small business

This success story features Will Adoasi, the founder of Vitae London. He talking about getting funding from Virgin, running an ethical brand and using social media to create brand awareness and reach potential customers.

Setting up a business as a limited company is the second most popular way of setting up a business in the UK. In 2021, there were around 4.5 million private limited companies. There are both huge advantages and disadvantages of running a limited company, as well as, other structures such as sole traders (which is the most popular business structure, with their being 3.2 million in 2021).  It’s important for any aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the range of benefits and pitfalls of different business structures to determine if they are the right fit for their business idea.

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Franchising is a great way to become an owner of a small business. There are three different types of franchises which you can choose from, they vary in terms of your position, your input into the business and the amount of involvement of the franchisor. The three types of franchises are; the business format franchise, product distribution franchise and management franchise. Each franchise operates differently and in this guide you will find the differences between the three.

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The more links your website gets from reputable sources, the higher it ranks on search engines like Google. Backlinks, inner links, external links, and link building all pertain to the process of having third-party websites link back to your site. In this article, we’ll show you how to earn these backlinks without the need to spend money like you would on PPC marketing.

If you’re looking for lucrative ways to raise capital for your start-up business you have some options to consider. The good news is that it’s never been easier to raise start-up funds than right now. You have a range of resources available at your fingertips, you just need to know where to look and the risks involved before making a decision.

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The sole trader business structure is the most popular in the UK. In 2021 there were approximately 3.2 million sole traders, accounting for 56% of small businesses. The sole trader structure has been popular due to its many advantages and the ease of setting up.

Sole trader business owners are known as self-employed and most freelancers opt for this structure of the business. There are both advantages and disadvantages of the sole trader business structure that need to be taken into account before making any business decisions.

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Pensions remain one of the last remaining significant tax breaks available to contractors, freelancers and business owners. And with the sweeping changes to the flexibility surrounding how you access your pension, there has never been a better time to invest. There are a variety of pensions for directors of limited company and contractors available.
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The best way to streamline a small business is to have reliable resources to ensure information is protected adequately and is easily accessible to the right people.

Suzy Pelta is the latest entrepreneur to feature in one of our success stories. Suzy from SuzyPeltaBakes is a business woman, a recipe book writer and demo chef. After winning Lorraine’s Cake Club, Suzy transformed her life and took advantage of opportunities that came her way. She discusses juggling being a parent and being a business owner as well as the importance of social media.
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Chantelle Flynn, one of the creators of Tiipii bed takes part in our recent success story. She discusses the method of making a niche product an international success. TiiPii Beds are luxury floating hammock beds that create a unique relaxing space to be enjoyed indoors or outdoors.
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The pandemic has thrown out a variety of new challenges for entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses. While raising funds has always been a complex process, the impact of COVID-19 has presented several new challenges. Accordingly, preparation for an investment exercise has never been more important in maximising the chances of a successful outcome.

Socialising with colleagues feels good, but it also has benefits for the business. Working face-to-face with colleagues can both help maintain a good working culture and boost collaboration. But a year of working from and/or furlough has seen many workers coping with social isolation.

If you have started a business or are thinking about starting one, then you will need to decide on a business structure. You can choose to create a limited company, work as a sole trader or a partnership. Each business structure varies, especially when it comes to accounts and the bookkeeping. Sole trader owners are classed as self-employed, therefore they have their own set of tax rules and regulations to adhere to.

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Reader’s question: If I worked for a number of companies, each with their own individual name accounts and account number, would I be issued with a p60 for each one or could each income from each company be all on the one p60?

When you’re not there to oversee things, standards start to slip and the overall health of your business can start to decline. The pandemic has given the vast majority of us experience of working from home. Initially, it takes some getting used to, but we’ve been able to adapt and thrive.

As a start-up, it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed. With so many things to consider, software might be the last thing on your mind. But the right software can make day-to-day processes run more smoothly, helping you to focus on what’s most important. Stay organised and keep your business on track with these software recommendations.

One of the questions we are most frequently asked at Company Bug is “how many limited companies are there in the UK”, or similar questions relating to the business population as a whole

Salary benchmarking has become one of the most important tools for businesses seeking talent. If you’re struggling to find the best and you’re offering the average wage, it’s tempting to up your offering and see who takes the bait. But what if you don’t have the budget – or the inclination – to inflate the market? Are there more important things to job seekers than money? What are the options open to your business?

Reader’s question:  I am interested in setting up a company and would like to associate it with a particular name.  When searching companies house I found that the name I was interested in had been registered in the past but the status was showing as ‘DEAD’.  Would you be able to advise what this means and whether I would be able to use this name?