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.

Small Business goes live with Start a New Business

Start a New Business offers a step-by-step guide for the 81% of Britons looking to start their own business, with live shows in London, Birmingham and Glasgow

Advice

Setting up a company

Company formations rise by 3% in 2019 hitting 681,704

Five tech start-ups launch per hour as business formations reach new record in 2019

Business Ideas & Planning

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.

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

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

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.

Employing & managing staff

The importance of vocational rehabilitation services for SMEs

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?

Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade

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?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings