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A couple of months ago I wrote that we were reducing our free trial period for our online accounting software. To summarise: we have always offered a 60 day trial, one of the longest in our industry. I decided to drop it to 14 days – one of the shortest. The reasoning for this was that of those that didn’t convert into paying customers after the trial, by far the most cited reason was that they didn’t get a chance to … …Read more

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We’re hiring again, and this time we’re looking for an Office Junior/Administrator. Ideally you’ll know about our amazing accounting software (we put an emphasis on automating everything possible) and great customer service (we answer customer queries every day, including Christmas and at nights/weekends). You’ll help keep the office running smoothly and we’ll give you opportunities to take on more responsibilities and progress within the company. Your tasks/responsibilities Basic administration duties Front house reception duties Ensuring the smooth running of the … …Read more

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The front page of the Metro this morning carried a story about prisoners being used as workers by the likes of M&S and other big firms. The Independent and many other papers also have the story. I’ve not dared look to see what the Daily Mail think about it. Predictably there are already concerns being aired that inmates (who are paid between £7 to £20 a week) will be taking jobs away from law-abiding citizens because they can work for … …Read more

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Yesterday we asked our Facebook community how they strike a balance between their work and family lives. Below are some of their suggestions: Set aside one day a week to spend time with your kids. Switch off from work in their after school hours to spend time with them. Remember that people don’t expect an immediate response to email. (As long as the response is timely!) Try not to feel guilty about spending time with your family. If your work … …Read more

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I came across this post on The Next Web over the weekend and thought it made some interesting points. Recent studies have suggested that, as a society, we’re actually regressing to our neanderthal roots – our compulsions to check our smartphones every five minutes are hindering our empathy and ability to communicate with other human beings. Scary, right? It got me thinking about business and tech events, which are (more often than not) filled with people standing awkwardly, fiddling with a … …Read more

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This is a guest post by Georgina El Morshdy.  Georgina is a freelance copywriter specialising in writing hard-working copy for micro-business. She also blogs at Copywriting Gems and posts weekly tips and ideas to help improve persuasive writing. If you write your own copy you can also sign-up for her free eBook – 7 Steps to Writing Copy that Sell. Good copywriting is essential for small businesses. Words sell your products and services and the right ones will boost your … …Read more

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Watch this video and try not to smile, Inspirational stuff. Donate to his Scholarship Fund at cainesarcade.com/ Discovered via Enterprise Nation and Dan Martin

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This May we’ll be heading to ExCel London for Business Startup, which just so happens to be the the UK’s biggest exhibition for anyone starting or expanding a business! There will be seminars by David Gold, Brad Burton and others.  In fact, there’s a rumour that our very own Duane will be talking. The show will be on from 17 – 18 May. Check out the exhibitors or order free tickets. If you missed us at Biz 2012, this is a great chance to come by, say hi … …Read more

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I had a realisation recently that other founders – especially those of a technical bent – might be able to relate to. I’d just spent a whole day in various meetings.  As I left for the day and realised my laptop hadn’t even left my man bag I said “I don’t know why I bothered bringing it in, I haven’t done any work today.” I realised that I’ve always seen meetings as a necessary evil and a distraction from the … …Read more

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Here at KashFlow, we love events. Although social media is great for gauging people’s opinions on products, features and ideas, you may find that you tend to interact only with people who either really love something you’ve done or really dislike it. The (sad) fact is, you might never get to speak to the other 80% of people who use your product because it just becomes another part of their routine. Meeting customers, both existing and potential, at events is … …Read more