Journey
Run a pop-up shop
Trade from an empty shop unit or part of someone else's premises for a short period. Check the planning use, agree terms with the owner and settle business rates, then add a licence, registration or insurance for what you sell and who you employ.
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Check the planning use
Make sure what you plan to do fits the unit's planning use before you commit to the space.
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Agree terms for the space
Find out whether you hold a lease or a licence, and get the practical terms in writing before you sign.
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Settle business rates
Work out whether you or the owner is the rateable occupier, and tell the council when you start and when you leave.
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Get permission to sell alcohol
Needed if you sell alcohol, put on entertainment, or serve hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am.
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Register as a food business
Needed if you sell, cook, store, handle, prepare or distribute food, even from temporary premises.
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Insure your staff and customers
Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ anyone.
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Assess fire risks
If you employ staff or control the space, you must carry out a fire risk assessment.
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Put up signs
Most simple shop signs need no consent, within limits on size and position. An A-board on the pavement needs the council's permission.
Related journeys
Meet food safety requirements for your business
Register, implement HACCP, and comply with food safety law including allergen requirements
Packaging producer compliance journey
Understand the overlapping environmental obligations for businesses that handle packaging. Covers Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT), and Simpler Recycling …
Meet environmental compliance requirements
Navigate your environmental obligations including waste duty of care, pollution prevention, packaging responsibilities, and energy reporting
Respond to a food safety incident
Immediate steps when unsafe food is discovered or a customer reports illness. Stop selling, withdraw the product, notify the FSA, and cooperate …