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.

Best business ideas for 2024: AI consultant

An AI consultant can advise on what AI platforms and tools are out there, which is a service that's highly in-demand in 2024

Business Ideas & Planning

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Grow your own food

With sales in veg boxes increasing over the last four years, growing your own produce could be one way to reap a profit in 2024

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: How to make money with ChatGPT

How are workers, organisations, and entrepreneurs using ChatGPT today? And, more pertinently, how can you use it to make money in 2024? 

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Private chef

Becoming a private chef is an especially good business idea if you live in a city and can easily reach clientele who have disposable income. Find out more now

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Day nursery

Childcare is an ongoing, costly challenge for parents. A nursery business can be a lifeline and, can come in many forms, offering a wide range of business opportunities

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Graphic designer

The graphic design industry has grown by 18 per cent in the last five years and demand for graphic designers has ‘swelled’ from advertising agencies

Business Ideas & Planning

Should I go sole trader, partnership or limited company?

We explore different types of company formation – sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership and limited company

Advice

Should you register as a sole trader or a limited company?

Mart Abramov, CEO of TaxScouts, shares the positives and negatives of being a sole trader or a limited company, so you can make the best choice for your growing business.

Business Ideas & Planning

Should I go sole trader, partnership or limited company?

We explore different types of company formation – sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership and limited company

Advice

Should you register as a sole trader or a limited company?

Mart Abramov, CEO of TaxScouts, shares the positives and negatives of being a sole trader or a limited company, so you can make the best choice for your growing business.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to write a marketing plan

This guide offers practical advice on developing and writing a marketing plan using simple English

Sole trader

6 examples of sole traders

What jobs are best if you want to go self-employed? We look at what it takes to become a personal trainer, a gardener, a hairdresser, a private chef, a photographer or a dog walker

Advice

How to negotiate a commercial lease – tips for negotiating with a landlord

Solicitor Simon Maddox tells you what to look out for when negotiating a commercial lease agreement

Government Grants

Small business energy grants – what’s available

Whether you want to install an electric car charging station, replace your old boiler with a heat pump or just replace draughty windows, you can apply for a range of energy grants

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?

Partner content

Why your business should switch to a broadband-based phone network

Analogue phone systems are increasingly being replaced by smarter broadband based networks – here’s why you should consider switching

Partner content

Streamlining document management for your small business

David Malan, sales director of DocuWare for the UK and Ireland, explains how the platform can streamline your document management