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Naming your business as a sole trader
What you can and cannot name your company as a sole trader, including words you need permission to use
Naming your business partnership
What you can and cannot name your business partnership in the UK, including words you need permission to use
Setting up a business partnership
The steps you need to follow to create and set up a business partnership and details of how responsibility is shared
Writing a business plan: 5 top tips
Five key steps that can help you to prepare a successful business plan when you're starting a business.
Start a business from home
Guidance and practical tips on starting a home-based business and local support to help establish your home business
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.
Biometric residence permits
Information on biometric residence permits for individuals from outside the European Economic Area
Penalties for employing illegal workers
Visits by immigration officers and the penalties you could face if you are found to have employed an illegal worker
Business exit strategy: float your business on the stock market
Characteristics your business will need to attract venture capital investment or for a stock-market flotation.
Keeping records of workers' documents
Records employers must make and keep to prove their workers are eligible to work in the UK
Social enterprises as registered charities
Charitable purposes, features of charities, governing documents and registration
Check a job applicant's entitlement to work in the UK
How employers must take steps to ensure that a worker is allowed to work for you
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
Foundation degrees explained for employers
A Foundation degree is a higher education qualification mainly delivered in local colleges which combines academic and work-related learning.
Business exit strategy: close your business
Overview of the circumstances in which you may close your business and the practicalities of how to go about it.