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Checklist: set up as a sole trader
A checklist of things you must do, and organisations you must make contact with, to set yourself up as a sole trader
Business plan: dos and don’ts
A list of things you must do when creating your business plan and things you don't want to do in order to avoid mistakes.
Social enterprises as registered charities
Charitable purposes, features of charities, governing documents and registration
Shares and shareholders
Working out shares, issuing shares and setting prescribed particulars for shareholders of your limited company
Memorandum and articles of association
You must have a memorandum and articles of association in order to register a limited company in the UK
Register for Corporation Tax
How to register for Corporation Tax including information you need to provide and how to get a Unique Taxpayer Reference
Company addresses
What types of addresses can be used as your registered company address including your home address or a PO Box
Appoint directors and a company secretary
Rules for appointing a company director and a company secretary and an overview of their legal responsibilities
IP rights: copyright
What is copyright, when does it apply, and how you can use it to protect your intellectual property
IP rights: trade marks
What are trade marks, and how to register trade marks to protect your brand, products or business
IP rights: designs
An overview of design as an intellectual property asset and advice on how to use unregistered and registered designs to secure your IP
IP rights: patents
What is a patent, how to apply for one, and how to use and enforce it to protect your business' intellectual property
Name your limited company
What you can and cannot name your company in the UK, including specific words you need permission to use
Starting a business during an economic downturn
Guidance on how to start up a business during a period of economic slowdown and where to get start-up support.
Legal and financial costs expenses
What you can claim for accountancy, legal and other professional fees and information on how to write off bad debts.
Six top tips for business networking
Networking tips for raising your profile, meeting new customers and suppliers, sharing knowledge and sourcing finance
Open data opportunities for business
What is open data, where to find open data in Northern Ireland, and how to make the most of its business opportunities.
Checklist: developing a product or service
Step-by-step list on how to develop new products or services, with a checklist of key things to consider before and during development
Get help with intellectual property protection
Advice, guidance and support with intellectual property issues for Northern Ireland businesses
Avoid infringing other people's intellectual property
How to check that you are not infringing other people's intellectual property