Latest Don't Miss
Dealing with a court battle
Mike Watson, MD of industrial cleaning company Tube Tech International, has fought three legal battles over 25 years.
Upcoming changes to the law
On 1 October a number of changes to UK legislation come into play that may affect your business. This article from SmallBusiness.co.uk gives a round up of the changes that are most relevant to SMEs.
Budget summary
Chancellor Gordon Brown has made his Budget speech to the House of Commons. During recent Budgets the Chancellor has announced initiatives to reduce the complexity of taxation regulations but progress has been limited.
Click to get a view on how it will affect you...
How to fight red tape regulation
In the last few months alone new laws on age discrimination have been introduced, along with new fire regulations, an uplift in the minimum wage and changes in maternity rights. SmallBusiness.co.uk points you to some free advice sites, which could save you money on legal fees and tell you where to concentrate your attention.
Stay ahead of changes in legislation
All businesses need to stay on top of legislative changes. It has never been easier to do so thanks to the introduction of Common Commencement Dates. This means that most new laws affecting businesses now come into play on one of two dates each year, either April or October, making it easier for business to remember compliance timings.
Holidays for the self-employed
Holiday entitlement for sole traders and the self-employed can be a tricky business. In the intance of a self-employed decorator who has worked for the same company for nearly two years, Peter Done explains why it's such a complicated issue.
Renegotiating signed contracts
As a business owner you’ll be required to sign hundreds of contractual agreements with suppliers, customers and shareholders. But what happens if circumstances change and you want to get out of a contract?
Reduce driving risk
Driving is a dangerous business, particularly when you are responsible for your employees’ safety, The law requires companies to safeguard the health and safety of all employees while at work and to also ensure that others are not put at risk by the work-related activities of your employees.
Adapting for disabled customers
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) affects the way you treat your staff, job applicants and customers. Under the DDA, small and medium-sized businesses have to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ so they do not discriminate against disabled customers.
Need to know: Health & safety
Health and safety is about preventing people from being harmed at work or becoming ill through work, the law states that we must not put ourselves; other workers or the public in danger and this applies to all businesses of all sizes.
How to avoid insolvency
It’s a grim fact that up to 80 per cent of new businesses launched each year fail, most within the first five years of operation. Once cash flow has dried up and creditors start knocking on the door, the most likely action taken by UK entrepreneurs is to declare bankruptcy.
An Introduction to insurance cover for business
This factsheet tells you which insurance cover your business is legally required to have and describes some optional insurance cover that you could use to protect your business.
Prepare for age discrimination laws
Getting to grips with the minefield that is age discrimination is a perennial problem for small businesses, but CEOs ignore these issues at their peril. According to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, six out of ten workers have experienced discrimination on account of their age, believing they have missed out on jobs or promotions. Legal recourse can be lurking around the corner if you’re not careful.
Does the Data Protection Act affect you?
This factsheet describes the purpose and requirements of the Data Protection Act and explains what you need to do in order to comply with it. It includes useful hints and tips as well as sources of further information.
Top 10 Legal tips
Running a business will present you with many unexpected legal considerations; smallbusiness.co.uk's Top Ten Legal Tips help to guide you through the potential legislative minefield.