The difference between personal shopping and buying a present for your company is what you give your business this year could, and should fund next year's Christmas costs.

Let's start with the businessman's bargain, membership of the Federation of Small Businesses. (Their definition of small is generous - anyone with less than 200 employees).

Membership fees are based on number of employees starting at £100 plus a £30 joining fee and you get a lot for your money:

The biggest safety net is up to £50,000 for professional representation for in-depth Inland Revenue investigations, appeals to VAT tribunals, motoring prosecutions and prosecutions under Health and Safety legislation.  These are the instances where the small business feels most vulnerable, so membership offers a valuable element of insurance. 

There is also anecdotal evidence that the Revenue and Customs avoid taking on businesses which display membership of the FSB because they know they'll get a fight.

Equally useful, the FSB is a source of advice.  The legal advice line runs 24/7 plus there's advice on Tax, VAT, DSS and employment law.  There's also advice and cover of costs for employment and PAYE disputes.

But perhaps the most important benefit is that you feel there's someone with real clout who you know is on your side.

As well as the protection side of the operation, the FSB has wielded the power of its 200,000+ membership to good effect.  Free business banking with the Co-operative Bank would eat a big hole in your membership costs;  likewise they offer savings on BT call rates that don't require you to have a high call rate; add in discounted insurance, including medical insurance, and you're probably in credit.

Does the business need  new vehicles?

Take a look at the International Van of the Year results before just picking the best price on offer.  The award is given to the van which is judged to have made the greatest contribution to road transport efficiency which covers all the key factors in choosing a new van.

The overall winner announced in October was the Ford Transit with the Sevel combination from Citroen/Peugeot/Fiat running it a close second and the Mercedes sprinter not far behind.  The European Directive on emissions for light duty vehicles has meant a lot of updating so check the website at roadtransport.com before going to a dealer.

Identity theft

If you don't have a shredder, you'd be well advised to remedy that. Granted it's not going to win you any business, but it will defend the company against identity theft, both your own and your customers', and that's an increasingly serious threat.

They start at about £12 for a straight cut shredder, but you're well advised to buy a cross-cut model for greater security, in which case entry price is about £15.  Your needs might require heavier duty capability than the entry model and there's a wide range - ask a serious stationer for guidance.  He'll probably recommend one of the brands which are dominant in the market; Swordfish, Rexel HSM and Fellows.

Don't go out without mobile e-mail access.  Also don't assume that mobile e-mail means a BlackBerry.  Look instead, at OpenHand.  The software is compatible with well over 250 hand-held devices: PDAs (personal digital assistants) and many mobile phones, including Nokia 60 and 80 series and Ericsson UIQ, Pocket PC and Smartphones, one of which you probably have. 

OpenHand provides greater flexibility than BlackBerry and also offers a fully hosted version which includes host Microsoft Exchange.

OpenHand costs £11 per month + VAT (against £33 for BlackBerry) with no minimum contract and no server licence fee (against £36 for BlackBerry).

To buy or set up a trial, log on to openhand-mobile.com for your nearest of their 394 dealers.

They will help load it on your phone/PDA, show how it works and provide professional back-up.

The system has a high level of security compared to competitors and it works worldwide, which many others don't.

In 2003 1% of businessmen had email on the move; in 2008 that's predicted to be 40% - beat the competition by joining the 40% now.

Paying attention to green issues is becoming good business.  On the one hand customers in general are positive about eco-friendly businesses.  On the other hand, addressing the issue invariably saves you money.  The Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Helpline 0800 085 2005 (or the website at carbontrust.co.uk) is the start point.  The helpline can handle a wide range of enquiries, from simple requests for information to in-depth questions on highly technical issues.  You may also find the action plan on the website a very useful structure to work with. 

The Trust says that a 20% saving is often easily achieved - equivalent for many smaller companies to a 5% sales increase.  They can provide surveys (usually free) completed by specialist consultants and Energy Efficiency Loans from £5,000 to £100,000 are available.

Ask, too about enhanced capital allowances, which give 100% tax relief; the Energy Technology List (managed by the Carbon Trust) is a 6,000 strong set of products which qualify for this allowance.

While you're considering green issues look at two other organisations.  First is Eco Incentives - find the company at ecoincentives.co.uk - whose 200+ range of business gifts are all make from recycled material, or are otherwise eco-friendly such as the water powered calculator, which requires no batteries.  Being intrinsically different and interesting they also do a highly effective job of keeping your name in front of customers.

Second id Liftshare.com.  As the name suggests, they offer a route for staff to cut their commuting costs. MD Ali Clabburn says that the employer saves the dead-money cost of parking spaces and a typical user saves £1,000 and a tonne of carbon per year - that's s good as a pay rise. 

Using the website is free, although they charge businesses to set up their own schemes as part of the green transport plans all businesses employing more than 50 people need.

An obvious investment in the business is to improve your selling skills.

There is no shortage of courses which you could take, but they are mighty expensive - three day courses often cost £1,500, with even the one day variety coming in at £500.  What's more you probably don't have three days to spare.

Instead take a look at Bite Size Seminars (bitesizeseminars.co.uk), which has recognised that small businesses don't like either the price or the duration of the standard product.

Bite Sized runs a wide variety of half day sales courses located all over the country.  They are focused, practical and effective without the spurious theories and jargon that often bedevil these programmes.  Better still they cost just £97.00 per delegate, less for group bookings.

If you don't like such events, or can't commit to even half a day, can you improve your sales skills with some reading?

There's a huge choice of books on the subject, so it's a case of 'where do you start?'

Blackwells has as good an authoritative name as any bookseller;  the company's seven best sellers on the topic are as follows: How to persuade People Who Don't Want To Be Persuaded - Joel Bauer, £16.99.  Selling To Win - Richard Denny, £9.99.  The New Solution Selling - Keith Eades, £19.99.

Be a Sales Superstar - Brian Tracy. £9.99.  Pocket Guide To Selling Greatness - Gerhard Gschwandtner, £12.99.  The Sales Success Handbook - Linda Richardson, £8.99.  100 Greatest Sales Tips of All Time - Leslie Pockell, £8.99. Each one will have ideas which you can use successfully.