Category

Starting a Business

Advice on how to start your own business, with guides to help you plan, develop and finance a start-up company, plus recommendations on registering the business, its legal structure and finding financial backing for growth. Whether you are just beginning or have already taken the first steps and want to keep everything on track, our expert articles will give you the knowledge to help lead you to success, whilst maintaining a good work-life balance.

Starting a business can initially seem daunting, but with good support and a strong idea you can quickly pass through the key stages of the setting-up process and be able to launch your company with a solid foundation.

Topics covered include: regulations and requirements for company owners, finding and selecting the professional services you may need (such as banking, insurance, accountancy etc.), legal structure options (self-employed person, sole trader, a partnership or a limited company), business planning, UK start up funding sources and finding your first customers.

How to become a retail business owner

In partnership with BusinessesForSale.com, here are the things that you need to do to become a retail business owner.

Business Ideas & Planning

Advice

Starting a business in the wedding industry

Here, we give some step-by-step advice on preparing and starting up a wedding business.

Startup Funding and Grants

Tips on how to pitch to potential business investors

Funding can be key to the success of a business but securing the deal can be daunting. Mark Pearson of Fuel Ventures offers some tips when pitching to investors.

Business Ideas & Planning

5 worst startup ideas and 7 ways to make sure your business gets funded

From a shop that sells individual shoes for people with one leg to a pitch for a crashless plane, Angel Investment Network (AIN) co-founder Mike Lebus has seen it all.

Business Ideas & Planning

Example business plans

Where can I find an example of a business plan?

Business Ideas & Planning

4 tips to prepare for Brexit uncertainty – whatever happens

The threat of a hard Brexit has not gone away, it’s just been postponed. Manufacturer Victoria Brocklesby shares her tips for coping with the ongoing uncertainty

Work life balance

5 things to do before you check your phone in the morning

Morning routine has become a hot topic in corporate America. Jim Lusty shares five things to do to boost your energy and creativity before you get on the dreaded screen

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Nottingham

If you've ever thought of starting a business in Nottingham but weren't quite sure, we'll show you the pros and cons of life in the city.

Work life balance

5 things to do before you check your phone in the morning

Morning routine has become a hot topic in corporate America. Jim Lusty shares five things to do to boost your energy and creativity before you get on the dreaded screen

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Nottingham

If you've ever thought of starting a business in Nottingham but weren't quite sure, we'll show you the pros and cons of life in the city.

Advice

Starting a business with your spouse: A small business guide

In this piece, we give some tips on how to make a success of going into business with your spouse.

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Oxford

Oxford is a very popular spot for starting a business, so we thought we'd look at what it's like to be based there.

Investing in a franchise

What franchise support should you get from a franchisor?

Tim Harris, managing director at ChipsAway and Ovenclean, part of Franchise Brands, explains what you should expect from a franchisor during your business journey.

Setting up a company

The essential guide to starting a business in Bristol

If you're looking into starting a business in Bristol, this guide may help to answer some of the questions rattling around your mind

Business Technology

How to keep your small business safe online

Here's how Security Service Edge from Vodafone can help to protect your SME from ever-increasing cyber threats

Business Technology

How to grow a global creative agency in record time

Find out how creative agency, Myth Studio, used technology to grow their business and quadruple their staff count in 18 months

Partner content

Attracting and keeping top talent through Total Reward

Employment benefits specialist, Drewberry, explain why you should base your benefits around a Total Reward Strategy

Partner content

5 things every small business owner needs to know before starting

HSBC - Advertising feature