Any viable business idea requires capital initially. As such, establishing your company in Dubai - or anywhere else in the world for that matter - can become a bit complicated if you don’t have sufficient funds. The good news is, the UAE has built a favourable...
Finance
5 Hacks of Getting Your Customers to Pay on Time
Indeed, the idea of debt collection undoubtedly can be rather discouraging but there are in fact many ways to be able to emphasize customers to make payments on time hence removing any inconveniences as well as allowing for a better relationship between you and the...
The highs are fantastic, but how can you budget for when business is slow?
Many businesses have low seasons or other downturns, but there’s usually no need to panic. You just need to budget for them beforehand, and have contingency plans in place for when they hit. Smart budgeting strategies include being flexible with your pricing, saving...
Are you storm-proof? How a rainy-day fund can help your startup survive a downturn
When your business is thriving, it can seem counter-intuitive to set aside cash when it could be used to grow your venture. But what will you do when you hit a downturn? How can you be sure to survive it and prosper, as well as hold on to key staff? Setting aside a...
Five ways to ensure venture capitalists are attracted to your startup
Starting a business is hard. But making it a success is even harder. It requires time, effort and money—and as startups won’t see profit for several years, they sometimes seek outside investment to cover the latter. Venture capitalists (VCs) provide capital to help...
5 easy ways startups can manage debts from day one
Starting your own business often means getting into debt. You might have a little equity of your own for the setup. But chances are you’ll also be using a loan, a credit card, or even a few investors. And as startups generally don’t see profit for three to five years,...
What’s on offer? How to source finance for your UAE startup or SME
Ask entrepreneurs in the UAE what they most need to upscale their business and the majority are likely to say ‘finance’. Sourcing finance in the early stages of growth is fundamental in taking a company to the next level. It helps business owners to avoid cash flow...
Debt collection in the UAE
The UAE is one of the most challenging places in the world for collecting debt, according to the 2018 Global Ranking on Debt Collection. It’s not getting any easier over time, and it’s time consuming, stressful and costly for business owners. Still, debt collection...
The price is right – is your startup on the money when it comes to cost structure?
Pricing is everything for startups. Nowhere is the issue of pricing more important than the UAE, home of some of the most exciting and highest-stake new ventures on the planet. Startups in the country secured USD 400m in investments in 2017, cementing its position as...
Who are the biggest foreign investors in Dubai and how can entrepreneurs get some of the action?
Dubai retains great lustre and appeal as a foreign direct investment (FDI) location. The most recent figures clearly show that the city has cemented its position among the top global destinations for FDI capital. In 2016, with investors from leading industrial...
Building a company without financing – can it be done?
Something may come from nothing. It takes hard work and commitment, but it can happen. At the end of 2015, there were 350,000 SMEs in the UAE, providing jobs to over 86% of the private sector. They accounted for over 60% of the country’s GDP, and the National Agenda...
Is your startup ready to meet an angel investor?
Angel investors are a great way to secure early financing for your business, giving you the financial jump-start you need to reach the final stages of development and market entry. But many new business owners are at a loss with what to expect from investors. In...