Starting Up

If you’re thinking about setting up an online shop and want to know the best way to go about it, our step-by-step guide tells you all you need to know.
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There are currently over 900 different businesses operating as franchises across the UK. Some of the more instantly recognisable brand names that offer franchise opportunities in the UK are Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s and Subway.
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Could 2021 be the year of the small independent property developer? The last 10 months have seen more changes to the planning rules in England than the previous 10 years combined, as the government looks for a way to reach its target of creating 300,000 new homes a year, and simultaneously stimulate the economy as part of the COVID recovery efforts. (more…)

With lockdown largely forcing the country into remote working, digital adoption has been accelerated exponentially. Of course, this isn’t without its challenges, as businesses struggle to ensure their staff have access to the right tools and technology, are communicating effectively, and continue to offer the same high level of service to clients. (more…)

As you may expect, soft drink sales tend to skyrocket in summer. In fact, the start of the primary sales season starts as soon as Easter and lasts through to the end of September.

With the global pandemic leading to most high street shops temporarily shutting, supermarkets, along with food and beverage retailers, have seen an uptick in business, creating an opportunity for new drinks brands to gain significant traction. (more…)

Starting a business may be exciting, however there are a few things that you need to make sure that you get right from the beginning.

Here are eight top tips for startup success that business expert, Carl Reader, shares in his new book, BOSS IT; (more…)

Starting one’s own business is a desire that many people have. Some harbour the ambition from a very young age, while for others it is something that grows throughout their working lives; for some, the lure is the opportunity to be their own boss, for others there is a very clear issue or gap in the market that they have an idea of how to solve. (more…)

The coronavirus pandemic led to many UK businesses in the entertainment industry closing their doors. Only in the last few weeks have some started to re-open under strict social distancing guidelines (meaning significantly reduced capacity and revenue). (more…)

So far, 2020 has been a year to forget for those operating in a whole range of industries. But few have been harder hit than the travel sector. There is cautious optimism that the worst is behind us, but the industry faces changes that will linger for the long term, perhaps permanently. (more…)

Have you ever ended a presentation and wondered if your audience got the point or was convinced to invest in your venture? If you have, chances are you did not properly prepare your closing.

Here, Vinette Hoffman-Jackson of Toastmasters International explains how to close your speech, pitch or presentation successfully. (more…)

Running a small business can be a bit of a roller-coaster. Just when you think everything is going smoothly, an unexpected shock can hit your business and all of a sudden, your business is experiencing a very tough time.

So how do you turn your business around when times are bad, and all seems lost? Business owner, Anthony Main shares what he learned when his business was on the brink. (more…)

The inspiration to start a business can come at any time: in the pub, in the shower, in the supermarket, walking the dog.

How many times has someone you know announced they’ve had a great business idea? And how many of those eureka moments ended up as no more than a few notes on a napkin? (more…)

The ISO 9001 certification is highly sought-after and becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses.

To help you understand whether ISO 9001 is something your business would benefit from, we asked Sean Huggett of Evalian to explain what it’s about, and what’s needed to achieve it. (more…)

Welcome to Bytestart’s Start-Up Guide, which features bite-sized guides on each aspect of the start-up process, from choosing your business name to setting up your first website.
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Starting up a business on your own must be one of life’s steepest learning curves – and certainly one of the most challenging.

The start-up process will not only test your knowledge of your industry and your key skills, it will also teach you about yourself. By the end of year one, you will be considerably more self-aware.
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Most small businesses set up as either sole traders, or limited companies. In this section of ByteStart’s Start-Up Guide, we look at the most commonly used business structures in the UK.
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Whatever business you want to set up, the name you choose to represent your enterprise will be the first thing potential customers will notice about you. Therefore, your name should be memorable from the outset.
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If ever there was a key skill you’ll need in your business – it’s planning. You can still be your own boss if you’re not the most organised of people, but you’ll find it a very tough slog.
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One of the most annoying parts of running a business is having to hand over a large chunk of your profits to HMRC. Of course, this is a fact of life, and taxation is one area of running a business you really must understand.
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Value Added Tax (VAT) is a charge on most goods and services sold in the UK.

Ultimately, the person who consumes the goods pays the tax. But to administer it, VAT is charged and reclaimed by every supplier down the chain.
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If you become self-employed or a director of a limited company, you will need to complete a self assessment tax return every year.

The first step is to register with HMRC. It’s best to do this as soon as you start your business, but at the very latest, you must register by 5 October of the end of the tax year for which you need to complete a tax return.
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When you start up your own business, one thing’s for sure – money isn’t going to be in abundance to begin with. It goes without saying that it will go a lot further the more self-sufficient you are in the early days. But if there is one area where it’s worth shelling out for professional help, it’s with your accountant.
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When Lloyd George’s Liberal government first introduced National Insurance (NI) payments in 1911, the aim was to provide a safety net for workers who fell on hard times.

The scheme took money out of workers’ wages, and in return, they could get money from the government to pay for medical treatment, or if they lost their job.
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Selecting the right business bank account for the needs of your new business is one of the more enjoyable tasks of starting up!
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When you set up a business, chances are you will take out some kind of business insurance – some types are mandatory, whereas others will provide you with peace of mind while you concentrate on building up your enterprise.
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There are many different ways to raise money for your new business venture – certainly a lot more choice than just asking your bank for a loan.
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If you’ve always been employed by someone else, managing your own business finances will be an interesting new experience for you!
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In an ideal world, everyone who runs a small business would spend at least one day a week actively marketing or selling. Perhaps that’s why this is one of the areas you’re most likely to delegate to someone else.
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Once your marketing efforts have generated you a list of prospects, it’s time to see them and get them to buy. The first thing to remember is that you’re not selling a product or service – you’re selling the benefits it brings to the buyer.
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In the information age we live in, it’s business suicide to ignore the endless possibilities of the internet. In other words: Get yourself a website. It should be the first marketing task you carry out with your new business.
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If your new business is a success, at some point you may find yourself wanting to take on some assistance.
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One thing that often puts people off starting their own business is knowing they will need employees to deliver a good service, but are afraid of being an employer.
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This is one of the key decisions you’ll have to make right at the start: where is the best place for you to locate your business? There are a number of things to consider before you get carried away with excitement and sign your first lease.
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A number of the world’s largest companies were founded by ambitious and determined university students who weren’t afraid to dream.

Most people know that Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his Harvard dorm room, but were you aware that FedEx, the global courier service, was first imagined by Frederick W. Smith in an undergraduate paper while he was studying at Yale? (more…)

“Put that coffee down. Coffee’s for closers only”. Alec Baldwin delivered this iconic line in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross. It may sound harsh but that is the reality.

Pitching an idea and closing a deal can be a nerve-wracking process. Even successful business greats like Richard Branson found the skill of pitching hard to come by. (more…)

When it comes to selling your business, there are a number of routes you can take. To ensure your business sale goes smoothly and you get full value for your business, we look at the process of selling a small business and highlight some of the key considerations you will need to make. (more…)