Home » Running a Business » Legal advice

Category

Legal advice

The small business legal advice section provides in-depth guides and features on tax, company and employment law for UK SMEs and sole traders.

How to obtain a UK patent – a 10-point checklist

Obtaining a patent can be time-consuming and expensive. But a patent can prevent others from using your invention, generate licensing income, encourage investment and even lower your tax bill

Legal advice

Legal advice

Can my employer stop me from setting up a competing business?

What you can and can’t do when setting up in competition against your former employment is often in the fine print of your contract, warns Harper James Solicitors

Legal advice

GDPR three years on: make sure your small business is compliant

Many small businesses think if they just ignore the EU’s GDPR regulations, they will just go away. Lawyer Chris Cook warns SMEs they face crippling fines if they do nothing

Legal advice

How to avoid unfair dismissal claims

Simon Robinson, managing partner of RobinsonRalph, gives an overview of the basics to help you avoid paying any unnecessary compensation and explains the basis for claims of unfair dismissal.

Legal advice

Sick leave – Making changes to company sickness policy

Is it possible to make changes to our company sickness policy? Peter Done of HR consultancy Peninsula answers the question

Legal advice

Can I dismiss an employee for sending threatening text?

Two members of staff had an argument. One left the premises and I asked her not to return. She sent me a text threatening me with 'people to sort me out'. Can I dismiss her?

Legal advice

Are purchase orders legally binding?

Are purchase orders legally binding? What are the benefits of a purchase order and how does the process work? Paul Barnes explains more

Legal advice

Buying property through a company – can you rent back your own home?

Can a private individual set up a company to buy houses and then buy their own house through that company and rent it back? Are there any benefits of doing this?

Legal advice

Adapting for disabled customers

The Equality Act affects the way you treat your staff, job applicants and customers. Under the Equality Act, small and medium-sized businesses have to make 'reasonable adjustments' so they do not discriminate against disabled customers.

Legal advice

Gaining settled status for European employees – what employers should do

Helen Jamieson of Jaluch tells us what role employers play in securing the settled (or pre-settled) status of their European employees

Legal advice

What is the UKCA mark and how does it affect my small business?

We explain the new UKCA mark which has replaced the CE mark for products sold on the market in Great Britain

Legal advice

8 legal considerations for setting up a business during the pandemic

Nick Owens of Harper James Solicitors explains what legalities you should be considering if you're starting a business during the pandemic

Legal advice

How going insolvent could be the best way to save your business

How you can save your small business by becoming insolvent. A step-by-step guide to going into administration versus a CVA.

Employing & managing staff

How to deal with a furloughed employee who refuses to return to work

Tribunals are expected to weigh in favour of employees who say they haven’t gone back to work because they feel unsafe during Covid-19. What can a small business owner do?

Recommended Content

Partner content

How to prepare for business growth in 2022

The team at Funding Options explain how to prepare for business growth in 2022

Partner content

Tide to empower small businesses to optimise cash flow with insights tool

Tide is introducing a Cashflow Insights tool to help small businesses mitigate delays in payment and improve their credit score

Partner content

Business Current Account Masterclass

Tune into the Masterclass from the Current Account Switch Service to find out why you should switch your business account pronto

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?