Business Guidance
Find rules, requirements and how-tos for running your business — organised by topic, industry or stage.
International Trade
— Exporting, importing, customs, and global market access
6
International Trade
— Exporting, importing, customs, and global market accessChoose and work with a customs agent
How to decide if you need a customs agent, choose the right type for your business, understand costs and liability, and set up the necessary authorisations in CDS.
Read guideChoosing the right export route to market
Agents, distributors, direct sales, e-commerce, licensing, or joint ventures - how to select the best market entry model.
Read guideCross-border business between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
How the Common Travel Area, cross-border employment rules, and shared institutions affect businesses operating across the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border. Covers InterTradeIreland programmes, the all-island Single Electricity Market, and tax treatment of cross-border workers.
Read guideGet an EORI number for importing or exporting
How to get an Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number to move goods between the UK and other countries. Covers GB EORI for Great Britain trade and XI EORI for Northern Ireland trade under the Windsor Framework.
Read guideProduct safety responsibilities across the supply chain
Who is responsible for product safety at each stage of the supply chain. Explains the duties of manufacturers, importers, distributors, and online marketplace operators under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, including the new UK Responsible Person requirement.
Read guideUKEF export finance and insurance products
Government-backed funding, insurance, and guarantees for UK exporters - record £14.5 billion support in 2024-25.
Read guide
Tax & Finance
— Business taxation, accounting, and financial management
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Tax & Finance
— Business taxation, accounting, and financial managementAuto-enrolment compliance checklist
Verify your auto-enrolment setup meets all requirements from The Pensions Regulator. Covers scheme selection, staff assessment, enrolment, contributions, communications, record-keeping, and declaration of compliance.
Read guideBanking regulation and PRA authorisation
Dual PRA and FCA authorisation requirements for UK banks, including capital requirements, mobilisation routes, and ongoing regulatory obligations under SM&CR and Consumer Duty.
Read guideBusiness funding and grants
Find funding options for your business.
Read guideBusiness rates relief schemes
Relief schemes that can reduce or eliminate your business rates bill, including small business rate relief, retail hospitality and leisure relief, empty property relief, and charitable rate relief across all UK nations.
Read guideBusiness support and grants in Northern Ireland
Key business support organisations and grant programmes available to businesses in Northern Ireland. Covers Invest NI, Go For It, Enterprise NI, InterTradeIreland, DAERA rural grants, and city deal programmes.
Read guideBuy a franchise
How to research, evaluate, and purchase a franchise in the UK. Includes costs, BFA verification, due diligence steps, funding options, and legal requirements.
Read guideCheck if you need to register for VAT
Find out if your business must register for VAT based on your taxable turnover. Covers the £90,000 threshold, what counts as taxable turnover, the rolling 12-month test, and when voluntary registration makes sense.
Read guideChoose a workplace pension scheme
How to select a qualifying pension scheme for auto-enrolment. Compares master trusts (NEST, People's Pension), group personal pensions, and occupational schemes by charges, features, and suitability for different employer sizes.
Read guideComplete your declaration of compliance
How to complete the declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator, confirming you have met your auto-enrolment duties. Covers what information you need, the 5-month deadline, and penalties for late declarations.
Read guideCorporation Tax basics
Understanding and paying Corporation Tax.
Read guideCorporation tax rates and small profits relief
Understanding the Corporation Tax rate structure following Finance Act 2022 changes. Covers the 25% main rate, 19% small profits rate, marginal relief for profits between £50,000 and £250,000, associated companies rules, and quarterly instalment requirements.
Read guideFinding government grants
How to search for and apply for government grants, subsidies, and financial support for your business.
Read guideGet your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
How to get a UTR number for Self Assessment. Covers registration for sole traders and partnerships, delivery timelines, and what to do if you lose your UTR.
Read guideGo full-time with your business
Practical guidance for transitioning from employment to full-time self-employment. Covers financial preparation, legal obligations, tax registration, replacing employer benefits, and avoiding common mistakes when making the leap.
Read guideHow taxes work for limited companies
Understanding Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, and Self Assessment - how they interconnect and your obligations to Companies House and HMRC.
Read guideInsurance Act 2015 compliance for businesses
Understanding your disclosure duties and rights when purchasing commercial insurance under the Insurance Act 2015.
Read guideKeep business records as a sole trader
What records you must keep as a sole trader, how long to retain them, and how to prepare for Making Tax Digital.
Read guideLand Transaction Tax in Wales
How Land Transaction Tax (LTT) works in Wales, including current rates for residential, non-residential, and additional property purchases. LTT replaced Stamp Duty Land Tax in Wales from April 2018 and is administered by the Welsh Revenue Authority.
Read guideOpening a business bank account
Open a business bank account to separate your finances, simplify tax returns, and accept payments professionally.
Read guideOrganising your business finances
Essential financial management practices - bank accounts, bookkeeping, and record keeping.
Read guidePayment systems and banking protections for businesses
How the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013 protects your business through the Payment Systems Regulator, FSCS deposit insurance, and ring-fencing rules. Covers what happens if your bank fails.
Read guidePrepare a cash flow forecast
Create a detailed cash flow forecast showing when money enters and leaves your business. Essential for securing bank loans and preventing cash shortages that could sink an otherwise profitable business.
Read guideRaising equity investment
How to attract investment from angel investors, VCs, and crowdfunding platforms in exchange for company shares.
Read guideRegister as an employer (PAYE)
How to register with HMRC as an employer before your first payday.
Read guideRegister as self-employed with HMRC
How to register for Self Assessment as a sole trader, get your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), and understand your National Insurance obligations.
Read guideRegister for Self Assessment
When and how to register for Self Assessment tax.
Read guideRegister your company for Corporation Tax
Step-by-step Corporation Tax registration for new companies.
Read guideRenting business premises
What to consider when renting commercial property.
Read guideSeed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
Raise up to £250,000 in seed capital with SEIS, offering investors 50% income tax relief.
Read guideSelf-funding and bootstrapping
Start and grow your business using personal funds and reinvested profits without external investment.
Read guideSet up as a sole trader
How to register as self-employed and start trading as a sole trader.
Read guideStart Up Loans
Government-backed loans from £500 to £25,000 with fixed 6% interest and free business mentoring.
Read guideUnderstanding business rates
How business rates are calculated from your property's rateable value and the multiplier, including how rates differ across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Read guideUse the trading allowance
When to use the £1,000 trading allowance versus claiming actual expenses. Includes eligibility rules, relief types, and the interaction with property allowance.
Read guideVAT registration
When and how to register for VAT, including mandatory and voluntary registration, what counts as taxable turnover, registration timing, group registration, transfers of going concern, and deregistration.
Read guideVAT schemes: choosing the right one for your business
A guide to the three main VAT schemes for small businesses: Flat Rate Scheme, Cash Accounting, and Annual Accounting. Explains eligibility, advantages, disadvantages, and helps you decide which scheme suits your business.
Read guideVoluntary VAT registration - pros and cons
Understand the benefits and drawbacks of registering for VAT when you're below the £90,000 threshold. Covers who should consider voluntary registration, who should avoid it, and how to register or cancel.
Read guideWorker categories for auto-enrolment
Explains the three worker categories for auto-enrolment — eligible jobholder, non-eligible jobholder, and entitled worker — and what each means for employer duties. Covers edge cases including agency workers, directors, and workers with multiple jobs.
Read guideWorkplace pensions: your auto-enrolment duties
Your legal duties to automatically enrol eligible employees into a workplace pension scheme and contribute to their pension. Covers eligibility criteria, contribution rates, employer duties, opt-out rights, re-enrolment requirements, and The Pensions Regulator enforcement.
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Employment & HR
— Hiring, managing staff, and employment law compliance
13
Employment & HR
— Hiring, managing staff, and employment law complianceAnti-discrimination law in Northern Ireland
Reference guide to Northern Ireland's separate anti-discrimination statutes. NI does not have the Equality Act 2010 -- instead, employers must comply with seven individual statutes covering religion, sex, race, disability, age, and sexual orientation, plus Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Read guideBefore you hire your first employee
Everything you need to do before employing your first staff member.
Read guideCheck someone's right to work
How to conduct compliant right to work checks before employment begins. Includes acceptable documents, online checking service, follow-up requirements for time-limited workers, and civil penalties for non-compliance.
Read guideDBS checks for employers
When and how to request Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for employees. Includes check types, fees, regulated activity rules, and devolved nation differences.
Read guideEmployment Contracts and Written Statements
Your legal duty to provide written employment terms. Covers the day-1 requirement, mandatory terms, contract types, zero-hours protections, and penalties for non-compliance.
Read guideEmployment Rights Act 2025: what employers need to know
Overview of all 28 reforms in the Employment Rights Act 2025, with implementation timeline from April 2026 to 2028. Covers SSP, family leave, zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal, fire and rehire, harassment, trade unions, the Fair Work Agency, collective redundancy, tribunal time limits, and equality action plans. Links to detailed topic guides.
Read guideEmployment law in Northern Ireland: key differences from Great Britain
How employment law in Northern Ireland differs from Great Britain. Covers the Orders in Council legislative framework, the absence of the Equality Act 2010, the role of the Labour Relations Agency, the Industrial Tribunal system, and why the Employment Rights Act 2025 does not extend to NI.
Read guideEmployment status: employee, worker, or self-employed
How to correctly determine whether someone is an employee, worker, or self-employed. Covers the key legal tests, IR35 implications for contractors, and how to use HMRC's CEST tool. Essential reading before engaging any worker.
Read guideEqual pay: legal requirements for employers
Your legal duties to provide equal pay for equal work under the Equality Act 2010. Covers like work, work rated as equivalent, work of equal value, comparators, defences, and gender pay gap reporting for larger employers.
Read guideFair employment monitoring requirements in Northern Ireland
Step-by-step guide to complying with fair employment monitoring obligations in Northern Ireland. If you employ 11 or more people, you must register with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, monitor workforce community background, and submit an annual monitoring return. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.
Read guideMandatory hiring requirements
Every employer obligation from pre-hire through the first month of employment. Covers right to work checks, written statements of particulars, employers' liability insurance, PAYE registration, auto-enrolment pensions, and DBS checks where required.
Read guidePaying the National Minimum Wage
Your obligations for minimum wage and record keeping.
Read guideThe complete employment lifecycle: employer responsibilities from hire to exit
A comprehensive guide to employer responsibilities across every stage of the employment relationship, from lawful advertising and recruitment through onboarding, day-to-day management, handling problems, and ending employment. Covers the Equality Act 2010, Acas Code of Practice, Employment Rights Act 2025 changes, and post-employment obligations.
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Compliance & Legal
— Regulatory compliance, legal requirements, and governance
57
Compliance & Legal
— Regulatory compliance, legal requirements, and governanceAppoint a competent person for health and safety
Your legal duty to appoint a competent person to help with health and safety under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Explains what competence means, when you can do it yourself, and when you need external help.
Read guideApprovals and registrations you need before trading
Understanding the approvals, registrations, and licences your business needs before you can legally start trading. Covers universal registrations, activity-triggered licences, professional body requirements, and how to identify what applies to you.
Read guideBusiness insurance: what you need
Understanding mandatory and recommended insurance for your business, including employers' liability, public liability, professional indemnity, and sector-specific cover.
Read guideBusiness interruption insurance
How business interruption insurance works, what it covers, and how to calculate the right level of cover. Includes guidance on indemnity periods, extensions worth considering, and lessons from the FCA Test Case on pandemic wordings.
Read guideBusiness licences by activity type
A quick-reference lookup of UK business licences organised by activity type, covering food, alcohol, entertainment, waste, street trading, childcare, transport, and financial services. Identifies what triggers each licence and where to apply.
Read guideBusiness licenses: what you need
Find out what licenses and permits your business needs to operate legally.
Read guideCOSHH - hazardous substances
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - assessing and controlling workplace chemical and biological hazards.
Read guideChoosing the right business insurance
A step-by-step decision guide to help small businesses identify which insurance they need, from mandatory cover like employers' liability through to risk-based options like cyber and business interruption insurance.
Read guideComparing business insurance policies
How to compare insurance quotes and policy documents so you choose cover that actually protects your business. Covers what to look for beyond price, how to read a policy schedule, and your disclosure obligations at renewal.
Read guideComply with COSHH regulations for hazardous substances
How to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. Step-by-step guide to COSHH assessment, the hierarchy of controls, Workplace Exposure Limits, health surveillance requirements and record keeping.
Read guideComply with fire safety law as the responsible person
Your legal duties as a responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Covers fire risk assessments, fire safety measures, staff training, and what happens if you do not comply.
Read guideConducting risk assessments
How to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and implement controls using the 5-step risk assessment process.
Read guideCookie consent: comply with PECR requirements
How to comply with cookie consent rules under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR). Covers consent banners, strictly necessary exemptions, analytics cookies, and changes under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Read guideCyber insurance for businesses
Understanding what cyber insurance covers, when your business needs it, and how UK GDPR obligations create financial exposure that specialist cover can help manage. Includes guidance on underwriting requirements and choosing the right level of cover.
Read guideData Use and Access Act 2025: what changed for businesses
What the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 means for UK businesses. Explains the eight key reforms now in force, including recognised legitimate interests, the Senior Responsible Individual, automated decision-making changes, cookie consent exemptions, and the 35-fold increase in PECR penalties.
Read guideData protection for businesses
How to comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Covers ICO registration, lawful bases for processing, data subject rights, breach notification requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.
Read guideDoing business in Northern Ireland: key differences from Great Britain
Comprehensive reference of the key regulatory divergences between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Covers employment law, equality legislation, planning, business rates, health and safety, product standards, alcohol licensing, fire safety, and the Windsor Framework dual regulatory regime.
Read guideDoing business in Wales: key differences from England
Reference guide summarising the key regulatory divergences between Wales and England for businesses. Covers planning, business rates, Land Transaction Tax, Welsh language, visitor accommodation registration, SuDS, environmental regulation, and workplace recycling.
Read guideEmployers' liability insurance: the complete guide
A comprehensive guide to employers' liability insurance, explaining who must have it, who is exempt, what it covers, penalties for non-compliance, and how to choose adequate cover. Essential reading for anyone hiring staff.
Read guideEnvironmental permits in Northern Ireland: applying to NIEA
How to apply for environmental permits from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). Covers the NI permitting system for waste management, water discharge, industrial emissions, and water abstraction, which operates under separate legislation from England, Wales, and Scotland.
Read guideEstablish emergency procedures for your workplace
Your legal duties under MHSWR 1999 Regulations 8-9 to establish procedures for serious and imminent danger. Covers emergency types beyond fire, nominating competent persons for evacuation, worker protection rights, and external service contacts.
Read guideFind licences you need for your business
How to identify and apply for the licences, permits, and registrations your business needs using GOV.UK Licence Finder. Covers premises licences, food registration, transport, entertainment, and environmental permits.
Read guideFire safety duties for Northern Ireland businesses
Your fire safety obligations as an appropriate person under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Covers the fire risk assessment requirement, fire safety measures, NIFRS enforcement powers, and penalties. Northern Ireland has separate fire safety legislation from England, Wales, and Scotland.
Read guideFire safety duties for Scottish businesses
Your fire safety obligations as a duty holder under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005. Covers the shared responsibility model, fire risk assessments, SFRS enforcement powers, and penalties. Scotland has different fire safety law from England and Wales.
Read guideGet authorisation for a water activity in Scotland (CAR)
How to comply with Scotland's Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR 2011) for any activity affecting surface water or groundwater — abstraction, impoundment, engineering in or near a water body, and discharges. Covers the four-tier authorisation system (General Binding Rules, Registration, Simple Licence, Complex Licence), pre-application advice, fees, and enforcement, all administered by SEPA.
Read guideGet licences from your local council
Comprehensive guide to local authority licensing requirements including premises licences for alcohol and entertainment, food business registration, street trading, pavement licences, Temporary Event Notices, and taxi licensing. Understand fees, application processes, and how to find the licences you need.
Read guideHealth and safety basics
Essential health and safety requirements for all employers.
Read guideHealth and safety for small businesses
A simplified guide to health and safety compliance for businesses with fewer than 5 employees. Covers what you must do, what you can skip, and free HSE tools to help you comply without spending a fortune.
Read guideHealth and safety requirements by business size
How H&S obligations scale as your business grows. Covers risk assessment, written policy, first aid, RIDDOR reporting, training, consultation, enforcement, and display requirements, with thresholds at 5, 50 and 250 employees.
Read guideHealth and safety training requirements under MHSWR
Your legal duty under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 13 to provide adequate health and safety training. Covers the five training triggers, capabilities assessment, refresher training requirements, and the duty to provide training during working hours.
Read guideHow to conduct a fire risk assessment
A step-by-step guide to conducting a fire risk assessment for your business premises. Covers who is responsible, the legal requirements, the 5-step process, recording obligations, review frequency, and when to use a professional assessor.
Read guideLocal authority approvals for new businesses
How to navigate local council departments when setting up business premises. Covers planning permission, building control, environmental health, licensing, and business rates, including the order in which to approach each department.
Read guideManage work-related stress
How to assess and manage work-related stress using the HSE Management Standards approach. Covers the 6 standards, stress risk assessment, recognising signs of stress, employer interventions, and supporting employees returning after stress-related absence.
Read guideManage workplace risk assessments under MHSW 1999
Your legal duties for risk assessment under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Covers employer duties, the principles of prevention, competent person requirements, health surveillance, and when you must record findings in writing.
Read guideMeet fire safety requirements for your business premises
How to comply with fire safety law for your business premises. Covers who is the responsible person, conducting fire risk assessments, implementing fire safety measures, and avoiding enforcement action.
Read guideMeet your workplace health and safety legal obligations
Understanding your fundamental health and safety duties under UK law. Covers key legislation including HASAWA 1974, risk assessment requirements, and practical compliance steps for small business employers.
Read guideNorthern Ireland business compliance checklist
A quick compliance checklist for businesses operating in Northern Ireland. Covers NI-specific obligations including fair employment monitoring, HSENI registration, fire safety, business rates, and other requirements that differ from Great Britain.
Read guidePenalties for trading without required approvals
Quick-reference table of penalties for operating a business without required licences, registrations, or insurance, covering criminal offences, fines, closure orders, and imprisonment.
Read guidePersons with Significant Control (PSC) register requirements
Your legal duties to identify, record, and report Persons with Significant Control to Companies House. Covers the 25% ownership thresholds, notification deadlines, identity verification, and penalties for non-compliance.
Read guidePre-trading compliance checklist
A concise yes/no checklist to verify you have completed all mandatory pre-trading requirements, including business registration, tax, insurance, licences, premises approvals, and data protection.
Read guidePre-trading timeline: when to apply for what
A month-by-month countdown from three months before your trading day, showing when to apply for each registration, licence, and approval based on typical processing times.
Read guidePrinciples of prevention and hierarchy of controls
The legal basis for the hierarchy of controls in UK health and safety law. Explains the 9 general principles of prevention from Schedule 1 of MHSWR 1999 and the practical ERICPD framework for controlling workplace risks.
Read guideProduct liability and insurance
How strict liability under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 works in practice, what statutory defences are available, and why products liability insurance is essential for manufacturers, importers, and retailers.
Read guideProfessional registrations: regulated sectors
Which business sectors require professional or regulator registration before trading, what the registration process involves, and how long it typically takes to obtain approval.
Read guideProvide a safe and healthy workplace environment
How to meet your legal duties under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Covers temperature, ventilation, lighting, toilets, rest areas, and space requirements for employers.
Read guideProvide first aid at work
How to meet your legal duties under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Covers needs assessment, first aider training, equipment requirements, and scaling provision for your workplace.
Read guideProvide health and safety information to employees
Your legal duty under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 10 to provide comprehensible and relevant health and safety information to employees, including risk assessment findings, emergency procedures, and the H&S Law poster requirement.
Read guideRegister with the ICO and pay the data protection fee
How to register with the Information Commissioner's Office and pay the annual data protection fee. Covers who must register, the three-tier fee structure, the online registration process, and annual renewal obligations.
Read guideReport a workplace accident or incident to HSENI (RIDDOR NI)
How to report workplace accidents, injuries, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to HSENI under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997. Covers the critical difference in over-incapacitation thresholds between NI and GB.
Read guideSet up a limited company
Steps to incorporate and register your limited company.
Read guideStart a subscription business
Guide to setting up a recurring revenue business covering pricing tiers, payment processing, legal requirements, churn management, and customer retention.
Read guideUnderstanding HSENI: how workplace safety regulation works in Northern Ireland
How workplace health and safety regulation operates in Northern Ireland, where HSENI enforces separate legislation under the devolution settlement. Explains the relationship between HSENI and the 11 district councils, how NI legislation differs from the GB framework, and what this means for businesses operating across the UK.
Read guideUnderstanding the Water Framework Directive for businesses
How the Water Framework Directive shapes UK water regulation — river basin management, water body classification, the no-deterioration principle, and what it means for any business whose activities affect surface water or groundwater. Explains the post-Brexit retention position and the four-nation regulatory landscape.
Read guideWorkplace health and safety in Northern Ireland: HSENI obligations
How workplace health and safety is regulated in Northern Ireland, where HSENI (not HSE) enforces the law under separate legislation. Covers the key differences between NI and GB health and safety frameworks, HSENI enforcement powers and priorities, the role of district councils, and what NI-specific regulations mean for your business.
Read guideWrite a GDPR-compliant privacy notice
How to write and maintain a privacy notice that meets UK GDPR requirements. Covers mandatory content under Articles 13 and 14, a step-by-step writing process, layered notices for complex processing, and common mistakes that lead to enforcement action.
Read guideWrite a privacy notice that meets UK GDPR requirements
How to write a privacy notice that complies with UK GDPR. Covers required content, plain language requirements, when to provide it, and how to use layered notices for complex processing.
Read guideYour duties as an employer under health and safety law
Understanding your fundamental legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Covers employer duties to employees and others, written policy requirements, and what 'reasonably practicable' means in practice.
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Business Structure
— Choosing and setting up business structures
12
Business Structure
— Choosing and setting up business structuresCreate a partnership agreement
How to draft a partnership agreement covering essential clauses, legal requirements, and what happens if you do not have one.
Read guideHow partners pay tax on profits
Understanding how partnership profits are taxed on individual partners, including profit allocation, National Insurance contributions, and Self Assessment obligations.
Read guideMandatory registrations every business must complete
Step-by-step guide to the registrations every business must complete before trading, regardless of sector. Covers HMRC tax registration, ICO data protection fee, mandatory insurance, and pension auto-enrolment.
Read guideRegister a business partnership
How to register a partnership with HMRC for Self Assessment, including nominated partner responsibilities and individual partner registration.
Read guideRegister a charity with OSCR
How to register a charity with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Covers the charity test, choosing a legal form including SCIOs, the application process, and cross-border registration for charities operating in both Scotland and England or Wales.
Read guideRegister a charity with the Charity Commission
How to register your charity in England and Wales, including income thresholds, charitable purposes requirements, and the registration process.
Read guideRegister a trademark
Protect your business name, logo, or slogan by registering a UK trademark with the Intellectual Property Office.
Read guideRunning a business from home
Rules and considerations for home-based businesses.
Read guideSet up a business partnership
How to register a partnership and understand partner responsibilities.
Read guideSet up a community interest company (CIC)
How to register a Community Interest Company, pass the community interest test, and complete the required forms. For social enterprises wanting to trade for community benefit with asset lock protection.
Read guideUnderstanding OSCR and Scottish charity regulation
How charity regulation works in Scotland and why it differs from the rest of the UK. Explains OSCR's role, the key legislation, how the Charities (Regulation and Administration) (Scotland) Act 2023 strengthened the framework, and what this means for your charity.
Read guideYour first 90 days as business owner
Strategic guide for your first 90 days owning a business. Covers immediate priorities, building relationships, implementing quick wins, and avoiding common mistakes.
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Digital & Technology
— Digital tools, cyber security, and technology adoption
18
Digital & Technology
— Digital tools, cyber security, and technology adoptionChildren's safety duties under the Online Safety Act
Comprehensive guide to the children's safety duties under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers what triggers the duties, risk assessment by age group, the categories of harmful content affecting children, age assurance requirements, Ofcom's children's codes of practice, and how the OSA intersects with the ICO's Children's Code.
Read guideConduct a children's access assessment
Step-by-step guide to assessing whether children are likely to access your online service under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers the legal test, Ofcom's April 2025 guidance, factors to consider, and what additional duties are triggered if children can access your service.
Read guideConduct an illegal content risk assessment
Step-by-step guide to conducting the mandatory illegal content risk assessment under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers how to identify risks from Schedule 7 priority offences, assess your service's features, document safety measures, and produce the required written record.
Read guideConsumer rights compliance for digital content sellers
Your legal obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 when selling software, apps, games, music, video, e-books, or other digital content to consumers.
Read guideCryptoasset Business Regulation
Regulatory requirements for cryptoasset businesses in the UK - how token classification determines whether you need full FCA authorisation or Money Laundering Regulations registration only.
Read guideCyber security basics for small businesses
Practical, low-cost steps to protect your small business from cyber attacks. Covers the five Cyber Essentials controls, free security tools, staff awareness, and how to respond if something goes wrong.
Read guideE-commerce and digital exporting
Selling internationally through online marketplaces, understanding distance selling regulations, and VAT obligations.
Read guideGet Cyber Essentials certified
How to achieve Cyber Essentials certification for your business. Covers the five technical controls, certification levels and costs, the assessment process, and requirements for government contracts.
Read guideImplement age assurance on your platform
Practical guide to implementing age assurance on your online platform. Covers choosing between age verification and estimation, evaluating providers, privacy-preserving approaches, the specific requirements for pornographic content, and ensuring compliance with both the Online Safety Act and UK GDPR.
Read guideOnline Safety Act penalties and enforcement powers
Quick reference to Ofcom's enforcement powers, penalty calculations, and senior manager criminal liability under the Online Safety Act 2023.
Read guideOnline Safety Act: duties for online services
How to comply with the Online Safety Act 2023 if you operate a user-to-user service or search service. Covers service categories, illegal content duties, children's safety duties, implementation dates, and Ofcom enforcement.
Read guideProtecting Your Software Intellectual Property
Complete IP protection guide for software businesses - automatic copyright for source code, patent eligibility under the technical contribution test, UK and international patent fees, and trademark registration for software and services.
Read guideRegister with Ofcom for Online Safety Act compliance
How to register with Ofcom as a regulated online service and understand fee requirements under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers scope, the registration portal, qualifying worldwide revenue thresholds, and annual fee obligations.
Read guideSet up content moderation to meet Online Safety Act requirements
How to build a content moderation system that meets Online Safety Act 2023 duties. Covers automated detection tools, human moderation teams, user reporting mechanisms, content review workflows, removal timelines, record-keeping, and moderator wellbeing.
Read guideTech Sector Compliance Overview
Comprehensive guide to regulatory compliance for technology businesses - UK GDPR, data protection, online safety, cybersecurity, and sector-specific requirements.
Read guideTech Sector Licensing and Authorisations
Comprehensive guide to licences and regulatory authorisations required for technology businesses - telecommunications, financial services, intellectual property, export controls, and product safety.
Read guideUnderstanding the Online Safety Act
A strategic overview of the Online Safety Act 2023, explaining what it is, who it affects, how the regulatory framework operates, and where it sits within the broader UK digital regulation landscape. Essential reading for any business operating an online platform or service with user interaction.
Read guideWrite terms of service that meet Online Safety Act requirements
How to draft or update your platform's terms of service to comply with Online Safety Act 2023 duties. Covers required content, prohibited content policies, enforcement, accessibility, and Category 1 additional obligations.
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Premises & Operations
— Business premises, locations, and operational setup
15
Premises & Operations
— Business premises, locations, and operational setupApply for planning permission in Northern Ireland
How to apply for planning permission through Northern Ireland's devolved planning system. Covers the 11 council application process, the Department for Infrastructure's role in regionally significant applications, fees, and what to expect after submission.
Read guideBusiness rates in Wales: relief schemes and how to claim
How business rates work in Wales, including the single multiplier, Small Business Rates Relief, Retail Leisure and Hospitality relief, and the unique Improvement Relief scheme. Covers how to claim each relief and key differences from England.
Read guideClaim Small Business Rate Relief in Northern Ireland
How to check eligibility and claim Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) in Northern Ireland. Covers the NAV thresholds, relief rates, the automatic application process through Land and Property Services, and what to do if relief has not been applied.
Read guideGet pre-application advice
How to use pre-application advice from your local planning authority to improve your chances of getting planning permission. Covers what to submit, typical fees, and making the most of officer feedback.
Read guideListed building consent and conservation compliance
How to comply with heritage protection laws when your business occupies or alters a listed building or operates in a conservation area. Covers consent requirements, application process, criminal penalties for non-compliance, and differences across UK nations.
Read guideMeet your business waste duty of care
Understand your legal responsibilities when producing, storing, or disposing of business waste. Covers using registered waste carriers, completing waste transfer notes, and the stricter rules for hazardous waste.
Read guidePermitted development rights in Northern Ireland
What you can build, extend, or change without planning permission in Northern Ireland. Covers the NI GPDO classes relevant to business premises, key differences from England's permitted development regime, and when permitted development rights do not apply.
Read guidePlanning permission: when your business needs it
Understand when your business needs planning permission, what permitted development rights allow without an application, and how to use a Certificate of Lawful Use. Covers Use Classes, change of use rules, and the application process for England and Wales.
Read guideProfessional indemnity insurance for businesses
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance protects your business against claims of negligent advice, errors, or omissions that cause a client financial loss. Some professions must carry PI insurance by law, but any business providing advice or professional services should consider it.
Read guideRegister a waste exemption
How to register a waste exemption with the Environment Agency instead of applying for a full environmental permit. Covers when exemptions apply, the four categories of exemption (T, U, D, S), registration charges from July 2025, and the 3-year renewal cycle.
Read guideRent your first business premises
How to find, evaluate, and secure your first commercial property as a pre-trading or early-stage business.
Read guideUnderstanding business rates in Northern Ireland
How the Northern Ireland business rates system works, including the dual regional and district rate structure, Land and Property Services valuations, industrial derating for manufacturing, and the full range of relief schemes available to NI businesses.
Read guideUnderstanding permitted development rights
When you can change your business premises or convert buildings without applying for full planning permission. Covers Class E flexibility, prior approval, and common permitted development opportunities.
Read guideUnderstanding planning conditions
What planning conditions are, why they are attached to permissions, the different types, and your rights if you consider a condition unreasonable. Essential reading before starting development.
Read guideWhere to run your business
Home-based vs commercial premises - a decision framework for choosing where to operate.
Read guide
Environment & Sustainability
— Environmental compliance, waste management, emissions, and sustainability reporting
10
Environment & Sustainability
— Environmental compliance, waste management, emissions, and sustainability reportingApply for an environmental permit
How to prepare and submit an environmental permit application to the Environment Agency. Covers documentation requirements, the application process, permit conditions, and ongoing compliance including inspections.
Read guideBusiness waste management
Your legal duty of care for waste, waste transfer notes, and avoiding fly-tipping liability.
Read guideCheck if you need an environmental permit
Determine whether your business activity requires an environmental permit from the Environment Agency or local council. Covers regulated activities, exemptions, permit types, and costs.
Read guideCoastal erosion: implications for your business
How coastal erosion risk affects business premises, planning restrictions in Coastal Change Management Areas, Shoreline Management Plan policies, and options for coastal businesses including adaptation, rollback, and relocation.
Read guideMeet your environmental compliance obligations under the Environment Act 2021
Understand which provisions of the Environment Act 2021 apply to your business and how to comply. Covers biodiversity net gain, extended producer responsibility for packaging, deposit return schemes, and forest risk commodities.
Read guideOil storage regulations
What you must do if your business stores oil or fuel. Covers who the regulations apply to, container and bunding requirements, mobile bowser rules, fill point specifications, and inspection routines.
Read guidePrevent pollution from your business
How to identify and manage pollution risks from your business premises. Covers containment principles, drainage awareness, spill prevention, and creating a pollution incident response plan.
Read guideProtect your business premises from flooding
How to assess flood risk to your business premises and implement practical protection measures. Covers checking your flood zone, resistance and resilience measures, creating a flood plan, securing commercial flood insurance, and available grant funding for property flood resilience.
Read guideUnderstanding UK wildlife law for businesses
An overview of how UK wildlife protection law affects businesses, from construction and agriculture to events and tourism. Covers the main Acts, who enforces them, and common scenarios where businesses need to comply.
Read guideUnderstanding nature conservation law in Scotland
How Scotland's nature conservation framework works, why it differs from England and Wales, and what it means for businesses operating in Scotland. Covers the role of NatureScot, the hierarchy of protected areas, species protection, the biodiversity duty, and how conservation requirements interact with the planning system.
Read guide
Growth & Strategy
— Business planning, marketing, and scaling
15
Growth & Strategy
— Business planning, marketing, and scalingCheck before appointing company directors
How to verify a person is eligible to be a company director before you appoint them. Covers the disqualified directors register, bankruptcy restrictions, sanctions checks, and other legal eligibility requirements.
Read guideConduct business research
How to research a business opportunity, market, or acquisition target using free and paid sources to make informed decisions before committing capital.
Read guideDevelop your brand identity
How to create a professional brand identity that builds customer trust and business value. Includes guidance on core brand elements, working with designers, copyright ownership, and protecting your brand.
Read guideElectronic marketing rules (PECR)
How to comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 when sending marketing emails, texts, and making marketing calls. Covers consent requirements, the soft opt-in exception for existing customers, telephone preference screening, and ICO enforcement powers.
Read guideEmail marketing: PECR and UK GDPR requirements
How to send compliant marketing emails under PECR and UK GDPR. Covers consent requirements, the soft opt-in exception for existing customers, unsubscribe mechanisms, B2B marketing rules, and the increased penalties from June 2025.
Read guideExport market research and selection
How to research overseas markets, assess demand, understand competition, and evaluate market entry costs.
Read guideIdentify your intellectual property
Discover what intellectual property your business owns, from brand names and creative content to inventions and designs. Understanding your IP assets is the first step to protecting them.
Read guideMarketing and advertising law
Legal requirements for promoting your business.
Read guideProtect your intellectual property
How to identify, protect, and enforce your intellectual property rights. Includes guidance on trademarks, patents, copyright, and design rights.
Read guideSecure web domains for your business
How to choose, register, and protect your business domain names. Includes guidance on domain extensions, defensive registrations, dispute resolution, and connecting domains to trademark protection.
Read guideSocial media for business
Advertising rules for promoting your business on social media.
Read guideStart a product-based business
Sector-agnostic guide to starting a product business covering sourcing, stock management, storage, packaging, labelling, product safety, and pricing.
Read guideStart a service-based business
Sector-agnostic guide to starting a service business covering qualifications, insurance, client contracts, pricing models, and capacity planning.
Read guideUnderstand your competition
Learn how to research and analyse your competitors to identify market opportunities, set competitive prices, and position your business effectively.
Read guideWrite a business plan
Step-by-step guide to writing a business plan that will help you secure funding and stay focused.
Read guide
Other Guidance
— Guides spanning multiple topics
193
Other Guidance
— Guides spanning multiple topicsAccess the Lloyd's of London insurance market
How to participate in the Lloyd's insurance market. Covers routes to market (managing agents, coverholders, brokers), capital requirements under Solvency UK, and FCA conduct rules including general insurance pricing practices.
Read guideAccessibility requirements for businesses
Legal obligations to make your business accessible to disabled people under the Equality Act 2010, including premises, websites, and service provision. Covers reasonable adjustments, building regulations, and sector-specific requirements.
Read guideAlcohol licensing in Northern Ireland
How alcohol licensing works in Northern Ireland — court-granted licences, 5-year renewal, seven licence categories, permitted hours, and the role of PSNI.
Read guideAlcohol licensing in Northern Ireland: court-granted licences
How Northern Ireland's court-based alcohol licensing system works, including the seven licence categories, 5-year renewal requirement, the role of the PSNI, the surrender principle, permitted hours, and how the system differs from England, Wales, and Scotland.
Read guideAlcohol licensing in Scotland
How alcohol licensing works in Scotland under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 — five licensing objectives, Licensing Boards, premises and personal licences, occasional licences, overprovision, and minimum unit pricing.
Read guideAnti-money laundering (AML) compliance
Essential guide to AML compliance for UK businesses under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
Read guideApply for ABS licensing as an alternative business structure
How to apply for alternative business structure (ABS) licensing from the SRA when non-lawyers will hold ownership or management roles in your law firm. Covers when ABS status is required, the role of the HOLP and HOFA, the application process, fees, conditions, and ongoing compliance.
Read guideApply for FCA authorisation under Part 4A FSMA
How to apply to the Financial Conduct Authority for permission to carry on regulated activities under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Covers scoping permissions, preparing the regulatory business plan, Senior Managers approvals, the Connect submission, fees, and the statutory determination clock.
Read guideApply for a club premises certificate
How qualifying clubs (social clubs, sports clubs, working men's clubs) can apply for a certificate to supply alcohol to members without needing a DPS or personal licence holder.
Read guideApply for a species licence from NatureScot
How to apply for a NatureScot species licence when your business activities could affect protected species in Scotland. Covers European Protected Species licences, the three derogation tests, application process, and what happens if you proceed without a licence.
Read guideApply for a water abstraction licence
How to apply for a licence to abstract water from rivers, streams, boreholes, or other sources. Covers the 20 cubic metres per day threshold, licence types, pre-application enquiries, Environmental Impact Assessment, annual charges, and devolved nation requirements.
Read guideApply for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland
Step-by-step guide to applying to UREGNI for an electricity or gas licence in Northern Ireland. Covers the different licence types for electricity (generation, transmission, distribution, supply) and gas (supply, conveyance, storage), what UREGNI requires from applicants, the application process and timescales, and the criminal offence of operating without a licence.
Read guideApply for broadcasting licence (TV and radio)
How to obtain Ofcom broadcasting licences for television and radio services in the UK - including TLCS for TV channels, community radio, and commercial radio licensing.
Read guideApply for creative industry funding and grants
Funding opportunities for creative businesses - Arts Council Project Grants, BFI Film Fund, Screen Scotland, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Northern Ireland Screen, and Innovate UK creative R&D funding.
Read guideApply for development consent for major infrastructure
How to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Covers the 6-stage application process, NSIP thresholds, community consultation requirements, examination procedures, and the Section 35 route for business projects of national significance.
Read guideApply for entertainment and alcohol premises licence
Complete guide to applying for a premises licence for entertainment, alcohol sales, or late-night refreshment in England and Wales - including fees, consultation requirements, and licensing objectives.
Read guideApply for listed building consent in Scotland
How to apply for listed building consent (LBC) in Scotland. Covers when consent is required, the three categories of listing, the application process through local planning authorities, HES consultation requirements, and penalties for unauthorised works. Scotland has approximately 47,000 listed buildings.
Read guideApply for planning permission
Step-by-step guide to submitting a planning application in England. Covers application types, required documents, fees, the determination process, and what happens after submission.
Read guideApply for scheduled monument consent in Scotland
How to apply for scheduled monument consent (SMC) in Scotland. Covers when consent is needed, what class consents allow without individual application, the HES application process, documentation requirements, and penalties for unauthorised works. Scotland has approximately 8,200 scheduled monuments.
Read guideAppoint a Principal Designer
Your duty as a construction client to appoint a Principal Designer when your project will involve more than one contractor. Covers who can be appointed, competence requirements, and what happens if you do not appoint.
Read guideAppoint and manage a Designated Premises Supervisor
Every premises licence authorising alcohol sales must name a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Learn about the DPS role, how to appoint one, and when you can apply for an exemption.
Read guideAppointed representative or direct FCA authorisation: choosing your route
A strategic comparison of the three routes into the FCA-regulated perimeter: direct authorisation, becoming an appointed representative (AR) of an authorised principal, or joining a third-party network. Covers what each route can and cannot reach, where liability sits, the post-2022 oversight regime, and the practical trade-offs for small firms.
Read guideAviation cargo security compliance
How to become a Known Consignor or Regulated Agent for air cargo. Covers CAA certification, security vetting requirements, cargo screening, and dangerous goods training.
Read guideAvoid unfair trading practices
Your legal obligations to trade fairly with consumers. Covers prohibited misleading actions and omissions, aggressive commercial practices, and the 31 practices that are always unlawful. Includes the due diligence defence and consumer redress rights.
Read guideAvoiding unfair terms in consumer contracts
Part 2 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 controls which terms in consumer contracts are enforceable. Many traders unwittingly use terms that a court or the CMA would find unfair - and those terms are void even if the consumer signed them.
Read guideBNG for small sites (under 10 units)
Biodiversity net gain guidance specifically for small residential developments. Covers exemptions, the Small Sites Metric, simplified assessments, and cost-effective delivery options for SME developers.
Read guideBecome a MOD Supplier
How to register on MOD procurement portals, meet security and quality requirements, and bid for defence contracts.
Read guideBecoming an apprenticeship training provider
How to register as an apprenticeship training provider in England. Covers APAR registration, funding rules, Ofsted inspection, apprenticeship levy, and subcontracting requirements.
Read guideBrewery licensing and compliance
Complete licensing, registration, and duty requirements for operating a brewery in the UK, including APPA registration, food safety, premises licensing, and alcohol duty obligations.
Read guideBroadcast licensing and Ofcom regulation
How to obtain broadcast licences from Ofcom for television and radio services in the UK. Includes licence types, application processes, Broadcasting Code compliance, and on-demand service notification requirements.
Read guideBuilding regulations in Northern Ireland
How building regulations work in Northern Ireland, where district councils are the sole building control authorities and there are no approved inspectors. Covers the Technical Booklet system, types of building control approval, inspections, and key differences from England, Wales, and Scotland.
Read guideBuy Now Pay Later regulation: what businesses need to know
Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) and other Deferred Payment Credit products come under FCA regulation from 15 July 2026. This guide explains what is changing, who needs to act, how the temporary permissions regime works, and the key compliance requirements for providers and merchants.
Read guideCDM 2015: your duties as a construction client
Your legal duties when commissioning construction work under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Covers appointing Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, providing pre-construction information, notification requirements, and the difference between commercial and domestic clients.
Read guideCIS for small builders - what you actually need to know
A 5-minute guide to the Construction Industry Scheme for small builders with 1 to 10 subcontractors. Covers the 5 essential steps to stay compliant, with worked examples and common mistakes to avoid. Plain English, no jargon.
Read guideCSCS Card Requirements
Get a CSCS card to demonstrate construction skills competence and access construction sites.
Read guideCheck if nutrient neutrality affects your site
Find out if your development site is in a nutrient-affected catchment. Lists all 27 affected catchments across 74 local planning authorities and explains how to check your site.
Read guideClaim CIL exemptions and relief
How to claim exemptions and relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy. Covers self-build, charitable relief, social housing relief, and exceptional circumstances relief.
Read guideCommercial fishing licence and compliance
How to get a commercial fishing licence and comply with UK fishing regulations. Covers vessel licensing, quota allocation, catch recording, I-VMS requirements, and fish export certificates.
Read guideCommission protected species surveys for your site
How to commission ecological surveys for development sites that may support protected species. Covers when surveys are needed, types of survey for bats, great crested newts, badgers, and nesting birds, seasonal survey windows, choosing a qualified ecologist, and interpreting survey results to determine whether you need a wildlife licence.
Read guideCommunity Infrastructure Levy explained
What the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is, how it's calculated, when it's payable, and how it differs from Section 106 agreements. Essential reading for developers undertaking new construction.
Read guideComply with Trading Standards and Consumer Rights
Your legal obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Consumer Contracts Regulations, and trading standards law. Covers goods, services, digital content, distance selling, pricing, product safety, and weights and measures requirements.
Read guideComply with credit broking rules
How to comply with FCA credit broking requirements. Covers who counts as a credit broker, the difference between full and limited permission, exemptions that may apply, initial disclosure obligations, fee transparency, and commission disclosure rules.
Read guideComply with mandatory food hygiene rating display in Wales
Wales is one of only two UK nations where displaying your food hygiene rating is a legal requirement. This guide explains how to comply with the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, including where to display your sticker, online display obligations, what happens if you do not display, and what to do if you disagree with your rating.
Read guideComply with the EYFS Statutory Framework
How to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in your childcare setting. Covers safeguarding, staff ratios, qualifications, learning areas, assessment, and Ofsted inspection preparation.
Read guideConstruction product marking - CE and UKCA compliance
How the Construction Products (Amendment) Regulations 2025 affect CE and UKCA marking for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. CE marking is accepted indefinitely from 8 January 2026. UKCA marking remains voluntary. Covers Declarations of Performance, harmonised standards, and OPSS enforcement.
Read guideConsumer rights compliance for service providers
How to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 when providing services to consumers. Covers the reasonable care and skill standard, how your words become contractual terms, pricing, timescales, the repeat performance and price reduction remedies, and the contract terms you cannot lawfully exclude.
Read guideConsumer rights compliance for traders
Your legal obligations under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 when selling goods, services, or digital content to consumers. Covers statutory quality standards, the 30-day refund right, tiered remedies, and what you cannot exclude by contract.
Read guideContaminated land compliance checklist
A yes/no checklist for verifying contaminated land compliance, covering council records checks, environmental investigations, planning conditions, remediation requirements, and ongoing monitoring obligations.
Read guideCreate and maintain the golden thread
How to create, manage and hand over the golden thread of building information for higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers responsibilities at each phase, format requirements, and common compliance pitfalls.
Read guideCrown Estate Offshore Wind Seabed Leasing
Securing seabed rights is the critical first step for offshore wind projects in UK waters. The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland manage competitive leasing rounds with option fees, operational rent, and up to 60-year lease terms.
Read guideData protection for healthcare providers
How healthcare providers must handle patient data under UK GDPR, including special category health data requirements, Caldicott Principles, the common law duty of confidentiality, and record retention requirements.
Read guideDesign and construct SuDS for new developments
How to design and construct sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) for new developments. Covers CIRIA C753 design principles, SuDS component types, the regulatory divergence between England and Wales, SAB approval in Wales, and adoption arrangements for completed systems.
Read guideDevelop offshore wind projects and secure seabed leases
How to develop offshore wind projects in UK waters, from securing seabed rights through Crown Estate leasing rounds to obtaining Section 36 consent, safety zones, and grid connections. Covers England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland with differences in consenting regimes and landlords.
Read guideDevolved care inspectorates: quick comparison reference
Quick-lookup reference comparing the three devolved care inspectorates: Care Inspectorate (Scotland), CIW (Wales), and RQIA (Northern Ireland). Covers registration, fees, grading systems, quality frameworks, enforcement powers, workforce bodies, and disclosure schemes.
Read guideDischarge planning conditions
How to discharge planning conditions attached to your permission. Covers pre-commencement conditions, the application process, fees, and what to do if conditions cannot be met.
Read guideDistance Selling and E-Commerce
Comply with Consumer Contracts Regulations for online, phone, and mail order sales.
Read guideDistance and off-premises selling requirements
Your legal obligations when selling to consumers online, by phone, by mail order, or at their home. Covers the 14-day cancellation right, pre-contract information requirements, refund obligations, and exemptions under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013.
Read guideDo I need FCA authorisation?
Whether you need Financial Conduct Authority authorisation depends on the "perimeter" set by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). This explainer walks you through the four-part test in s.19 and s.22, names the activities that pull non-financial businesses inside the perimeter, and points you to the FCA's Perimeter Guidance manual for marginal cases.
Read guideDriver CPC Requirements
Understand Driver Certificate of Professional Competence requirements for HGV and bus drivers.
Read guideDue diligence when buying potentially contaminated land
How to carry out environmental due diligence before purchasing land that may be contaminated. Covers the Part IIA liability regime, Phase 1 desk studies, Phase 2 ground investigations, environmental insurance, and contract protections to manage your exposure.
Read guideEV Charging Infrastructure
Install EV chargepoints and access government grants.
Read guideEcology survey requirements for construction in Scotland
When you need ecological surveys for construction and development projects in Scotland, what types of survey are required, seasonal timing constraints, and how survey results feed into NatureScot licensing and the planning process.
Read guideEnvironmental permits for food businesses in Wales
How to identify and apply for the environmental permits your food business needs from Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Covers trade effluent consent, water abstraction, smoke and odour controls, food waste treatment permits, and packaging waste obligations. NRW is the sole environmental regulator in Wales — do not apply to the Environment Agency.
Read guideExcavation and foundation safety
HSE requirements for safe excavation and foundation work on construction sites. Covers trench support systems, edge protection, safe access, cable and pipe avoidance, inspection duties, and emergency procedures for collapse. Trench collapse is a leading cause of construction fatalities in the UK.
Read guideFCA Consumer Duty: compliance requirements
How to implement the FCA Consumer Duty in your firm. Covers the four outcomes (products/services, price/value, consumer understanding, consumer support), cross-cutting rules, governance requirements, and practical implementation steps for delivering good outcomes to retail customers.
Read guideFCA authorisation application readiness checklist
Audit-style yes/no checklist confirming your Part 4A application is ready before submission via FCA Connect. Covers business plan, governance, threshold conditions, people, dual regulation and fees.
Read guideFCA authorisation for insurance brokers
How to get FCA authorisation as an insurance intermediary. Covers Insurance Distribution Directive requirements, permission types, professional indemnity insurance, capital requirements, and Appointed Representative arrangements.
Read guideFCA consumer credit authorisation
How to get FCA authorisation to offer consumer credit, including lending, credit broking, and debt collection. Covers application process, fees, responsible lending requirements, and high-cost credit rules.
Read guideFCA threshold conditions reference
Quick-reference page for the five FCA threshold conditions in Schedule 6 FSMA 2000 (as substituted by FSA 2012) and supplemented by SI 2013/555. Sets out the statutory wording, the FCA Handbook (COND) practical application, common refusal and cancellation grounds under section 55J, and the regulatory business plan evidence the FCA expects.
Read guideFinancial services regulation and FCA authorisation
Regulatory requirements for financial services businesses.
Read guideFintech regulation and FCA authorisation
How to navigate FCA regulation for fintech businesses. Covers e-money and payment services, Open Banking, crypto-assets, and innovation support programmes including the Regulatory Sandbox.
Read guideFlood risk assessment and SuDS compliance
How to assess flood risk for development sites and comply with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) requirements. Covers Flood Risk Assessments, Sequential and Exception Tests, and the major regulatory divergence between England and Wales on mandatory SuDS.
Read guideFood Safety for Childcare Providers
Food safety and nutrition requirements for childcare settings, including food business registration, allergen management, HACCP systems, and Ofsted nutrition expectations.
Read guideFood and drink business licensing and compliance
Navigate the complete range of licences, registrations, certifications, and consents required for food and drink businesses across production, sales, export, and environmental compliance.
Read guideFood business registration
Register your food business with your local authority before starting operations.
Read guideFood business support and grants in Wales
Welsh Government food business support and grants — Business Wales, Food Innovation Wales, Cywain, Farming Connect, Development Bank of Wales, and protected food names.
Read guideFood handler training requirements
Legal training requirements for food handlers - training is mandatory, but certificates are not. Understanding the competency-based approach and debunking the certificate myth.
Read guideFood hygiene and HACCP
Implement food safety management procedures based on HACCP principles.
Read guideFood safety compliance checklist
Quick verification checklist for food business operators. Covers registration, HACCP, temperature control, allergens, training, record keeping, and premises hygiene.
Read guideFood safety management systems and HACCP
Implement HACCP-based food safety management procedures and comply with food hygiene regulations.
Read guideFood safety requirements in Scotland
How food safety regulation differs in Scotland. Covers Food Standards Scotland, CookSafe, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme, and key legislative differences that affect Scottish food businesses.
Read guideFood safety training for your staff
Food hygiene certificates are not a legal requirement -- UK law requires competency, not certificates. This guide explains what training your food handlers actually need, available course levels, and how to demonstrate compliance during inspections.
Read guideGambling licensing requirements for UK businesses
How to obtain gambling licences from the Gambling Commission, including operating, personal and premises licences. Covers responsible gambling requirements, compliance obligations, and 2025 regulatory changes.
Read guideGas supply and shipper licensing
How to obtain a gas supply, shipper, transporter, or interconnector licence from Ofgem. Covers licence types, exemptions, application process, fees, standard conditions, HSE safety case requirements, and penalties for non-compliance. Applies to Great Britain only.
Read guideGet FCA authorisation for financial services
How to apply for Financial Conduct Authority authorisation to carry on regulated financial activities. Covers the application process, fees, capital requirements, and ongoing compliance obligations including Consumer Duty.
Read guideGet FCA authorisation to carry on a regulated activity
How a firm gets Financial Conduct Authority Part 4A permission under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Covers the general prohibition, identifying your regulated activities, meeting the threshold conditions, the Connect application, Senior Managers and Certification, and anti-money laundering obligations.
Read guideGet SRA authorisation for your law firm
How to apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for authorisation to set up a law firm in England and Wales. Covers choosing your entity type, the mySRA application process, appointing compliance officers, fees, and expected processing times.
Read guideGet a water discharge permit
How to get an environmental permit for discharging liquid effluent or waste water to surface water or groundwater. Covers standard rules and bespoke permits, groundwater protection, monitoring requirements, and the difference between environmental permits and trade effluent consent.
Read guideGet a wildlife licence for your development project
How to obtain wildlife licences from Natural England before development that affects protected species. Covers European Protected Species mitigation licences, bat surveys, badger sett closures, the new charging regime from April 2025, and devolved licensing differences in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Read guideGet an electricity generation licence
How to determine if you need an electricity generation licence from Ofgem (GB) or the Utility Regulator (NI). Covers licensing thresholds, exemptions, environmental permits, grid connections, and COMAH compliance for larger energy facilities.
Read guideGet an operator's licence for goods vehicles
How to apply for an O-licence to operate goods vehicles for business. Covers Standard and Restricted licences, financial standing, transport manager requirements, and ongoing compliance including tachographs and drivers' hours.
Read guideGet approved food establishment status in Wales
How to apply for approved establishment status through FSA Wales for businesses processing meat, dairy, fish, or egg products. Covers the application process, local authority and FSA Wales roles, premises requirements, conditional approval, identification marks, and ongoing compliance obligations under Regulation (EC) 853/2004.
Read guideGet authorised as a payment institution or e-money institution
How a payments or fintech firm gets Financial Conduct Authority status to provide payment services or issue electronic money. Covers the authorised payment institution and small payment institution regimes under the Payment Services Regulations 2017, the authorised e-money institution and small e-money institution regimes under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011, safeguarding of relevant funds, initial capital, and anti-money laundering obligations.
Read guideGet paid for renewable electricity you generate
How to register for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) to receive payment for renewable electricity you export to the grid. Covers solar PV, wind, and other small-scale renewables up to 5MW.
Read guideGoods Vehicle Operator Licensing
Understand O-licence requirements for operating goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
Read guideGrid Connection for Energy Projects
How to connect electricity generation projects to the UK grid. Understand the difference between DNO and National Grid routes, the G99 connection standard, and the April 2025 Ofgem reforms that promise £5 billion in savings and faster connection timelines.
Read guideHES Managing Change guidance for construction
Overview of the HES Managing Change in the Historic Environment guidance note series and the Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HEPS). Explains how these policy documents affect planning decisions for construction projects near heritage assets, and how to use them to support consent applications.
Read guideHealthcare and social care regulation (CQC)
CQC registration requirements for health and social care providers in England, including detailed guidance on regulated activities, costs, and devolved nation alternatives.
Read guideHealthcare professional registration requirements
Registration requirements with GMC, NMC, GDC, GPhC, and HCPC for healthcare employers and professionals.
Read guideHealthcare regulation across the UK nations
Comparison reference for healthcare regulation in England (CQC), Scotland (HIS and Care Inspectorate), Wales (HIW and CIW), and Northern Ireland (RQIA). Covers registration, inspection frameworks, workforce registration, and key differences between the four nations.
Read guideHeritage offences and penalties in Scotland
Quick reference for criminal offences and penalties relating to unauthorised works to scheduled monuments, listed buildings, and conservation areas in Scotland. Covers enforcement notices, prosecution, and sentencing.
Read guideHighway works and street works permits
How to obtain permits and comply with regulations when carrying out works on public highways in England and Wales. Covers notice periods, qualifications, Fixed Penalty Notices (doubled from January 2026), Section 50 licences, vehicle crossings, builders' skips, and Section 74 overrun charges.
Read guideHost weddings and events on your farm
How to set up and run a farm wedding or event venue. Covers planning permission, licensing, fire safety, insurance, and food safety requirements for converting agricultural buildings to event spaces.
Read guideHydrogen Production Licensing and Compliance
Licensing, safety, and environmental requirements for hydrogen production facilities in the UK. Includes Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard certification, environmental permits, planning consent, COMAH compliance, and government funding through the Hydrogen Production Business Model.
Read guideIdentify and tag livestock correctly
Legal requirements for identifying and tagging cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. Includes species-specific tagging deadlines, tag specifications, passport requirements, and replacement rules.
Read guideIdentify and tag sheep and goats
How to identify and tag sheep and goats correctly. Covers double EID tagging for breeding stock, batch tagging for animals going direct to slaughter under 12 months, tagging deadlines, and replacement rules for lost or damaged tags.
Read guideInsurance for goods vehicle operators
What insurance goods vehicle operators need. Covers mandatory motor fleet insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988, goods in transit cover, CMR liability for international carriage, and when to move from individual policies to a fleet policy.
Read guideInvasive species obligations in Scotland
Your legal obligations regarding invasive non-native species in Scotland. Covers criminal offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Schedule 9 species, Japanese knotweed management, and NatureScot's species control orders.
Read guideLate night refreshment licence
Understand when you need authorisation to supply hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am. Covers what counts as late night refreshment, exemptions, local authority deregulation powers, the application process, and devolved nation differences.
Read guideMHRA authorisation for medicines and medical devices
How to obtain MHRA authorisation for medicines and medical devices in the UK. Covers Marketing Authorisations, wholesale dealer licences, manufacturer licences, and medical device registration including UKCA vs CE marking.
Read guideMHRA licensing for medicines and medical devices
MHRA licensing requirements for manufacturing, distributing, and importing medicines and medical devices in the UK.
Read guideMake a planning appeal
How to appeal a planning refusal or non-determination to the Planning Inspectorate. Covers appeal types, deadlines, the process, and how to prepare an effective case.
Read guideManage invasive non-native species on your land
Legal obligations for managing invasive non-native species on business premises and development sites. Covers Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, identification, treatment options, controlled waste disposal, and liability implications for property transactions.
Read guideManaging land within an SSSI in Scotland
Your legal obligations when you own, occupy, or manage land within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Scotland. Covers Operations Requiring Consent, NatureScot's enforcement powers, management agreement payments, and what happens if you damage SSSI features.
Read guideMeet Building Safety Act requirements for higher-risk buildings
How to comply with the Building Safety Act 2022 for higher-risk buildings (18m+ or 7+ storeys). Covers gateway approvals, golden thread requirements, and accountable person duties for building owners, developers and managing agents in England.
Read guideMeet FCA threshold conditions for authorisation
Understand and demonstrate compliance with the five statutory threshold conditions required for FCA authorisation under Schedule 6 of FSMA 2000. Covers location of offices, effective supervision, appropriate resources, suitability, and business model requirements.
Read guideMeet biodiversity net gain requirements for development
How to comply with mandatory 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements when developing land in England. Covers the statutory biodiversity metric, delivery options, habitat management plans, and protected species obligations.
Read guideMeet pig welfare requirements on your farm
Legal requirements for pig welfare in England. Covers the five welfare needs, space requirements, environmental enrichment, permitted procedures, housing standards, transport, slaughter, and record-keeping. Applies to all pig keepers including commercial farms and smallholders.
Read guideMeet poultry welfare requirements
Legal requirements for keeping poultry in the UK, including the five welfare needs, stocking densities, lighting, litter management, environmental enrichment, beak trimming restrictions, and biosecurity measures. Covers laying hens, broilers, and free-range systems.
Read guideNannies and Au Pairs: Regulations and Employment
Legal requirements, Ofsted registration rules, and employment obligations for nannies and au pairs. Covers when registration is required, voluntary registration benefits, DBS checks, and visa requirements.
Read guideNavigate Section 106 agreements
How to understand, negotiate, and manage Section 106 planning obligations. Covers what can be requested, the three legal tests, viability negotiations, and modifying existing agreements.
Read guideNutrient neutrality compliance for development
How to achieve nutrient neutrality for development in affected catchments. Covers mitigation options, Natural England's calculator, credit schemes, and the wastewater upgrade timeline.
Read guideObtain music licences for your business premises
How to obtain and maintain the correct music licences when playing recorded or live music in your business premises - covering PPL, PRS, and combined licencing options.
Read guideOnline marketplace product safety duties
What online marketplace operators need to do to comply with product safety law. Covers new duties under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, existing obligations under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, and practical steps to prepare for compliance before secondary legislation is made.
Read guideOperating care services across UK nations: cross-border registration and compliance
Comprehensive guide for care providers operating in more than one UK nation. Covers separate registration requirements with each devolved inspectorate, workforce portability, disclosure and barring schemes, quality framework differences, and the practical implications of no mutual recognition between CQC, Care Inspectorate Scotland, CIW, and RQIA.
Read guidePersonal licence (alcohol)
Obtain a personal licence to authorise and supervise alcohol sales in England and Wales. Covers the accredited qualification, DBS checks, application process, and your ongoing responsibilities as a personal licence holder.
Read guidePlanning for medium sites (10-49 units)
How the new medium sites category (10-49 units) provides proportionate planning requirements for SME housebuilders. Covers proposed exemptions, simplified processes, and what this means for your development.
Read guidePlanning for small sites (under 10 units)
Streamlined planning guidance for small residential developments (1-9 units) in England. Covers what counts as minor development, simplified requirements, exemptions, and how to navigate the process efficiently.
Read guidePremises licence (alcohol)
Apply for a premises licence to sell or supply alcohol from your business in England and Wales. Covers the application process, fees, the four licensing objectives, mandatory conditions, and what happens after you receive your licence.
Read guidePremises licence: how to apply
How to apply for a premises licence to sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment, or offer regulated entertainment in England and Wales. Covers the four licensing objectives, fee bands, and the representations and hearings process.
Read guideProduct standards and CE marking for the Northern Ireland market
How product standards and marking requirements differ for the Northern Ireland market under the Windsor Framework. Covers CE marking requirements, why UKCA marking is not valid in NI, the EU General Product Safety Regulation applying in NI from December 2024, and dual compliance obligations for businesses selling across the whole UK.
Read guideProtect your creative content and clear music rights
Understanding copyright for creative businesses - automatic protection for creative works, copyright duration, music rights clearance for commercial use, and penalties for infringement.
Read guidePurchase biodiversity credits
How to buy statutory biodiversity credits and off-site habitat bank units when on-site delivery cannot achieve the required 10% net gain. Covers the delivery hierarchy, costs, and purchasing process.
Read guideRecord-Keeping and Data Protection for Childcare Providers
Mandatory record-keeping requirements for childcare providers under EYFS, data protection obligations under UK GDPR, and how to handle complaints and significant events.
Read guideRegister Holiday Clubs and Out-of-School Care
Ofsted registration requirements for holiday clubs, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, and wraparound care. Covers when registration is required, exemptions, and compliance obligations.
Read guideRegister a care service with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
Step-by-step guide to registering a regulated care service with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016. Covers application requirements, Responsible Individual appointment, service manager fitness, premises standards, fees, and expected timescales.
Read guideRegister a food business in Wales
How to register a food business with one of the 22 Welsh local authorities. Covers the Welsh-specific registration process, bilingual forms, what happens after registration, and key differences from the England registration system.
Read guideRegister a health or social care service with RQIA
Step-by-step guide to registering a health or social care service with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in Northern Ireland. Covers application requirements, fit person criteria, premises standards, registration conditions, fees, and expected timescales.
Read guideRegister a money service business or crypto-asset business for AML supervision
How a money service business registers with HMRC, and how a cryptoasset business registers with the FCA, for anti-money laundering supervision under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Covers which regime applies to you, the fit-and-proper test, registering before you trade, the offence of operating unregistered, and the financial promotions rules for qualifying cryptoassets.
Read guideRegister and run a food business
How to register your food business with your local authority, meet food hygiene requirements, and achieve a good food hygiene rating. Essential compliance for all food businesses including home-based and mobile.
Read guideRegister as a CIS contractor
How to register as a contractor under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS). This guide explains who must register, the registration process, and your ongoing obligations once registered. Essential for anyone paying subcontractors for construction work or spending over 3 million GBP on construction operations.
Read guideRegister as a CIS subcontractor
How to register as a subcontractor under the Construction Industry Scheme. Registration reduces tax deductions from your payments from 30% to 20%, improving your cash flow.
Read guideRegister as a Childminder in England
Complete guide to becoming a registered childminder, from pre-registration training and DBS checks to Ofsted registration and setting up your self-employed childminding business.
Read guideRegister as an alcohol wholesaler (AWRS)
If you sell alcohol to other businesses, you must register under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) with HMRC. Learn who needs to register, how to apply, and due diligence obligations.
Read guideRegister land to keep livestock
How to obtain a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before keeping cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, or poultry. Includes registration process, required information, and herd/flock mark allocation.
Read guideRegister with the Care Inspectorate Scotland
Step-by-step guide to registering a care service with the Care Inspectorate Scotland under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, including application requirements, fitness assessments, premises standards, fees, and expected timescales.
Read guideRegister with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Complete step-by-step guide to CQC registration for healthcare providers in England, including what activities require registration, application fees, fit and proper person requirements, and the full registration process timeline.
Read guideRegistering as a waste carrier
How to register as a waste carrier, broker or dealer. Covers upper tier and lower tier registration, fees, exemptions, and renewal requirements for businesses that transport waste.
Read guideRespond to planning refusal
What to do when your planning application is refused. Understand your options: amend and resubmit, negotiate, appeal, or move on. How to decide which approach is right for your situation.
Read guideRunning a crowdfunding or P2P lending platform
How to get FCA authorisation to operate a loan-based (P2P) or investment-based crowdfunding platform. Covers capital requirements, investor restrictions, client money rules, and wind-down arrangements.
Read guideRunning a maritime business
How to register ships with the UK Ship Register and comply with maritime regulations. Covers ship registration, seafarer certification, ISM Code compliance, and maritime security requirements.
Read guideRunning a package travel business
How to comply with ATOL licensing and Package Travel Regulations 2018 when selling package holidays. Covers ATOL application, bonding requirements, consumer cancellation rights, and complaints handling.
Read guideSafeguarding and Child Protection for Childcare Providers
Creating and implementing safeguarding policies for childcare settings. Covers the designated safeguarding lead role, recognising abuse, reporting procedures, Prevent duty, and staff training requirements.
Read guideSafer Recruitment for Childcare Settings
Step-by-step safer recruitment for childcare providers including DBS enhanced checks, disqualification declarations, reference checking, interview techniques, and maintaining a single central record.
Read guideScottish heritage compliance checklist for construction
A pre-project checklist for construction businesses and developers working in Scotland to verify compliance with heritage protection requirements. Covers scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, and HES inventoried sites.
Read guideSection 106 for small sites
How Section 106 planning obligations apply to small and medium residential developments. Covers what SME developers can expect, affordable housing thresholds, and proportionate negotiation.
Read guideSet Up an MOT Testing Station
Become a DVSA Authorised Examiner to conduct MOT tests.
Read guideSet up a property letting business
Five mandatory compliance requirements for lettings agents operating in England. Register before you trade to avoid penalties up to £30,000.
Read guideSet up as a creative freelancer or studio
How to start and run a creative business as a designer, photographer, writer, or other creative professional. Covers business structures, tax registration, contracts, insurance, and protecting your intellectual property.
Read guideSet up food premises that meet hygiene standards
How to set up food premises that meet the legal hygiene standards under Regulation (EC) 852/2004. Covers layout, surfaces, ventilation, handwashing, storage, pest control, and when you need FSA approval.
Read guideSocial care business planning and insurance
Business planning essentials for social care providers. Covers insurance requirements, Care Act 2014 obligations in England, financial viability and fee setting, and a checklist of what you need before applying to register.
Read guideSocial care registration and regulators
Guide to registering as a social care provider across all four UK nations. Covers CQC registration in England, Care Inspectorate in Scotland, CIW in Wales, and RQIA in Northern Ireland — including fees, registered manager requirements, and inspection frameworks.
Read guideSocial care workforce qualifications and staffing
Workforce requirements for social care providers across the UK. Covers the Care Certificate and qualifications in England, mandatory SSSC registration in Scotland, and staffing level principles for care homes and domiciliary care.
Read guideSpecialist retail licences and registrations
Specialist licences required for specific retail activities including tobacco registration, fireworks sales, pet shops, scrap metal dealing, and market trading. For general retail compliance, see the Start a retail business journey.
Read guideStart a clinical laboratory service
How to set up and operate a clinical laboratory in the UK. Covers UKAS accreditation, CQC registration, HTA licensing, MHRA requirements, professional registration, and quality standards for medical testing services.
Read guideStart a construction business
Essential compliance requirements for starting a construction business in the UK, including CDM regulations, health and safety obligations, waste management, and insurance.
Read guideStart a private security business
End-to-end guide to starting a private security business in the United Kingdom, covering company registration, mandatory insurance, SIA Approved Contractor Scheme registration, recruiting licensed staff, compliance systems, and industry standards including BS 7499 and BS 7858.
Read guideStart an insurance broking business
How to set up an insurance broking business in the UK. Covers FCA authorisation versus Appointed Representative routes, capital requirements, professional indemnity insurance, and regulatory fees.
Read guideStart and Register a Childcare Business
Complete guide to registering and launching a childcare business in England, from Ofsted registration to EYFS compliance. Covers nurseries, preschools, and childminders.
Read guideStarting a food business in Wales: what you need to know
Overview of what makes starting a food business in Wales different from the rest of the UK. Covers the mandatory Food Hygiene Rating Scheme display requirement, Welsh local authority registration, food waste separation obligations, and Welsh Government support programmes available to new food businesses.
Read guideSubmit a Gateway 2 application to BSR
How to apply for Gateway 2 building control approval from the Building Safety Regulator before starting construction on a higher-risk building. Covers submission requirements, documentation, fees, realistic timescales, and change control procedures for principal designers, principal contractors, and developers in England.
Read guideSubscription and auto-renewal compliance
Understand the new DMCC Act 2024 rules on subscription contracts. Covers pre-contract information, renewal reminders, easy cancellation requirements, and cooling-off periods on auto-renewal.
Read guideTrade effluent consent for discharging to sewers
How to get consent from your water company to discharge trade effluent into public sewers. Covers what counts as trade effluent, when consent is needed, how to apply, prohibited substances, consent conditions, charges, and enforcement under the Water Industry Act 1991.
Read guideTransfer a premises licence to a new owner
How to transfer a premises licence when buying or taking over licensed premises in England and Wales. Covers the transfer application, obtaining consent, immediate effect requests, interim authority notices, and what to do when the licence holder has died or become insolvent.
Read guideUK Space Industry Licensing
Obtain licences for satellite operations, launches, and space activities.
Read guideUnderstand deep land rights and petroleum licensing for onshore energy
How deep level land access rights work for petroleum and geothermal exploration. Covers the 300m depth threshold, PEDL licensing, hydraulic fracturing consent requirements, and the 11 statutory safeguards. Includes differences between England/Wales and Scotland.
Read guideUnderstanding RQIA: healthcare and social care regulation in Northern Ireland
How healthcare and social care regulation works in Northern Ireland under the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). Explains the integrated HSC system, how RQIA differs from CQC, Minimum Care Standards, inspection methodology, and the planned successor body under the HSC Act (NI) 2022.
Read guideUnderstanding UK consumer credit regulation
What consumer credit regulation is, why it exists, and who it applies to. Covers the relationship between the Consumer Credit Act 1974, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and the FCA's CONC sourcebook, including when FCA authorisation is required and when exemptions apply.
Read guideUnderstanding UK product safety law
A strategic overview of UK product safety law for business owners and directors. Explains the three legislative pillars that govern product safety - the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, the Consumer Protection Act 1987, and the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 - and what they mean for your business.
Read guideUnderstanding UREGNI: utility regulation in Northern Ireland
How utility regulation works in Northern Ireland, where UREGNI (the Utility Regulator) oversees electricity, gas, and water as a single combined regulator. Covers why NI energy regulation is fundamentally different from Great Britain, the all-island Single Electricity Market shared with the Republic of Ireland, NI Water as a government-owned company, and what this means for businesses operating in or entering the NI energy market.
Read guideUnderstanding care regulation in Wales: CIW and RISCA 2016
How Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) regulates care services under RISCA 2016, the Responsible Individual model, Welsh Language Standards obligations, and how the Welsh framework differs from CQC in England and Care Inspectorate in Scotland.
Read guideUnderstanding contaminated land law for businesses
An overview of contaminated land law in the UK and how it affects businesses. Explains the Part 2A regime under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the planning system approach to contamination, the Environmental Damage Regulations 2015, and how the polluter-pays principle determines who is liable for remediation costs.
Read guideUnderstanding heritage protection in Scotland
An overview of Scotland's heritage protection framework, covering the role of Historic Environment Scotland, the main designation types (scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, inventoried sites), the policy framework (HEPS and NPF4), and how these affect businesses operating in or near the historic environment.
Read guideUnderstanding legal services regulation in the UK
How the regulation of legal services works in England and Wales under the Legal Services Act 2007. Explains the role of the Legal Services Board, approved regulators, reserved legal activities, and the regulatory objectives that shape how law firms and individual lawyers are supervised.
Read guideUnderstanding the Care Inspectorate Scotland
Comprehensive explainer of how the Care Inspectorate Scotland operates, its regulatory model under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, how it differs from CQC in England, the Health and Social Care Standards, and its relationship with the SSSC and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.
Read guideUse FCA innovation services to test and launch fintech products
How to use the FCA's innovation support services including the Regulatory Sandbox, Digital Sandbox, and Innovation Pathways. For fintech firms developing new financial products who need regulatory guidance or want to test with customers before full authorisation.
Read guideVehicle Dealer Regulation
Understand FCA authorisation, consumer rights, and trading standards for motor dealers.
Read guideVehicle Type Approval
Get type approval for vehicles manufactured or imported into GB.
Read guideWales food business compliance checklist
Quick verification checklist for Wales-specific food business obligations. Covers local authority registration, mandatory food hygiene rating display, food waste separation, Natural Resources Wales permits, and Welsh language best practice.
Read guideWork with your local planning authority
How to engage effectively with your local planning authority at every stage of the planning process - from pre-application advice and duty officer services through to condition discharge and post-decision amendments.
Read guideWorking in conservation areas in Scotland
What you need to know before carrying out works in a conservation area in Scotland. Covers when conservation area consent is needed for demolition, additional planning controls on external appearance, the offence of unauthorised demolition, and how conservation area status interacts with listed building consent. Scotland has over 670 conservation areas.
Read guideWorking in the civil nuclear industry
Regulatory compliance requirements for businesses operating in the civil nuclear industry including site licensing, security vetting, liability insurance, and decommissioning obligations under Office for Nuclear Regulation oversight.
Read guideWrite consumer-friendly terms and conditions
How to write consumer contracts that are legally compliant and enforceable. Covers the transparency requirement under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, terms to avoid from the Schedule 2 grey list, pre-ticked box rules, and practical drafting guidance for small businesses.
Read guidePrefer step-by-step?
Guided journeys walk you through milestones like starting up or hiring.