Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
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.
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.
Work life balance
Business Ideas & Planning
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
Gillian Nissim, Founder of WorkingMums.co.uk, gives her advice to mums who are looking to start a business.
Business Ideas & Planning
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 Ideas & Planning
Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and General Electric were all founded during slumps - proving the tenacity of great business ideas.
Advice
If you manage costs correctly, a tight budget shouldn't necessarily hold back your desire to start your own business.
Work life balance
Fathers will not take up the new paternity leave entitlement set out by the government, claims the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Business Ideas & Planning
What are the requirements for a European citizen to start a small business in the UK?
Work life balance
Fathers will not take up the new paternity leave entitlement set out by the government, claims the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Business Ideas & Planning
What are the requirements for a European citizen to start a small business in the UK?
Advice
Whether you’re scaling mountains, racing cars or going to the gym, undertaking some form of healthy activity will not only help you to combat rising stress levels, you might actually live longer too.
Business Ideas & Planning
Jennifer Irvine, founder of The Pure Package, talks about her business.
Business Ideas & Planning
SmallBusiness.co.uk has a wealth of articles and guides to help you save money when starting out in business.
Startup Funding and Grants
Aside from the entertainment value, there are a number of valuable lessons to be taken from the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Here are the top five from Smallbusiness.co.uk.
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