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 Grants: December winner announced!

Our December winner has been revealed, but companies that have been set up and are actively trading can apply today, free of charge, for January's £5,000 competition.

Startup Funding and Grants

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Leeds

Leeds is a growing hotspot for small business owners. If you're unsure, here's more about what it's like to live and launch a start-up there.

Advice

The essential guide to starting a business in Glasgow

Glasgow has a lot to offer start-up business owners and it's becoming an increasingly popular area to live in, too. Here's why you should consider it.

Sole trader

How to become freelance full time and what to consider for a successful transition

Individuals are increasingly considering giving up employed work positions and going freelance full time. Julia Kermode, chief executive of the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) offers some advice on the important things to consider before taking the plunge to set up on your own.

Startup Funding and Grants

Latest winner of the £5,000 Small Business Grant is announced

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: George Sullivan, founder of The Sole Supplier

We chat with George Sullivan, founder of The Sole Supplier, about how he grew his business from a blog he started five years ago.

Investing in a franchise

Writing a franchise business plan: 11 things you need to include

A business plan is essential when you're starting a franchise. Here, we take a look at the essential information you need to include.

Startup Funding and Grants

Pre-revenue Q&A: ‘I don’t even know if we’ll be successful in the long-term’

We talk to Elena Dieckmann, co-founder of Aeropowder, a firm which creates sustainable products from chicken feathers.

Investing in a franchise

Writing a franchise business plan: 11 things you need to include

A business plan is essential when you're starting a franchise. Here, we take a look at the essential information you need to include.

Startup Funding and Grants

Pre-revenue Q&A: ‘I don’t even know if we’ll be successful in the long-term’

We talk to Elena Dieckmann, co-founder of Aeropowder, a firm which creates sustainable products from chicken feathers.

Sole trader

Pension saving options for self-employed workers and sole traders

Self-employed workers are woefully under provided for in terms of pension savings. Stephanie Spicer considers the pension options available to the self-employed, sole traders and entrepreneurs and how to go about employing them.

Investing in a franchise

What is a franchise? Advice for small businesses

In this article, Pip Wilkins of the British Franchise Association reveals how franchises work and how would-be business owners can be a franchisee themselves.

Business Ideas & Planning

When is the right time to form a limited company?

Darren Fell, managing director of Crunch Accounting, discusses when becoming a limited company might be the correct next step up from being a sole trader as a small business.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: ‘Annual appraisals create an anxious environment’

Stuart Hearn is CEO of Clear Review, a performance management platform. He talks about changing employee appraisals and how archaic models drove him to build his business.

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

Business management

How to create good cashflow habits

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