What should small businesses, have in place for January ?
Posted on 20th January 2025
January is a crucial month for small businesses. It is a time to reflect on the previous year, reset goals, and prepare for new challenges. As an Outsourced HR Consultant, there are a few things I feel you need to be ready for to ensure a successful start to the new year, of course including HR.
Financial planning and tax readiness
Submit Tax Returns: The deadline for Self-Assessment tax returns is 31 January. Ensure all necessary documents are prepared, and any outstanding tax liabilities are paid to avoid penalties.
Review Budgets: Evaluate your budget for the new year, considering cash flow, projected expenses, and any investments: training budgets, recruitment and employee benefits.
Chase Outstanding Invoices: Ensure you follow up on unpaid invoices to start the year with improved cash flow.
Set clear business goals
Review Performance: Analyse the previous yearβs achievements and challenges to identify areas for improvement.
Set SMART Goals: Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals for the year which can be cascaded down to employee objectives. This could include revenue targets, growth in different areas, or product launches.
These targets should start from the top but be filtered down throughout the business. It is important that the staff have clear communication from the leaders in the business in order for goals to be achieved.
Employee engagement

Check In with Staff: January can be a tough month for morale, therefore, ensure you have regular one-to-one meetings to see how staff are.
Review Training Needs: Plan appropriate development opportunities for your team to enhance skills and productivity.
Review your Contracts and Policies: If any legislative changes came into effect in January, ensure your employee contracts and policies are compliant.
Wellbeing is a hot topic in the world of business so ensure you are ahead of the game by putting small strategies in place to create a productive working culture.
Stay on top of legal and regulatory updates
Check Compliance: Review any updates to UK laws or regulations that may affect your business in 2025.
There were a number of changes made to UK employment law last year so ensure you are up to date and aware of your legal obligations as an employer. Review your HR policies and ensure that they are still up to date, and compliant with the latest legislation.
Review your HR software to identify any gaps or opportunities to reduce admin time.
Ensure that you have started to train your employees regarding the new duty on preventing sexual harassment.
A new year brings new opportunities but for small business owners, it can also bring challenges. Trying to stay on top of all things HR can be time consuming and take you away from concentrating on what you are good at β running your business.
If you have struggled with your HR needs over the last year, perhaps it is time to consider outsourcing. It is a cost effective way to ensure you are following the correct procedures and knowing you have a safety net when you need it.
Why Should You Outsource Your HR in 2025?
Human Resources (HR) is a critical function for any business, ensuring compliance with employment laws, managing employee relations, and fostering a productive work environment.
However, managing HR in-house can be challenging, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Outsourcing HR is becoming an increasingly popular solution in the UK, offering numerous advantages.
Here's why it might be the right choice for your business.
Cost savings

There are no full time salaries to pay. No national insurance or tax implications. You stay completely in control of your finances. You can outsource your HR on a need by need basis or for a more consistent result, go with a retainer. This means that your HR provider becomes an extension of your team without the added financial pressures.
Expertise
You can focus on driving your business forward whilst the HR professional can worry about your legal obligations. It means that you will have access to expert knowledge without spending hours trawling through the internet or different UK policies to find the answers you are looking for.
Ensure legal compliance
It is no secret that it is difficult to stay up to date with the changes in UK employment law. When you outsource your HR responsibilities, you have someone in your corner ensuring you stay compliant at all times.
How to avoid the problem
Having an outsourced HR expert means that they can provide an objective view to solving your HR problem. Whether it is a micro or small team, an HR Consultant knows what to do when it goes wrong and how to avoid them for the future.
Suggest a HR system
Having a HR system tailored for small businesses can save a lot of admin time. Outsourced HR experts work with many different businesses and will have knowledge on what can work for your business, so you do not have to spend the time researching these areas.
Outsourcing your HR can provide the expertise, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness needed to manage your workforce effectively. Whether you are looking to improve compliance, streamline processes, need to solve a current HR problem, partnering with a trusted HR provider can empower your business to thrive. Are you ready for the new year, would you like to have a discovery call to discuss HR Support your way? Call π± 0781 3084152 or email π§ daxa@hrresultsltd.co.uk Taking your HR from 'to do' to 'done'
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