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.

Childcare vouchers

Offering your staff childcare vouchers could be a great way to support employees and save money through tax relief, writes Simon Moore, managing director of Computershare Voucher Services.

Work life balance

Work life balance

Tax and home-based businesses

As a business you can claim tax allowances. This means you can deduct a proportion of certain costs from your taxable profits and reduce your tax bill. SmallBusiness.co.uk explains.

Advice

Manifesto for success

Read our ten-point list of the policies entrepreneurs, experts and business groups believe the next government should implement in order to support SMEs.

Work life balance

How to handle maternity leave as an employer

The news that an employee is pregnant can be a bit like a surprise visit from the in-laws: you might not be ecstatic about the idea but it's one of those times in life you just have to put a brave face on things.

Business Ideas & Planning

Offsetting losses against tax when starting a business

I'm starting a business, can I offset my losses against tax?

Business Ideas & Planning

Forming a company

Overview and checklist on the process of a forming a company. Read our easy-to-follow guide on how to set up your company and stay on the right side of HMRC.

Business Ideas & Planning

Trevor Baylis on what to do if you have a great idea

British inventor Trevor Baylis tuned into business success with his wind-up radio. Here he talks to SmallBusiness.co.uk about patents, Dragons' Den and what to do if you have a great idea.

Work life balance

Changes in paternity leave laws allow mother to transfer some of her paid maternity leave

Changes in paternity laws this April will allow a mother to transfer three months of her paid maternity leave to the father. Here we ask female entrepreneurs how the new legislation will affect their businesses.

Business Ideas & Planning

Trevor Baylis on what to do if you have a great idea

British inventor Trevor Baylis tuned into business success with his wind-up radio. Here he talks to SmallBusiness.co.uk about patents, Dragons' Den and what to do if you have a great idea.

Work life balance

Changes in paternity leave laws allow mother to transfer some of her paid maternity leave

Changes in paternity laws this April will allow a mother to transfer three months of her paid maternity leave to the father. Here we ask female entrepreneurs how the new legislation will affect their businesses.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to start a business

In the second part of our guide on starting a business we show you how to write a business plan and where to get funding.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to make a business idea happen

If you've got a great idea for an invention, now could be the ideal time to take the plunge. Read our guide on how to make a new business idea a reality.

Work life balance

Top start-up tips for mums

Gillian Nissim, Founder of WorkingMums.co.uk, gives her advice to mums who are looking to start a business.

Business Ideas & Planning

10 point guide to creating a successful business plan

Setting out a plan for your business can seem like a daunting task, especially before you've even got it off the ground. This 10-point guide shows the benefits of a good business plan and what to consider when writing one.

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