CHAT WITH AN EXPERT 
No matter what stage your business has reached, planning is crucial. From writing a business plan for your new venture to creating a marketing strategy now your company has established itself, here we dive into the different aspects of planning that should be at the forefront of your mind.
Essential guide to starting a business
Learn what’s involved when starting a business in the UK and how to put together the documents you’ll need along the way.
How to write a business plan
A strong business plan is important to the success of your new business and crucial when applying for business funding.
Setting aims for your business
Giving your business goals and targets to achieve will help you to grow and measure your success.
Essential guide to starting a business
Find useful information on what’s involved when starting a business in the UK and learn how to put together your business documents.
How to write a business plan
A strong business plan is important to the success of your new business and crucial when applying for business funding.
Setting aims for your business
Giving your business goals and targets to achieve will help you to grow and measure your success.
8 ways to build a scalable start-up
If you’re looking to take your start-up to the next level, growth is important, but it’s scaling that really matters.
What skills do you need to start a business?
Making the leap from employee to starting your own business can see you take on a wide variety of roles.
How to test your business idea before blowing a fortune
Testing your business idea before you proceed can save you money and let you identify any potential issues.
20 business ideas for right now
There’s never been a better time to branch out and pursue the career you want, as your own boss. There are record numbers of small business entrants…
Making the most of seasonal peaks
Every year we witness the hype surrounding Christmas, from the annual countdown, to the John Lewis advert, to Marks and Spencer’s mouthwatering food…
Understanding the product development process
Transform your business or product idea into commercial reality with our guide to setting up a product development process. Product development…
Setting up a small business – The complete guide
If you’re thinking of setting up a small business, it’s essential that you know exactly what’s involved. Our seven step guide covers everything you…
How to buy or rent office furniture
Setting up an office for the first time can be costly, and choosing to either buy or rent office furniture can make a big difference to your bottom…
How to choose the best business supplier
Finding the best business supplier for your start-up can be a challenge, but our guide to choosing the best supplier – from IT and equipment…
How to price products as a business
Setting the price of your products or services is one of the toughest decisions a small business needs to make. Our handy guide will help you set…
How to maximise your small office space
By making the most of your small office space, you can spend more time focused on running your business rather than struggling for space. Follow our…
The Importance of Marketing for a Start Up Business
Marketing is like the heart of your business. For your business to survive, it needs marketing, and the stronger it is the healthier your business…
What is a franchise?
Looking to start a franchise? Learn how buying and running a franchise can be the perfect way to become your own boss. A franchise is a business in…
How to run a successful franchise
Become a top performing business franchise owner with our top tips for ensuring your franchise is a sure-fire success. Buying a franchise is a great…
How to set up an online business
With minimal start up costs and a potential customer base of millions, setting up an online business has never been more popular. Find out what it…
How to pitch your business idea
If you want to raise money for a start up business, you’ll need to know how to pitch your business idea so you can attract investors into funding…
How to value your new business
Understanding the value of a business opportunity and your new business start-up is a useful exercise – especially when applying for funding and…
Market research techniques
Whether you are launching your business or are already trading, knowing your place within the market is essential for business development and…
How to evaluate a business idea
Ready to launch your new business? Get started with our ten-step guide on how to evaluate a business idea and discover if it will succeed. Turning a…
How to choose the right franchise for you
Buying a franchise is an easy way to start running your own business, with a better chance of success than starting a business from scratch. Our…
Top tips for securing your first premises
Securing a premises for your start up business can mean the difference between it launching or never opening. Have you seen the Start Up Loans TV…
A Matter of Life and Debt – Start Up Loans on the BBC
A new BBC series, A Matter of Life and Debt, takes a look at the lives of people and their businesses, which have been transformed through…
How to write a business plan
A robust business plan is crucial to the success of your new business. A well-written business plan is important when you’re about to start a…
5 Ways to Spend Your Start Up Loan
If you’re considering setting up your own business, one of the most important parts of your business plan is how you will fund what you want to do….
20 business ideas for right now
There’s never been a better time to branch out and pursue the career you want, as your own boss. There are record numbers of small business entrants…
Making the most of seasonal peaks
Every year we witness the hype surrounding Christmas, from the annual countdown, to the John Lewis advert, to Marks and Spencer’s mouthwatering food…
Understanding the product development process
Transform your business or product idea into commercial reality with our guide to setting up a product development process. Product development…
Setting up a small business – The complete guide
If you’re thinking of setting up a small business, it’s essential that you know exactly what’s involved. Our seven step guide covers everything you…
How to buy or rent office furniture
Setting up an office for the first time can be costly, and choosing to either buy or rent office furniture can make a big difference to your bottom…
How to choose the best business supplier
Finding the best business supplier for your start-up can be a challenge, but our guide to choosing the best supplier – from IT and equipment…
How to price products as a business
Setting the price of your products or services is one of the toughest decisions a small business needs to make. Our handy guide will help you set…
How to maximise your small office space
By making the most of your small office space, you can spend more time focused on running your business rather than struggling for space. Follow our…
The Importance of Marketing for a Start Up Business
Marketing is like the heart of your business. For your business to survive, it needs marketing, and the stronger it is the healthier your business…
What is a franchise?
Looking to start a franchise? Learn how buying and running a franchise can be the perfect way to become your own boss. A franchise is a business in…
How to run a successful franchise
Become a top performing business franchise owner with our top tips for ensuring your franchise is a sure-fire success. Buying a franchise is a great…
How to set up an online business
With minimal start up costs and a potential customer base of millions, setting up an online business has never been more popular. Find out what it…
How to pitch your business idea
If you want to raise money for a start up business, you’ll need to know how to pitch your business idea so you can attract investors into funding…
How to value your new business
Understanding the value of a business opportunity and your new business start-up is a useful exercise – especially when applying for funding and…
Market research techniques
Whether you are launching your business or are already trading, knowing your place within the market is essential for business development and…
How to evaluate a business idea
Ready to launch your new business? Get started with our ten-step guide on how to evaluate a business idea and discover if it will succeed. Turning a…
How to choose the right franchise for you
Buying a franchise is an easy way to start running your own business, with a better chance of success than starting a business from scratch. Our…
Top tips for securing your first premises
Securing a premises for your start up business can mean the difference between it launching or never opening. Have you seen the Start Up Loans TV…
Avoiding the mistakes commonly made by start ups
James Caan on avoiding business mistakes Instead of blogging about common hurdles that start ups face, I thought that I would share some of the…