Getting started

Our guide to the difficult early steps when starting up…

A mission statement
Defining your business purpose.
Building a brand
Key tips for developing a memorable image.
Choosing a year end
Be tax efficient when deciding a year end date.
Insuring your business
Are you sufficiently covered?
Limited liability partnerships
LLPs explained.
Names, trademarks, patents and other registrations
The key legal requirements.
Allowable Expenses
What can you claim tax relief for?
Premises and location
Essential considerations when choosing your base.
Raising finance
Maximise your chances of gaining funding.
Should you buy a franchise?
The pros and cons of buying 'off-the-shelf'.
Which business structure?
Choosing the structure that best suits your needs.
Working from home
Home working do's and don'ts.
Writing a business plan
How to write an effective business plan.
Your business vision
What are your ultimate goals?
Incorporation
Considerations when operating as a company on incorporation.
An introduction to the tax system for the self employed
Key tax issues you need to know about.