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.

Checklist: your skills

Running your own business means you must wear a range of hats: financial controller, marketer, people manager and more.

Advice

Business Ideas & Planning

Checklist: your business idea

You have a great idea for your business and you're champing at the bit to get it up and running. But first, take a few minutes to make sure you are absolutely ready.

Business Ideas & Planning

Checklist: Is starting a business for you?

Deciding to start your own business is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make. This checklist from the Small Business Guide reveals the questions you need to ask yourself before you take the plunge.

Advice

Registering as a company – the pros and cons

When first setting up a business there are many issues to consider, not least what whether to register as a company or not.

Business Ideas & Planning

How to write a business proposal

Writing a business plan or proposal is a difficult but vital skill for anyone starting up, with many issues to consider and include.

Advice

How to set up a trade association

The first thing you need to consider is whether a trade association already exists.

Investing in a franchise

Blazes: Supporting its franchisees

Husband and wife Graham and Pam Bastow have been running the Blazes store in Wakefield for almost 3 years and cannot speak highly enough of the fireplace retail franchisor.

Setting up a company

Choosing between partnership or limited company status

Recent developments have made trading as a limited company more attractive.

Investing in a franchise

Blazes: Supporting its franchisees

Husband and wife Graham and Pam Bastow have been running the Blazes store in Wakefield for almost 3 years and cannot speak highly enough of the fireplace retail franchisor.

Setting up a company

Choosing between partnership or limited company status

Recent developments have made trading as a limited company more attractive.

Investing in a franchise

The role of the British Franchise Association

The British Franchise Association (BFA) is the only voluntary accreditation body for franchising in the UK, and plays a key role in maintaining ethical standards in the UK franchise industry.

Investing in a franchise

Building a successful Kall Kwik franchise

Andrew Michael opened his Bradford Kall Kwik outlet in 1987 and is now one of the printing business' longest serving and most successful franchisees.

Business Ideas & Planning

Having the right business plan is key

Would-be entrepreneurs looking to start up their own businesses need to concentrate on producing a top notch business plan, says the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Investing in a franchise

Starting a franchise

Opening a franchise boasts several clear advantages over starting any other form of new business.

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

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