Business guides

Our business guides cover a wide selection of topics, ranging from insurance to getting the best business utility tariffs. Our guides can help you cut some of your company's everyday costs.

What is Public Liability Insurance?

Discover what public liability insurance is, what it does and doesn’t cover and how it could protect your business from costly claims.

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What Insurance Does a Small Business Need?

Running a business should be exciting and profitable, but it also comes with risks that could harm your firm. Business insurance offers a safety net should something go wrong.

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What Is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Discover how professional indemnity insurance can help safeguard your business if a service you provide causes a client or customer to lose money.

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Do You Need Business Interruption Insurance?

Business interruption insurance could save your company if an unexpected event, such as a fire or a burglary, stops you from trading.

When it pays out

How to Claim on Your Business Insurance

Follow our step-by-step guide to making a successful business insurance claim.

What you need to make a claim

The Average Business Loan Interest Rates For 2024

Does a low interest rate always mean you’re getting the best deal on a business loan? Find out with our 2024 business loan interest rate guide.

10 Small Business Ideas

How Do Business Loans Work?

A business loan lets you borrow money to help grow or run your business. We look at how they work and the different types of business loans available.

10 Small Business Ideas

Starting a Business With No Money

Starting a business doesn’t always require huge amounts of money. Here are the best ways to get your company up and running without cash.

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How to Create a Memorable Brand for Your Business

Set your business up for success by following our tips on creating a memorable brand identity.

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How to Get Funding for a Business

There are plenty of options for small business funding, from bank loans and government grants to angel investors and crowdfunding. We explain the benefits and pitfalls of each approach.

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Raising Money For a Business Without a Loan

If you’ve been rejected for a business loan, there are lots of finance options to consider. We run through the options from invoice finance and angel investors to bootstrapping and business grants.

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Small Business Marketing Ideas For Growth

Learn how to best promote your business with these 10 smart marketing ideas for small businesses.

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Starting a Business from Scratch

Find out everything you need to know about starting a business from scratch, including tax, finances, insurance, market research and advertising.

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Repaying Your Business Loan and Managing Debt

Defaulting on business loan repayments can have serious consequences for you and your company. Find out more with our quick guide to repaying your business loan.

10 Small Business Ideas

How to Get a Business Loan

Find out how to get a business loan to expand or operate your business, including the documents you need to apply and what to consider when choosing a loan.

10 Small Business Ideas

Is It Worth Getting A Loan To Start Your Business?

Is a start-up loan the best way to fund a new business? What are the pros and cons? Find out what you need to know before taking out a business start-up loan.

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What Is A Business Line Of Credit, And What Can It Do For Your Business?

A business line of credit is a flexible form of borrowing. Find out if this alternative to business loans and credit cards is the right option for you.

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How To Access Emergency Business Funding

Many small businesses need an urgent cash injection at some point. Find out how to get emergency business funding with our five-minute guide.

10 Small Business Ideas

What Is Equity Finance For Businesses?

If you have a new business with little credit history, equity finance could help you get the funding you need. Our guide explains how it works.

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How to Register a Trademark in the UK

Protect your business’s critical brand elements like slogans, logos and product names with this step-by-step process for registering your trademark.

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How to Manage Business Debt as a Small Business

Follow these seven steps to help manage business debt and get your business finances back on track.

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How To Protect Your Business from Payment Fraud

Payment fraud is an increasing issue for businesses. Protect your company with these payment fraud prevention tips.

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Strategies to Make Your Small Business More Efficient

Making your small business more efficient can save you money and time. Our short guide to improving business efficiency shows you how.

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How to Track and Keep on Top of Business Expenses

Take control of your business expenses to boost your profitability, reduce your tax bill and ensure your accounts remain accurate and up to date.

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What to Do if Your Bank Has Closed Your Business Bank Account

Find out what to do if your business bank account has been closed and how to recognise and challenge your bank if it has acted unfairly.

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How to Start a Side Hustle

The cost-of-living crisis has hit everyone hard. But there are a number of ways to make a little extra cash, if you can spare the time

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What Business Tax Relief Are You Entitled to?

Find out how you can qualify for tax relief that could potentially reduce your small business' tax bill.

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What can a Financial Adviser do for your Business?

The right financial adviser can help you grow your business and ensure it is profitable in the long term. Learn how to pick the right adviser for your company.

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Managing VAT for Small Businesses

Learn more about which businesses need to register for VAT, the pros and cons of doing so, and how to complete your VAT return.

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Finding a Personal Guarantee for Business Loans

A personal guarantee can help you get a business loan and grow your business, but you need to understand the risks involved before acting.

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How To Improve Cash Flow For Small Businesses

Find out how to improve your business cash flow and increase your chances of success.

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Managing Mental Health in the Workplace

Boost productivity and cut costs with these five strategies to improve mental health in the workplace.

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The Best Sustainability Ideas For Businesses

Discover green business ideas for existing businesses and new startups, the benefits of running a sustainable business and how to implement green initiatives.

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10 Small Business Ideas for 2024

Keen to set up a small business in 2024? Here’s our pick of the best businesses to start this year.

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How to Create a Website For Your Business

Learn everything about creating a business website, from finding the best domain registrar and hosting provider to building a website people will revisit.

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Sole Trader vs Limited Company: What’s Best for You?

Deciding whether to operate as a sole trader or a limited company is a key decision for a small business owner. Here are the pros and cons of each approach.

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How business savings accounts can help SMEs to grow

A savings account isn’t a legal requirement, but it can support your business in the long run.

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How borrowing could boost your business

With the right type of borrowing you could pursue business opportunities that would otherwise pass you by, here's how.

Read more on borrowing for your business
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6 easy ways to get finance for your business

If you want your business to grow and reach new heights you may need to borrow money. Here is a closer look at your different business finance options.

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How card payment terminals work

Payment terminals, or card payment machines, are a handy way to pay for goods and services while you’re out and about. Here we explain all about payment card readers - including how to get one for your business.

What's going on behind the screen
Bill, invoice, tax man laptop

How to make an invoice

If you’ve set up your own business, knowing how to create an invoice correctly is crucial to ensuring you get paid, as we explain.

Full guide to making an invoice

How to turn business ideas into a profitable company

What's involved in turning a business idea into a going concern - and should you bother in the first place Here we explain how to tell if you idea for a business is actually a good one in reality, and what the next steps to making it happen.

How to tell if a business idea is any good
Home working, self employed, startup, entrepreneur, laptop, phone call

How to register a business?

Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your side hustle is legitimate including the difference between being a sole trader and a limited partnership, which might be right for you, and the deadlines and paperwork you need to consider

What you need to get ready now
Man writing a business plan, filing accounts for a small business

How to write a business plan

Why will your business thrive and be successful when so many others fail? The answer will be found in your business plan.

Business plans made simple
A woman interviewing another woman for a job in an informal setting

How to employ someone

If your business becomes successful enough, or you need a hand to get it started, you will need to think about employing staff to help out. But how do you pay them, what responsibilities do you have, and how much does it cost to employ someone?

What you need to check for
A woman putting clothes into a box, surrounded by other boxes, home business, side hustle, entrepreneur, small business

Can you start a business from home?

Everyone’s heard the stories of billionaires starting their businesses from a bedroom at home, but setting up a start up takes careful planning and there are hidden costs. This is what you need to know to get it right

What you need to check for
A toddler, dressed in a suit, carrying a load of cash

How to fund your business idea

If there’s one thing budding entrepreneurs have in abundance it’s ideas. But great concepts often amount to nothing without the financial oomph to make them real. Here we explore how to get the money needed to earn your fortune.

Where yo look for the money you need
woman in cafe working on laptop

What small businesses need to know to survive during the COVID-19 outbreak

The government has rolled out an unprecedented package of relief measures for businesses and individuals in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. This guide will help find the resources that could be helpful for your business.

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