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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
Using a venture capital scheme to raise money
How venture capital schemes work, who can apply and what tax reliefs are available for investors.
Science parks
Support and benefits of science parks, including technology transfer and business incubation
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.
Support for protecting your ideas
Get professional help from intellectual property advisers, a patent attorney or a trade mark attorney to protect your intellectual property in an invention
Find manufacturers to build a prototype
Sources of information on product designers and manufacturers who can help you develop your invention
Support for product safety and testing
How to arrange product safety assessment, and where to find testing laboratories, services and product certification in the UK
Support for developing your ideas
Where to get help to develop new product ideas if you're looking to manufacture, market, sell or license your inventions
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
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard compliance
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard is applicable to any organisation that stores, transmits or processes cardholder information.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a payment-processing company
Using payment-processing companies to handle online card transactions has advantages, but it is also worthwhile to consider the disadvantages.
Advantages and disadvantages of selling through online marketplaces
Using an online marketplace for your business has many advantages, but it is also worthwhile to consider the disadvantages.
Checklist: applying for an internet merchant account
The requirements you will need to satisfy when applying to a bank for an internet merchant account.
Banking overseas and UK-based foreign currency accounts
Pros and cons of opening an overseas bank account or a UK-based foreign currency account to hedge your risks
Buying currency options
The pros and cons of buying currency options and how it might help your business hedge foreign exchange risks
Foreign currency transactions and bookkeeping
How making and receiving payments in foreign currencies can affect your accounts
Advantages and disadvantages of using a debt collection agency
Using a debt collection agency could help your business but there are also some possible disadvantages to consider.
The purpose of business insurance
Why businesses should consider insurance and the types of events your business can insure against.