Running your own business means you have to be an expert not only in your own field, but also in marketing, social media, accounting, HR - the list goes on!
We have created the FSB skills hub to support you with the resources you need to ensure business continuity in the immediate future and for the longer term.
Find answers to your legal questions, demystify the digital world, build a robust business model and unlock the potential of your FSB membership.
Free guides for FSB members
Our free guides cover small business taxes, getting started with card payments and finding the right funding for your business. Download and keep your guides for as long as you need them, just make sure you are logged in and you're good to go!
Accept payments your way
Everything you need to know about taking card payments in a secure, compliant way from our experts at FSB Payments.
Find the right finance
Our experts at FSB Funding Platform walk you through five key steps in the funding journey so you can make the best choice for your business.
Get to grips with Tax
FSB tax specialists take you through the key dates to remember and essential forms to complete every tax year.
Hot off the press
Our resources can help you improve your business skills and discover new talents. From tips for networking like a pro to learning about managing health and safety in your premises we've you covered. Read our latest blogs blow or explore all our resources.
FSB Wales Member Spotlight: Sparkle Cleaning Services Wales and West Ltd
This Barry-based business is a stunning example of how to diversify to thrive during the pandemic.
Re-opening your business in Scotland – top tips
Many businesses in Scotland are now planning to reopen their premises after an extended closure. Read our re-opening top tips that we’ve prepared with environmental health specialists.
Essential guide to workplace pensions postponement for employers
Postponement allows you to delay auto enrolment assessments of new starters, temporary staff or seasonal employees joining you on a short-term basis. FSB Workplace Pensions explain how this works and what you need to do.
Take a deeper dive
Explore our curated sets of resources designed to help you build your knowledge.
Managing
staff
Whether you are getting ready to hire your first member of staff or your fiftieth, we've got guides and resources to keep you covered.
Starting a business
From start up to scale up, we’re here to help you on your business journey. Learn everything you need to know about starting a business, including business law basics, finance fundamentals and how to secure your first sale.
Cyber security basics
Cyber-attacks can stop your small business in its tracks. Get the lowdown on what you need to know with our bitesize cyber security basics from FSB Cyber Protection.
Finance skills that add up
Boss your budgets, crush your cash flow forecasting and breeze through your bookkeeping with our beginner's guides to basic accounting for small businesses.
Bookkeeping
basics
Balance your books, get your accounts in order and stay in control of your finances with our beginner's guide.
First steps with forecasting
Learn what a cash flow forecast is and how to use it to keep your cash flow on an even keel.
Every penny counts
Learn how to budget like a pro now to keep track of your spending and save time and money in the future.
Get to grips with Digital Marketing
The challenge is on to sustain productivity despite unforeseen restrictions. Together with social media experts Be More Social we have worked to create a series of resources allowing small business owners and the self-employed to take control and discover how to choose the best social channel for their business, get started with digital marketing and manage it like a pro.
Get started with social
Watch videos, read guides and complete tasks to improve your knowledge in our dedicated hub.
Get ready to launch
Find our which social media platform suits your business best and how to set one up with our full guide.
Take it
further
Learn how to turn a negative into a positive with our seven strategies to help you manage negative comments like a pro.
Looking to brush up on your digital skills as a whole? The Good Things Foundation offers free resources and training to help you improve the skills you have as well as learning new ones. Find out more on the make it click website.
Take control of your late payments
It doesn’t matter if you are an employee, a small business owner or self-employed, everyone deserves to be paid on time. Our award winning Fair Pay, Fair Play campaign highlighted the issues poor payment practice caused buisnessses across the UK and called onthe Government to implement a three point plan to help protect small businesses from the scourge of late payments.
Although changes need to be made to payment practices, there are steps you can take to proactivley manage your invoices and recover money owed to you. Get started with our resources below before visiting our Legal Hub to find free tools including a late payment calculator and your DIY legal documents.
Be proactive
Learn how to get the groundwork done with our best practices guide to avoid late payments
Take control
Learn how to set boundaries around payment terms and keep on top of your invoices to avoid late payments
Take it further
Learn about the legal action you can take and the FSB resources available to help you recover debts if all else fails
Get active and boost your productivity
Wellbeing may not seem like an important topic at the moment but being actively engaged in improving the health and wellbeing of your staff can help you build a strong, resilient workforce ready to face the challenges of the current climate and those that the future may bring. Boosting workplace wellbeing doesn't mean team marathons and salad Tuesdays, it can be a simple as walking while you make a phonecall or adding some activity into your daily commute.
Physical activity, exercise and movement are vital elements of workplace wellbeing
Research from Sport England has shown 62% of adults currently consider exercise to be more important than ever and 65% of people believe exercise is helping with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK's Chief Medical Officer has continually stressed the value of physical activity: “Anything that can be done to encourage and to allow people to take exercise is clearly a good thing”.
Individuals who sit less and move more live longer, healthier lives.
Taking steps to include daily physical activity and movement while reducing the sitting time of yourself and your employees contributes to a longer healthier life.
Adults spending eight hours a day sat at a desk are up to 60% more likely to die early from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. This risk is reduced with regular, moderate physical activity
An active workforce leads to a more agile, productive and resilient team
Small businesses and sole traders can be hit hard by business interruption through illness and the costs this incurs
2019 research found that if the recommended physical activity guidelines were met globally, it could make employees up to 5 days more productive each year and boost the world economy by an estimated $100bn a year.
Only 6 in 10 adults currently achieves the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
24.6% of adults in England are currently classed as inactive, this means over 11 million people are currently doing less than an average of 30 minutes activity a week.
Government Guidelines state that being active reduces your chances of Type II diabetes by 40%, cardiovascular disease by 35%, joint and back pain by 25%, colon and breast cancers by 20% and can reduce the risk of mental illness by 30%.
Focusing on employee health and wellbeing creates an attractive workplace culture.
Research by CBRE showed that 80% of employees agree that a company’s culture will be crucial in recruiting and retaining them within the next 10 years.
Developing a wellness based culture doesn't need to be complex and expensive, simple solutions to encourage healthy behaviours such as boosting activity levels can positively impact on how your current and future employees perceive your organisation.
Sources: Sport England covid-19 Physical activity tracker | Government press briefing 15th April | The Lancet, July 2016 – physical activity series | Fitter bodies, fitter economies – Vitality and RAND, 2019. | Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey November 2018/19 Report, published April 2020 | Wellness in the workplace: Unlocking Future Performance – CBRE – occupier survey 2015 –2016
Active Travel: A guide for Employees and Employers
Squeeze some activity into your daily commute with our guide.
How to have an active working day in three simple steps
Download our guide to building activity into your working day.
How to hold a moving meeting
Moving meetings held via phone allow you to catch up while talking a walk
Your questions and concerns, covered.
As an FSB member, you are part of a powerful network. Don’t hesitate to use it. Our FSB helpline services are operating as usual, always there to answer our member’s questions. Together, we are working hard to support your needs in challenging times. Below are just a few of the services available to you at no extra cost that you can take advantage of with a full list here.
FSB Funding Platform
FSB's funding platform matches you with the largest panel of business lenders in the UK.
FSB Legal Hub
FSB's legal hub provides online factsheets and documentation covering key legal, HR, tax and health and safety issues that you might encounter when running your business.
FSB PR/Crisis Management
Specialist advice on how to plan for and deal with crisis situations
FSB Care
FSB members with a serious health condition have free access to a personal nurse - providing practical information and emotional support.
FSB Legal Protection Scheme
Legal protection covers various scenarios and offers you and your business a 24/7 legal advice line.
FSB Insurance Service
Providing a free insurance advice line, additional benefits and a full business insurance broking service. We’re supporting members come rain or shine.
FSB Cash Advance
Fast, flexible funding with no hidden repayment fees. Get funding tailored for your business and matched to your cash flow needs.
Let's get together
We're open and ready to talk, join us at our virtual networking sessions across the UK. All our sessions are free and open to all small businesses and the self-employed. Search for events near you or brush up your networking know-how with our guides.
Support for your business: 5 benefits of virtual networking
Have you been to a virtual networking session yet? If not, here's five reasons you should.
Lights, camera, action! 7 tips for virtual networking
Ready for your close up? Our blog has seven tips to get you camera ready.
10 Top Tips for Amazing Networking
Network like a pro with our ten top tips.
Looking for our offers? We've moved them to our First Voice website. Visit First Voice for guides, events, special offers and downloads from businesses across the UK to help during the pandemic alongside digital content from our award winning magazine.