#small-businesses

#small-businesses

The case for arguing that a significant cut to the VAT registration threshold will stimulate growth is far from clear cut. A sudden, material reduction in the current £90,000 VAT threshold would bring large numbers of small businesses into the scope of quite a complicated tax. The impact of higher prices on consumer spending is likely to hit business's profitability and in turn investment and employment.

Britain's high streets face a critical moment, the Co-op has warned, as new research reveals 60,000 small shops and 150,000 jobs could disappear without urgent business rates reform. The findings, released ahead of the Autumn Budget, show around 7 in 10 UK adults (69%) lack confidence that the Government will deliver on its promise of relief for small businesses - despite repeated pledges in previous budgets.

Slow speeds can have a monumental impact on residents of London. Netflix and Amazon streaming services recommend that you have a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps, but according to the report, some areas are not accessing 30Mbit/s of service, putting them just above the minimum threshold required. Not only does this lead to buffering, but it also reduces streaming quality. Other popular online entertainment options, like gaming, can also be impacted by low speeds.

Digital tools have helped to level the playing field: 82% of small businesses attribute their revenue growth directly to digital ads, and 79% say these tools help them compete with much larger companies. Through tools like Google Ads, Business Profile and Merchant Center, we can bring the best of AI to support these businesses by streamlining their advertising efforts and helping them to stand out to customers.

"Most businesses are making ­decisions to cut hours as they try to stay viable. We all want our staff to have a good standard of living but they have issues with housing, healthcare, childcare and energy costs, and we can't keep forcing those costs back on businesses. "We are now going from the best ­little country in the world to do business to the most expensive country in the world to do business... People have to start reading the tea leaves."

The market in Pompano Beach, which once boasted 250 businesses, closed its doors for good on June 1 to make room for warehouses. Many of the longtime vendors retired. But numerous entrepreneurs gritted their teeth and decided to start over in new locations, says Caryn Deri, who moved her store, JMC Hairwear, to a small strip mall in Lighthouse Point. "Everyone kind of just dispersed wherever they could find a decent rent and a place without a parking issue, you know?"

A huge proportion of the tax gap is attributable to small businesses (60% or approx. £. Sole traders do not have to register with Companies House and it is likely that plenty fly under HMRC's radar. Even small businesses which are companies, although they need to be registered at Companies House, have significant exemptions in the level of detail that they are required to submit in terms of their accounts.

Coven of Stitches stands out as a safe space for crafting, owned by Yelley Ellde, who fosters creativity and community through various DIY projects and workshops.

Rising costs have put immense pressure on small high street businesses, pushing many to consider closure or selling due to financial viability concerns in the next few years.

Sylvia's Restaurant, founded in 1962 by Sylvia Woods, is a hallmark of Harlem renowned for soul food and serves as a community gathering place.

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) allows inexperienced threat actors to launch large-scale attacks, exfiltrate sensitive data, and disable recovery infrastructure, pushing businesses to reassess their strategies.

The number of business insolvencies filed in Germany increased by 2.4 percent in June compared to the previous year, according to data released by Germany's statistical office (Destatis).

According to a recent Juniper Research report, global spending via QR code payments is projected to exceed $8 trillion by 2029 - a huge leap that shows how this simple tool is becoming a vital part of everyday life.

The deepfake economy is rapidly evolving, with scams quadrupling in the last year due to GenAI tools. Professionals across industries are scrambling to counter AI's threats.

Given the seriousness of the matter, it is reprehensible to keep workers and the public on edge when we should all be focused on negotiating good collective agreements that will benefit workers and grow our public service to meet the needs of all Canadians.

We understand that asking backers to pay an additional fee-especially after a campaign has ended-can be sensitive. Our goal is to provide you with the flexibility and transparency necessary to navigate those conversations with clarity and care.

For Nadine Maggi, founder of Sweet Freedom, the new charge is the final straw in what she describes as the toughest trading environment she has seen in 15 years.