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.

Where to get support when starting a new business

There’s no need to go it alone – here are four places where you can get the support you need when starting up a new business

Advice

Setting up a company

Entrepreneur Q&A: Peter Hillary, co-founder of Edmund Hillary clothing

Edmund Hillary's son, Peter, tells us about recreating Edmund’s expedition gear in a new clothing line and keeping his father's legacy alive.

Setting up a company

Fewer than 1 in 10 small businesses set up because they spot market gap

Only 3pc of SMEs go into business because they want to be 'next big thing', says business lender Iwoca

Setting up a company

How to choose a great name for your new business

Keith Tully of RBR Advisory shares a step-by-step guide to choosing and registering the name of your new business.

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Belfast

We're travelling over to the Emerald Isle to find out what it's like to launch a business in Northern Ireland's capital, Belfast.

Business Ideas & Planning

Social enterprise Q&A – Commonwealth table tennis medallist Colin Wilson

Colin Wilson talks about setting up his table tennis centre, Corby Smash, and shares his tips for launching your own social enterprise

Advice

Nearly half of co-founders buy their business partners out – survey

Most common reason for co-founders to split is disagreement over the company's direction, says new research.

Business Ideas & Planning

Intellectual property – how to protect yours as a start up or scale up

Many owners of start up and scale up businesses overlook the importance of protecting their intellectual property. Zain Ali (pictured) of Centuro Global explains what to do and why.

Advice

Nearly half of co-founders buy their business partners out – survey

Most common reason for co-founders to split is disagreement over the company's direction, says new research.

Business Ideas & Planning

Intellectual property – how to protect yours as a start up or scale up

Many owners of start up and scale up businesses overlook the importance of protecting their intellectual property. Zain Ali (pictured) of Centuro Global explains what to do and why.

Setting up a company