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.

University graduates: 6 things to consider before starting your own business

Starting your own business is an increasingly popular path after university. Sophie Phillipson of HelloGrads.com reveals what you need to know before you dive in.

Advice

Business Ideas & Planning

Doing business abroad – what to be aware of

Here, we look at the steps to take when considering expansion into foreign markets.

Advice

How to improve your international business operations

Here are some tips to being as successful an international business as possible.

Advice

5 lessons I learned building my 4 successful start-up businesses

Owning a business can be tough. Serial entrepreneur Aleš Špetič shares five important lessons which will help to make your start-up a success.

Advice

Here’s why small businesses should accept Bitcoin

Will supporting cryptocurrency payments provide a way for companies to differentiate themselves from the competition? Here, we find out.

Business Ideas & Planning

Five things to keep in mind before you start your freelancing career

Working as a freelancer offers many benefits over a traditional career, but you need to be prepared for the journey, as this piece demonstrates.

Success stories

What Estonia’s youngest inventor can teach us about entrepreneurship

Karoli Hindriks is the founder and CEO of global employment site Jobbatical, but she has a long history of entrepreneurship. She talks to SmallBusiness.co.uk about running her business.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: Joshua Akorah, creator of My Valentine Watch

Success stories

What Estonia’s youngest inventor can teach us about entrepreneurship

Karoli Hindriks is the founder and CEO of global employment site Jobbatical, but she has a long history of entrepreneurship. She talks to SmallBusiness.co.uk about running her business.

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: Joshua Akorah, creator of My Valentine Watch

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: Adam Root, founder of Inheriting Earth

Adam Root is the founder of Inheriting Earth and a winner of an Ideas Mean Business award from The Prince's Trust and Innovate UK. He explains more about his fight against plastic and the importance of creating a great business plan.

Success stories

How virtual reality can revolutionise the way you train your staff

Virtual reality (VR) is set to grow over the coming years – and it's not just for gaming. Emanuel Tomozei tells SmallBusiness.co.uk about Insilico, his virtual reality training and immersive experience company.

Business Ideas & Planning

Pre-revenue business profile: BIZL

In a new series looking at businesses with minimal sales histories, we speak to Josh Greenway of BIZL about the birth and development of his business finance comparison site. 

Success stories

Entrepreneur Q&A: Ryan Palmer, co-founder of London Sock Co.

Ryan Palmer, co-founder of London Sock Co. talks about bringing Victorian style to the modern gentleman and the importance of having an entrepreneurial spirit.

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

HSBC - Advertising feature