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.

Fundraising and building a business: Lessons learned

Richard Healy, co-founder of BaseKit, discusses the importance of getting the first-round funding pitch right.

Startup Funding and Grants

Advice

Five things I would have done differently in my small business 

Tom Skinner, managing director of marketing company Go Up, reveals what he would have changed if he could have started again.

Advice

Why a partnership proposition wasn’t the right choice for my business

E-commerce expert Simon Horton shares why some partnership 'opportunities' can be more trouble than they're worth.

Advice

How to make an impact against better-established competitors

Bimla Safka discusses how a small business can be taken seriously and build a reputation in a market full of more experienced peers.

Business Ideas & Planning

Top tips for starting a business

Starting your own business is an exciting yet terrifying prospect! Here are 5 top tips for anyone who wants to start a business.

Advice

Five steps businesses should take now to prepare for EU data regulations

James Walker, security expert at Trend Micro, looks at how the EU is set to change the regulations governing what businesses can do with their data.  

Advice

How small businesses can keep payments secure

Tim Critchley, CEO of Semafone, discusses what to do to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

Advice

Top five tips for sourcing new suppliers

Ian Cowley gives some guidance on expanding your network of suppliers.

Advice

How small businesses can keep payments secure

Tim Critchley, CEO of Semafone, discusses what to do to comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.

Advice

Top five tips for sourcing new suppliers

Ian Cowley gives some guidance on expanding your network of suppliers.

Investing in a franchise

How to build or run your own franchise   

There are hundreds of businesses in the UK that have grown using franchising but often we don't know how to tell them apart from non-franchise businesses. John Hoskin explains how franchises work.

Advice

Taking your SME beyond the start-up phase

This article explores how to be successful in the stage of business that comes after starting up.

Advice

London vs the rest: Where to build your business empire

Geraint Evans discusses the factors to consider when weighing up the location of your company.

Investing in a franchise

Buying a franchise: Resale vs virgin territory

A key decision to make when investing in a franchise is whether or not to take over an existing business, as franchise lawyer Kate Sargeant discusses.

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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