I don’t know about you, but I’m back in the office today refreshed from a break over the festive season with a ton of ideas about what I want for my business this year. 

Are you in the same position?  How are you going to make sure your business is a success in 2013?  These are my thoughts:

It's not an exaggeration when I say that many companies I come across still use suffixes such as gmail, yahoo, and hotmail in their business email address.  Firmly believing that in order to appear more professional and capable, businesses should have a business email address that reflects their business domain name.  Thus I'd fully intended this post to look at how such an address can easily be set up, for free, using Google Apps.  That was until Google Apps announced that they are now going to be charging new users for their service...

Of course, this prompts the question of whether 'free' is better for your business.  Some may also argue that Google provides a great service and as you're using it for business purposes then you should pay for it.

However, The Business Greenhouse's experience of working with startups, sole traders, microbusinesses and even small businesses, suggests that business owners will want to make their money go further so if free options are available they will explore them.  

So if you're a business owner wanting a more professional-looking email address, here are three free alternatives that we've found to Google email:

The Business Greenhouse is pleased to launch a new champion of the smallest of small businesses on Monday 26th March: ‘MicroBusiness Monday’.

MicroBusiness Monday is a chance for owners of the smallest of businesses (those that employ up to 10 people) to celebrate their achievements, to share the challenges they face, and to find support amongst their peers. 

This is hugely important at a time when microbusinesses are generally feeling the pressure of a reduced demand for their products and services in this current economic climate. Yet, the government expects that they will play a significant role in helping to secure economic growth.