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 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.
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
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
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
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
Success stories
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
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
We talk to Elena Dieckmann, co-founder of Aeropowder, a firm which creates sustainable products from chicken feathers.
Investing in a franchise
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
We talk to Elena Dieckmann, co-founder of Aeropowder, a firm which creates sustainable products from chicken feathers.
Sole trader
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
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
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
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
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
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
Read here for 16 tried and tested tips and tricks to improve potential cash flow problems