Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
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.
We started introducing key performance indicators recently. Many of our employees easily surpass targets, but two individuals believe the targets are unattainable. What options do we have considering we believe the employees are not up to the job?
Advice
Advice
Rich Stevens at IG explains the positive spillover effect that England’s World Cup qualification could give rise to this summer.
Business Ideas & Planning
Robert James left the city behind and bought a company selling shutters. Here, he shares his early-stage business journey.
Business Ideas & Planning
I’ve just set up a business and registered it at Companies House. Does that give me protection and prevent anyone else from using my business name?
Advice
Entrepreneur Beatrice Bartlay reveals the most important things to remember in the early stages of business.
Advice
David Webster and Mary Hodgson of law firm Russell-Cooke discuss the considerations SMEs should make in relation to LIBOR and banks.
Startup Funding and Grants
Royal Navy veteran David Pledger, 71, and wife Sandra, 73, have become Britain’s oldest entrepreneurs by securing a loan of £25,000 to start up their new company.
Advice
Marketing expert Kath Dawson assesses the key approaches to building a strong internet brand.
Startup Funding and Grants
Royal Navy veteran David Pledger, 71, and wife Sandra, 73, have become Britain’s oldest entrepreneurs by securing a loan of £25,000 to start up their new company.
Advice
Marketing expert Kath Dawson assesses the key approaches to building a strong internet brand.
Advice
The Christmas party is a good way of showing your appreciation for your employees' efforts during the year. Damian Clarkson gives some tips on preparation.
Advice
Businesses should act quickly if they fear they’ve been mis-sold swaps, but should beware of 'going in blind', says Daniel Hall, managing director of the All Square Treasury.
Advice
In the third part of his series about working with competitors, Peter Rouse looks at the structures for business collaboration.
Advice
In the second part of his series on collaborating with competitors, Peter Rouse discusses how to identify and approach a potential partner.
Partner content
In case you were in any doubt, here are five key benefits of switching your business bank account – and how to make the switch.
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Partner content
Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.
Employing & managing staff
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?