The summer months can traditionally be a time of low business activity levels for many industry sectors – with August in particular being a time where trade can dip to all-year lows. So how have you fared during the summer months – and is it ‘business as usual’ or time to move to more drastic measures?

If you’re an online retailer, trading either through your own site or via larger networks such as Amazon or eBay, there’s plenty to feel optimistic about as we head out of summer and towards the key Christmas retailing period. Whilst the 21^st century dot.com entrepreneur doesn’t have everything falling in their lap, there are plenty of opportunities coming up to take advantage of. Fusion Accounts, the online accounting software specialists, has put together a few ideas to help you get your business in shape as we head inevitably towards silly season – and keep those virtual sales tills jingling!More...

Have you heard the term ‘cloud computing’? It’s one of those IT buzzwords which seems to be everywhere these days – but not everyone understands what it means and how it can help transform their business.

Independent research, commissioned by Rise, has recently shown that only 42% of small businesses have heard of cloud computing – with around a quarter of those still not understanding what the term means.

Many IT and business experts agree that whilst cloud computing is undeniably a huge advantage for the SME market, a lack of clear-cut marketing by many IT providers has lead to a significant amount of businesses just not realising what incredible benefits this type of service can have for their business.

So it’s time to dispel the myths and reveal just what cloud computing means to the small business owner – and just how powerful a tool it can be for you.More...

Official figures recently released have shown that the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) – introduced by the Labour Government to assist businesses to ride out the recession – have dropped by almost 60% in the last 12 months. So what does that mean to business owners – and what can you do to become more self-reliant?

Whilst the recession is, we are told, officially over, the vast majority of businesses are still feeling the pinch, as consumer and business-to-business spending is still remaining guarded. What’s more, the shackles are still firmly on bank lending policies – so if you find yourself in financial hot water, finding outside assistance to get your business back on track may be more difficult than you think.

Essentially, every business should continue to keep its eye on the ball when it comes to expenditure, with a view to retaining as much capital within the business as possible. So Fusion Accounts – the online accounting software specialist -has put together a few ideas on how to hold onto that precious capital – without impacting upon your business.

1. Capital expenditure – is it really necessary? More...

Sage 50 Accounts 2011 claims to have lots of new features that will help SME’s to simplify managing customers, suppliers and finances.

So what new features can one expect to see in this latest Sage release? Well we have taken a closer look at the spec and noticed that one of the new features they are promoting ‘improved bank reconciliation’ is one that Fusion’s online accounting software already has. More...

Whoever said accounts were boring. Well in the city of Belfast online accounting provider Fusion Accounts are busy preparing for the Wacky Rally.

I hear you asking, what is ‘Wacky Rally’. Well Wacky Rally is a banger rally like no other where people of all ages, from all walks of life, with a sense of adventure (and humour) come together and take on a fun and exciting challenge. As part of the rally plans Fusion Accounts have decided to make this a worthy cause and support this year’s 25^th anniversary of the Northern Ireland Hospice by fundraising. Their target is to donate £2000 to the Northern Ireland children hospice.

You can help them this great cause by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/banger-belfast-barcelona.

The concept of the banger rally is simple, entrants have to buy a car worth £250 or less, make it worthy of a wacky rally and then drive to a distant city with other like minded people and enjoy a well deserved party at the end. Fusion Accounts will be taking part in the Barmy to Barcelona rally which takes places from the 16^th – 19^th July 2010. This rally takes in the amazing Swiss Alps, rolling hills of Italy, French Riviera and the Spanish Catalan capital. More...

As an accountant or book-keeper, your client holds you in a position of trust. Not only do you have access to a host of confidential information regarding their business finances and business performance, but if you’re managing payroll services too, you’ll have in-depth knowledge of their employees’ personal information.

It’s vital to the success of your own business that you set out clear obligations and assurances to your clients – both old and new – that their data is fully protected. The media is full of unsettling stories about confidential information being left unsecured - or left on laptops or data sticks which then go missing – and contrary to popular belief, there definitely is such a thing as bad publicity.

You have a duty of care to your client to maintain high levels of confidentiality and security – and can be fined heavily for breaches of security surrounding personal data which lead to individuals suffering loss or fraud. It’s not just worth the risk when there’s so much at stake.

So what can you do to ensure that your customers’ information is secure – and how should you advise clients to secure information at their end of the business transaction? More...

You can’t have failed to be personally moved and dismayed by the sheer scale of the ecological disaster created by the recent BP oil spill off the coast of the USA. With the spill covering an area the size of Scotland, the crisis had a devastating impact upon local businesses and an even greater impact upon wildlife.

Here in the UK, being on the other side of the Atlantic it can be easy to feel disconnected from the oil spill crisis and, whilst feeling sympathy for those affected, feel that it has no real relevance or impact upon our own economy – and our own businesses. However – is that really so? Online accounting software providers Fusion Accounts take a look at what the BP disaster could mean for you and for small businesses – and how you should consider the potential impact before dismissing it as a ‘US issue’.

BP – a company in crisis?More...

Feeling a bit blasé about the World Cup? If football isn’t your thing, never fear – as it’s time for sun, strawberries and set points as the All England Club opens its doors to the greatest tennis tournament in the world. And, although we say it every year, Britain just might have a shot at the title – this time, in the shape of World Number 4, Andy Murray.

If you haven’t been lucky enough to get tickets to see the tennis action in the flesh, you can of course keep up with all the latest score lines and follow those epic five hour matches which Wimbledon is famous for – as usual, it’s televised on the BBC. There’s just one snag. You’ve got it – the matches are staged during the afternoons, when most of us are cooped up in our offices. What’s a tennis fan to do? The answer, of course, is simple. Be smart and get yourself some quality ‘work from home’ time – courtesy of your online accounting software.

Accountants – set yourself free from the office and find some tennis time! More...

Today’s Emergency Budget included a whole host of measures designed to be, in Chancellor George Osborne’s words, ‘tough but fair’ – including a rise of the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) to 20% as from 4 January 2011. But what does this mean in reality for you and your business?

The practical side – updating your records

If you are using an online accounting system such as Fusion Accounts, you don’t need to worry about waiting for delivery of new software and then installing a complex upgrade to ensure your invoices and reports reflect the right VAT rate – this is all done for you automatically without you having to lift a finger. However, if you’re a retailer, you’ll need to go through the process – again – of repricing your products at point of sale to ensure that you’re up to date. As many retailers use the Christmas period to perform stock takes, it probably makes good sense to combine the two. Remember that not all products are liable to the standard rate VAT – such as children’s products and certain foodstuffs – so check with your accountant if there’s anything you’re unsure of. More...

Below you can view short videos which illustrate how Fusion's online accounting software has assisted business owners, bookkeepers and accountants.  Please select the video relevant to you.

The benefits of online accounting software from a chartered accountants view.

Chartered Accountant Martin Malseed from Wealthcare gives his view as to why online accounting is the way to go for small businesses.   Martin speaks about the challenges that his accountancy practice and business clients faced in using traditional desktop accounting systems like Sage.   Some of the key issues raised were having to back up the data, the problems experienced when transferring files and also clients having to pay an annual support fee on top of the cost of the accounting software.  Having moved to Fusion’s online accounting software their data is now automatically backed up and everyone can access the data real-time and from any location.

The benefits of online accounting software from an ICB accredited bookkeepers perspective More...