Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
The small business legal advice section provides in-depth guides and features on tax, company and employment law for UK SMEs and sole traders.
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
Legal advice
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
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
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
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
Mike Watson, MD of industrial cleaning company Tube Tech International, has fought three legal battles over 25 years.
Legal advice
I have an employee who is about to have an operation and needs six weeks off to recover. They want to do some work at home after three weeks. Can they legally do this as I am under the impression that an employee cannot work while signed off?
Legal advice
I am a care worker and do 24-hour shifts with any breaks spent with the clients. My employer has imposed a no-smoking policy and employees are not allowed to smoke on the premises, although the clients are allowed. What are my rights?
Legal advice
I have an employee who is about to have an operation and needs six weeks off to recover. They want to do some work at home after three weeks. Can they legally do this as I am under the impression that an employee cannot work while signed off?
Legal advice
I am a care worker and do 24-hour shifts with any breaks spent with the clients. My employer has imposed a no-smoking policy and employees are not allowed to smoke on the premises, although the clients are allowed. What are my rights?
Legal advice
I am about to employ two apprentices and was wondering if the minimum wage still applies and if there are any special laws or regulations I must follow?
Legal advice
An employee has left the business and refuses to return a company laptop. How can we recover it?
Legal advice
You cannot just change employees’ contracts irrespective of the change you wish to bring in or the reasons for it.
Legal advice
I am unsure as to how much time off I should be giving my employees. What are their legal rights in terms of a weekly rest period?
Partner content
In case you were in any doubt, here are five key benefits of switching your business bank account – and how to make the switch.
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Partner content
Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.
Employing & managing staff
In Aviva’s latest SME research*, 57 per cent of employers surveyed agreed that nowadays employees expect benefits to protect against loss of income or earnings. What do you offer your people?