As Duncan Bannatyne will tell you (and anyone else who’ll listen), it’s hard to get a job when you’ve got a criminal record.

So the obvious(ish) solution to getting your life on track is to become an entrepreneur: no interviews, no digging into your past, no need to prove your rehabilitation.

Well here’s just such a story from Duane Jackson, founder of accountancy software group, KashFlow. He fell in with the wrong crowd but turned it around after a brief stay in the slammer.

Now he’s contributing big time by creating wealth and employing people – good on him.

In business, you’re never too experienced to learn something new. Small business how-to guides online and in mags are a great way to refresh your thinking and see your business in a new light.

We’ve heard from the government, Bank of England and business lobby groups that we’re in for a hard time next year, so now is prefect to brush up on your core business requirements.

We think cash-flow, marketing on a budget and a revisit to the old business plan are things that should be top of your agenda right now, so click the links to read on.