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.

Being the first franchisee

Carpenter Graeme Worsley took on the first franchise arm of property maintenance company Aspect.co.uk. He tells SmallBusiness.co.uk about why he decided to take the plunge.

Investing in a franchise

Business Ideas & Planning

Why I started a business: Tech entrepreneur Sohail Rashid

SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to Sohail Rashid, founder of venture capital-backed property finding app Property Place, which launched in January 2012.

Business Ideas & Planning

Why I started a business: Consultant 

Mary Cummings talks about the transition from working for a corporate to starting her own marketing consultancy.

Business Ideas & Planning

Why I started a business: Market trader

Kathereen Paterson founded market trading business Dulce Kitchen in 2011 and tells SmallBusiness.co.uk how life for her is different now.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to make a business partnership work

Companies led by a duo rather than a single head often attribute their success to the power of their business partnership.

Business Ideas & Planning

Getting your business Olympics-fit

Martin Hayward explains how businesses should prepare for the infrastructure challenges posed by the Olympics.

Business Ideas & Planning

Smokeless smoking

Twenty-one year-old Ben Wilson set up Freshcig in July 2011 and expects sales of £250,000 for his first year of trading.

Investing in a franchise

Franchising your business – A success case study

Mum of two Rachel Ray decided to franchise her domestic cleaning company Bright and Beautiful in 2010. She shares her advice for would-be franchisors with SmallBusiness.co.uk.

Business Ideas & Planning

Smokeless smoking

Twenty-one year-old Ben Wilson set up Freshcig in July 2011 and expects sales of £250,000 for his first year of trading.

Investing in a franchise

Franchising your business – A success case study

Mum of two Rachel Ray decided to franchise her domestic cleaning company Bright and Beautiful in 2010. She shares her advice for would-be franchisors with SmallBusiness.co.uk.

Sole trader

Can I exchange my incorporation for sole trader status?

My business is now incorporated with Companies House. If I have not started the business yet can I just fill out the DS01 and pay £10 to remove and close the company and start as a sole trader?

Business Ideas & Planning

James Caan review: The FT Guide to Business Startup

Serial investor and entrepreneur James Caan reviews Sara Williams' guide for entrepreneurs.

News

Credit unions now able to lend to SMEs

Small businesses struggling to access funding have been given an alternative option with the introduction of legislation allowing credit unions to lend to them.

Crowdfunding for Business

Crowdfunding Case Study – Artesano raises £65,000 on Funding Circle

Knitting wool wholesaler Artesano raised £65,000 on Funding Circle, which matches lenders with businesses online.

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

HSBC - Advertising feature