Use this checklist to make sure you have completed all the essential planning steps before you start trading. Work through each section in order — later steps depend on earlier ones being complete.

1. Validate your idea

2. Plan your finances

3. Write your business plan

Business Plan 12 Essential Sections

The 12 standard sections for a comprehensive business plan

1. Executive Summary: Maximum 1,000 words (2 pages). Written last but appears first. Summarises business concept, opportunity, and funding needs.
2. Personal Summary: Your background, skills, qualifications, experience. Why you're the right person.
3. Business Concept: What your business does, problem solved, target customers, business structure.
4. Products and Services: Features, benefits, unique selling points, pricing strategy, intellectual property.
5. Market Analysis: Market size, growth trends, customer demographics, buying behaviours.
6. Competitive Analysis: Direct and indirect competitors, strengths, weaknesses, your competitive advantage.

4. Choose and check your business name

How to check company name availability

Step-by-step process for checking company name availability at Companies House, including the name availability checker, same-as rules, and similarity objections.

Before registering a company name, check it is available and will not be rejected or challenged. Companies House only blocks identical names, but existing companies can object to names that are too similar.

Step 1 - Check the register: Use the free Companies House name availability checker to search for identical names. The tool strips punctuation, spacing, and common words ('the', 'and', 'company') when comparing.
Step 2 - Check trademarks: Search the IPO trademark register at gov.uk/search-for-trademark. A registered trademark owner can force you to change your name even if Companies House accepted it.
Step 3 - Check domain names: Search for matching .co.uk and .com domains. Register them before incorporating to prevent others acquiring them.
Step 4 - Check social media: Search major platforms (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok) for your proposed name. Consistent naming across channels strengthens your brand.
Step 5 - Check restricted words: Review the sensitive words list. If your name includes a restricted word, obtain approval before applying or your application will be rejected.
Same-as rules: Companies House treats names as identical after removing punctuation, accents, 'the', 'and', 'company', 'limited', and 'ltd'. So 'The Smith Company Limited' and 'Smith Ltd' are considered the same name.
Similarity objections (s.69): An existing company can object within 12 months if your name is too similar and likely to cause confusion. The Company Names Tribunal can order you to change your name.

Check company name availability

Search the trademark register

5. Choose your business structure

Validating your business idea

Key validation methods and official resources for testing business viability.

Validation timeline: 4-12 weeks recommended before committing significant capital
Customer interviews recommended: 10-20 in-depth conversations with target market
Survey responses needed: Minimum 100 responses for statistical significance
Competitor analysis: Research 5-10 direct and indirect competitors
MVP test period: 4-8 weeks of real customer testing before scaling
Financial validation: Calculate break-even point before launch

How to set up a business

Write a business plan

Market research and competitor analysis

6. Register your business

Download this checklist

Print or save this page to track your progress through each step.
Contact your local Growth Hub

Get free business planning support from your local Growth Hub. Find yours at gov.uk/business-support-helpline.

Set up a business

Find a licence for your business

Business Context Testing

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Business planning checklist

1. Validate your idea

2. Plan your finances

3. Write your business plan

4. Choose and check your business name

5. Choose your business structure

6. Register your business

Download this checklist

Contact your local Growth Hub

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🧪 Business Context Testing

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1. Validate your idea

2. Plan your finances

3. Write your business plan

4. Choose and check your business name

5. Choose your business structure

6. Register your business

Download this checklist

Contact your local Growth Hub

Related guides in Growth & Strategy

Test your business idea

Conduct business research

Write a business plan

Choose a business model

Define your business proposition

Business Context Testing

Content Graph