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 write a brilliant business case

Here, Richard Walker discusses the key things to consider when putting your business plan together.

Business Ideas & Planning

Advice

Pensions savings – which option is right for you?

In this piece, Chris Kelly shares a helpful guide to your pension options and how to maximise your savings.

Advice

How to save money on your small company with these free business essentials

Collette Jones, money saving expert at Magic Freebies UK, reveals some free business essentials that can help small businesses save money when starting out.

Business Ideas & Planning

Intellectual property: why timing can be everything

Here, Peter Finnie, managing partner of Gill Jennings & Every, tells us why the timing of a patent application can mean everything to your intellectual property.

Advice

Car leasing – what is fair wear and tear?

How can you ensure that your dream car doesn’t turn into a leasing nightmare?

Startup Funding and Grants

Further spike noted in new home listings across UK market

The UK housing market is continuing its slow but steady return to strength.

Startup Funding and Grants

Bridging loans step out of the shadows to challenge conventional lenders

The bridging loan, as far as the average mortgage broker was concerned, used to be the kind of offering to avoid at all costs. Not so any more.

Startup Funding and Grants

Exploring business finance: How appropriate debt choices can fuel ambitions

There are two broad ways to finance a business: an injection of equity or taking on debt. Here, we look at debt.

Startup Funding and Grants

Bridging loans step out of the shadows to challenge conventional lenders

The bridging loan, as far as the average mortgage broker was concerned, used to be the kind of offering to avoid at all costs. Not so any more.

Startup Funding and Grants

Exploring business finance: How appropriate debt choices can fuel ambitions

There are two broad ways to finance a business: an injection of equity or taking on debt. Here, we look at debt.

Advice

Lessons for life, lessons for work

Here, Danae Varangis, founder and COO, DV Closet, teaches us the lessons she learnt to achieve success.

Advice

How to ace business travel – a quick guide for small business owners

Here, Gavin Bailey, CitySuites operations director, provides his top ten tips for making your business travel a breeze.

Startup Funding and Grants

The best way to finance your new business

Here are the pros and cons of borrowing money, selling a part of your business, or bootstrapping your way to growth, with an explanation of each option.

Setting up a company

How can small teams challenge creativity

Here, Andy Bolter, creative partner at Yes&Pepper, tells us how you can inspire creativity in your small business team.

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.

Partner content

Why you need a business bank account

HSBC - Advertising feature

Partner content

5 things every small business owner needs to know before starting

HSBC - Advertising feature

Business management

How to create good cashflow habits

HSBC - Advertising feature