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.

Best business ideas for 2024: Graphic designer

The graphic design industry has grown by 18 per cent in the last five years and demand for graphic designers has ‘swelled’ from advertising agencies

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Advice

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.

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