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
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.
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
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 any specific loans for women in business?
Startup Funding and Grants
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I'm starting a business, can I offset my losses against tax?
Partner content
Hospitality businesses have faced a number of challenges in the last couple of years. Find out what funding and support is available.
Business Loans
Everything you need to know on what small business loans are and what types of loan are available for your business.
Employing & managing staff
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
Business broadband offers a host of advantages over standard domestic connections, here’s why you should be considering an upgrade