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.

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

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?

Sole trader

7 advantages of being a sole trader

Business formation is one of the biggest decisions you'll make when starting out. Here are seven key advantages of being a sole trader

Sole trader

Can I switch a limited company to sole trader?

Yes you can, says Simon Thomas of Ridgefield Consulting. But you have to follow these steps to wind up your limited company first

Success stories

Meet the startup: Matthew Vamplew, Paranimo

Mental health challenges cost the UK economy nearly £118bn annually, Paranimo aims to democratise workplace access to the right mental health support to create psychologically healthy cultures.

Sole trader

Can I switch a limited company to sole trader?

Yes you can, says Simon Thomas of Ridgefield Consulting. But you have to follow these steps to wind up your limited company first

Success stories

Meet the startup: Matthew Vamplew, Paranimo

Mental health challenges cost the UK economy nearly £118bn annually, Paranimo aims to democratise workplace access to the right mental health support to create psychologically healthy cultures.

Advice

What we’ve learned from startup founders on the Launch Lessons podcast

Launch Lessons is a podcast from Airwallex, the financial suite which empowers businesses to go global from day one

Sole trader

What is a sole trader? A small business guide

Emily Coltman, chief accountant at FreeAgent, investigates one very popular structure for new business owners: sole tradership

Sole trader

Can two people run a sole trader business?

Can two people run a sole trader business and can you register a newly formed limited company as 'dormant' and start off as a sole trader?

Advice

How microbusinesses take the first steps toward sustainability

Helping the environment can open up the possibility of more revenue, says Ben Law, VP and head of UK and Ireland at GoDaddy

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?

Partner content

Why your business should switch to a broadband-based phone network

Analogue phone systems are increasingly being replaced by smarter broadband based networks – here’s why you should consider switching

Partner content

Streamlining document management for your small business

David Malan, sales director of DocuWare for the UK and Ireland, explains how the platform can streamline your document management