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.

Entrepreneur Q&A: ‘Going on Dragons’ Den fast-tracked business growth’

GripIt founder Jordan Daykin talks about starting a business at the age of 13 and securing investment from Deborah Meaden.

Success stories

Startup Funding and Grants

Business funding for graduates launching a start-up

Here is a rundown of business funding options for graduates launching a start-up company.

Advice

Young entrepreneurs: overcoming key challenges in starting your business

Young entrepreneurs sometimes face issues in starting their businesses. We speak to Innovate UK's Ian Campbell about how to overcome them.

Advice

The most important aspects of running a family business

In this piece, we look at the key ingredients required for a successful family business and give first hand advice on managing one successfully.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: ‘I’m a risk-taker, but I take calculated risks’

Abbass Zadeh, founder of luxury car hire firm AZ Luxe, talks about building his reputation and expanding into jet chartering.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to define your company vision and use it to create success

Michael Hanby takes a look at how having a strong business vision has paid off for his health products company.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to turn your one man band business into a market leader

In this piece, we look at some of the most effective pathways to turning your one man band business into a market leader.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to create a new business model in a crowded market

In today's competitive business landscape, being able to innovate is a key attribute. Here, two business owners discuss how they implemented a new business model.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to turn your one man band business into a market leader

In this piece, we look at some of the most effective pathways to turning your one man band business into a market leader.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to create a new business model in a crowded market

In today's competitive business landscape, being able to innovate is a key attribute. Here, two business owners discuss how they implemented a new business model.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: Mark Gurtler, CEO of Greenbrokers

Mark Gurtler is a 42-year-old father of two who has grown a £1 million garden retail supply business from scratch. We ask him how he did it.

Investing in a franchise

Starting a window cleaning business: A franchise case study

In August 2018 Alan Jarvis and his partner Charlotte became the first franchisees for My Window Cleaner, launching their business in Canterbury to provide a range of services to the local community.

Business Ideas & Planning

Key factors to consider when launching your business

In this piece, Matt Jonns, CEO of ucreate, discusses his own start-up journey and what other would-be business owners can learn from it.

Advice

How to create a succession planning strategy for your family business

Peter Jenner explains how owners of family businesses can create a robust succession planning strategy.

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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