Start your business

Plan, set up and register a business

Plan your business

• Set up a business
• Write a business plan
• Get help and support for your business
• Help with moving from benefits to work

Prepare for business

• Running a limited company: your responsibilities
• Business records if you're self-employed
• Expenses if you're self-employed
• Find government property and land to buy
• Get information about a company

Set up your business structure

• Set up as a sole trader: step by step
• Set up a limited company: step by step
• When you need to verify your identity for Companies House
• Set up a business partnership
• Setting up a social enterprise
• Set up a charity: step by step
• Running a business from home
• Employee ownership businesses
• Use a formation agent to register your company

Find funding and grants

• Finance and support for your business
• Apply for a Start Up Loan for your business
• Find government grants
• Apply to use the Enterprise Investment Scheme to raise money for your company

Register for tax

• Check how to register for Self Assessment
• Register for VAT

Employ people

• Get ready to employ someone for the first time: step by step

Licences, data protection and trade marks

• Find a licence
• Pay the data protection fee
• Register a trade mark