1. Entrepreneurs are five times more likely to be dyslexic than the average UK citizen, according to research conducted by the science research centre Simfonec at the Cass Business School in the City of London.
2. Almost four in every 10 would-be entrepreneurs say that fear of failure prevents them from putting their business idea into effect, according to research carried out by the Yellow Pages.
3. George Bush reportedly said to Tony Blair that “the problem with the French is they have no word for entrepreneur.”
4. ‘Entrepreneur’ is a loanword taken directly from the French language, and was first coined and defined in English by the Irish economist Richard Cantillon in the 18th century.
5. Only a third of French people think a free market economy is the best system to develop the country compared to two thirds of British people, according to a study by the London School of Economics.

Ubops.com The Business Opportunities Marketplace

Women are actively leaving their jobs and moving into self employment according to the latest research from the UK enterprise support body Prowess.

Since 1990 the number of women moving from employment to self-employment increased from 22.2% of all those moving to 32.6%. Whilst the same figures for men show a drop from 77.8% in 1990 to today’s figure of 67.4%. 

‘State of Women’s Enterprise in the UK’ - a major new report out on the 5th November provides a comprehensive picture of the rate of business start-ups and growth, the sectors from which women are leaving employment, and policy recommendations on how national and local government can further support women’s enterprise.

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Patricia Karter, Dancing Deer Bakery CEO, tells Business Week that a better gender balance in the business world could improve society as a whole.

Click here to read the full article.

“After a lifetime of making money and observing better men and women than me fall by the wayside, I am convinced that fear of failing in the eyes of the world is the single biggest impediment to amassing wealth […] Fear of failure is almost certainly the reason that you have not already begun to make yourself rich. It haunts all of us."
Felix Dennis, publisher and poet (pictured, left)

“In life and business, there are two cardinal sins: the first is to act precipitously without thought, and the second is to not act at all.”
Carl Icahn, US billionaire investor and entrepreneur

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Women in business cannot afford to miss the forthcoming National everywoman Conference. 

Held in London on Wednesday 14 November, with the support of Natwest and IBM, the conference will include key note speeches and workshops with some of Britain’s most inspiring business role models.

The conference is a truly unique opportunity to learn from and network directly with some of the biggest names in business.  Additionally intensive interactive workshops will enable delegates to learn new ideas to grow business and invest in their own personal development, discovering new skills, strategies and ideas. 

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It's never too late to start a business, and the UK's over 50s are proving it.

And senior start-up entrepreneurs, who contribute £24.4bn to the economy every year, are not just doing it for money - there doing it for fun and to maintain a better work/life balance.

The research, carried out by the Yellow Pages and analysed by Kingston University’s Small Business Research Centre, delves specifically into new businesses established by older entrepreneurs and shows the group are becoming a powerful force within UK plc.

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From MSNBC: How many entrepreneurs have there been in the history of the world?

Millions, certainly, probably even billions. These are the men and women who take capital - their own or somebody else’s - and use it to beget more capital. Some fail, some succeed, some excel.

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The collapse of scores of internet companies at the turn of the millennium represents a cautionary tale to anyone running a start-up.

Their cardinal sins included not researching their market properly; trying to expand too quickly; making ambitious plans without considering their affordability or technological feasibility; blowing money on expensive marketing campaigns (some dot.coms spent $3m for 30-second TV spots at the Superbowl); spending on lavish premises and launch parties, and so on. Some ideas were just so bad they were doomed to failure from the drawing board stage.

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From the Telegraph: Hundreds of business owners are considering bailing out quickly to avoid the 80pc increase in their capital gains tax bill next year, but are being warned that they risk depressing the market by rushing to sell.

Banks and business advisers have been handling a steady flow of inquiries from entrepreneurs concerned that their 'retirement pot' will suffer a considerable tax hit if they wait until the CGT rate jumps from 10pc to 18pc in April.

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From the BBC: Chancellor Alistair Darling will meet UK business leaders later to discuss their concerns over his changes to the capital gains tax system.

The groups, which include the CBI, argue that the planned changes to the tax will undermine small businesses and stifle entrepreneurship.

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Ben and Charlotte Hollins of Fordhall Community Land Initiative and Farm, near Market Drayton in Shropshire, have been crowned the UK’s Young Rural Entrepreneurs of 2007.

This year’s inaugural award was presented to the brother and sister, aged just 23 and 25, at an awards ceremony in London attended by a panel of judges which included successful entrepreneurs Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (The Black Farmer); Caroline Dickinson, director of the award winning Brocksbushes Farm Shop in Northumberland; and Nicholas Wheeler, founder of international tailor, Charles Tyrwhitt. 

Angus Keate, Lycetts Chief Executive, Charles Seymour, Managing Director of Lycetts Rural Division and Jonathan Young, editor of The Field, completed the composition of the judging panel.

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It’s been said many times (though it goes without saying), but there’s nothing better than turning your hobby into a business.

Two keen skateboarders have not only turned their own hobby into a business, but they get to run the business in one of their favourite environments: Pete King and Andrew Willis take the biggest portable skateboarding ramp in Europe to music festivals and other events and projects around the country. They also get involved with any projects that promote the sport.

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The tightening credit conditions caused by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the resulting increased corporate lending rates and the proposed tax changes in last week's pre-budget report are putting UK business under substantial pressure.  

This is the time for financial directors and managing directors to review the amount of capital they have tied up in existing assets which could provide the liquidity needed to sustain company growth, according to Kate Sharp, chief executive of the Asset Based Finance Association.

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Small businesses don't promote themselves enough, says a leading marketing consultant, speaker and author.

Nigel Temple says that, typically, they use only four promotional techniques, such as having a website or networking.

His latest book, How to Get Clients to Come to You, describes how to create a low-cost promotional mix.

“Small businesses can't rely on a handful of promotional techniques,” says Temple. “Many of them need to double the number of techniques that they use. During my seminars, I ask small business owners how many ways they use to promote their enterprises. On average, the answer is four. As there are more than 250 promotional techniques available, they have numerous options.”

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Seven out of 10 SMEs worldwide reported spyware and virus infections but underestimate the consequences. Global economic engine vulnerable to cyber crime.

Webroot Software, Inc., a leading provider of internet security software for the consumer, enterprise and SME markets, today unveiled its latest report, "State of Internet Security: Protecting Small and Medium Businesses". The report highlights startling survey results surrounding internet security threats among SMEs worldwide.

In conjunction with the report, Webroot has released a handbook for SMEs, "A Guide to Security for Small & Medium Business" that provides tips and best practices for protecting technology infrastructure and sensitive customer data from malware and cyber criminals.

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The introduction of the Home Information Packs could be scaring some potential sellers out of putting their business on the market.

From 10 September, all homes in England and Wales with 3 or more bedrooms will need a Home Information Pack (HIP), which includes a home energy rating. The Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), containing advice on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills. Also included are documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title.

Many of BusinessesForSale.com's brokers believe the compilation of HIPS will put vendors off selling their businesses.

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There has never been a better time to get into the restaurant business.

With programmes like The Restaurant and Hell's Kitchen, not to mention the delicious selction of cookery programmes on our screens at the moment, there is a mountain of advice out there.

In addition, almost a third of the businesses for sale on BusinessesForSale.com are food related businesses.

There are thousands of restaurants; Italian, Chinese, Indian, Moroccan, Greek, Spanish to name but a few. Not to mention take-aways, fast food businesses, cafes, bistros and much, much more.

Click here to browse cafes and restaurants on BusinessesForSale.com.

Click here for our guide to Buying a Restaurant.

Click here to read stories of people who have already bought the business.

Six teams of promising entrepreneurs are in the running for a £5,000 cash prize, as part of a competition to help students and recent graduates launch successful businesses.

The six finalists saw off competition from nearly 150 applicants, and are now in the running to bank cash prizes and other rewards. The annual business start-up competition, organised by Sheffield Hallam University's Enterprise Centre, also gives entrants the chance to work with a mentor from a successful local company.

Previous winners include Emma Killilea, whose range of gluten-free products has won her company, Delicious Alchemy, a string of awards.

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Almost half of small and medium-sized businesses were adversely affected by this summer’s downpours, according to an internet survey run by The University of Nottingham Institute for Enterprise and Innovation (UNIEI).

The latest UK Business Adviser Barometer (UKBAB) suggests that 44 per cent of businesses suffered as a result of the record-breaking rainfall — compared to just one per cent who reported a positive effect.

In July 2007, more than double the average rainfall was recorded in England and Wales, which caused extensive flooding in many areas. The three-month period from May to July this year was the wettest since records began in 1766.

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Its the age old saying. However, groundwork, foundations, research - its all the same.

Before signing up for a franchise, prospective entrepreneurs should investigate costs, exclusivity, suppliers and potential income, says Steve Strauss in his Ask an Expert column in USA TODAY. One critical question to ask the franchiser is how many franchisees drop out within two years.

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