Setting up a business or start up in the UK

Steps to creating an online company:

Come up with a business idea, name and plan: this will involve extensive research to find out what people are searching for, and therefore the likely popularity of your idea. Is it something people are looking for? Is it unique? What are competitors doing?

The name should be easy to recall. One way of narrowing down the options is to brainstorm a few ideas, and then see if you can register the domain name at the same time. Try to find something that contains your business name and check that it is available. Aim for .co.uk or.com if possible.

Host your business online: Find a reputable web hosting company. You can do this for free, but it might benefit you to use a company such as GoDaddy and pay a small amount per month to help you in the early days. The reason for this is that the host can help you grow and scale upwards if and when you wish to progress to the next level.

Create a business website: The key for an SME is not to spend more than necessary. You'll probably want a website with all the bells and whistles, but that can come later. As long as it looks good and performs basic functions well (i.e. you can take orders), that will suffice for the start. Save your money for marketing and running a good company.

Know the regulations: These include The Sale of Goods Act 1979, the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations. You can find more detailed information about online selling regulations at Gov.uk.

Find out more about setting up an online business.

Step 4. Research the market

Research is vital when it comes to understanding your target market, your competitors and your industry.

The results of your research will shape your business structure, resources, customer demographics and pricing.

Interview your target audience to test if your product or business idea creates interest.

It's best to ask people you don't know, as a personal connection may prejudice the answers.

Focus groups are a good way to get feedback on your product and service: select a small group of people based on certain attributes - for example age, career, gender - that you think matches your target audience.

Alternatively, ask potential customers to fill in a survey online or visit potential customers to discover what they would like to see from your product or service.

Be sure to research your competitors too; you're looking for a gap in the market that your business can fill.

Go through their ordering service - how did they deal with you, how much did they charge, and how would you improve on their service?

Consider how your business can stand out from competitors.

For example, if your competitors are well known chains, you may need to offer something different to make your business more appealing.

Start up businesses which have researched their idea and market are more likely to succeed as their business model will be more feasible.

Step 5. Choose a business structure

Once you've decided on your business concept and business name, you'll need to register your business.

There are different business structures you can use - from setting up as a sole trader to registering as a limited company.

All have their pros and cons, so it's worth ensuring that you choose the best structure for your business.

• Setting up as a sole trader - Most start-ups are registered as sole traders as it's the easiest and cheapest way to start a new business. You must register with HM Revenue and Customs as soon as possible after starting your business. Find out how to set up and register as a sole trader.
• Setting up as a partnership - If you plan to work alongside people you know well, for example with your spouse or a relative, you may want to set up as a formal partnership. With this business structure, you share responsibility for your business with your partners and must agree how liability and profits will be shared. A business partnership is unlimited and so is different from a limited liability partnership.
• Setting up a limited liability partnership - This is essentially a business partnership combined with a limited liability company. This means, like a limited liability company, you're responsible for business debts only up to the amount you invested in the partnership. Your tax situation is, however, the same as with a business partnership.
• Setting up as a limited company - A limited company is a private company owned by its shareholders, where you as the owner are responsible for business debts up to the value of your shares. The limited company's finances are separate from your own, and tax is more efficient for a limited company than for a sole trader. You'll have to submit full accounts and pay Corporation Tax every year. Profits from a limited company can be drawn as a salary or as dividends and you'll have to pay income tax on this too.

The advantages of forming a limited company include the fact that liabilities such as debts or legal action are limited to the company, meaning that you are protected from going personally bankrupt in the event the business fails.

Limited companies can appear more professional, and they're also easier to sell on should you wish to change direction in life later.

Setting up a limited company - the steps:

Choose a name: There are certain restrictions on what you can choose as your name. For example, it cannot be too similar to other company names. Search the Companies House Register to find out more.

Choose company officers: All limited companies must have at least one company officer who is responsible for the business at all times. They manage the company in accordance with its articles of association and the law, and ensure annual accounts and annual returns are completed. Larger businesses might also require a company secretary.

Register the limited company: You can either do this yourself at Companies House (which takes 24 hours) or use a company formation agent. You'll need a registered office address and several other registration documents including a memorandum of association which details directors and shareholders' details. After you've registered the company, you'll be sent a certificate of corporation confirming the company's existence and you'll be expected to meet certain requirements such as submitting your company's annual accounts.

Find out how to set up a limited company.

Step 6. Assess your finances

Starting a business can be costly so it's important not to overspend.

Aim to keep costs to a minimum and spend only on important things that are likely to result in more sales.

Many new businesses require finance when first starting.

To apply for a business loan through a bank, you must be a UK resident, plan to start a business and not be bankrupt or in debt.

Angel investors are another great way to raise finance, and have helped companies including Google and Yahoo.

However, they typically require around 25% return on their investment.

Alternatively, you can source from the Start Up Loans Company.

You can borrow up to £25,000 as an unsecured loan.

Find out the difference between a secured vs unsecured business loan.

Step 7. Get help starting a business

Finally, before you take the plunge, seek advice and guidance in starting and running a small business.

Business mentors can offer tailored advice suited to the type of business you're running.

There's plenty of help available, from mentoring networks to government schemes.

Schemes such as those from Start Up Loans include free mentoring support, offering a range of advice to successful loan applicants.