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.

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

Startup Funding and Grants

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.

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 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 Ideas & Planning

The essential guide to setting up a pop-up shop in the UK

In this guide we explain the key things small businesses need to consider when setting up a pop-up shop in the UK.

Advice

Goldman Sachs offering free programme to help small businesses succeed

Investment bank behemoth is offering a free programme for small businesses in the UK – here's how you apply.

Advice

How to start a business in an unknown industry

Starting a business in an industry unknown to you? We explore how to make the transition and ask two other entrepreneurs for their advice.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: ‘I felt the obstacles young brands are challenged with’

We have a chat with Theadora Alexandra, co-founder of Young Foodies, about the challenges of setting up a community for food businesses.

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