Comments for Sage on the Web http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk An insider's perspective on doing business in difficult times Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:35:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on About Isosceles Finance by The Part time FD - When Half is Better Than a Whole! | Isosceles http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/about-isosceles-finance/#comment-1082 The Part time FD - When Half is Better Than a Whole! | Isosceles Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:35:29 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?page_id=59#comment-1082 [...] Mike O’Connell, CEO, Isosceles Finance [...] [...] Mike O’Connell, CEO, Isosceles Finance [...]

]]> Comment on About me by The Part time FD - When Half is Better Than a Whole! | Isosceles http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/about/#comment-1078 The Part time FD - When Half is Better Than a Whole! | Isosceles Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:33:31 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?page_id=2#comment-1078 [...] Mike O’Connell, CEO, Isosceles Finance [...] [...] Mike O’Connell, CEO, Isosceles Finance [...]

]]> Comment on Don’t fall foul of the Bribery Act by Rayann http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2011/06/15/dont-fall-foul-of-the-bribery-act/#comment-1006 Rayann Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:22:14 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=396#comment-1006 What I find so interesting is you could never find this aywhnere else. What I find so interesting is you could never find this aywhnere else.

]]> Comment on Would now be a good time to collaborate? by Business Plan – 10 Things to Include in Plan B http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2009/09/08/good-time-to-collaborate/#comment-1000 Business Plan – 10 Things to Include in Plan B Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:01:12 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=47#comment-1000 [...] Now might be a great time to collaborate.  It will take a brave management team to actively look for out potentially competitor [...] [...] Now might be a great time to collaborate.  It will take a brave management team to actively look for out potentially competitor [...]

]]> Comment on Abolishment of the DRA (default retirement age) so what? by IRA RMD http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2011/07/14/abolishment-of-the-dra-default-retirement-age-so-what/#comment-850 IRA RMD Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:39:27 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=382#comment-850 The Government has confirmed the abolition of the Default Retirement Age with effect from 6th April 2011 and being totally implemented by 1st October 2011. Transitional arrangements will be in place from 6 April 2011 to cover employees who will have already been issued with notifications of retirement under the statutory retirement procedure but no new notifications can be issued after 5th April 2011. The Government has confirmed the abolition of the Default Retirement Age with effect from 6th April 2011 and being totally implemented by 1st October 2011. Transitional arrangements will be in place from 6 April 2011 to cover employees who will have already been issued with notifications of retirement under the statutory retirement procedure but no new notifications can be issued after 5th April 2011.

]]> Comment on Spare a Thought for Sue by Sokura http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2010/04/29/spare-a-thought-for-sue/#comment-523 Sokura Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:12:45 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=199#comment-523 I genuinely value your work , Great post. I genuinely value your work , Great post.

]]> Comment on The Big “VAT” Reveal. by Mike O'Connell http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2011/01/27/the-big-vat-reveal/#comment-509 Mike O'Connell Tue, 01 Mar 2011 13:17:19 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=326#comment-509 Interesting point, I have to agree that whilst the VAT reduction did little to fuel extra economic activity (in my opinion) an increase and effectively a 5% swing from the reduced rate to the increased rate could have a massive dampening effect - as you say a tipping point in some industries. Inflation is a problem we haven't faced for a long time and I'm not sure we know how to deal with it right now - just look at the split of opinion in the bank's monetary policy committee. Just going through budgeting exercises with a number of clients right now and there is more pressure on salary costs than there has been for 4 or 5 years. Just working with clients on trying to tie any increases to performance rather than just an immediate increase in salary to react to inflation rates. Regards, Mike Interesting point, I have to agree that whilst the VAT reduction did little to fuel extra economic activity (in my opinion) an increase and effectively a 5% swing from the reduced rate to the increased rate could have a massive dampening effect – as you say a tipping point in some industries.

Inflation is a problem we haven’t faced for a long time and I’m not sure we know how to deal with it right now – just look at the split of opinion in the bank’s monetary policy committee.

Just going through budgeting exercises with a number of clients right now and there is more pressure on salary costs than there has been for 4 or 5 years. Just working with clients on trying to tie any increases to performance rather than just an immediate increase in salary to react to inflation rates.

Regards,

Mike

]]> Comment on Would now be a good time to collaborate? by Business Plan – 10 Things to Include in Plan B http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2009/09/08/good-time-to-collaborate/#comment-506 Business Plan – 10 Things to Include in Plan B Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:27:12 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=47#comment-506 [...] need a fat development department  with a mature product?  Do I need a full time FD when a Now may be a good time to collaborate.  It takes a brave management team to actively seek out potentially competitor companies and [...] [...] need a fat development department  with a mature product?  Do I need a full time FD when a Now may be a good time to collaborate.  It takes a brave management team to actively seek out potentially competitor companies and [...]

]]> Comment on The Big “VAT” Reveal. by S N http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2011/01/27/the-big-vat-reveal/#comment-505 S N Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:05:28 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=326#comment-505 Hi Mike, Maybe there is another force at play here as well - have the retailers already hiked the prices prior to 22nd Dec in anticipation of the VAT increase in Jan 11? In this way they can be 'seen' as a good retailer who can absorb price hikes? On ther other hand, the cost of pint in the pub has gone up. The industry is already on a tipping point and this increase will unsettle it further. I think VAT increase is only one tiny factor that the retailers have to consider while setting prices - other cost pressures such as raw material costs, transportation have had a greater impact. Hi Mike,

Maybe there is another force at play here as well – have the retailers already hiked the prices prior to 22nd Dec in anticipation of the VAT increase in Jan 11? In this way they can be ‘seen’ as a good retailer who can absorb price hikes? On ther other hand, the cost of pint in the pub has gone up. The industry is already on a tipping point and this increase will unsettle it further.

I think VAT increase is only one tiny factor that the retailers have to consider while setting prices – other cost pressures such as raw material costs, transportation have had a greater impact.

]]> Comment on The First Time Entrepreneur – Part 1 by Mike O'Connell http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/2010/10/05/the-first-time-entrepreneur-part/#comment-343 Mike O'Connell Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:42:09 +0000 http://www.sageontheweb.co.uk/?p=264#comment-343 I think the technology market is fractured into so many subsectors - eg biotech, social media, enterprise software, cleantech - that the product vs services debate is perhaps less relevant than it once was. With Software As A Service and volume based pricing models for product companies and value add, gain share models for service companies the lines have become more blurred as time goes on. In the last couple of years the cycle seems to be related to risk - with the less risky, cash-flow positive established management team led companies becoming more attractive once again, whether they be product or services. I think the technology market is fractured into so many subsectors – eg biotech, social media, enterprise software, cleantech – that the product vs services debate is perhaps less relevant than it once was. With Software As A Service and volume based pricing models for product companies and value add, gain share models for service companies the lines have become more blurred as time goes on. In the last couple of years the cycle seems to be related to risk – with the less risky, cash-flow positive established management team led companies becoming more attractive once again, whether they be product or services.

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