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.

Top tips on how to boost your finances

Here's how we can all make an effort to boost our finances.

Startup Funding and Grants

Advice

Free but at what cost? How to make auto enrolment easier

Auto enrolment is a necessity for British small businesses but it shouldn’t be onerous. Here, Garry Crackle from Opt Pensions, explores.

Advice

In what ways can SMEs benefit from using self-storage?

Here, Mike Wilson is CEO of Smart Storage, explains the benefits of small businesses using self-storage units for stock and wares.

Advice

How to retain your competitive edge in business

Here, Andrew Clough, founder and managing director of The Brew, gives his input on how to get that all-important edge.

Startup Funding and Grants

Rise in VCT funding amounts will benefit small businesses

As the amount of money raised through Venture Capitalist Trusts increases by £100 million, we take a look at how small businesses can benefit.

Investing in a franchise

Five good reasons why you should consider opening a franchise

Here are five good reasons why opening a franchise is a great alternative to starting a business from scratch.

Business Ideas & Planning

Bomb Petite launches first clothing platform for petite fashion

Here's how Jenny Liu of Bomb Petite is trying to to help petite women find premium fashion from leading independent designers.

Advice

How I proved to sceptics that my business model was worth investing in

American James Kornacki discusses the perilous road to investment for his wine purification company before taking the brand to the UK.

Business Ideas & Planning

Bomb Petite launches first clothing platform for petite fashion

Here's how Jenny Liu of Bomb Petite is trying to to help petite women find premium fashion from leading independent designers.

Advice

How I proved to sceptics that my business model was worth investing in

American James Kornacki discusses the perilous road to investment for his wine purification company before taking the brand to the UK.

Advice

How do UK lottery businesses work?

Here are the steps businesses must take to ensure their lottery complies with the Gambling Act 2005.

Advice

Small Business Agony Aunt: Your pressing questions answered

Here, some key small business questions are put to Grant Thornton’s Business Growth Advisers.

Advice

Learning from my mistakes as a start-up accountancy practice

Here, Sam Boothroyd, founder of The Small Business Coach, discusses how he started, ran and sold an online accountancy practice.

Advice

Finance products: A complete leasing guide

Here, we look at the various financial products you have at your disposal when it comes to financing your fleet.

Partner content

What are the funding options for hospitality businesses?

Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.

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.

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