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.
The traditional family business has many strengths, but if growth is on the agenda, some tough choices will have to be made. SmallBusiness.co.uk finds out whether families can sustain their ethos while stepping up their ambition.
Advice
Advice
SmallBusiness.co.uk presents five ideas for increasing profitability and keeping your business in the black.
Advice
If you enjoy something and are good at it, why not earn your living from it? SmallBusiness.co.uk looks at how combining your passion with your day job can work for you.
Starting a Business
SmallBusiness.co.uk offers some pointers to starting a company after being made redundant.
Startup Funding and Grants
What is credit easing and how does it apply to small businesses?
Investing in a franchise
Reader's Question: I am considering investing or buying a franchise but i am not sure where to start. Have you any advice for me?
Business Ideas & Planning
Dr Simon Mosey, head of Institute for Enterprise and Innovation at Nottingham University Business School, offers some business planning wisdom for SmallBusiness.co.uk readers.
Setting up a company
I've got an idea for a company to run an sporting event that will start in mainland USA but finish in Hawaii and have participants from around the world. How do I go about registering the company?
Business Ideas & Planning
Dr Simon Mosey, head of Institute for Enterprise and Innovation at Nottingham University Business School, offers some business planning wisdom for SmallBusiness.co.uk readers.
Setting up a company
I've got an idea for a company to run an sporting event that will start in mainland USA but finish in Hawaii and have participants from around the world. How do I go about registering the company?
Work life balance
Most small business owners who go on holiday are unable to leave work behind, research finds.
Business Ideas & Planning
Here we present some links to useful resources for those considering doing business in or with Brazil.
Business Ideas & Planning
Interview with Matthew Newbury, founder of Newbury Developments, who has come from losing his leg in a road accident to starting his own home building business this year.
Business Ideas & Planning
I'm setting up an eBay trading agent business but I know the government are currently having a major clampdown on individuals profiting tax-free from sites such as eBay. I was wondering what exact steps would I need to take in terms of registering with HMRC etc?
Business Technology
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
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
Read here for 16 tried and tested tips and tricks to improve potential cash flow problems