Franchise Focus Business News…

In this week’s Franchise Update, we report on Lord Carter’s controversial Digital Britain report and the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants’ call for more guidance for small businesses on tax law.

Click here to download this week’s Franchise Update, or watch in the player below:

The Digital Britain report published Lord Carter of Barnes, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting has been met with controversy from industry officials. David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), has hit out saying that the report is not ambitious enough. Visit Culture.gov to read the the Digital Britain report and decide for yourself.

A new ACCA policy paper highlights certain areas that the association believes require specific attention by governments across the world, including simplifying legislation, tightening the rules on the difference between tax avoidance and evasion and making green tax laws more explicit and accessible. Visit the ACCA’s website to find out more about green tax laws and more!

In this week’s Franchise Update, we are bringing you news on the European Union’s Your World Your Business young entrepreneur’s program as well as details of the launch of Franchise Direct’s newest website - Franchise Direct Canada.

Click here to download this week’s Franchise Update, or watch in the player below:

The European Union have launched a new program aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among young people. The Your World Your Business program’s website features a video documentary following four young entrepreneurs from EU countries: Spain, Sweden, UK and Estonia. Visit the program’s website to find out more and to watch the documentary.

Franchise Direct are delighted to announce the launch of their newest website. Franchise Direct Canada will provide real franchise and business opportunities to those interested in starting a business in Canada, or even interested in developing their existing business into the Canadian market.

Thanks for watching!

The government has announced plans to encourage individuals to start their own business. The “New Industry, New Jobs” scheme announced on Monday included £250 million to invest in low carbon business opportunities and innovation. This will include initiatives on low carbon vehicles, as well as the nuclear and renewable energy
industries. Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, said “Backing green, low carbon businesses and technologies will be a priority for the new fund. Ed Miliband and I are determined British business should be world leaders in the technologies and services the world will need as we use energy more efficiently and combat climate change.”

Green businesses are growing at an enormous rate, and Franchise Direct features a directory of green franchise opportunities. Why not start your own lucrative business providing energy saving heating systems, refilling ink cartridges or an automotive remapping business, whilst caring for the environment at the same time. It’s a win/win situation for your career and the environment.

Even small changes in overhead and cost matter when it comes to running a small business or franchise. That’s why it’s becoming increasingly important to adopt energy-saving “green” habits to make your business more energy efficient… and cost effective. In fact, Britain’s Environment Agency said that complying with green legislation will also allows small businesses to save millions of pounds! Currently £58 million is being saved by those in compliance.

Research shows that smaller companies are twice as likely to be aware of the environment than larger ones. In fact, a survey conducted of 12,001 workers in England shows that 1/3 of small business employees have addressed climate change with behavioural changes, whereas less than 1/5 of large, international companies’ employees have done anything.

So take your part in helping make your business greener with these practical tips:

•  Work from home. If your franchise or business allows it, try to stay away from commuting to and from work everyday. Fuel costs are high, and you will be saving yourself lots of money by working from home.
• Change the light bulbs to energy efficient ones. At the end of the day, you’ll be saving costs and the environment if you change the light bulbs in your leased office space or home office to the high efficiency ones. The energy efficient bulbs may be more expensive, but your investment will pay off when you look at your electric bill for the month.
• Turn off lights at night. This also includes office equipment, like computers, which are very energy intensive. If you need to leave your computer on, at least switch off the monitor.
• Clean filters on refrigerators and condensers annually. This can significantly lower your fuel bill by getting the refrigerator to run more efficiently and save energy.
• Turn down heating and air conditioning. Try to raise the temperature slightly in the summer, and lower it slightly in the winter. Although this seems like a simple gesture, it will actually save you money!
• Improve insulation systems. This will help with your electricity bill, as you won’t have to adjust the thermostat quite as much during the cold of winter or heat or summer.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll find that you’re making a difference not only with the environment, but also in your small business or franchise’s checkbook.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about climate change, and it’s increasing in public awareness. With this heightened sense of awareness, you might want to find out about your business’ carbon footprint!

One of the easiest ways to measure your impact on the environment is to find out how much your carbon footprint is, or the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced from all your business activity. The main sources of GHGs for business are generally:

1. transport emissions (e.g. business vehicles)
2.  energy consumption (e.g. how much gas and electricity you use)
3. how you dispose of waste (e.g. the incineration of waste can lead to methane release in landfills)
4. refrigerants (e.g. hydrofluorocarbon, or HFCs)

If you can figure out ways to improve these categories, your business will be emitting less (and this may even save you money, as lower energy consumption equals lower bills!). Check out The Carbon Trust’s carbon footprint calculator!

Also keep in mind that there may be tax breaks for those businesses that adopt environmentally-friendly practices. For instance, using sources of energy with less environmental impact can mean you get a reduction in the climate change levy, or use enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) to invest in vehicles for your franchise that have low carbon dioxide emissions. Another way to get a discount is if your vehicles use alternative fuels.

Another solution to your business’ carbon footprint is to calculate the GHGs your franchise emits and then purchase credits from an emission reduction project, such as renewable energy schemes, energy efficiency projects, capturing methane from landfills, planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide, etc. Check out the Defra website for more information on carbon offsetting.

Read up on more information about environmental regulations at NetRegs and find out about their significance to your franchise. With better informed consumers and environmentally conscious businesses, we can move the booming franchise industry further and further into a green future!