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For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

News

November 2020

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Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has set out his plans in a Spending Review that aims to "protect lives and livelihoods" as the pandemic continues to take its toll.

New research suggests that Black Friday 2020 could be the busiest ever as online sales continue to soar.

Independent retailers are breathing a sigh of relief as the government's COVID Winter Plan allows them to reopen ahead of Christmas but there are challenges ahead for bars and restaurants.

A new collaboration between Yell and Amazon means that millions of small businesses can now be found using Alexa; and a start-up is offering grants to help SMEs make TV ads.

Brighton tops the list of the best places to start a side business as it emerges that website domain name registrations for new businesses soared during the last lockdown.

As the 2021 self assessment deadline approaches, there are increasing reports of fake emails, texts and phone calls purporting to be from HMRC.

The real Living Wage hourly rates for 2020/21 have been increased, widening the gap between this voluntary wage rate and the government's statutory minimum wage rates.

After two decades of growth in UK self-employment, a new study by the London School of Economics has found that one in five freelancers consider it likely that they'll leave self-employment as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Workers on furlough will now get 80% of their income paid by the government until the end of March 2021; support for the self-employed has also been increased.

New research has found that coronavirus lockdowns have boosted the nation's loyalty to small businesses, with 59% of Brits saying they now support local businesses more than previously.

The government has made the third instalment of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme more generous for November but business groups are warning that many freelancers are still falling through the cracks.

If bank branches continue to close at their current rate there will be none left by April 2032, according to a new study of the retail banking sector.