How to run your business effectively

From understanding business expenses as your team grows to accessing emergency funding, here are some expert guides to keep your business on the right track.

Staying on top of your finances, managing cash flow, and understanding debt are vital. This gives you control over your business and helps you to make informed, practical and profitable decisions

Meet small business owners

Case study

"I started making the brownies in 2019 and I made it my mission to create a delicious vegan recipe."

Cake or Death, a vegan bakery business, was founded by Katie Cross in 2019 and customers across the UK can’t get enough of its sweet treats.

Here, Katie reflects on the past six years and explains how a rejection from a famous bakery competition set her on the right path.

Katie Cross, founder of Cake or Death

Case study

"I really wanted to build an everlasting legacy in my family’s name"

Starting a business is never easy, but add in a global pandemic and everything gets harder. This was the reality for Tinique Hay when she set up her events management agency, Hay Events, in February 2020.

Here, she reflects on her resilience throughout these challenging years.

Tinique, Hay Events

Case study

"I bought a business online and turned it into a million-pound sustainable enterprise"

Mark Farr became CEO of Purple Planet Packaging in 2019 because he wanted to make a positive, sustainable impact for the next generation.

Mark shares his business story so far, and how buying a business online became a million-pound success story.

Mark Farr, CEO of Purple Planet Packaging

Budgeting fundamentals

Essential budgeting advice every small business owner should know.
A step-by-step guide for creating a small business budget
A step-by-step guide for creating a small business budget
Budgeting in business: what you need to know
Budgeting in business: what you need to know
How to separate your personal and business finances
How to separate your personal and business finances

Handling tax

Find out which taxes affect your business and how to manage them smoothly.
Business tax explained
Business tax explained
Corporation tax: everything you need to know
Corporation tax: everything you need to know
How much should I save for taxes?
How much should I save for taxes?

Understanding cash flow

Get a clear picture of your cash flow and how to manage it effectively.
What is cash flow and why is it important to a small business?
What is cash flow and why is it important to a small business?
How to improve cash flow for small businesses
How to improve cash flow for small businesses
What is a cash flow forecast and how can you create one?
What is a cash flow forecast and how can you create one?

Expenses

A clear guide to managing and claiming expenses for your small business.
Business expenses: what you can (and can’t) claim
Business expenses: what you can (and can’t) claim
How to track and keep on top of business expenses
How to track and keep on top of business expenses
What business expenses can self-employed people claim?
What business expenses can self-employed people claim?

Managing business finance

Understand your business finance options and find the right fit for your needs.
Everything you need to know about business finance
Everything you need to know about business finance
How to get finance for a business
How to get finance for a business
What is equity finance for businesses?
What is equity finance for businesses?

Everything your startup business needs to grow

Let us do the hard bit and figure out what products you need based on your business needs

  • Step 1
    Tell us about your business
  • Step 2
    We'll figure out which products you might need
  • Step 3
    You choose your products

Debt and borrowing

Smart borrowing tips to help you manage debt and strengthen your business.
How to manage business debt as a small business
How to manage business debt as a small business
Can business debt affect your personal finances?
Can business debt affect your personal finances?
How to access emergency business funding
How to access emergency business funding

Business support

Get expert help to navigate challenges and grow your business with confidence.
How to protect your business from payment fraud
How to protect your business from payment fraud
Tax advisers vs tax accountants: which should you choose?
Tax advisers vs tax accountants: which should you choose?
What can a financial adviser do for your business?
What can a financial adviser do for your business?

Meet our experts

  • Decades of experience in the financial sector

  • Regularly featured in the national and regional press

  • Clear and impartial insights to help you make confident financial decisions

Meet our experts