Federation of Small Businesses

[playerone]

Is anyone a member?

It looks like a pretty comprehensive benefit package. I am especially interested in the business banking and merchant services. Its hard to get an idea if I will get value from the savings they offer when you take into account the membership fee.

Any comments?

[groomi]

Yeah, I signed up a few months ago. Saved about double my membership by getting my business insurance and professional indemnity through their brokers.

I've also used their contracts download facility when taking on a new member of staff. I would certainly say it had added to my business.

[drivin_me_nuts]

yep, the free banking is very useful.

[timskipper]

Another member here. Worth it for the free legal help if nothing else IMO.

[nigel79]

im currently a member, saved a small fortune with their chip and pin machine. they use streamline,and there was no set up fee and the %amount each month was about half, compared to twice that from the ones provided by the banks.although the courier service provided by another companie wasnt to good. as someone pointed out to me, if you look at the amount of members they have and how much the annual fees are, thats alot of money.

[d5hef]

I joined when setting up my business 2 years ago. The savings made on the Streamline card processing machine and service are worthwhile (give Barclays merchant services a ring and compare prices), as is the free banking. However the free banking is with Co-op and the branches are few and far between. I currently have to travel 40 mins to do my banking.

There is also a free legal advice line (through Abbey I think) which has proved usefull on a couple of occasions.

Their insurance service also didnt cover my type of business

Cheers

Edited by d5hef on Sunday 11th January 17:26

[playerone]

Thanks guys. Was contacted by the rep yesterday.

Its going to be worth it purely for the merchant card services and the banking.

[Golfman]

I also use it for the free legals...

[Anatol]

d5hef said:

However the free banking is with Co-op and the branches are few and far between. I currently have to travel 40 mins to do my banking.

Which would be a deal-breaker for us, except you can use a post office counter as well, which means using Co-op banking is actually really convenient.

The free insurance that covers all your accountancy costs in the case of a revenue inspection is very handy too.

Tol

[Glassman]

Another member.

Joined about three years ago. The subsidies don't really live up to the promise / expectation, but there are good member-to-member deals to be found in the bi-monthly rag.

Legal support is the main reason I remain a member.

[anonymous-user]

nigel79 said:

im currently a member, saved a small fortune with their chip and pin machine. they use streamline,and there was no set up fee and the %amount each month was about half, compared to twice that from the ones provided by the banks.although the courier service provided by another companie wasnt to good. as someone pointed out to me, if you look at the amount of members they have and how much the annual fees are, thats alot of money.

Does that have an online facility?