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 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

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.

Advice

Six tips to build your business on a budget

Building a successful business on a budget is highly stressful - so we take a look at the six steps you can take to start.

Advice

How to move your UK business to the Republic of Ireland

Why should you consider moving your UK business to Ireland? In this piece, we find out.

Advice

What small businesses can learn from Patek Philippe

Here, we look at how businesses can learn a lot from Patek Philippe.

Advice

A recipe for business success for the year to come

Here, Rob Mercer, senior regional director, Ashley Finance, gives his recipe for generating business success in 2018.

Advice

What small businesses can learn from Patek Philippe

Here, we look at how businesses can learn a lot from Patek Philippe.

Advice

A recipe for business success for the year to come

Here, Rob Mercer, senior regional director, Ashley Finance, gives his recipe for generating business success in 2018.

Advice

Top tips for entrepreneurs looking to launch a new product

Phil Simmonds, group managing director at EC Electronics, gives his top tips for launching a new product.

Advice

Four foolproof steps to writing a winning award submission

Here, Claire Wilson, content strategy director at Stratton Craig , discusses how businesses can create a winning award submission.

Startup Funding and Grants

Currency in 2018: The small business outlook

Here, Jake Trask of OFX, looks at what small businesses can do to protect themselves from currency risks in 2018.

Work life balance

How to turn your hobby into a new career

How do you know whether your Etsy sideline can be transformed into a money-making venture? Here, Andrew Mosby of Menzies LLP investigates.

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