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Start up business ideas

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.

Set up a business

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

Skills and wellbeing

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

Business planning

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

Start up funding

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.

Tax and National Insurance

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.

Business law

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

Sales and marketing

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

Business premises

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.

Employees

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

Business IT

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

Grow your business

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.

Hiring employees

Advertising for, shortlisting and selecting the right recruit is not always easy. Our overview explains how to get your recruitment processes right.

Resource topics

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Should you pay for an intern?

For business owners in need of an extra pair of hands, the prospect of cheap, or even free, labour, can be very enticing. But what does the law say?

Essential guide to recruitment

How to recruit effectively - our guide to understanding what you need, attracting candidates and assessing their skills, experience and attitude.

Essential guide to interviewing

Skilled interviewing is important to make sure you recruit the right person. How to interview candidates, and common mistakes to avoid.

Getting the right skills mix - checklist

Every business needs a variety of skills to be run effectively - use our checklist to find out how to make this happen.

Holding successful recruitment interviews - checklist

Recruiting new staff will usually mean interviewing applicants. This checklist covers the basics of holding interviews.

Essential guide to graduate recruitment

Recruiting a graduate can give your business an influx of talent, enthusiasm and fresh ideas - our guide to attracting suitable candidates.

Recruiting - checklist

It's vitally important to make sure you hire the right person with the right skills to fill company needs. Read how to recruit successfully.

Inducting new employees - checklist

Our step-by step guide to inducting new employees into your business, providing everything they need and helping them feel settled.

Q&A: Statements of employment

All employees are entitled to a written statement of employment setting out the main terms and conditions. Read these FAQs covering the essentials.

How to assess candidates' CVs when recruiting

CVs play a key role in the recruitment process, by helping employers to assess someone's experience, key achievements and knowledge. Stacey Mead, HR Director at The HR Dept, explains what you should look out for.

How hiring graduates can benefit small firms

Despite 300,000 people graduating each year, historically relatively few end up one of the nation's 4.8m small firms. But things are changing.

What makes a great small business employee?

Successful SMEs are only as good as their people. But finding great staff is not always easy. We explain what you should look for.

Stop! 10 signs you're about to recruit the wrong person

Many small business owners are doing their own recruitment to save money. But wait! Could you be about to recruit the wrong person?

Employing a family member

Employing a relative is quite different to recruiting someone else. There are some important tax and legal considerations which we explore here: