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 start your own coffee shop

Fancy opening your own coffee shop? We explain what you need to know about cash flow, hiring staff and of course, finding the right coffee.

Advice

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.

Financing

6 types of business funding for UK tech companies

Here we explore six types of business funding that can help your UK tech company expand and reach its goals.

Investing in a franchise

A guide to franchise agreements

If you have decided to go down the franchise route, you need to be sure that the contract you are signing suits your plans and doesn't tie you in to anything unexpected.

Business Ideas & Planning

What to know before starting your own cleaning business

We give some pointers on starting your own business in the cleaning sector, including costs, insurance and building your customer base

Setting up a company

How to start a dropshipping business

What is dropshipping, what are the advantages and how do you start a dropshipping business?

Business Ideas & Planning

Starting a subsidiary company

What are the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a new company compared to establishing a subsidiary of your existing company?

Business Ideas & Planning

6 best small business ideas for 2023

With the pandemic behind us, climate goals to reach ahead of us and a recession staring us in the face, here are six small business ideas to consider in 2023

Business Ideas & Planning

Starting a subsidiary company

What are the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a new company compared to establishing a subsidiary of your existing company?

Business Ideas & Planning

6 best small business ideas for 2023

With the pandemic behind us, climate goals to reach ahead of us and a recession staring us in the face, here are six small business ideas to consider in 2023

Success stories

6 business tips from The Apprentice winner Harpreet Kaur

This year's winner of The Apprentice, Harpreet Kaur, offers up her top tips for running a successful business

Business Ideas & Planning

Top five online businesses you can start today

Ground-breaking companies have been founded in garages, dorm rooms and home offices. Here are five online business ideas for inspiration

Sole trader

How Liz Truss can win over the self-employed

Truss needs to unveil a plan that can revitalise a sector that contributes £303bn to the UK economy, says IPSE’s director of policy Andy Chamberlain

Success stories

Meet the startup: Mike Radley, Nibble

Micro-influencers can significantly increase your restaurant or café’s presence, but more importantly influence the buying decision of customers. But how do you find the right ones?

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.

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 Technology

Friendly guide – top tips for small businesses switching to VoIP

With the landline shutdown coming fast, there’s never been a better time to switch to VoIP. Don’t let your small business be left behind!

Export & Import

Avoid delays with exports and imports

Many factors can affect products’ journeys from A to B. Here are some tips for best practice for successful shipping in the modern world