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 do I reduce hours and pay?

I run a small office of 12 people and wish to reduce hours and pay. There's no allowance for this within the contract. How much notice should be given to employees? Do contracts need to be revised or is an addendum to the contract enough?

Legal advice

Legal advice

Paying redundancy 

How can I pay redundancy if I don't have any money?

Legal advice

New legislation and fines for breaching the Data Protection Act

New legislation means that companies could be fined up to £500,000 for breaching the Data Protection Act. Read our guide on how to stay on the right side of the law.

Legal advice

Dismissing staff

What's the procedure for dismissal if an employee has been with the company for less than a year?

Legal advice

How to improve the terms of existing contracts

Here we look at the best ways to improve the terms of existing contracts without damaging your business relationships.

Legal advice

Starting the small claims process

If you have a claim to make against another business or sole-trader, you may need to go through the small claims process. SmallBusiness.co.uk tells you how to start the process.

Legal advice

Risk assessment for small business: avoiding danger

As new legislation this month will increase the penalties for breaches of health and safety regulations, a risk assessment health check could prevent your small business getting seriously injured.

Legal advice

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.

Legal advice

Risk assessment for small business: avoiding danger

As new legislation this month will increase the penalties for breaches of health and safety regulations, a risk assessment health check could prevent your small business getting seriously injured.

Legal advice

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.

Legal advice

Letting staff go

What are the legal considerations in buying a business and making a member of staff redundant who has been there for 14 years?

Legal advice

Removing a director

Q: I am one of two directors of a small private limited company. I would like advice on how best to remove the other director. We are equal shareholders.

Legal advice

Cut your legal bills with e-discovery

As your business grows, so will its chances of being caught in civil court proceedings. Here we show you one way to keep the lawyers at bay.

Legal advice

Dealing with a court battle as an SME

Mike Watson, MD of industrial cleaning company Tube Tech International, has fought three legal battles over 25 years.

Partner content

Small business owners: discover alternative funding solutions to help fuel your growth

Business Technology

Why you should upgrade your tech now rather than later

To run an optimal business, you must have optimal tech. We explain why you must upgrade your business technology on a regular basis

Investing in a franchise

Should I buy a franchise or go solo?

Starting a new business is an exciting venture. But – especially in well-established industry sectors – a key question is whether it would be better to buy a franchise or go solo.

Partner content

16 ways to improve your business cash flow

Read here for 16 tried and tested tips and tricks to improve potential cash flow problems