Managing costs

The Government must encourage local councils to monitor and assess their spending to maximise the benefit to local communities, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.

UK firms are waiting less time to receive payment from their debtors, according to data from Experian.

Some of the UK's largest and most successful businesses are being asked to agree on paying their smaller suppliers on time.

The costs of using a mobile phone when abroad have now become significantly cheaper, under new EU regulations.

The Government has announced the 3p rise in fuel duty, planned for August, will not go ahead this year.

Small businesses are unwilling to use payday loans as a way of financing their business, according to market research company BDRC Continental.

The long term downward trend in workplace sickness absence is stalling, according to a report, fuelling concerns that the Government should be doing more to reduce the cost of sickness to employers, taxpayers and the economy.

Small recession-hit businesses faced with increased business costs may be able to save money through group buying, research carried out by the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has claimed.

Four in five small businesses in the UK believe the change in postal rates - which came into effect on 30 April 2012 - will affect their business and the ways in which they communicate with customers.

Companies struggling with the effects of late payment are failing to take advantage formal procedures and are putting their business at risk, a new business report has warned.