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.

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.

Sole trader

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.

Business Ideas & Planning

Writing a business plan: the basics

It's not just Dragons’ Den contestants who need to demonstrate a credible product idea before getting a grilling. Here Alan Gleeson, manager of Palo Alto Software, gives his top ten tips on how to create a winning business plan.

Startup Funding and Grants

Borrowing from family and friends

At some stage, your business will need to get its hands on capital. If it is below the radar of outside investors and bankers are giving you the cold shoulder, you may consider tapping your friends and family for investment.

Startup Funding and Grants

How to prepare for investor presentations

A case study for SmallBusiness.co.uk reveals how companies can increase their chances of funding by getting their investor presentations right.

Startup Funding and Grants

Borrowing from family and friends

At some stage, your business will need to get its hands on capital. If it is below the radar of outside investors and bankers are giving you the cold shoulder, you may consider tapping your friends and family for investment.

Startup Funding and Grants

How to prepare for investor presentations

A case study for SmallBusiness.co.uk reveals how companies can increase their chances of funding by getting their investor presentations right.

Startup Funding and Grants

Get funding from the Angels

If you are thinking about starting or growing a business, one of the toughest challenges you will face is securing funding for the project. Are Business Angels a solution?

Business Ideas & Planning

How to write your business plan

A business plan is not only essential for starting a business or for raising funds, but it is vital for running the business. It will help you keep on a specific course or alert you to situations when things are not going to plan and force you to take action.

Business Ideas & Planning

To what address should I register my business?

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

Advice

The benefits of executive coaching

SmallBusiness.co.uk investigates how executives can gain value from an assessment of their performance as a leader.

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

Partner content

How should I select my business broadband provider?

As with any supplier, it’s important to do your research and ask important questions before you select a broadband provider for your business. But what are the must-have things you should take into consideration?

Business Technology

Future-proof your business communications set-up

Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings

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.