Barclays Bank

Business Banking

Get your business running like clockwork
 with a new guide from Barclays

Continuing its drive to help owners to manage better businesses, Barclays has launched its second Efficient Business Guide - Make The Most Of Running Your Business – which provides advice on topics such as managing cashflow and bookkeeping through to dealing successfully with suppliers and debtors.

Barclays research shows that many small business owners are under pressure and work on average 63 hours per week - 31% more hours than the EU’s Working Time Directive of a 48-hour maximum working week. Around 16 hours – the equivalent of two workings days - are actually spent on organising finances and administration, whilst only eight hours are spent on business development and marketing – one in 10 businesses admit to not spending any time on these activities at all.

The ideal week for business owners would see them spending four hours less on administration or core business with the time dedicated to exploring new business ideas and finding new customers.

Alison Hopkins, Managing Director of Small Business Banking at Barclays said: “Business owners feel they cannot devote the time they need to getting new business through the door because they feel too bogged down with administration and paperwork.

Good financial organisation and management of cashflow is essential and will help to free up valuable time. Our guide gives practical guidance and tips which will help to get their businesses running like clockwork.”