocopiers is checked. During a print audit the engineer will be looking at the volume of prints your machine has done over a period of time. How many of those prints were Mono or colour, A3 or A4 and if any parts in the machine need replacing.They will also ask your current cost per copy or how much toner/ink you purchase each month. From this information they will be able to estimate the current running costs of your fleet of printers and photocopiers, forecast the ongoing needs of your business and propose a new print solution.

Managed Print Service networking issues. 

If your copier breaks down and it’s a networking issue then this is usually chargeable and is not included in your MPS contract. Networking issues are part of IT managed services so if your internal IT team can’t resolve the issue then you’ll need to call a network engineer. A network engineer usually costs £150 for the initial call out charge and then a half day or full day rate.

Office supplies and consumables.

Most office supplies companies will deliver consumables such as paper, ink, toners, ink cartridges or toner cartridges within 24 hours. 

You should investigate any potential cost savings from using compatible toners, remanufactured toners, recycled toners, compatible ink cartridges, remanufactured ink cartridges or recycled ink cartridges. However you should check this doesn’t affect any ongoing managed print service agreement or photocopier contract.

Photocopier contracts and billing.

The cost per copy (CPC), cost per click (CPC) or cost per print (CPP) typically represents the amount you pay every time your printer prints a piece of paper. This can vary depending on your photocopier supplier and the terms and conditions in your photocopier maintenance agreement. 

Mono prints and colour prints are usually allocated an individual cost and colour copies tend to be ten times the amount of a mono copies. 

For example from: Mono at 0.37p per print 

Colour at 3.7p per print

Prints on A3 paper are usually double the cost of an A4 copy or print. 

Photocopier leasing and rental agreements.

In addition to your photocopier maintenance contract or photocopier service contract you’ll probably also have a photocopier lease agreement. Photocopier leasing can be difficult to understand, especially if you haven’t leased anything before so we’ll do our best to cover the basics. 

Copier leasing and rentals are where you are renting the machine for a period of time. Photocopier leases are typically three or five year agreements. When the lease term expires you can return the copier and exchange it for a new one or you can ask to purchase “title” of the machine and own it outright.

The benefits to leasing a photocopier are it requires very little money upfront, so it’s a great option for companies that are short on cash or for those that want to spread the cost of their office equipment. Leasing allows you to purchase a higher-end photocopier than you would’ve been able to afford otherwise, providing you‘ve been accepted for credit by a funder.

If you use photocopier leasing for your business then you’re never stuck with outdated photocopiers or printers. As office equipment changes and technology advances your state-of-the-art photocopier could easily become obsolete in five years time. With a lease, you can upgrade to the latest technology every few years.

Things you should look out for in your managed print service (MPS) agreement:

Minimum billing – Minimum billing is a charge where you are billed a minimum amount every month or quarter depending on your billing cycle. The minimum bill is charged regardless of the amount you print. Some photocopier dealers have a clause in their maintenance agreements allowing them to increase the minimum billing charge whilst you are in contract.

Cost per copy annual percentage increases – An annual percentage increase is where the cost per copy or cost per click is increased every year. For example the mono cost per copy may increase from 0.3p to 0.33p representing a 10% increase. Why? Well, think of this in the same was as the costs of running a car. Just like a car, the older your photocopier gets the less efficient and more costly it becomes to maintain. It’s likely your copier dealer will have an annual percentage increase written into the equipment service agreement (ESA), however we suggest you ask to get this increase capped to avoid any major cost increases and make sure you get this agreed and in writing just to be on the safe side. 

Charging for scans – Some maintenance agreements will have a charge for scans. Scans are charged in a similar way to copies where you pay per scan. (For example from 0.2p per scan) The copier dealer can justify this charge, claiming it’s to cover any wear on the scanning components of the device, particularly if a the device is being heavily used for scanning. 

Parts inclusive or parts exclusive – Photocopier contracts are usually three or five year agreements. When you sign your photocopier lease it’s important to confirm the length of time any replacement parts that are included in your contract. For example, you could sign a five year agreement with parts inclusive for three of those years. After three years into the agreement you‘ll be expected to pay for parts during the remaining two years of the contract. 

Toner inclusive or toner exclusive – Managed print services and photocopier maintenance agreements usually have toner inclusive or toner exclusive options. If you are signing an MPS agreement you should make sure toner is inclusive and covers the full duration of the contract. If not, then you could end up paying additionally for toners and inks.

Postage and packaging costs – Make sure postage and packaging of delivering consumables such as ink cartridges, toner cartridges, waste toner cartridges and machine parts are included in the contract. Again, if this isn’t included then you could end up with an excess bill.

Local photocopier dealer or photocopier suppliers near me.

There are plenty of local photocopier suppliers across the UK. You may already have managed print services or document management services with these recognised copier dealer companies. The majority of photocopier companies are capable of servicing photocopiers however we suggest you ask your chosen supplier for references and check with current customers to get a true indication of the level of support and service.

Here’s a list of some photocopier and managed print service providers in the UK.

Apogee, Xenith, M2, Danwood, Balreed, CityDocs, Annodata, AltoDigital, Activ8, Insight Systems, Workflow Group, Control Print Solutions, Xerotec, Mode Print Solutions and Capita.

Should I buy a used photocopiers and second hand photocopier for my small business?

Used photocopiers and second hand copiers are cheap photocopiers to buy or lease compared with a new machine, however you should consider that the overall running costs of a second hand photocopier will be higher. If your second hand photocopier is on a maintenance agreement then the cost per copy for this machine will be considerably higher than a new machine. This is because your photocopier repairs company are expecting to replace parts on the machine, so they’ve increased the CPC to account for this.

As your second hand photocopier gets older it can be increasingly difficult for photocopier service companies to locate parts for the machine as manufacturers are only obligated to support legacy equipment for a limited amount time.

Well known photocopier manufacturers, also known as OEM’s. 

Canon photocopiers, Epson photocopiers, HP photocopiers, Konica Minolta photocopiers, Kyocera photocopiers, Lexmark photocopiers, Oki photocopiers, Toshiba photocopiers, Panasonic photocopiers, Ricoh photocopiers, Samsung photocopiers, Sharp photocopiers and Xerox photocopiers

Here’s a list of commonly used photocopiers:

Canon Photocopiers – Canon imageRUNNER

Epson Photocopiers – WORKFORCE Pro

HP Photocopiers – PageWide

Konica Minolta Photocopiers – bizhub, bizhub pro, bizhub press

Kyocera Photocopiers – Kyocera TASKalfa,

Lexmark Photocopiers – CX510 Series, CS510 Series, CX725 Series, CS720/725 Series, X740 Series, C740 Series, MX510/611 Series, MS510/610 Series, X790 Series, C790 Series, CX820 Series, CS820 Series, CX825 Series, CX860 Series, X925 Series, C925 Series, X950 Series, C950 Series, MX710 Series, MS710 Series, MX810 Series, MS810 Series, MX910 Series, MS910 Series

Oki Photocopiers – MC853dnct

Toshiba Photocopiers – e-Studio 250AC Photocopier

Panasonic Photocopiers – DP 8020P

Ricoh Photocopiers – IM C200, IM C200A IM C2500, MP 5055ASP, SP C361SFNw, IM C4500, SP C361SFNw, SP C842DN, SP C840DN, DD3344 and DX 2430.

Samsung photocopiers – SL-X7600GX and CLX-9301NA, 

Sharp photocopiers – MX6050N and MX-6050N.

Xerox Photocopiers – Xerox Workcentre, Xerox ColorQube, Xerox VersaLink, Xerox DocuCentre.

Print Management Tools and Software.

Nuance, Equitrack, Papercut, UniFlow and SafeCom.

Printers and photocopiers jargon explained.

MPS – MPS is the acronym for managed print services, (It is also used for managed print solutions.) 

OEM’s – OEM’s stands for original equipment manufacturers. Some well known printer and copier manufacturers are Canon, Xerox and HP.

MFP’s – An MFP is a multi functional printer

MFD’s – An MFD is a multi functional device

TVP – TVP stands for total volume plan. A TVP contract works in a similar way to your personal mobile phone contract whereby you pay for a set volume of prints each month combined with the leasing cost of the photocopier.

Scan to email – Scan to email function allow you to email documents to yourself or to another recipient directly from your Internet-connected printer or photocopier.

Fax – Fax is very similar to an email attachment. Most people assume fax is a dieing form of communication, stuck in the dark ages or only used by dinosaurs, however in some sectors such as banking and finance, sending a fax is still widely used.  

Paper trays – A paper tray is the tray used to store the paper for the printer. Paper trays can be designed to take A3 and A4 paper sizes. Some photocopiers have high capacity A4 tray option for office environments that produce large volumes of print.

Document feeder – A document feeder is for scanning multiple documents, it usually sits on-top of the photocopier. Document feeders can scan at different speeds so if your organisation does a lot of scanning then ensure you select a photocopier that is up to the job.

Duplex printing – Duplex, or double-sided printing means printing onto both sides of a piece of paper. Duplex printing is a particularly useful way to reduce printing costs as you’ll use half the amount of paper compared to having your photocopier or printer set to single-sided printing.

The post Photocopiers, Printers & Managed Print Services appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Is web hosting needed for a website?

To have a fully functioning website you will need a domain name, web hosting and site files. Imagine, for example, the domain name is your street address, your web hosting is the flat you rent and the site files are the items stored inside your flat. Your web hosting company will provide the server to store your site files (e.g images, web pages, blog posts, videos etc…) so they can be accessed when people visit your domain name.

Best web hosting companies for small businesses in the UK.

We have listed a few popular web hosting options for small businesses below:

Web hosting with 123-Reg – Web hosting from only £2.49 a month with 123-Reg.

Web hosting with Godaddy – Up to 50% off hosting plans now at GoDaddy!

Web hosting with Names.co.uk – Up to 40% off annual limitless web hosting with Names.co.uk.

Web hosting with Heart Internet – Web hosting from only £2.49 per month with Heart Internet.

Web hosting with HostGator – Get website hosting from HostGator.

Web hosting with Easyspace – Buy EasySpace web hosting packages.

Web hosting with One.com – Host your website with One.com.

Web hosting with 1and1 – Get website hosting with 1and1.

What is included with web hosting?

Whilst many web hosting features can vary depending on your chosen supplier, typically you can expect your web hosting to include the following:

Domain name – You can choose a free domain name or get your domain name included with your web hosting plan, however your choice of domain extension may be restricted. For example, you might only be able to choose domain names ending in the .co.uk extension.  

Web space – Your web space is where you store the files that make up your website. (Images, web pages, blogs etc…) You can upload these files to the web space using FTP software.

File storage – You can use file storage to store your files online securely in the cloud.

Personalised email addresses – Personalised email addresses will have your chosen domain name in the address. E.g firstname.lastname@mydomain.co.uk

SSL certificate – The SSL certificate allows you to securely accept payments online.

MySQL database – Common applications for the MySQL are php and java based web applications that require database storage backend, for example WordPress, Joomla, Drupal,  xwiki etc.

Bandwidth – Think of bandwidth as like a pipe, the more people visiting your website the bigger pipe you’re going to need. Your bandwidth allowance can vary depending on your chosen web host. If your hosting plan doesn’t include enough bandwidth for the number of people visiting your website then your site will run very slow and can even crash. Easyspace as well as 123-Reg, Hostgator and GoDaddy all provide unlimited bandwidth across their web hosting plans.

Site backup and restore – Site backup will keep a copy of your site files and restore lost files if something goes wrong.

What type of web hosting do I need?

Shared web hosting – Shared web hosting is where multiple websites are sharing a single web server. Shared web hosting is an ideal option for new bloggers and small websites as they typically require very little disk space and bandwidth, making it quite a cost effective option. As your site traffic increases and your website grows, you can always upgrade your hosting plan to dedicated web hosting or VPS hosting.

VPS web hosting – A virtual private server (VPS) allows you to host storefront, e-commerce, content and media sites as well as software applications including portal, extranet, collaborative solutions, wiki and CRM. Unlike shared hosting, VPS web hosting makes it possible to isolate multiple applications from one another within the same container. While this VPS container shares physical infrastructure with other containers, its resources are dedicated to you.

Dedicated web hosting – With a dedicated web hosting environment, you have the entire server to yourself. As a result you can expect faster performance from dedicated web hosting as you command all the server’s resources. (You don’t have to share with other website owners.) Dedicated web hosting is a good choice for sites that require a lot of system resources and high levels of security. It’s recommended you calculate the ongoing running costs of a dedicated server as you’ll be responsible for all costs.

Hosting Web Applications for Small Businesses.

WordPress hosting – Many web hosting companies support content management systems (CMS) and other web applications on their web hosting platform. Web hosting companies such as One.com, Heart Internet and Easyspace offer WordPress hosting, Joomla hosting and Drupal hosting on a one click install making it quick and simple to get your website up and running. With one click install it’s also very easy to upgrade to the latest version of the application, therefore keeping your system secure and up to date.

eCommerce hosting

Magento hosting – Magento is a free eCommerce application for your own store or online shop. Magento hosting is supported by 1and1, Godaddy, and HostGator on their web hosting platforms.

Windows or Linux hosting – Most web hosting companies offer both Windows and Linux hosting. Which one you need depends on the function of your site, such as if you want to create a shopping cart, blog or podcast with a specific web application. As well as this you’ll also need to consider the size of your website and the traffic it receives before selecting a web hosting plan.

I already have a website, can I transfer to another web hosting company?

If you have access to your existing website files, you can upload them to your new web hosting company via an FTP client such as  filezilla. If you don’t have a current copy of your website, you should be able to request one from your current website hosting provider.

Can I host multiple domain names with my web hosting?

Web hosting companies such as Godaddy offer hosting plans that allow you to host multiple websites. You can also use these plans to set up various names (aliases) for your website and direct visitors to specific web pages.

The post Web Hosting, Website Hosting Services, Cheap Website Hosting for Small Businesses appeared first on Small Businesses Resources.

Which free website builder should I choose?

There are many companies offering free websites, DIY (do it yourself) websites and professional website design services. For example, you may recognise brands such as Godaddy, 123reg and 1&1 to name a few. With so many options available, how do you choose a free website, website builder or website design company that’s right for you?

In this article we’ll discuss the benefits of a website, the types of websites available and how to decide which option is best for your small business?

Why should I get a website for my business?

People are looking online to find products and services. In a recent study conducted by Forbes Insight, 82% of customers research online long before making a purchase according to retailers.

If people can’t find your site in search engines, or worse still, if you fail to get a website for your small business then you’re probably losing customers to your competition.

How will a website benefit my business?

1. Sell Internationally – You can reach customers further afield, sell to more people and expand your customer base.
2. Open 24/7 – Your business is no longer restricted by opening hours. This increases the opportunities for customers to buy your products and services 24/7 resulting in an increase in sales.
3. Up To Date – It’s quick and easy to update a website. You can add new products, change pricing or update dispatch times all at the click of a button keeping your customers informed.
4. Organize Your Online Shop – You can place products and services into categories making it easy for customers to browse and find exactly what they are looking for. You could even offer products as a bundle at a discounted price, resulting in an increase in your unit sales.
5. Save on Costs – You will have lower operational costs than a bricks and mortar business. Therefore you can offer products at a lower price because you don’t have the same overheads as your competition. Price is often the deciding factor for a customer, a lower price can generate more sales.
6. Monitor Stock Levels – You can monitor your stock levels so you know when to place orders with suppliers. This will improve the quality of service provided to customers and improve the efficiency of your business.
7. Set Shipping Options – This allows customers to see where in the world your business is willing to ship to. It also identifies the cost of shipping before the customer makes a purchase.
8. Be Seen Online – Most websites are built with search engine optimization in mind so your website can easily be found by search engines. This means more people will visit your website resulting in an increase in sales.

What is the best free website and best free website builder?

A free website can be an extremely effective tool for blogging, search engine optimization and driving traffic to your professional website. Free website platforms you might recognise are WordPress, Wix, Webs, Yola, Tumblr and Google Sites.

Most free website providers will be operating a freemium model. A freemium model is where the basic website functionality is free and you can pay for website upgrades and additional features.

Consequently most free websites will have limited functionality, so you can expect to see display advertising on your free website, slow website response due to sharing servers with millions of other free website users and a subdomain website address.

For example: freewebsite.smallbusinessesresources.com

Wix free website builder review.

One of the most popular free website platforms is Wix.com. As you would expect, a Wix website is free of charge, you can create your own site using their free website builder and you’ll also get free website hosting.

It costs £2.55 per month to connect your own domain name to a free Wix website which will make your free website look more professional to any visitors. You can also upgrade your free Wix website to one of their Premium Plans. The Premium Plan upgrades give you numerous additional features such as additional bandwidth to speed up your site, removal of display advertising to give your site a more professional image, and an ecommerce website or online store so you can sell products online. Wix Premium Plans start from £5.16 per month to £15.57 per month.

With a company website you want to create a professional image and evoke trust in anyone who visits your site, especially if you’re hoping to sell products online in an online shop. Whilst free websites do have their uses, unless you upgrade for the additional features they’re not particularly effective.

Free websites are great for backlinking to your professional website and increasing your professional websites ranking in search engines, however free websites aren’t particularly easy to optimise themselves. This can make it difficult to attract visitors to your free website from search engines.

A professional alternative is to create a website yourself using a free website builder. The website building software is free of charge, however you’ll usually pay a monthly fee for your website hosting and your own domain name. Create your own sites are a good option because they can be setup within a couple of hours, they’re easy to keep updated and you don’t need any website design experience or technical knowledge.

GoDaddy free website builder review.

Godaddy company information.

GoDaddy was founded in 1997, since then they’ve grown on to become the world’s largest domain name registrar servicing approximately 13 million customers.

They have award winning customer service and you may recognise them for their super bowl advertising.

What’s included with my GoDaddy free website builder?

With GoDaddy free website builders, a free domain name is included for subscriptions up to three years. After this period the domain name is chargeable at the usual rate. For example a 1 year subscription for a .co.uk domain name registered with GoDaddy usually costs £10.99, so remember to factor this into your future running costs. We’ve included a list of the domain name extensions you can choose from below.

All GoDaddy website templates and designs are responsive, meaning they’ll work on desktop, tablets or mobile devices. They’re also fully customisable allowing you to add your company logo, choose your own colour schemes, fonts and images etc. Secure website hosting with 99.9% uptime guarantee, 24/7 support and the option to cancel at any time come as standard across all GoDaddy’s create your own site options.

How can I upgrade my GoDaddy website builder?

Website upgrades such as accepting online payments using SSL security, search engine optimisation (SEO), social media integration and email marketing can easily be added. There’s even an eCommerce create your own website package allowing you to create your own online store or online shop enabling you to sell to customers online.

What free domain name extension to choose?

With GoDaddy you can choose from the following free domain name extensions for up to three years: co.uk, com, net, org, info, biz, co, xyz

How much does a GoDaddy website cost?

GoDaddy offer a 1 month free trial across all their website builder packages. Pricing ranges from £4.99 per month for the personal website package to £14.99 per month for their feature packed eCommerce website option.

Our 123-reg free website builder review.

123-reg company information.

123-reg is the UK’s largest accredited domain registrar looking after approximately 3.5 million domain names. Founded in 2000 they now are thought to represent 1 out of 5 active UK websites.

What’s included with my 123-reg free website builder?

With 123-reg free website builders, a free domain name is included for the first year. To give you an idea, a 1 year subscription for a .co.uk domain name registered with 123-reg usually costs £7.99, so we suggest you factor this into any future running costs. You also have more domain name extensions to choose from with 123.reg compared to other providers.

123-reg create your own website packages have fully customisable website templates allowing you to personalise your site to suit your business. You can choose fonts, colour schemes, images and upload your company logo. Website analytics are available across the business and Business+ packages allowing you to monitor how many visitors your site is getting. A personalised email account is also part of the packages so you can send and receive emails using your personalised web domain.

How can I upgrade my 123-reg website builder?

If you opt for the Business+ package then you’ll get a host of additional website features. Upgraded analytics give you a greater understanding of how your website is performing and how website visitors found your site in the first place. Three email accounts allow you to send and receive emails from multiple addresses using your personalised web domain. Edit your website to suit the device of your users, change how your site displays and customise the user experience for mobile, tablet and desktop. Create a more professional looking website by hiding the “Built with 123-reg” text. Use automatic backup to keep your site safe and secure by automatically saving and storing copies. Customise your site even further in developer mode where you can add code and edit existing HTML, perfect if you’re an expert at website design.

What free domain name extension to choose?

With 123-reg you can choose from the following free domain name extensions for your first year: co.uk, org.uk, me.uk, com, net, org, info, biz, mobi, co, xyz

How much does a 123-reg website cost?

123-reg have a £1 per month introductory offer across business and business+ website builder packages for the first 12 months. After the initial 12 months the business website package is £4.99 per month and the business+ website package is £9.99 per month.

123-reg eCommerce website builder

If you want to sell products online with an online shop then the 123-reg ecommerce website builder is worth considering. Online shops are only available as part of 123-reg’s ecommerce website builder package. They are not included in any of the free website builder packages.

There are three create your own online shop packages to choose from ranging from £14.99 – £49.99 per month.

1and1 free website builder review

1and1 company information.

Founded in 1988, 1and1 Internet is owned by the German company United Internet and is therefore one of the world’s largest web hosting companies.

What’s included with my 1and1 free website builder?

Free domain included for the first 12 months, SSL certificate powered by Symantec, unlimited number of pages, online photo editor, responsive display so will work on mobile, tablet and desktop devices, personal website consultant and 24/7 support, 1and1 site analytics, access to the 1and1 image archive, access  to 10,000 high-quality, industry-specific website design templates for your business website.

How can I upgrade my 1and1 website builder?

With 1and1 you can upgrade your analytics to 1and1’s SiteAnalytics Plus, giving you more in depth reports about your website visitors and how they found you. The SEO Pro also improves your ranking on Bing, Google, Yahoo and other search engines, meaning you will get more visitors to your site. You can also synchronise your content with your Facebook page giving you additional exposure across social media. The upgraded plans also come with a newsletter tool so you can create monthly newsletters to help keep customers engaged.

If you upgrade to the Premium plan then you’ll be able to use the 1and1 eCommerce website builder. This allows you to sell up to 1,000 products in an online shop or online store. You can accept multiple payment and delivery methods such as card payment and PayPal. Additionally you can access online marketplaces including Amazon and eBay. 1and1 are also offering £40 PayPal vouchers and £50 Bing Ads credits with premium plans.

Free domain names with 1and1 website builder?

.com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .eu, .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk and .online

How much does a 1and1 website cost?

1and1 offer three free website builder plans. Their “Basic” plan is £1.99 per month, “Plus” plan is £4.99 per month and “Premium” plan is £9.99 per month for the initial 12 months. After the initial introductory offer your “Basic” plan is £9.99 per month, “Plus” plan is £19.99 per month and “Premium” plan is £29.99 per month excluding 20% VAT.

1and1 have a 30 day trial with money back guarantee across their website builder packages.

Names.co.uk free website builder review

Names.co.uk company information.

Names.co.uk keep things very simple with either a CloudSite or CloudShop website builder allowing you to create your own website or ecommerce online shop using their free website builder tool. All website plans include UK based support, customisable website templates and responsive design so they will work on desktop and mobile devices.

What’s included with my Names.co.uk free website builder?

The CloudSite plan includes unlimited bandwidth, unlimited web pages and unlimited web space for your website. You get up to 25 email accounts with 2.5GB email storage and 100 email addresses.

What’s included with my Names.co.uk free ecommerce website builder?

Design your own online shop with the ecommerce website builder. You can accept paypal and stripe payments, apply discount codes and sell product online using the inbuilt shopping cart.

Free domain names with Names.co.uk website builder?

Register a free domain name for 1 year with your CloudSite or CloudShop website plan.

.uk .co.uk .me.uk .org.uk .design .website .online .site and .space

How much does a Names.co.uk website cost?

CloudSite 2yr contract from £6.33 per month

CloudShop 2yr contract from £7.91 per month

The alternative to a DIY site builder or free website is to employ a website developer or website design company to build your company website for you.

Why use a website design company?

1. Unique Design

When we say unique design we’re not only referring to the images, fonts and layout of your website but also the format of the code. When you use a DIY site builder or website template your sites code will look identical to other websites that are using the same DIY website builder or website template and as a result your website can appear the same to search engines, which could affect your website’s search engine rankings.

A professional website developer or website design company will code your site from scratch ensuring your website is unique to your business. They will write unique content for the site and ensure you use images, fonts and a layout that is unique to your company. Unlike DIY website builder platforms, who tend to offer a limited choice of fonts, colours and stock images. A website design company will ensure your visitors get a truly unique experience when they visit your site.

2. Up to date

It’s important your website remains up to date, both from a security and content perspective. When you use a professional web design company or web developer then they will ensure your site stays safe and secure from any online threats as well as keeping the content on your site constantly updated.

3. Time

Designing, coding, writing content, finding images, search engine optimization, creating sitemaps, the list is endless and can be a very time consuming exercise when building and managing your own website. However, if you employ a website developer to build and manage the website for you, it frees up your time and allows you to focus on the day to day running of your business.

4. Technology

Many DIY website builders will not allow video, RSS feeds, hyperlinks and other useful technologies. This means DIY website builders can be quite limiting and could adversely affect both your site from a user experience and SEO perspective.

When you use a professional website developer or web design company you can choose which technology to use and can be safe in the knowledge that your site is built using the most recent coding practices.

With a website developer you can afford to be a bit more adventurous with your ideas. If your website needs custom coding then a professional website developer is by far the better option.

5. SEO

Whilst most DIY website builder platforms are optimized for search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo they can be difficult to fully optimize due to the website builders limitations. A fully bespoke website that has been designed and built by a website developer will ensure you can tweak all the elements of the site and use the latest coding techniques to give your site the best possible chance of appearing at the top of the search engine results.

6. Experience

Website developers are highly experienced at building websites, it’s their job, so naturally they have a lot of experience and expertise in this area. When you hire a website developer you can put all their knowledge and experience to good use. Use your web developer as a consultant and ask them for advice about what works and what is best practice for your site. This will benefit you in the long run as you’ll avoid any mistakes and ensure your site is a success from the start.

Should I employ a website designer to build me a website?

There are many good freelance website designers and developers that can developed a website to your small business, from start-up’s through to established businesses. The main benefit of employing a website designer is it saves you valuable time compared to designing it yourself.

Important website design features and things to consider.

Domain Name – A website address that is easy for customers to remember and relates to your business.

Website Hosting – A hosting service that is reliable and future proofed for an increase in website visitors.

Email Account – Unlimited email accounts to gives staff professional personalized email addresses.

Photo Gallery – A photo gallery lets customers see examples of your work.

Website Analytics – Enables you to track the number of visitors to your website.

Site Map – Makes your website easier to discover for search engines, resulting in more website visitors.

Contact Forms – Let’s customer’s email you directly for enquiries and quotations.

Download Documents – Customers can download a portfolio of work, catalogue or price list before they decide to buy.

Social Media Integration – Integrate with Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to show the popularity of your business.

Responsive Design – Allows customers to view your website on their smartphone, tablet and other mobile devices.

Google AdWords – Get’s your website positioned at the top of the Google rankings for keywords of your choice.

SEO Enabled – Increases your position on search engine rankings.

Website Updates – Website updates keep your website safe and secure against the latest security threats.

Unlimited Customer Support – Our dedicated customer support team is available should you require assistance.

Different types of website.

What is an ecommerce website?

Ecommerce is the buying and selling of products and services via the use of electronic systems.

Why have an ecommerce website?

If you want to sell your products and services online then you’re going to need an ecommerce website. When a customer visits your ecommerce website they will browse the online shop, select the items they desire, enter their contact details and pay for it, all online.

Discover your online potential?

We help business owners realise their online potential and show them how to grow their business online. Whether you’re a small local shop with 20-30 products or an international corporation with several product lines, we can help you get your ecommerce website up and running. Our team of highly skilled developers will build your online venture from scratch, so your ecommerce website is built to your exact requirements. If you are interested in getting an ecommerce website developed for your small business then speak to a member of our sales team today.

What is a content management system.

Why would I need a content management system?

Business owners want to update their websites on a regular basis. There’s no point in having a shiny new website if you can’t manage it effectively. The best solution for this is a CMS (Content Management System), which allows you to update your website exactly when you want. You can post articles, news, photos and other media at the click of a button, keeping your website up to date.

Search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo will often favour websites that are constantly updated. If you’re continually posting new and unique content then you should receive higher search engine rankings than any outdated or poorly maintained site.

WordPress is the most popular CMS, which is used by over 18.9% of the top 10 million websites as of August 2013. Version 3.5 of WordPress has been downloaded over 18 million times.

Joomla is the second most used CMS on the internet, boasting download figures of over 35 million as of July 2013.

Content Management Systems – User training and software updates.

Once your website is built you will need to be trained on how to use it. There are plenty of online tutorials, videos and manuals freely available, however if you require face to face training then this may come at an additional cost. Once your training is complete, you will be able to take full control of your website and quickly harness the power of your content management system.

Over time it is important to keep your content management system updated. Updates often improve the usability of the system as well as improving the security of your website. Failure to keep your content management system software up to date can result in you website being hacked, so it’s important to do this on a regular basis.

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