KNOWLEDGE IS POWER FOR NEW BUSINESS START-UPS
www.findoutinfo.com from Equifax brings instant access to online business reports and education library
London, June 2004 – Leading information provider, Equifax Plc, is bringing start-up businesses a powerful new tool with its new online business report service, Findout. Findout offers instant access to a wealth of commercial information to help them avoid late payers, deal with the threat of fraud and trade successfully. Using Equifax's extensive database on over 4 million companies and businesses, Findout provides knowledge, power and protection at the click of a button.
Findout Knowledge, a unique, comprehensive and free business education facility, provides detailed information on a range of subjects from company accounts and credit limits, to explanations of business terminology and advice on how to verify a business or individual’s identity. What's more, Findout offers a free search facility, for a quick and easy way to check that a company, business or director exists.
Michael Shannon, Managing Director of Equifax comments: ”Half the battle of starting up a new business is having the vision to find a product or service offering that is commercially viable. The other half is cultivating the necessary financial management skills to keep the business secure.”
Findout provides start-ups with a range of reports delivering an unmatched level of credit and financial information to help them avoid bad debt and other pitfalls.
• Avoid bad debt
Maintaining effective cash flow is essential to all businesses, especially SMEs who can be crippled by a string of late payments. Start-ups should arm themselves with background information on any potential business partners before risking their business. Findout’s financial reports provide vital information on a company - whether it is financially sound or has any negative information logged against it, such as County Court Judgments. This can help SMEs make crucial business decisions and avoid the threat of bad debt.
• Protect your business from fraud
Findout offers businesses protection from the growing threat of fraud. With fast, online access to details on directors and shareholders and information that will help them to establish the legal identity of a company, businesses can ensure that they are only dealing with reputable organisations. This can also help businesses take essential steps towards compliance with anti-money laundering guidelines. In addition, through Findout, start-ups can assess potential business partners or directors to ensure they are right for their business.
• Protect Yourself from Previous Occupier Debt
When looking for business premises, the first instinct is to think about location, costs and image, but it is also important to find out the name of the previous occupier. Through Findout, start-ups can quickly and easily check an address. A single report will reveal whether any bad debt is registered against that property. Providing proof that your business is not involved in debts left by a previous company can result in a lot of unnecessary stress that is best avoided.
Michael Shannon continues, "Starting-up a business is big decision and information can be a formidable weapon. It may even spell the difference between success and failure. Start-ups can often feel out on a limb when it comes to legal advice and keeping on top of new regulations and topical issues such as company cloning. By simply logging onto www.findoutinfo.com, business owners will have access to a comprehensive and cost effective source of information designed to help businesses make informed and profitable decisions."
| EQUIFAX PROVIDES TOP TIPS ON STARTING A BUSINESS • Assess your skills - do you have the drive, determination, initiative and motivation to start a business? |
ENDS
June 2004
