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.

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

Business Ideas & Planning

Business Ideas & Planning

How to write a marketing plan

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

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

Funding your small business

6 business funding options for growth

We look at six funding options for growing your business. What is available and which option is right for you? Vicki Taylor explains.

Advice

A small business guide to going freelance

In this piece, we look at the main considerations when going freelance, from procedural advice to managing your work-life balance.

Starting a Business

How to start a taxi business

Driving a minicab or a taxi has many benefits. You can work the hours you want to and supplement another career, whether you are a creative, a tradesman or even a teacher. But the biggest benefit could be the sense of performing a service for the vulnerable

Business Ideas & Planning

How to become a driving instructor

Do you want to become a driving instructor? Here we explain the need-to-knows such as what the tests entail and franchise vs independent.

Accounting

Sole traders and VAT

Whether you pass the VAT threshold or register for VAT voluntarily, we explain everything you need to know about Value Added Tax

Business Ideas & Planning

How to become a driving instructor

Do you want to become a driving instructor? Here we explain the need-to-knows such as what the tests entail and franchise vs independent.

Accounting

Sole traders and VAT

Whether you pass the VAT threshold or register for VAT voluntarily, we explain everything you need to know about Value Added Tax

Advice

The complete checklist on starting a business the simple way

Read our simple 18-item checklist to take you through every step of starting your own business. All your questions answered.

Business Ideas & Planning

Opening a restaurant: The key ingredients to start-up success

In this piece, we discuss the most important steps to making your food business dream a reality.

Advice

Make sure your online start-up complies with consumer law with Business Companion

Get clued up on your trading obligations as an online business with this free resource from the Government-backed Business Companion

Starting a Business

One fifth of all new companies are founded by women

All-women teams established over 150,000 new businesses last year, with young women aged 16-to-25-years-old the most active entrepreneurs

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