How to start a traditional trade or craft business

For many, the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to reevaluate and examine our work-life balance among other things.

With more time to spend at home, people started taking up new hobbies, learning new skills, or picking up old ones. Some needed new ways to generate income, whilst some started side hustles to stay busy.

How to set up a café 

To start a successful café, you'll need suitable premises, friendly staff, and the ability to serve food that keeps customers coming back.

As well as dreaming about the delicious dishes you'll create, you will have to think about more mundane things too: like food hygiene, licensing, staff, suppliers and balancing the books.

If starting a café sounds like your slice of heaven, check out our guide for everything you need to know.

How to start a clothing brand 

The fashion industry is worth a huge £43.2 billion annually in the UK alone and £411 billion in Europe.

It's no wonder that it is an attractive prospect for an entrepreneur looking to start up their own business, especially for those who are creatively minded and who have a passion for clothing.

How to start a freelance photography business 

Becoming a freelance photographer is one of the most accessible routes to starting a business.

Anyone can try it. But, that means, there’ll be others offering a similar service nearby you. It’s time to work out what makes you a better option than any of them.

5 things to know about setting up as a sole trader

When you start your own business, you’ll need to decide which company format to register with HMRC.

The structure you register your company under will depend on how much legal and financial responsibility you want to take for the business. It will also affect how much tax and time you give HMRC each year!

6 things to consider when choosing a supplier

‘YOU CAN’T SELL SANDWICHES IF YOU’VE NOT GOT BREAD.’

Your business and reputation is only as good as the businesses that supply you. So how do you choose the right supplier for your small business and protect your business against risk? Here’s six things to consider.

How to get a good deal from suppliers

Nobody does business in isolation, and if you are selling a product rather than a service then you will have to deal with a number of suppliers.

They may be the people you buy your ingredients from, or they could provide the tools that you work with. They might even be the place where you get your stationery from.

Whoever they are though, you are naturally going to want to get the best deal possible and work with people you can form a positive relationship with. Here are a few tips that can help put you on the front foot.

Choosing business premises

From offices and high street shops, to manufacturing facilities and catering sites, many businesses require premises to operate from.

If you need a separate space for your startup, here are ten things to bear in mind.

Location, location, location: the importance of place

Place can mean lots of things in business. It can be the place that you work and deliver your service to customers, as well as where you manufacture physical products.

In strategy terms, place is one of the 4Ps of the marketing mix – elements that you can combine to create competitive advantage for your business. But what does it mean in practice?