Good news for small business owners in Britain and Europe. The new Czech presidency is preparing to tear up the notorious red tape mountain of the EU.

Under new plans, small firms would be required to file only one set of reports and accounts, rather than having to submit information to several government agencies.

SMEs would also be able to conduct business operations across borders without having to register subsidiaries in those countries.

Small firms would also be given new rights to ensure their bills are paid on time.

It seems the Czechs are a shot in the arm for European small businesses.

In the UK, the new financial year begins on Sunday, April 6. What sort of year can we expect in these troubled times?

Businesses on the brink

On some of our money sites we’ve begun writing about reliable stores of value for investors looking for a safe haven for their cash. The Money Log plumps for traditional timepieces. How to clock up a profit on clocks.

Marshall Sponder, who authors our Art NYC site, has been writing about the businesses shutting up shop in New York.

Over at Syntagma, John Evans has been considering the fate of our own business, Syntagma Media. We seem to be very well placed, but who knows how bad it will get before it gets better?

There’s no doubt we’re in for hard times in the upcoming financial year. How well small business copes will depend on how well prepared it is and how free of debt and obligations to cash-strapped institutions.

We wish all our readers a very happy new financial year.

It’s reported that few small business owners turn to the internet to find contacts or for networking.

Social networking sites, such as Facebook and LinkedIn, have little attraction for the business bosses.

New research from Barclays Local Business indicates that 60 percent prefer traditional network events when looking for support and advice. Only 8 percent consider going online to discuss their business.

John Davis, Business Marketing Director of the Barclays outfit, says, “Many small businesses are sole traders and organized events allow you to meet others and discuss issues face to face, something a chat room will never do.”

Small Business Booster wonders, though, whether putting effort into the business itself might not be a more productive exercise?

A New Series on Business Startups — Part 6

A new study shows that a great deal of time is wasted at meetings, mainly through faulty procedures, but also because many are not necessary in the first place. Add on travel time and overnight stays and it becomes essential to control the number and length of meetings you attend.

Entrepreneurs setting up a new business will find themselves attending more meetings and interviews than they deem necessary for their purpose. Similarly, small business owners are frequently asked to attend, or even chair, formal meetings. A brief summary of the rules governing business meetings will be useful here.

The chairman, or chair, is the ruling authority at any meeting. It falls to him/her to make the initial arrangements and to draw up an agenda. The main considerations will be:

* Is the meeting absolutely necessary?
* Who needs to come?
* Are they all available on the proposed date?
* What is the precise subject to be discussed?
* What will it achieve?
* At what times will it start and finish?
* Where will it be held?
* What information is required in advance?
* Are any other facilities needed, i.e. projectors, lunch etc.

The next step is to draw up an agenda. This will consider any topics that the attendees wish to raise. It will also contain:

* Place, time and date of meeting.
* Subject, or subjects, to be considered.
* Subject order for discussion.
* Other points of interest.

The agenda should be distributed in advance to all the proposed attendees at the appropriate time, i.e. neither too early, nor too late. The ideal time for distribution is not so far in advance of the gathering that the people may forget, and yet giving them sufficient time to assimilate any brief and do all the necessary homework. At the meeting the chairman will:

* Start on time unless there are pressing reasons against it.
* Introduce newcomers.
* State the purpose and aims of the meeting.
* Follow the agenda as written.
* Let the meeting flow if progress is being made.
* Sum up the arguments if they are being lost.
* Pass on to the next item if the meeting is getting bogged down.
* Not allow drama queens to dominate the discussion.
* Conclude the meeting on time if possible.

Meetings are useful in that they get people together face to face. Prevarications can be quickly worn down. Misconceptions, or areas not well defined, can be discussed, and conclusions agreed there and then. On the other hand, a badly handled or mistimed meeting may just be a waste of everyone’s time and effort.