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.

Business plan advice

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.

Business Ideas & Planning

Setting up a company

How do I register my 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

Managers can’t switch off from work

Most small business owners who go on holiday are unable to leave work behind, research finds.

Business Ideas & Planning

Starting a business in Brazil

Here we present some links to useful resources for those considering doing business in or with Brazil.

Business Ideas & Planning

New Build Projects – A Business Case Study

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

Starting an eBay agent business

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 Ideas & Planning

Should I register my home address?

I am going to start a new business. I don't want to register my home address, although I will be using my home as my office initially. What are my options?

Sole trader

How does temporary residency affect my status as a sole trader?

Can I legally run a business as a sole trader through the UK taxation and banking systems while living as a temporary resident in Australia and trading with clients in the UK and Australia? I am a UK citizen.

Business Ideas & Planning

Should I register my home address?

I am going to start a new business. I don't want to register my home address, although I will be using my home as my office initially. What are my options?

Sole trader

How does temporary residency affect my status as a sole trader?

Can I legally run a business as a sole trader through the UK taxation and banking systems while living as a temporary resident in Australia and trading with clients in the UK and Australia? I am a UK citizen.

Work life balance

Employees struggle with work/life balance 

Workers are finding it increasingly difficult to leave their job at the office, finds research.

Business Ideas & Planning

Jane Asher on starting a business

Jane Asher has starred in movies opposite Michael Caine and Lawrence Olivier. She’s written novels and regularly treads the boards in the West End. Despite all that, little could prepare her for the highs and lows of running her own business, Party Cakes.

Investing in a franchise

Buying into a franchise model

The success of McDonald's shows how profitable franchising can be, but there are many other choices for the would-be franchisee.

Business Ideas & Planning

Business is child’s play for nursery chain Clever Clogs

Andrea Townsley set up nursery chain Clever Clogs in 2007 and now turns over more than £660,000. We ask her about how she set up the business and future plans.

Partner content

What are the funding options for hospitality businesses?

Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.

Business Loans

A guide to getting a small business loan

Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.

Employing & managing staff

The importance of vocational rehabilitation services for SMEs

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?

Partner content

What are the benefits of business broadband?

Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade