Running a small business is rewarding, but demanding. From serving customers to managing cashflow and dealing with economic uncertainty, you are constantly juggling different demands and roles. The daily grind can also make it easy to forget about your accomplishments, and our latest research shows fewer than half (43%) of small businesses regularly get the opportunity to pause and celebrate their wins.

Understanding and catering to diverse customer payment preferences is crucial for businesses. While data from the trade association UK Finance, shows card payments dominate, making up 61% of all transactions in 2023, and cash usage made up just 12% of all payments, there is a growing preference for multiple payment methods amongst UK consumers.

Running a small business can sometimes feel like an endless list of administrative tasks, from onboarding and payroll to compliance. This is especially true for the UK’s smallest businesses, those employing up to nine people. Xero’s research shows that these businesses spend less than half (46%) of the working week on their core jobs because they’re juggling so many other ‘non-core’ jobs like IT, HR, admin, and finance.

First things first – the rise of ESG up the corporate agenda is good news for the planet. Whether that is driven by evolving regulation, internal company values or the rise of ethical consumerism, initiatives are gaining traction. Beyond this, however, prioritising ESG is increasingly having a positive impact on the bottom line.