Journeys
Step-by-step Business Journeys
Follow our guided journeys to help you through major business milestones and changes.
Cross-sector essentials 29
Foundational journeys that apply to all business types.
Become a sole trader
Set up as a sole trader and understand your tax obligations
Start journey →Buy an existing business
Navigate the business acquisition process from finding opportunities to completing the purchase and your first 90 days as owner
Start journey →Choose the right business model
Decide between product, service, and subscription models based on your skills, capital, and goals
Start journey →Environmental compliance for new businesses
A complete introduction to environmental obligations for new business owners. Learn whether you need an environmental permit, how to handle waste legally, how to prevent pollution, and what recycling rules apply to you. No prior knowledge required.
Start journey →Fire safety for new business premises
Complete introduction to fire safety law and compliance for new business premises. Learn who is responsible, how to conduct a fire risk assessment, and what measures you must implement.
Start journey →Form a business partnership
Set up and run a business partnership - general partnership, limited partnership, or LLP
Start journey →Getting approved to trade: complete pre-trading journey
A comprehensive learning journey for first-time business owners: understand what approvals you need, complete mandatory registrations, check for activity-specific licences, navigate local authority requirements, and plan your timeline to trading day.
Start journey →Health and safety for new employers
A comprehensive learning path to help first-time employers understand and meet their health and safety duties. Takes you from understanding the law to putting compliance systems in place, with practical timelines for your first week, month, and beyond.
Start journey →Health and safety management for new employers
A learning path introducing new employers to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR). Understand your legal duties for risk assessment, appointing competent help, and establishing emergency procedures - the foundations of workplace health and safety management.
Start journey →Hire your first employee
Step-by-step journey to become a compliant employer. Covers PAYE registration, insurance, right to work checks, contracts, and pensions - everything before your first employee's first day.
Start journey →Hiring your first employee after April 2026
Updated hiring journey incorporating Employment Rights Act 2025 day-one rights and contract requirements. Covers employment contracts, SSP, family leave, and compliance essentials for new employers.
Start journey →Insuring your new business
A step-by-step learning journey for new business owners: understand which insurance is legally required, what additional cover you need, how to compare and buy policies, and how to manage renewals.
Start journey →Name your business: check, register, and protect
Quick guide to checking name availability, understanding naming rules, and protecting your brand
Start journey →Plan your business from idea to launch
A step-by-step planning journey from idea validation through business plan writing to launch preparation
Start journey →Planning compliance quick check
Quick check: Do you need planning permission for your development? Answer a few questions to find out whether you need to apply, or whether permitted development rights apply.
Start journey →Pre-trading approvals quick check
Quick check for experienced business owners verifying they have all required registrations, licences, and approvals before starting to trade.
Start journey →Set up a charity
Establish a registered charity in England and Wales - from charitable purposes to ongoing compliance
Start journey →Set up a community interest company (CIC)
Form a CIC for social enterprise purposes with asset lock protection, dividend caps, and ongoing compliance requirements
Start journey →Set up a limited company
Register a limited company and understand your director duties
Start journey →Start a childcare business
Launch a childcare business with Ofsted registration, safeguarding, and EYFS compliance
Start journey →Start a healthcare business
Launch a healthcare or social care business with CQC registration
Start journey →Start a social care provider business
End-to-end learning path for starting a social care business. Covers which regulator applies, CQC registration, registered manager requirements, workforce qualifications (Care Certificate, SSSC, Social Care Wales), staffing levels, insurance, Care Act duties, and devolved nations.
Start journey →Starting a business in Northern Ireland
Complete guide to NI-specific requirements when starting a business. Covers devolved differences in employment law, business rates, planning, health and safety, and available support programmes.
Start journey →Understanding UK GDPR from scratch
A complete introduction to UK data protection law for businesses. Learn the seven principles, six lawful bases, individual rights, ICO registration requirements, and what happens if you get it wrong. No prior knowledge required.
Start journey →Understanding VAT from scratch
A complete introduction to VAT for first-time registrants. Takes you from zero knowledge to confident VAT compliance, covering when to register, how to charge VAT, reclaiming VAT on purchases, and submitting your returns.
Start journey →Understanding business rates
How business rates work, what relief you can claim, and how to challenge your rateable value. Covers calculation, relief schemes, appeals, and revaluation across all UK nations.
Start journey →Validate your business idea before you invest
Research, test, and validate your business idea before committing significant time or money
Start journey →Your business plan was rejected: what to do next
What to do when a lender, investor, or grant body rejects your business plan
Start journey →Retail & Consumer Goods 7
Shops, e-commerce, consumer products, wholesale and distribution.
Start a food business for the first time
Everything you need to do before opening a food business. Covers registration, premises, HACCP, training, allergens, labelling, and preparing for your first inspection.
Start journey →Start a retail business
Launch a retail business with the right consumer protection compliance
Start journey →Start a retail business - compliance essentials
A comprehensive compliance onboarding journey for new retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing law, age-restricted sales, product safety, data protection, accessibility duties, and specialist licences. Designed for first-time retail business owners who need to understand their legal obligations before opening.
Start journey →Start offering consumer credit to customers
End-to-end learning path for businesses new to consumer credit. Covers understanding FCA regulation, obtaining authorisation, setting up pre-contract disclosures and affordability assessments, complying with advertising rules, and verifying ongoing compliance under the Consumer Duty.
Start journey →Start selling online legally
Everything you need to know before launching an online shop. Covers distance selling regulations, pre-contract information, cancellation rights, refund obligations, website compliance, consumer rights for goods and digital content, and enforcement.
Start journey →Understanding consumer rights law for traders
Learn your legal obligations when selling goods, services, or digital content to consumers. Covers the Consumer Rights Act 2015 quality standards, tiered remedies, distance selling rules, unfair contract terms, and enforcement penalties.
Start journey →Construction & Property 8
Building, civil engineering, property development, trades and construction services.
Achieving nutrient neutrality
Step-by-step guide to achieving nutrient neutrality for development in affected catchments. Learn how to calculate your nutrient budget, identify mitigation options, and prepare your planning application.
Start journey →Do I need an environmental permit?
Quick assessment of whether your business activities require an environmental permit from the Environment Agency or local council.
Start journey →Getting started with CIS
A comprehensive learning path for anyone new to the Construction Industry Scheme. Understand how CIS works, decide whether you're a contractor or subcontractor (or both), and learn your registration requirements and ongoing obligations. Covers deductions, monthly returns, and claiming back overpaid tax.
Start journey →SME housebuilder planning guide
Comprehensive planning guidance for small and medium housebuilders. Learn how to navigate the planning system efficiently, take advantage of small site easements, and manage S106 and environmental requirements proportionately.
Start journey →Small site planning fast track
Quick checklist for SME developers submitting minor residential applications (1-9 dwellings). Skip the explanation - get straight to what you need to do.
Start journey →Start a construction business
Set up and register a construction, building, or trades business
Start journey →Start a lettings agency
Compliance requirements for starting a property letting business in the UK
Start journey →Starting a waste business
Complete compliance guide for waste transfer stations, treatment facilities, skip hire, and recycling centres. Covers environmental permits, waste carrier registration, and ongoing obligations.
Start journey →Food, Drink & Hospitality 4
Restaurants, pubs, hotels, food manufacturing, catering and food service.
Start a brewery or distillery
Launch a brewery, distillery, winery, or cidery in the UK
Start journey →Start a food manufacturing business
Set up a food or drink production and manufacturing business
Start journey →Start a hospitality business: licences, food safety, and compliance
End-to-end learning path for opening a hospitality business. Covers premises licences, food business registration, HACCP, fire safety, employer obligations, tipping law, and music licensing. Signposts to specialist guides for accommodation, events, and gaming.
Start journey →Agriculture & Farming 3
Farms, horticulture, fisheries, forestry and agricultural services.
Becoming a livestock keeper: complete compliance guide
Comprehensive guide to livestock keeping compliance - from getting a CPH number to meeting welfare requirements. Covers cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats.
Start journey →Start an agriculture business
Set up and register a farming or agricultural business - from choosing your structure to registering land and getting support
Start journey →Starting farming: complete compliance journey
New farmers: everything you need to register, comply, and access funding - from CPH numbers to environmental schemes. Follow this step-by-step journey from day one.
Start journey →Professional & Financial Services 1
Accountancy, legal, consulting, banking, insurance and financial services.
Start a financial services business
Launch an FCA-regulated financial services business with proper authorisation
Start journey →Technology & Digital 2
Software, IT services, digital products, smart cities and tech startups.
Start a fintech business
Launch a financial technology business requiring FCA authorisation
Start journey →Start a tech business
Launch a software, digital services, or technology startup
Start journey →Transport & Logistics 1
Haulage, freight, aviation, maritime, rail, automotive and supply chain.
Start a transport and logistics business
Launch a transport or haulage business with the right operator licence
Start journey →Manufacturing & Engineering 2
Factories, production, engineering services, chemicals and industrial processes.
Start a manufacturing business
Launch a manufacturing business with the right permits and compliance
Start journey →Start a renewable energy business
Launch a renewable energy generation business (solar, wind, hydrogen, battery storage)
Start journey →Creative Industries 1
Film, TV, music, gaming, design, advertising and arts organisations.
Start a creative business
Launch a creative business - freelance designer, photographer, writer, videographer, production company, or studio
Start journey →Looking for specific guidance?
If you know what topic you need help with, browse our guides by topic area.
Browse by topic →