The document provides 10 tips for successfully growing a business. Tip 1 discusses optimal business structure. Tip 2 covers minimizing taxes through tax planning strategies like putting a spouse on payroll or claiming mileage deductions. Tip 3 stresses understanding client needs and wants, using examples of inefficient keyboard designs. Tip 4 recommends developing relationships and building a team. Tip 5 outlines how to claim research and development tax credits. The remaining tips cover strategic planning, management information, adequate funding, legal obligations, and maintaining curiosity.

1. Anthony Casey Noone Casey Sprint – Start Clarion Hotel, IFSC 29 August 2011 Ten Top Tips to Successfully Grow Your Business

2. Ten Top Tips to Successfully Grow your Business

3. Introduction

4. Tip #1 Optimum business structure

5. Tip #2 Minimise your taxes

6. Tip #2 Minimise your taxes (cont’d) Simple tax planning Put spouse on payroll Consider BIK vs mileage Recruit long term unemployed Pension contributions

7. Tip #3 Understanding Client Needs & Wants

8. Tip #3 Understanding Client Needs & Wants (Cont’d) QWERTY keyboard Patented 1878 Slowed down typing to prevent keys sticking together Intentionally illogical & inefficient design DVORAK keyboard Carnegie Foundation grant to Prof Dvorak in 1932 More efficient design/World typing record Commercial failure Clash between client need (faster typing) and client want (desire not to relearn how to type)

9. Tip#4 Develop relationships.... Knowledge base

10. Tip# 4 ...& Build a Team Around You

11. Tip#5 Research & Development tax Credit

12. Tip#5 Research & Development tax credit (Cont’d) Identify eligible R&D projects Determine the expenditure incurred on qualifying activities Optimise the amount of your R&D Tax Credit Draft supporting financial & technical documentation R&D tax credit is 25% of qualifying expenditure If no CT payable, Revenue will refund credit

13. Tip# 6 Strategic Planning Simplify things by focusing on 7 simple steps: A Firm Strategic plan – having a blueprint rolling plan for your firm Marketing Strategy – being clear on your growth strategies Client Retention – creating focused client care programmes Increased Spend – having plans to increase client annual average spend Targeted Referrals – focusing on the best way to grow your client base Low Cost Marketing – creating plans for effective and prioritised marketing activities Business Development – knowing how to professionally gain ‘yeses

14. Tip #7 Management Information

15. Tip #7 Management Information (cont’d) Financial Management accounts Budgets Forecasts Commercial Market share Market penetration Facilitate Commercial decisions

16. Tip# 8 Be Adequately Funded Identify capital requirements What are sources of capital Seed Capital Investor Capital (BES) Venture Capital Promoter’s loans Grant aid DCEB/EI Bank loans

17. Tip# 9 Know Your Law Employment law Employee rights Employer obligations Business Law Contracts Passing off Taxation PAYE VAT

18. Tip# 10 Be Curious Keep up to date Know what your competitors are doing Ask for advice Demand answers Keep learning

19. Conclusion

20. Any Questions?

21. Thank You Anthony Casey Noone Casey 9 Fitzwilliam Square East Dublin 2 Telephone: (+3531) 6766 476 Email: acasey@noonecasey.ie Web : www.noonecasey.ie Blog: www.taxation.ie Twitter: noonecasey LinkedIn: Anthony Casey