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 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.

Investing in a franchise

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.

Investing in a franchise

Going for growth – A franchise growth case study

Gill Thomas started kids' music classes Jo Jingles in 1995 and has since grown the company to the tune of £4 million, with nearly 100 franchise outlets.

Advice

What the Budget means for SMEs

In his Budget George Osborne promised to spread the pain fairly. Here small businesses tell us what the chancellor's tax hikes and concessions will mean for them.

Work life balance

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.

Advice

What the Budget means for SMEs

In his Budget George Osborne promised to spread the pain fairly. Here small businesses tell us what the chancellor's tax hikes and concessions will mean for them.

Work life balance

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

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?

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