Resources

This page contains the following resource materials for owner managers. When you are running your own business, it can seem like you have to be a mastermind. However, there are a lot of resources available and, to make it easier for you, on this page, we list those that we find the most useful. Look in the following categories to see if you can find what you need.

• Articles
• Web Links
• Recommended Books
• Software Reviews

Articles

• Checklist for Trading in Tough Times
• 6 Reasons to Measure Performance

Web Links

Interest and Foreign Exchange Rates
The site provides up to date information on exchange and interest rates.

BASIS (Business Access to State Information and Services)
This website was developed in order to provide business with a single access point to all Government information and services.

www.revenue.ie
The Revenue website contains useful information and guides about the tax system.

Other sites with Business Information

AIB Business Portal
This site, provided by AIB, has some useful articles and guides.

Bank of Ireland Business Banking
Another good banking site containing useful articles and guides. This one contains some SFA guides on employment.

Books & other materials

The E-myth Revisited
by Michael Gerber
For anyone thinking about starting a business or for those who have already taken that fateful step. The title refers to the author's belief that entrepreneurs--typically brimming with good but distracting ideas--make poor businesspeople. He establishes an incredibly organised and regimented plan, so that daily details are scripted, freeing the entrepreneur's mind to build the long-term success or failure of the business.

Good to Great
by Jim Collins
The author identifies and discusses common traits are found in companies that made the transition from Good to Great. At the heart of those rare companies is a corporate culture that rigorously finds and promotes disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined manner. Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not-so-great.

The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary
by Mark Sanborn
This book tells the story of Fred, a postman who loves his job and who genuinely cares about the people he serves. Because of that, he is constantly going the extra mile handling the mail – and sometimes watching over the houses – of the people on his route, treating everyone he meets as a friend. Where others might see delivering mail as monotonous drudgery, Fred sees an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those he serves.

In the book the author, Mark Sanborn, identifies lluminates the simple steps each of us can take to transform our own lives from the ordinary – into the extraordinary.  This is a very inspiring read and a must for anyone in the service business.

How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life
by Tom Rath, Donald O. Clifton
This number one New York Times and number one Business Week bestseller, How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, and grounded in 50 years of research, this book will show you how to greatly increase the positive moments in your work and your life-while reducing the negative. Filled with discoveries, powerful strategies, and engaging stories, How Full Is Your Bucket? is sure to inspire lasting changes and has all the makings of a timeless classic.

This book is for everyone – parents, teachers, bosses, colleagues.  It is a great book and guaranteed to make you think about the impact you are making.

Software Guidance

Accounting Software
For many SMEs, the accounts are the major source of performance for management. With the availability now of cheap, easy to use accounting software there is no reason for owner-managers not to have monthly management accounts. Here are some of the packages that I have found good.

For small business, there are a number of good accounting packages including TAS, Quickbooks, Sage Line 50. Small businesses should find out if there is software that their accountant/auditor prefers and use it, as then you may be able to reduce your annual audit fee in addition to having your own monthly management accounts.

For Medium sized business we have worked with the following packages and found them to be good - Exchequer Enterprise and Microsoft Great Plains. These packages have the capability to satisfy almost every need that you could think of. Exchequer is particularly good for construction industry, ie jobcosting. It also has very good reporting facilities.

All businesses should do a thorough needs analysis before attempting to make a software selection. With this analyis you will then be able to carryout a more objective evaluation.

Payroll Software
We are still surprised to find that there are businesses out there today who don’t have an in-house payroll package. These start at €125 plus VAT and they keep you aware of your payroll costs and liabilities. Our current favourite is Collsoft. This handles multiple departments, keeps track of holidays and only costs € 100 for a three company license. Other recommended packages include Thesaurus and Quickpay.