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.

The importance of small businesses in the UK economy

Here, we look at the challenges on the path to prosperity for small businesses, including regulation, red tape and access to finance.

Advice

Work life balance

Family friendly working: It’s now or never

Rebecca Bridges discusses the modern requirement to allow more flexible working arrangements for employees looking to have a family.

Advice

Five steps to cutting entrepreneurial excuses

Beatrice Bartlay discusses why being honest with oneself and stopping making excuses is worthwhile behaviour as a business owner.

Advice

The ups and downs of life as an entrepreneur

Here, Eugene O'Sullivan looks into exactly what to expect when embarking on your own venture.

Startup Funding and Grants

How to raise funds for a new business

Melanie Luff explores the options to bear in mind when looking for funding as a start-up.

Advice

The key business moves that shaped the growth of my company

Ed Reeves, founder of Moneypenny, shares his thoughts on the key decisions that resulted in a step-change at his company.

Advice

Turning best practice into habits of excellence

Here, we look at how BSI (British Standards Institution) can help guide your business in the right direction.

Business Ideas & Planning

How is a lack of supply impacting on the UK property market?

The UK's housing market shows no sign of slowing down: but supply is woefully inadequate.

Advice

Turning best practice into habits of excellence

Here, we look at how BSI (British Standards Institution) can help guide your business in the right direction.

Business Ideas & Planning

How is a lack of supply impacting on the UK property market?

The UK's housing market shows no sign of slowing down: but supply is woefully inadequate.

Business Ideas & Planning

The increasing investment in fast-growth hybrid businesses

Hybrid companies which combine a digital platform and a real life in-demand service on the ground are on the rise. Here, Michael Bruce looks at this revolutionary business model.

Advice

Six tips to choosing the right logo design service for your business

Hiring someone decent for your design work can be tricky. Here are some pointers.

Advice

Why red tape is not as bad as it sometimes seems

Here, we look at why regulation can actually be a booster for business.

Advice

Budding talent: Why it pays to connect with your local college

David Lewis offers his perspective on the value for a small company of bringing interns on board.

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

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