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 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.

Advice

Advice

The best cities in the UK to start a street food business

Setting up a street food business can be tough but incredibly rewarding and profitable. Here are the best cities in Britain to start.

Business Ideas & Planning

The best business ideas for 2024 

From going solo as a private chef or graphic designer to launching a nursery or your own food growing enterprise, we’ve got a range of ideas for everyone

Partner content

5 things every small business owner needs to know before starting

HSBC - Advertising feature

Business Ideas & Planning

A small business guide to self employment

Being self-employed means, you are captain of your own ship. But there are key decisions to make before you quit full-time employment, unless you want your ship to run aground

Government Grants

Applying for a small business grant – everything you need to know

We'll take you through what type of small business grant you should apply for, how to prepare and how to increase your chance of success.

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Vehicle leasing host

Our cars spend 96% of their time sitting on a driveway, so being a vehicle leasing host could bring in plenty of passive income.

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas: Third culture cuisine  

Anyone with even a passing interest in the UK’s culinary scene will know that most food trends rise and fall as fast as a soufflé. But third culture cuisine looks set to stay.

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Vehicle leasing host

Our cars spend 96% of their time sitting on a driveway, so being a vehicle leasing host could bring in plenty of passive income.

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas: Third culture cuisine  

Anyone with even a passing interest in the UK’s culinary scene will know that most food trends rise and fall as fast as a soufflé. But third culture cuisine looks set to stay.

Business Ideas & Planning

Best business ideas for 2024: Holistic pet care 

From pet massage to supplements, holistic pet care offers a goldmine of opportunities for entrepreneurs with a fondness for furry friends...

Business Ideas & Planning

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

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? 

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