The Legal Implications of A Paperless Office

As more and more businesses strive to reduce the quantity of paper they use on a day to day basis the paperless office is becoming a common goal for many firms. Upon this paperless policy many organisations stumble across the same question: are digital copies of scanned documents admissible in court?

The question covers an array of documents, from contracts and invoices to receipts and claim forms. Organisations are understandably concerned that legal document scanning could land them in hot water should a legal dispute arise in the future.

Whilst there is actually somewhat of a grey area in British law, companies should rest assured that many electronic images of legal documents can be treated as evidence in the eyes of the law. Legal document scanning should not jeopardise the admissibility of a certain piece of evidence.

The general rule is, as long as the original document is admissible and is accepted as a piece of evidence then a scanned copy or other electronic image of that document can be treated as secondary evidence. This is the same for photocopies of original documents.

The Civil Evidence Act (1995) in England and Wales actually sets out provisions for the authenticity of such documents and, should the scanned document meet these provisions, it is likely that they will be admissible in court.

There is actually a recently introduced British Standard that formally deals with the “evidential weight and legal admissibility of electronic information”. The standard states that for a document to be admissible in court its authenticity must be “beyond question”. The guide to conforming to the standards is £65 to download – a small price to pay for the assurance that a company’s scanned legal documents will be admissible.

The British Standards Institute suggest that by following the ‘best practise’ guide, the probability of an electronic document being accepted as evidence will be dramatically increased.

Often firms opt to outsource the scanning of their legal documents to professional companies with experience in ensuring electronic records are up to scratch in the eyes of the law. Whilst this comes at an expense to the company, many directors, particularly at smaller firms, feel it is a small price to pay for peace of mind and legal protection.

So to conclude – are digital copies of documents and records admissible as evidence in British courts? As long as the original document was admissible and the record can be verified for its authenticity there is a significant possibility that the electronic image will suffice.

Why Get Advice On R&D Tax Relief?

R&D tax credits are an extremely helpful resource for companies wanting to get a new product into development but struggling with finances. These credits are a UK government incentive which allow small- and medium-sized enterprises to claim back tax on their R&D expenses in order to help them achieve their full potential. Good for the UK economy and good for your business – a win-win situation for everyone, you would think. Surprisingly, though, there are still a huge number of small businesses out there still unaware that this kind of help is available to them. And even if they are, they may simply not have the necessary know-how to apply for it successfully.

If you think your company may be eligible for such tax relief and you urgently need it to take your new product ideas to the next level, it may be time to get some expert help. The ins and outs of the tax system can be pretty incomprehensible to those who haven’t studied it. Luckily, there are firms out there which specialise in offering advice and guidance on R&D tax credits, hopefully enabling you to make a successful application on behalf of your business and get that new product or innovation off the ground.

To begin with, the firm acting on your behalf will be able to ascertain whether you are even eligible for R&D tax credits in the first place. If you are, you can claim up to 225 per cent tax relief on qualifying research and development expenditure but this usually applies to companies with 500 employees or less. This can save you time and money straight away, because there is no point spending ages going through the application process if it turns out you don’t qualify for R&D tax relief after all.

If it is established that you are indeed eligible, then an advisor will also be able to work out all your qualifying costs – something many companies forget to take into account. The qualifying costs are related to certain technical developments your company will have to undertake to deliver improved products, processes or services etc. This will obviously require some investment, and an expert in the qualifying process should be able to lay out for you how much this is likely to be.

The preparation of the claim itself will require a lot of paperwork, negotiation and familiarity with UK tax law, which can be daunting to the novice. Helping you get through this is the most important service an R&D tax credit advisor will provide. If you try to do it yourself to save paying an outside agent then there is every chance you will miss a crucial detail and your claim will be rejected. In the long run, it’s better to make that initial outlay to ensure the job is done thoroughly. Then you will be well on the way to taking the next steps to achieve your long-term business objectives.

Franchising Opportunities In A ‘Recession-proof’ Industry

If you are considering going into business for yourself, but you would prefer to have the back up of an established business team behind you and a proven business model from which to kickstart your enterprise, then franchising could provide an obvious solution.

One of the most attractive things about franchising is that you will get plenty of help in setting up your business – and while there will be guidelines you will need to adhere to, there is frequently scope to put your own stamp on the operation by adding your own personal touches. It’s the kind of venture that suits the business traditionalist as well as the entrepreneur.

The other unique aspect about the majority of franchise models is that franchisees do not generally need any prior experience in the field. So as a potential franchisee, what it boils down to, is what type of business really interests you.

Because of the state of the current housing market, analysts are predicting that this year (2013), will see 1 in 5 of us renting properties, rather than buying. In some cases renting may be a lifestyle choice, or it may be forced upon us if we are not in a position to get onto the property ladder. Either way, property management is considered pretty much a recession-proof industry.

So how might you go about securing your property management franchise?

As with practically everything these days a Google search is a great place to start. Organisations such as the British Franchise Association and the International Franchise Association provide free information and you can always subscribe to The Franchise Magazine (or browse their latest edition online). There are also several dedicated franchise exhibitions around the UK, most of which offer free entry to visitors.

You can reasonably expect your franchisor to offer first class practical training and ongoing support or mentoring on a ‘bespoke’ basis. They should also provide state-of-the-art property management software which will make running your property business a whole lot easier.

Many franchisors will offer presentations and informal get togethers for potential franchisees, where they will provide an overview of the business model and perhaps run through the benefits of their property management software, so you can get a feel for the business and decide whether it’s for you.

And as with any kind of serious financial commitment, you should always seek advice from a qualified professional before entering into a formal contract.