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.

Becoming an angel investor

Becoming a business angel can be hugely rewarding, personally and financially, but it’s not as easy as they make it look on the TV.

Startup Funding and Grants

Business Ideas & Planning

Keeping tabs on cabs – Lorenzo Caffarri of ubiCabs

Lorenzo Caffarri co-founded ubiCabs with Jay Patel in October 2010. The company locates and books taxi services in London.

Advice

Business Lessons – Learning the hard way

Aamir Ahmad, founder of furniture company Dwell, tells SmallBusiness.co.uk what he learned from his mistakes in business.

Advice

Entrepreneur and Mentor – Paul Ragan

Paul Ragan built a multimillion-pound insurance business with Motaquote. Now he passes on his pearls of wisdom through his mentoring service for fellow entrepreneurs.

Advice

Sage start-ups and older entrepreneurs

Old age doesn't have to be about daytime TV, free bus passes and gardening. SmallBusiness.co.uk meets the older entrepreneurs who have decided to be their own boss a little later in life.

Startup Funding and Grants

Using Business Angel Networks to Raise Finance

Angel investor networks are fast becoming the only funding option for early-stage companies. SmallBusiness.co.uk investigates.

Work life balance

Raising a child while running a business – Parent Company

Motherhood is no barrier to starting a company. SmallBusiness.co.uk meets the women who have successfully balanced raising a child while running a business.

Investing in a franchise

How to get franchising right

A franchise is a logical choice for someone who aspires to own a company but wants the safety net of a trusted business model.

Work life balance

Raising a child while running a business – Parent Company

Motherhood is no barrier to starting a company. SmallBusiness.co.uk meets the women who have successfully balanced raising a child while running a business.

Investing in a franchise

How to get franchising right

A franchise is a logical choice for someone who aspires to own a company but wants the safety net of a trusted business model.

Business Ideas & Planning

Reinventing recruitment

Yale graduate Virginia Raemy launched online recruitment marketplace TalentPuzzle in July 2009 and aims to transform the industry for employers and agents.

Startup Funding and Grants

Are there loans for women in business?

Are there any specific loans for women in business?

Startup Funding and Grants

Finance options for start-ups and SMEs

Rose Lewis, a partner at financial consultancy Pembridge Partners, explains the various financial alternatives for the intrepid small business owner when a bank decides to play hardball.

Business Ideas & Planning

5 Ways to Fast Business Growth

Business owners across the UK remain as focused as ever about achieving growth. SmallBusiness.co.uk finds out how they're doing it.

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.