Journey · Starting a Business
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.
New to farming? This journey guides you through everything you need to set up and run a compliant farm business in England. Work through each stage in order - some registrations must be completed before others will work.
Starting a farm involves multiple registrations across different agencies (RPA, APHA, HMRC), each with their own systems and deadlines. This journey puts them in the right sequence and tells you what to do first.
Who this journey is for:
- New entrants starting their first farm
- People taking over family farms
- Career changers moving into agriculture
- Smallholders formalising their operations
Estimated time to complete all registrations: 4-8 weeks (some processes run in parallel)
Stage 1: Set up your farm business
Before you can register land or livestock, you need a legal business structure and tax registrations. Complete these first.
Step 1: Understand farming business structures
Farms can operate as sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies. Each has different tax treatment, liability, and succession implications.
Why structure matters for farms
Many farms operate as partnerships (often family partnerships) to simplify succession planning. Limited companies offer liability protection but have more complex tax treatment. Consider your long-term plans before choosing.
Compare business structures
Sole trader, partnership, or limited company? Compare tax treatment, liability, and what each means for your farm.
Read the guide →Family partnerships for farm succession
Many farms use partnerships to involve multiple family generations. Partnership profits can be split between partners (potentially using multiple personal allowances), and bringing in the next generation early helps with succession planning. A partnership agreement is essential to avoid disputes.
Step 2: Register for tax
All farming businesses must register with HMRC. The type of registration depends on your business structure.
Register for Self Assessment
Sole traders and partners must register for Self Assessment within 3 months of starting to trade.
Visit GOV.UK →Register for Corporation Tax
Limited companies must register for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting business activity.
Visit GOV.UK →Agricultural averaging for income tax
Farmers can average profits over 2 or 5 years to smooth volatile income. This can significantly reduce tax bills in good years. Claim through your Self Assessment return.
Step 3: Understand VAT options
Farms have special VAT treatment. Understand your options before choosing.
VAT registration threshold
You must register for VAT if taxable turnover exceeds £90,000. However, farms selling mainly zero-rated goods (crops, livestock, milk) may benefit from the Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme instead.
Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme
The Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme lets farmers add 4% to sales without registering for VAT. You keep this 4% to compensate for VAT on purchases. Available if turnover is under £150,000 and you're not already VAT registered. Simple - no VAT returns required.
Understand VAT registration options
Standard VAT registration vs Agricultural Flat Rate Scheme - which is right for your farm?
Read the guide →Step 4: Get farm insurance
Farming businesses need specialist insurance covering buildings, machinery, livestock, and liability.
Essential farm insurance
Standard business insurance does not cover agricultural risks. You need specialist farm insurance covering public liability, employers' liability (if you have workers), farm buildings, machinery, and livestock.
Understand farm insurance requirements
Public liability, employers' liability, farm buildings, machinery, and livestock cover.
Read the guide →Stage 2: Register your land and livestock
Once your business is set up, register your agricultural land with the Rural Payments Agency. If keeping livestock, you also need a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before any animals arrive.
Step 5: Register your land with RPA
All agricultural holdings of 5+ hectares must be registered with the Rural Payments Agency to access schemes and payments. You will receive a Single Business Identifier (SBI) number.
Register land to get your SBI number
Your Single Business Identifier (SBI) is your unique farm reference number. You need it to apply for any farming schemes (SFI, Countryside Stewardship, grants). Registration involves mapping your land parcels digitally, identifying field boundaries, land use types, and landscape features.
What you need: Evidence of land control (tenancy agreement, ownership documents), field maps or OS grid references, land area in hectares.
Register your agricultural land
Create an RPA account and register your land to receive your SBI number.
Visit GOV.UK →Step 6: Get a CPH number (if keeping any livestock)
You MUST register for a County Parish Holding (CPH) number before moving any livestock onto your land - even one animal. Without a CPH, you cannot legally keep livestock.
Apply for a CPH number
Register with APHA to get your County Parish Holding number. Required before any livestock arrives on your holding.
Read the guide →CPH registration essentials
A CPH identifies the geographic location of your livestock holding. Each separate piece of non-contiguous land needs its own CPH. Apply through APHA - you will need your address, OS grid reference, and land size.
Step 7: Complete species-specific registrations
Different livestock types have additional registration requirements beyond your CPH.
By species:
- Cattle: Register with BCMS (British Cattle Movement Service), obtain herd mark, order cattle passports
- Sheep/goats: Apply for flock/herd mark from APHA before purchasing animals
- Pigs: Register as pig keeper with APHA, obtain herd mark
- Poultry (50+ birds): Register with APHA for disease surveillance purposes
Complete livestock registration journey
Full guide to registering your holding, getting species marks, and setting up movement reporting.
Read the guide →Livestock tagging requirements
All livestock must be correctly identified (tagged) within legal deadlines. Requirements vary by species - cattle within 20 days, sheep/goats by 9 months, pigs before movement.
Understand tagging and identification
Species-specific tagging deadlines, EID requirements, and how to order tags.
Read the guide →Step 8: Set up movement reporting
Before your first livestock movement, understand the reporting systems you will need to use.
Movement reporting systems
Every livestock movement on or off your holding must be reported to the relevant database within strict deadlines (usually 3 days). Different species use different systems.
Learn movement reporting requirements
How to report cattle, sheep, goat, and pig movements - systems, deadlines, and standstill rules.
Read the guide →Standstill periods
When animals arrive on your holding, movement restrictions apply to prevent disease spread. Cattle, sheep, and goats trigger a 6-day standstill; pigs trigger 20 days.
Stage 3: Understand your environmental obligations
All farmers must comply with environmental regulations - not just those receiving scheme payments. These rules protect water, soil, and wildlife.
Step 9: Check if you are in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ)
About 55% of land in England is in an NVZ. If yours is, you have stricter rules on fertiliser and manure application.
Nitrate Vulnerable Zone requirements
If your land is in an NVZ, you must: observe closed periods when you cannot spread manure or fertiliser; not exceed 170 kg nitrogen per hectare from organic manures; maintain 6 months' slurry storage capacity; keep detailed application records for 5 years. Check NVZ status using the GOV.UK map tool.
Check if your land is in an NVZ
Use the interactive map to check NVZ designation for your fields.
Visit GOV.UK →Step 10: Understand Farming Rules for Water
These rules apply to ALL farms regardless of NVZ status or scheme membership.
Fertiliser and manure regulations
You must maintain buffer strips alongside watercourses, not spread on waterlogged/frozen ground, and have adequate slurry storage. These are legal requirements enforced by the Environment Agency.
Comply with water pollution prevention rules
Buffer strips, spreading restrictions, and storage requirements that apply to all farms.
Read the guide →Step 11: Understand conditionality standards
If you plan to receive any environmental scheme payments (SFI, Countryside Stewardship), you must meet conditionality standards.
Conditionality requirements
Conditionality replaced cross-compliance in January 2024. It includes Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards and Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs). Breaches reduce your scheme payments.
Understand farm rules after cross-compliance
What environmental, animal health, and land management rules still apply now cross-compliance has ended.
Read the guide →Protect hedgerows and landscape features
You need permission to remove hedgerows (Hedgerows Regulations 1997). Landscape features (hedges, trees, ponds, walls) are protected under conditionality if you receive scheme payments. Cutting hedges during bird nesting season (March-August) is an offence under Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Stage 4: Access funding and schemes
Once registered with RPA (with your SBI), you can apply for farming schemes. Understanding what is available helps you plan your business.
Step 12: Understand delinked payments (if taking over eligible land)
Delinked payments are being phased out by 2027. They only apply if you are taking over land with existing payment entitlements.
Delinked payments phase-out
Delinked payments replaced BPS in 2024 and are based on historic claims. New entrants do not receive them unless inheriting land with an existing reference amount. Payments end completely in 2027.
Understand delinked payments
How delinked payments work, the phase-out timeline, and what this means for farm finances.
Read the guide →Step 13: Choose the right environmental scheme
Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes are your main source of ongoing agricultural support. Three schemes suit different situations.
ELM scheme comparison
SFI (3-year, flexible, CLOSED until 2026), Countryside Stewardship (5-10 year, OPEN), and Landscape Recovery (20+ year, large-scale) offer different options. Most new farmers will use SFI or CS.
Compare ELM schemes
SFI vs Countryside Stewardship vs Landscape Recovery - which is right for your farm?
Read the guide →SFI closed until 2026
The Sustainable Farming Incentive closed to new applications on 11 March 2025. It will reopen in June 2026 (prioritising small farms and those without existing ELM agreements) and September 2026 (open to all). In the meantime, consider Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier if eligible.
Step 14: Explore capital grants
Grants can help fund equipment, infrastructure, and productivity improvements.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund
FETF offers grants of 1,000-25,000 covering 50% of equipment costs for livestock handling, slurry management, productivity, and horticulture. Multiple funding rounds each year.
Slurry Infrastructure Grant
Grants of 25,000-250,000 (50% of costs) for building slurry storage to meet environmental regulations. Helps farms achieve 6-month storage capacity.
Access farming grants and capital funding
How to find and apply for FETF, SSIG, and other capital grants covering farm equipment, technology, and infrastructure.
Read the guide →New entrant support
New entrants to farming may be eligible for specific support schemes including priority access to certain grants, advice services, and the 2026 SFI first window which prioritises those without existing ELM agreements. The Prince's Countryside Fund and various regional initiatives also support new farmers.
Step 15: Access animal health support
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway funds vet visits for livestock keepers.
Annual Health and Welfare Review
Get 372-557 (varies by species) for an annual vet visit covering endemic disease testing, biosecurity review, and health planning. Available to cattle, sheep, and pig keepers meeting minimum animal numbers.
Apply for funded vet visits
Annual Health and Welfare Review - funded veterinary support for livestock farms.
Visit GOV.UK →Stage 5: Maintain ongoing compliance
Once set up, you have ongoing obligations throughout the year. Good record-keeping is essential.
Step 16: Know your key dates
Farming has multiple annual deadlines. Missing them can result in penalties or loss of payments.
Key annual dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| January | Annual sheep/goat inventory count (by 1 January) |
| January 31 | Self Assessment tax return deadline (online) |
| March-August | Bird nesting season - no hedge cutting |
| April | Tax year end; new rates apply |
| August-December | Delinked payments (while they continue) |
| Throughout year | TB testing (intervals depend on risk area) |
| Throughout year | Movement reporting (within 3 days of movement) |
| Quarterly | VAT returns (if registered) |
| Quarterly | SFI/CS payments (if in scheme) |
Step 17: Maintain proper records
Multiple records must be kept and may be inspected at any time.
Understand record-keeping requirements
Holding registers, movement records, medicine records, spray records - what to keep and for how long.
Read the guide →Record retention periods
Different records have different retention requirements: cattle records 10 years, sheep/goat 3 years, pesticide records 3 years, NVZ fertiliser records 5 years. Keep all records available for inspection.
Step 18: Be ready for inspections
Multiple bodies can inspect farms. Being prepared makes inspections smoother.
Who inspects farms
RPA (scheme compliance), APHA (animal health), Environment Agency (pollution), and farm assurance schemes (Red Tractor etc.) all conduct farm inspections. Since 2024, the approach is advice-led - inspectors aim to help, not penalise.
Prepare for farm inspections
Which bodies inspect farms, what triggers inspections, your rights, and how to build a good compliance record.
Read the guide →Step 19: Know where to get help
Multiple support services are available for farmers needing guidance.
Sources of help
- RPA helpline: 03000 200 301 (schemes, payments, land registration)
- APHA: 03000 200 301 (livestock, disease, CPH numbers)
- Environment Agency: 03708 506 506 (pollution, water abstraction, NVZ)
- Catchment Sensitive Farming: Free environmental advice in priority catchments
- NFU: Member advice services including legal helpline
- Defra Farming Blog: Policy updates and scheme announcements
Defra Farming Blog
Stay updated on scheme changes, policy announcements, and farming support.
Visit GOV.UK →New farmer compliance checklist
Use this checklist to track your progress through the essential registrations.
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Scale your creative business - protect IP, expand internationally, license your work, build a team, and explore franchise opportunities
View journey →Failed a farm inspection: what to do next
What to do when you receive a non-compliance notice from a farm inspection. Covers understanding your notice, your rights, taking corrective action, and preventing future failures.
View journey →Running a childcare setting
Ongoing compliance for childcare providers covering inspections, safeguarding, SEND, food safety, and staff management
View journey →Start a transport and logistics business
Launch a transport or haulage business with the right operator licence
View journey →Run a healthcare business
Ongoing compliance for CQC-registered healthcare providers covering inspections, professional registration, safeguarding, clinical governance, medicines management, and staff obligations
View journey →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.
View journey →Livestock movement issues: how to resolve
How to resolve common livestock movement compliance problems including missing or lost tags, late movement reporting, standstill breaches, and missing cattle passports. Covers which body enforces what, severity levels, corrective actions, and preventing future issues.
View journey →Run a construction business
Ongoing compliance, site safety, and operational requirements for established construction businesses
View journey →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.
View journey →VAT compliance for retailers
Complete VAT guidance for retail businesses. Covers pricing rules, retail schemes for calculating VAT, invoicing requirements, and submitting returns. Designed for VAT-registered retailers who want to understand their specific obligations.
View journey →What regulations apply to my farm?
A quick decision-tree navigator that helps you identify which regulations apply to your specific farm based on what you keep, grow, and do. Each answer reveals applicable regulatory bodies and links to the relevant compliance guides.
View journey →Drainage and utilities infrastructure compliance
Complete learning path for property developers and contractors working on drainage and utilities infrastructure. Covers Approved Document H drainage design, sewer adoption under Section 104, SuDS requirements in England and Wales, confined spaces safety, cable avoidance, and environmental permits.
View journey →Complete guide to highway works compliance
End-to-end learning path for contractors new to highway works in England. Covers the legal framework, permit types, required qualifications, traffic management, reinstatement standards, penalties, and road adoption.
View journey →Grow your construction business
Scale your construction business - win public contracts, build your workforce, achieve accreditations, and manage subcontractors at scale
View journey →Grow your retail business
Scale your retail business - expand online, open new locations, build your team, and manage increased compliance as you grow
View journey →Grow your tech business
Scale your tech business - funding, international expansion, investment, and preparing for exit
View journey →VAT compliance for construction
Construction-specific VAT guidance including the domestic reverse charge. Essential for subcontractors and main contractors to understand when the reverse charge applies, how to invoice correctly, and how to account for VAT on returns.
View journey →Moving livestock: quick compliance check
Pre-movement compliance checklist for cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. Three quick checks: tagging correct, standstill clear, documentation ready.
View journey →Understand Environmental Land Management schemes
A learning path through Environmental Land Management schemes - understand SFI, Countryside Stewardship, and Landscape Recovery to choose the right option for your farm
View journey →Start a renewable energy business
Launch a renewable energy generation business (solar, wind, hydrogen, battery storage)
View journey →Expanding your childcare business
Grow your childcare business through multi-site expansion, franchising, acquisitions, or achieving Outstanding Ofsted ratings
View journey →Start an agriculture business
Set up and register a farming or agricultural business - from choosing your structure to registering land and getting support
View journey →Construction materials regulatory compliance
Learning path covering the regulatory obligations for construction materials in Great Britain. Understand product marking (CE and UKCA), hazardous materials management under COSHH, aggregate levy, and timber sourcing compliance.
View journey →Farm compliance calendar
Month-by-month calendar of key farm compliance deadlines covering SFI scheme declarations, TB testing windows, NVZ closed periods, scheme payments, and tax filing. Bookmark this page for quick reference throughout the year.
View journey →Start a fintech business
Launch a financial technology business requiring FCA authorisation
View journey →Start a brewery or distillery
Launch a brewery, distillery, winery, or cidery in the UK
View journey →Highway works quick compliance check
Quick-check permit type, notice period, qualification requirements, and fixed penalty notice amounts before starting highway works. For experienced contractors who need a pre-start compliance refresher.
View journey →Structural incident on site: what to do now
Emergency response for excavation collapse, structural instability, or unexpected failure during construction works. Covers immediate safety actions, RIDDOR reporting, HSE notification, making safe, structural assessment, and investigation to prevent recurrence.
View journey →Run a tech business
Ongoing compliance, operations, and growth guidance for established UK tech and software businesses
View journey →Building Safety Act for SME contractors
A learning path for small and medium construction businesses working on higher-risk building projects under the Building Safety Act 2022. Covers what the Act means for contractors, your duties on HRB projects, golden thread responsibilities, change control, and handover obligations.
View journey →Start a manufacturing business
Launch a manufacturing business with the right permits and compliance
View journey →Farmer compliance checklist
A comprehensive compliance checklist for UK farmers covering livestock, environmental, animal welfare, health and safety, financial, and scheme obligations. Includes frequency of compliance tasks, enforcement bodies, and consequences of non-compliance.
View 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.
View journey →Structural works pre-start compliance check
Quick pre-start checklist for structural works: demolition notices, asbestos surveys, temporary works design, excavation safety, and LOLER examinations. Use before beginning any structural, demolition, or deep excavation work.
View journey →Start a construction business
Set up and register a construction, building, or trades business
View journey →Start a creative business
Launch a creative business - freelance designer, photographer, writer, videographer, production company, or studio
View journey →Obtaining an environmental permit for regulated activities
Determine if you need an environmental permit, navigate the application process, and understand permit conditions for pollution control
View journey →Utility strike: what to do now
Emergency response for striking gas, electric, water, or telecoms services during digging. Covers immediate danger actions in the first minutes, reporting obligations to HSE and utility companies, RIDDOR requirements, and steps to prevent recurrence.
View 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.
View journey →Start a childcare business
Launch a childcare business with Ofsted registration, safeguarding, and EYFS compliance
View journey →Managing CDM Regulations compliance on construction projects
Navigate your CDM 2015 duties - from identifying your role to HSE notification and construction phase planning
View journey →TB breakdown: what to do now
A step-by-step guide for cattle farmers who have just received positive TB test results. Covers immediate actions in the first 48 hours, working with APHA during the breakdown, protecting your compensation, managing your business under restrictions, and the path back to TB-free status.
View journey →Run a retail business
Ongoing compliance and operational guidance for established retail businesses
View journey →Start a lettings agency
Compliance requirements for starting a property letting business in the UK
View journey →Livestock compliance for farmers
Complete guide to identifying, tagging, moving, and keeping records for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer
View journey →Start a retail business
Launch a retail business with the right consumer protection compliance
View journey →Managing business waste and duty of care compliance
Navigate your legal obligations for business waste - duty of care, waste carriers, transfer notes, and preparing for new recycling rules
View journey →Start a food manufacturing business
Set up a food or drink production and manufacturing business
View journey →Diversify your farm business
Explore farm diversification opportunities - farm shops, holiday accommodation, renewable energy, equestrian facilities, event spaces, and rural business units
View 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.
View journey →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 requirements, and explains how they interact.
View journey →Your waste was fly-tipped - what now?
What to do when waste linked to your business is found illegally dumped. Understand your liability, gather your records, cooperate with the investigation, and prevent it happening again.
View 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.
View journey →Waste compliance quick check
Quick checklist for business owners to verify they meet basic waste duty of care obligations under EPA 1990 Section 34.
View 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.
View journey →Responding to environmental enforcement
What to do if you receive an enforcement notice or warning letter from an environmental regulator. Covers types of enforcement action, immediate steps, appeal rights, and demonstrating improvement.
View journey →Dealing with a pollution incident
Immediate steps when a pollution incident occurs at your business. Report it, contain it, understand what happens next, and prevent recurrence.
View journey →Environmental compliance for manufacturers
A comprehensive introduction to environmental compliance for manufacturing businesses. Covers permits, air emissions, water discharge, waste management, and packaging obligations.
View journey →File your first Self Assessment tax return
A step-by-step learning path for filing your first Self Assessment tax return. Covers registration, getting your UTR, setting up records, completing your return, and paying your tax bill.
View journey →Respond to a Self Assessment penalty
What to do if you have received a Self Assessment penalty notice from HMRC. Understand the penalty, check whether you have a reasonable excuse, and decide whether to appeal.
View journey →Respond to a Corporation Tax penalty or enquiry
What to do when you receive a Corporation Tax penalty notice or HMRC opens an enquiry. Covers immediate actions, understanding your penalty, appeal rights, Time to Pay arrangements, and when to seek professional help.
View journey →Self Assessment quick compliance check
A quick compliance check for experienced Self Assessment filers. Covers key deadlines, payment amounts, penalty risks, recent changes, and MTD readiness.
View journey →File your first Corporation Tax return
A step-by-step learning journey for directors filing their first Company Tax Return (CT600). Covers registration, understanding rates, preparing accounts, claiming allowances, filing, and paying Corporation Tax.
View journey →Corporation Tax quick compliance check
A quick reference for experienced company directors to verify Corporation Tax deadlines, rates, payment obligations, and allowances. Check your compliance status in 5 minutes.
View journey →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 with enforcement.
View journey →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.
View journey →Food safety quick compliance check
A quick compliance check for food business operators. Covers registration, HACCP, allergens, temperature control, training, and record keeping.
View journey →Improve your food hygiene rating
Practical steps to improve a poor food hygiene rating. Understand what inspectors scored, fix the issues, and request a re-inspection.
View journey →Self Assessment for landlords
A learning path for landlords who need to report rental income through Self Assessment. Covers registration, reporting property income on SA105, allowable expenses, mortgage interest restriction, and Making Tax Digital.
View journey →Employing people in Northern Ireland
Complete guide to NI employment law including fair employment monitoring, equality obligations, and how NI legislation differs from Great Britain. Covers the key areas where Northern Ireland has its own rules.
View 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.
View journey →Fix problems moving goods from GB to Northern Ireland
Troubleshooting UKIMS, customs declarations, NIRMS labelling, product marking, and EORI issues when moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
View journey →Windsor Framework: quick compliance check for GB businesses
Quick check for GB businesses selling goods to Northern Ireland. Covers UKIMS authorisation, NIRMS for food, EORI numbers, customs requirements, and product labelling.
View journey →Selling goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
Complete compliance guide for GB businesses selling goods into Northern Ireland. Covers the Windsor Framework, UKIMS registration, customs requirements, product standards, and VAT implications.
View journey →Fair employment monitoring compliance problems
Troubleshooting fair employment monitoring and ECNI compliance for Northern Ireland employers. Covers registration failures, missed monitoring returns, triennial review problems, and responding to ECNI investigations.
View journey →Quick check: Northern Ireland-specific requirements
Quick checklist of key Northern Ireland differences from Great Britain. Check employment law, health and safety, planning, business rates, and equality obligations that apply only in NI.
View journey →Respond to a Trading Standards investigation
What to do if Trading Standards has contacted you, visited your premises, or conducted a test purchase. Covers understanding their powers, identifying the compliance area under investigation, gathering your due diligence evidence, responding appropriately, and strengthening your procedures.
View journey →Start selling online - retail compliance
A learning path for retailers adding an online sales channel. Covers the additional compliance obligations for distance selling, including cooling-off periods, website legal requirements, online data protection, accessibility, subscription rules, and handling complaints from online customers.
View journey →Retail compliance quick check
Quick compliance check for experienced retailers. Covers consumer rights, price marking, age-restricted sales, and annual compliance obligations.
View 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.
View 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.
View journey →Prepare your BNPL business for FCA regulation
Preparation guide for Buy Now Pay Later providers and merchants ahead of FCA regulation from 15 July 2026. Covers what is changing, whether you need FCA authorisation or credit broking permission, affordability assessment setup, advertising compliance, pre-contract disclosure, and complaints handling through the Financial Ombudsman Service.
View journey →Respond to FCA enforcement action or investigation
What to do if the FCA contacts your consumer credit firm about enforcement action, a skilled person review, or formal investigation. Covers identifying the type of action, immediate steps, compliance review, and preparing your response.
View 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.
View journey →Handle Section 75 claims from customers
What to do when a customer makes a Section 75 connected lender liability claim. Covers validating the claim against the GBP 100 to GBP 30,000 threshold, investigating supplier breach or misrepresentation, responding within the 8-week complaints deadline, FOS escalation, and recovering costs from the supplier.
View journey →Consumer credit compliance quick-check
Quick compliance check for experienced consumer credit firms. Covers FCA permissions, fee payments, credit advertising, pre-contract disclosures, Consumer Duty obligations, complaints handling, and upcoming BNPL regulation.
View journey →Accommodation compliance for hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets
Compliance journey for accommodation providers covering tourist registration, fire safety for sleeping accommodation, legionella management, VAT on accommodation, short-term lets regulation, HMO licensing, and data protection for guest data.
View 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.
View journey →Healthcare compliance quick check
Quick compliance check for experienced healthcare providers. Covers CQC registration, professional registrations, DBS checks, medicines audit, controlled drugs register, IPC audit, fire risk assessment, DSPT submission, insurance, and policy reviews.
View journey →Respond to a medicines or controlled drugs incident
What to do when a medicines incident occurs: medication error, controlled drug discrepancy, or CD theft/loss. Covers securing the patient and evidence, internal reporting, statutory notifications to CQC, MHRA Yellow Card, police notification for CD theft, investigation, Accountable Officer responsibilities, and corrective actions.
View journey →Open new hospitality premises: from lease to launch
End-to-end journey from signing a lease to opening night. Covers planning use class checks, premises licence application timeline, building regulations and fire safety, commercial kitchen fit-out, food business registration, music licensing, pavement licensing, and staff recruitment with right to work checks.
View journey →Respond to a CQC investigation or enforcement action
What to do if your healthcare or social care service faces CQC enforcement action. Covers understanding the type and severity of action, immediate response steps, getting legal representation, developing an improvement plan, and the appeal process through the First-tier Tribunal.
View journey →Respond to a hospitality licensing investigation
What to do if your hospitality business faces a licensing review, environmental health investigation, fire safety enforcement notice, or HMRC compliance check. Covers identifying the investigation type, understanding your rights, gathering evidence, getting representation, and preventing recurrence.
View journey →Hospitality compliance quick check
Quick compliance check for experienced hospitality operators. Covers licensing, food safety, fire risk, tipping policy, right to work, gas safety, music licensing, and insurance.
View journey →Prepare for the Data Use and Access Act 2025 changes
A step-by-step guide to understanding and adapting to the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025. Covers the 8 key reforms now in force, including recognised legitimate interests, SRI replacing DPO, cookie consent changes, and the 35x increase in PECR penalties.
View journey →Consumer rights compliance checklist
Quick compliance check for traders selling goods, services, or digital content to consumers. Covers quality standards, remedies, distance selling, unfair terms, and enforcement readiness.
View journey →Start selling products on the UK market
A comprehensive introduction to UK product safety compliance for businesses placing products on the GB market. Covers the legal framework (CPA 1987, GPSR 2005, PRMA 2025), supply chain responsibilities, risk assessment, UKCA and CE marking, online marketplace duties, and a compliance checklist. Designed for importers, new manufacturers, and online marketplace sellers with no prior knowledge of product safety law.
View journey →Planning permission for new development
A complete guide to getting planning permission for your first development project, from understanding when you need permission to navigating conditions and obligations.
View journey →Product safety quick compliance check
Rapid product safety self-assessment: verify safety obligations, marking, documentation, traceability, and recall readiness for products on the UK market.
View journey →Respond to a product safety incident
Emergency guidance when you discover an unsafe product. Stop supply immediately, notify Trading Standards and OPSS, manage the recall, and understand your legal exposure under the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
View journey →Comply with the Online Safety Act from scratch
A complete learning path for platform operators new to the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers understanding the Act, determining scope and platform category, conducting risk assessments, protecting children, implementing content moderation, writing compliant terms of service, setting up complaints procedures, implementing age assurance, and registering with Ofcom.
View journey →Help with Wales Visitor Levy
Troubleshooting guide for Wales visitor accommodation registration and levy collection. Helps accommodation providers understand registration requirements, council levy adoption, and how to collect and remit the levy.
View journey →Product compliance checklist for GB market
Quick checklist to verify your products meet GB market requirements for conformity marking, safety assessment, documentation, and traceability before placing goods on the market.
View journey →Responding to a product safety issue
What to do when you discover a product safety problem -- from initial assessment through recall notification and corrective action.
View journey →Start using AI responsibly in your business
End-to-end learning path for businesses adopting AI: understanding the regulatory landscape, assessing obligations, setting up governance, managing specific risks around data, bias, and transparency, and maintaining ongoing compliance.
View journey →AI compliance quick check
Rapid AI compliance self-assessment: identify AI systems, map to regulators, flag critical obligations, confirm key safeguards in place.
View journey →Handling customer refund disputes
When a customer demands a refund, what are your legal obligations? This guide helps you determine whether the customer is entitled to a refund, what remedy to offer, and how to process it correctly under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
View journey →UK REACH registration deadline approaching
Steps to take as your UK REACH registration deadline approaches -- from checking your obligations to preparing your registration dossier.
View journey →Chemicals compliance in the UK
Complete guide to UK REACH and GB CLP compliance for businesses that manufacture, import, or use chemical substances and mixtures.
View journey →Prepare for EU AI Act compliance
A focused preparation path for UK businesses affected by the EU AI Act. Understand the four risk tiers, check which deadlines have already passed, classify your AI systems, and prepare for high-risk obligations before the August 2026 deadline.
View journey →Using AI in recruitment safely
Compliance path for employers using AI in recruitment: legal risks, DPIA, equality impact assessment, GOV.UK guidance, bias testing, candidate transparency, record-keeping.
View journey →Online Safety Act compliance quick check
Rapid compliance self-assessment for experienced operators: confirm scope, verify risk assessments, check content moderation, terms of service, complaints, age assurance, and Ofcom registration status.
View 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.
View journey →Respond to an Ofcom investigation
What to do when Ofcom takes enforcement action against your online service under the Online Safety Act 2023. Covers identifying the type of action, evidence preservation, senior manager criminal liability, responding to notices, penalty mitigation, and seeking legal advice.
View journey →Responding to an AI regulatory investigation
What to do when a UK regulator investigates your AI system: ICO enforcement, FCA investigation, EHRC inquiry, CMA review. Covers immediate steps, your rights, evidence preservation, cooperation obligations, and potential penalties.
View journey →SuDS approval in Wales: quick guide
Quick checklist for mandatory Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) approval in Wales. Check if you need approval, how to apply to your local SAB, and understand penalties for non-compliance.
View 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.
View journey →UK REACH compliance checklist
Quick check of your UK REACH registration and notification status. Covers manufacturer and importer registration, downstream user obligations, SVHC duties, Safety Data Sheets, and approaching tonnage band deadlines.
View journey →Quick check: Wales-specific requirements
Quick checklist of key Wales-specific differences from England. Check business rates, planning, Welsh language, environmental permits, workplace recycling, and Land Transaction Tax.
View journey →Responding to planning enforcement
What to do if you receive a planning enforcement notice. Understand the type of notice you have received, review your options, and find out how to appeal or comply.
View journey →Responding to a CMA investigation
What to do if the Competition and Markets Authority or Trading Standards is investigating your business. Covers immediate steps, cooperation obligations, deadlines, undertakings, and possible outcomes including fines under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
View journey →PSTI IoT compliance check
Quick compliance check for IoT manufacturers, importers, and distributors. Confirm product scope, verify three mandatory security requirements, identify your supply chain role, and confirm your statement of compliance obligations.
View journey →Health and safety for a growing business
What changes as your business grows: written policy at 5 employees, safety representatives at 50, and formal management systems at 250+. Understand the thresholds that trigger new health and safety obligations.
View journey →Prepare for an HSE visit
What to expect from an HSE inspection. Covers types of visit, inspector powers, what they check, improvement and prohibition notices, Fee for Intervention, how to challenge, and what to do during the visit.
View journey →Respond to a workplace accident
Immediate steps after a workplace accident. Covers first aid, scene preservation, RIDDOR reporting, investigation, record keeping, and insurance notification.
View journey →Responding to an MHSWR improvement notice
What to do when you receive an improvement notice citing MHSWR 1999 breaches. Understand the notice, identify the breach, fix the problem, and know your appeal rights.
View journey →Higher-risk building registration checklist
Quick registration checklist for Principal Accountable Persons registering a higher-risk building with the Building Safety Regulator. Covers eligibility, required information, fees, and post-registration obligations.
View journey →Employee pregnancy notification received
What to do when an employee notifies you of pregnancy. Time-sensitive compliance actions under MHSWR 1999 Regulations 16-18 covering risk assessment, action hierarchy, and ongoing monitoring.
View journey →MHSWR 1999 quick compliance audit
Rapid compliance check covering all key MHSWR 1999 duties. Verify your risk assessment, competent person, emergency procedures, information, training, and vulnerable worker protections in 10 minutes.
View journey →Golden thread compliance check
Quick compliance check for duty holders to verify their golden thread meets Building Safety Act requirements. Covers format, content, access controls, and phase-specific obligations for design, construction, and occupation.
View journey →Welsh language compliance help
Help with Welsh language requirements for businesses contracting with the public sector in Wales. Covers when Standards apply, what you need to do, how to build capability, and what happens if you fail to comply.
View journey →Dealing with a business insurance claim
Step-by-step guide for businesses making an insurance claim: immediate actions after a loss, notifying your insurer, gathering evidence, and what to do if your claim is disputed.
View 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.
View journey →Trading without required approvals: what to do now
If you have been caught trading without required approvals — or have realised you are missing registrations or licences — this guide helps you understand the severity, get compliant quickly, and prevent recurrence.
View journey →Your business plan was rejected: what to do next
What to do when a lender, investor, or grant body rejects your business plan
View journey →Validate your business idea before you invest
Research, test, and validate your business idea before committing significant time or money
View 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.
View 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.
View journey →Choose the right business model
Decide between product, service, and subscription models based on your skills, capital, and goals
View 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.
View journey →Name your business: check, register, and protect
Quick guide to checking name availability, understanding naming rules, and protecting your brand
View journey →Annual insurance review checklist
Quick checklist for annual insurance review: verify cover matches your business, compare renewal quotes, meet disclosure obligations, and set your next review date.
View journey →Plan your business from idea to launch
A step-by-step planning journey from idea validation through business plan writing to launch preparation
View journey →Starting a social care provider business
Step-by-step guide to starting a social care business — from choosing your regulator through workforce requirements to financial planning.
View journey →Getting started with international road haulage
Upgrade your domestic haulage operation for international road freight
View journey →Growing your goods vehicle fleet
What changes when you grow your goods vehicle fleet, from O-licence variations to OCRS scrutiny
View journey →What to do when stopped by DVSA at the roadside
How to handle a DVSA roadside inspection, what examiners check, your rights during the stop, prohibition powers, and what to do afterwards to address any issues raised.
View journey →Goods vehicle compliance quick check
Quick compliance check across all goods vehicle operator obligations
View journey →Running a holiday let
Step-by-step compliance guide for self-catering holiday accommodation. Covers licensing, safety, tax, food hygiene, and employment obligations.
View journey →Responding to DVSA enforcement or Traffic Commissioner action
What to do if your transport business faces DVSA enforcement action or a Traffic Commissioner public inquiry. Covers understanding your OCRS score, preparing for a public inquiry, fixing vehicle maintenance and drivers' hours gaps, and demonstrating compliance improvement.
View journey →