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Buy a franchise
What franchising is, how to find and assess franchise opportunities and how to buy a franchise.
Buy an existing business
Advantages and disadvantages of buying an existing business including how to assess and value it.
Business accounting periods
The balance sheet portrays a business' performance over the financial year or accounting period.
The relationship between balance sheets and profit and loss accounts
How transactions in the profit and loss account can affect balance sheet entries and vice versa.
Existing employees when buying a business
Your legal obligations towards staff already working for the new company.
How to calculate the value of a business
How to find out whether the business you want to buy will be profitable and value for money.
Buying business property
What to consider when buying your own business premises, financial and legal aspects, and when to use a solicitor or surveyor.
Set up as a sole trader
Sole traders must register with HM Revenue and Customs and follow certain rules on running and naming their business
Choosing business property
Key issues to consider when choosing the right commercial property for your business needs.
Attract funding for your invention
Explore funding options for development of new products and ideas, including equity finance, government grants, loans, crowdfunding and more
Advantages and disadvantages of buying business property
You should weigh up both pros and cons when considering buying a business property.
Show strong financial performance when selling your business
How to get your business finances in good order and present your accounts in a clear, attractive way.
Protecting intellectual property
How to conduct an audit of your business' intellectual property rights and take steps to protect and secure your IP
Set up a basic record-keeping system
What you need to record and for how long, with step-by-step guidance on setting up your own system.
Get patent protection for your business
Find out how to patent a product, and protect your ideas or inventions by applying for a patent and securing your patent rights
Trade marks
Introduction to trade marking – how to choose, search for, register and protect trade marks in the UK or abroad
Renting commercial property
Key factors to consider when choosing to rent property to meet your business demands.
Intellectual property: the basics
How to recognise and use different types of intellectual property rights to protect your business' inventions and ideas
Use your home as a workplace
Tax implications, financial and legal issues, security, and setting up your work area if you plan to work from home.
Profit reporting: how, when and where?
Reporting deadlines, the form to use and who to send it to.