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.

How listening to business advice can make you £2 million

Everyone gets business advice. But, as ISL recruitment director Alan Furley argues, it only starts to pay when you start listening.

Advice

Advice

Five reasons to invest in commercial property

Here, we look at why it’s important to weigh up the costs and benefits before choosing to invest in commercial property.

Business Ideas & Planning

Ideas for a small business: The best ones to go for

Here, we reveal some of the best ideas for a small business.

Advice

The main challenges and opportunities for small businesses in 2018

Here, Simon Burckhardt of Vonage discusses the key issues that small business owners will face in the year to come.

Advice

How self storage can help your business

How do you start a business when you have limited funds and nowhere to operate from? Here, we look at how self storage can be a viable option.

Startup Funding and Grants

How can we get businesses and investors speaking the same language?

There seems to be confusion around what businesses think investors are looking for in a strong management team, and what investors are actually looking for, argues Nigel Walker, head of innovation lending at Innovate UK.

Startup Funding and Grants

Seven secrets to securing investment for growth

If you’ve never approached angels or VC firms before, it can be a daunting – and time-consuming – process. Here, Andrew Clough of The Brew discusses how to go about it.

Advice

Five things to consider when converting a property for commercial use

Finding a commercial property for a business can be a stressful and tricky task for entrepreneurs; we take a look at how you can do it.

Startup Funding and Grants

Seven secrets to securing investment for growth

If you’ve never approached angels or VC firms before, it can be a daunting – and time-consuming – process. Here, Andrew Clough of The Brew discusses how to go about it.

Advice

Five things to consider when converting a property for commercial use

Finding a commercial property for a business can be a stressful and tricky task for entrepreneurs; we take a look at how you can do it.

Advice

How to future proof your small business

In the wake of the Carillion collapse, Darren Upson, director of Small Business at Xero, talks about how to future proof small businesses.

Advice

Fifteen reasons why you should shop at a local company

Choosing to shop at your local businesses instead of the larger chain stores has many benefits. In this piece, we take a look at some of the bigger ones.

Advice

Deal or no deal? How to make sense of business energy offers

SME buyers are considering energy deals from multiple sources. Here's how to separate the good deals from the smoke and mirrors.

Advice

Commercial property: Why now is the best time to invest

This new year, there is one question on the lips of business men and women around the UK: Is now the best time to purchase commercial property? We take the time to answer this question.

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

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.