Professional & Financial Services

Access 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Fintech 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Consequences of carrying on regulated financial business without FCA authorisation

A strategic explainer of what happens if you breach the FSMA general prohibition. Covers the criminal offence under section 23, civil unenforceability of customer contracts under sections 26 to 28, FCA enforcement powers, and personal consequences for directors. Read alongside the guide on whether you need FCA authorisation.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Do 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

FCA 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Comply with high-cost short-term credit rules

Additional compliance requirements for firms providing high-cost short-term credit (HCSTC), including the price cap regime, enhanced affordability assessments, mandatory risk warnings, repeat borrowing interventions, and persistent debt rules for credit cards.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Conduct and document affordability assessments for consumer credit

How to conduct, evidence, and document affordability assessments when lending to consumers. Covers the distinction between creditworthiness and affordability, income verification, expenditure analysis, proportionality, vulnerable customers, and the Consumer Duty overlay for credit products.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Consumer credit compliance checklist

Annual compliance checklist for consumer credit firms covering FCA permissions, CONC requirements, advertising, pre-contract obligations, Consumer Duty, complaints handling, and regulatory reporting.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Consumer credit rates and thresholds reference

Quick reference for consumer credit rates, thresholds, and regulatory limits. Covers Section 75 thresholds, HCSTC price cap, FCA fees, FOS award limits, persistent debt thresholds, early settlement compensation, and exempt agreement limits.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Handle consumer credit complaints and the Financial Ombudsman

How to set up internal complaints handling for consumer credit, meet the 8-week resolution deadline, issue final response letters, and prepare for Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) referrals. Covers FOS jurisdiction, award limits, case fees, common credit complaint categories, and root cause analysis requirements.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Understand how the Consumer Duty applies to credit products

How the FCA Consumer Duty applies to consumer credit providers, brokers, and debt collectors. Explains the four outcomes for credit products, the annual board report requirement, how the Duty interacts with existing CONC rules, and current FCA supervisory priorities.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Cyber security for financial services firms

FCA operational resilience requirements for cyber security, including the 31 March 2025 compliance deadline, SM&CR responsibilities for cyber risk, third-party outsourcing requirements, and preparing for DORA-style regulations.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Meet 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

AI compliance for financial services firms

How FCA-regulated firms must govern AI through Consumer Duty, SM&CR, and operational resilience frameworks. Covers model risk management, transparency obligations, and practical steps for compliant AI deployment in financial services.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

FCA 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Use 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Get 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Run a compliant insurance or pension business

Whether you carry insurance risk or fund pensions, the same workplace and data duties apply alongside your regulatory regime: protect the personal data you hold and pay the ICO fee, insure your employees, and keep your offices and call centres safe, fire-safe and free of discrimination. Put these in place alongside your PRA, FCA or TPR obligations.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Management consultancy: compliance checklist

Use this checklist to confirm your management consultancy, business advisory firm or head office meets its obligations. Work through each item and answer yes or no. If you answer no to any item, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Set up and run a safe management consultancy

Management consultancies and head offices face typical office-based risks — display-screen equipment, workstation assessment, stress and mental health. On top of those workplace duties, if you market by email, text or automated calls, the PECR electronic-marketing rules bite. This is the universal spine: it takes you through your core workplace health and safety duties, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality, data protection and PECR.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Set up and run a safe legal or accounting practice

Legal and accountancy practices are office businesses with deep duties of confidentiality. Beyond your professional regulator, you carry the same employer obligations as any office: health and safety (including display-screen equipment and stress), fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality, and data protection — where client files and special-category data make the ICO duties especially live.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a regulated financial services firm

Every financial intermediary shares a core of regulated-firm duties: hold the right FCA permissions for what you do, operate the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, deliver the Consumer Duty on retail business, keep promotions compliant, handle complaints under the FCA's rules, run anti-money-laundering controls, meet operational resilience requirements, and protect personal data. Pension administrators have their own section — The Pensions Regulator's regime applies to them even where no FCA permission is held.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run an occupational pension scheme

Trust-based occupational pension schemes are not FCA-authorised — they register with and are supervised by The Pensions Regulator. Trustees and scheme operators must register the scheme, meet the statutory funding regime for defined benefit schemes, satisfy trustee knowledge and understanding requirements, connect to the pensions dashboards ecosystem, and — where the scheme is used for automatic enrolment — meet the qualifying-scheme requirements including the default fund charge cap.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run an accountancy, audit or insolvency practice

General accountancy and bookkeeping are not reserved activities — but statutory audit needs registration with a Recognised Supervisory Body overseen by the FRC, insolvency appointments need individual authorisation by a Recognised Professional Body, every accountancy and tax firm needs an anti-money-laundering supervisor, and tax advisers who deal with HMRC must now register with HMRC.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Architects' and engineers' design duties

If you design buildings or infrastructure — as an architect, engineer, surveyor or other designer — you carry statutory duties under the Building Regulations, the CDM 2015 designer duties and, for higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022. Only "architect" is a protected title, so architects must also register with the ARB. This guide explains what every designer must do, and where the rules differ by nation.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Insurer authorisation and prudential rules

Effecting and carrying out contracts of insurance are PRA-regulated activities: an insurer or reinsurer needs Part 4A permission, applied for through the Prudential Regulation Authority with the FCA's consent, and must then hold capital and governance to the Solvency UK prudential standard. Life insurers have additional long-term fund rules, and all insurers must meet operational resilience requirements.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Insurer conduct and accountability rules

Alongside the prudential regime, the FCA supervises how an insurer treats its customers and who runs it: senior managers need approval under the SM&CR, retail business carries the Consumer Duty, promotions must comply with the financial promotion restriction, complaints follow the FCA's DISP rules with referral to the Financial Ombudsman, claims must be paid within a reasonable time, home and motor pricing must not penalise loyalty, and you must belong to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a compliant architecture or engineering practice

Whether you are an architectural practice, an engineering or design consultancy or a testing laboratory, the same core duties apply: protect the personal data you hold, do not discriminate, insure your employees, manage health and safety, and carry professional indemnity cover. Put these in place before you take on staff, clients or projects.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Understanding 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a barristers' practice or IP attorney firm

Barristers in England and Wales practise under a Bar Standards Board practising certificate, with separate extensions for conducting litigation and public access work. Patent and trade mark attorneys register with IPReg — the protected titles and the reserved legal activities flow from registration, although anyone may act before the Intellectual Property Office itself.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Financial intermediary compliance checklist

A confirmation checklist for financial intermediaries — insurance distributors and loss adjusters, advisers and intermediaries, investment firms and trading venues, fund managers, and pension administrators. Work through the duties every regulated firm shares, then the sections for what you do.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Insurance and pension compliance checklist

A confirmation checklist for insurers, reinsurers and occupational pension schemes. Work through the duties every business in this division shares, then the section for what you operate — answer only the items for the activities you actually carry on.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which architecture, engineering and testing rules apply to your business

Architecture, engineering and technical testing cover very different businesses — designing buildings as an architect, providing engineering or other design consultancy, and carrying out technical testing and analysis in a laboratory. Each has its own rules, on top of the duties they all share. Work out which description fits you and follow the right guide.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which insurance and pension funding rules apply to your business

This guidance is for the risk carriers and scheme operators themselves — insurers, reinsurers and occupational pension schemes. Insurers and reinsurers are dual-regulated: the Prudential Regulation Authority for prudential soundness and the Financial Conduct Authority for conduct. Trust-based occupational pension schemes follow a different regime under The Pensions Regulator. Work out which you are and follow the right guides — and if you broker or advise on insurance rather than carry the risk, different rules apply.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Register 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Annual compliance checklist for law firms

A checklist of annual regulatory obligations for SRA-authorised law firms in England and Wales. Covers practising certificate renewal, professional indemnity insurance, Compensation Fund contributions, accountant's reports, AML reviews, COLP and COFA returns, price transparency, and continuing competence.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Anti-money laundering compliance for law firms

How to meet anti-money laundering obligations as a solicitor or law firm in England and Wales. Covers the firm-wide risk assessment, client due diligence in conveyancing and trust work, source of funds verification, legal professional privilege, suspicious activity reporting, and what the SRA expects as your AML supervisor.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Legal professional privilege and SAR reporting: when the exemption applies

When legal professional privilege exempts solicitors from suspicious activity reporting obligations and when it does not. Covers the POCA 2002 s.330(6) privilege exemption, the meaning of privileged circumstances, the crime/fraud exception that disapplies it, SRA guidance on the boundary, and a practical decision framework for fee earners facing reporting decisions.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which legal and accounting rules apply to your business

Legal and accountancy practices are regulated by profession, not premises. Solicitors answer to the SRA, barristers to the Bar Standards Board, patent and trade mark attorneys to IPReg, statutory auditors to a Recognised Supervisory Body overseen by the FRC, and insolvency practitioners to a Recognised Professional Body. Almost every firm in this sector also needs anti-money-laundering supervision, and all share the same office workplace duties.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Architecture, engineering and testing compliance checklist

A confirmation checklist for architecture, engineering and technical testing businesses. Work through the cross-cutting duties every professional practice shares, then every section that describes what you do — architect, designer, or testing and analysis laboratory (architects are also designers). Several design duties differ by nation, so check the rule for where you work.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Financial adviser and intermediary rules

If you advise on investments, arrange mortgages or credit, or run a claims management company, your rules sit on top of the duties every regulated firm shares: the right FCA permission for each activity, qualification and professional standing requirements for retail investment advice, suitability assessment and reporting, and the dedicated regimes for mortgage intermediaries, credit intermediaries and claims management.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Fund and asset management rules

If you manage portfolios or collective investment funds, your rules sit on top of the duties every regulated firm shares: the managing investments permission, the UCITS management regime for retail funds, the UK AIFM regime — including, for full-scope managers, depositary appointment and the AIFM remuneration rules — and climate-related financial disclosure for larger managers.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Insurance distribution and loss adjusting rules

If you distribute insurance — broking, advising on or arranging policies — or adjust losses and handle claims, your rules sit on top of the duties every regulated firm shares: the insurance distribution permission and conduct rulebook, demands-and-needs and product information duties, client money protections, professional indemnity cover, and the permissions and professional standards for loss adjusting and claims handling.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Investment firm and trading venue rules

If you deal in investments as agent, hold client money or assets, or operate a trading venue, your rules sit on top of the duties every regulated firm shares: the dealing permission, best execution when executing client orders, the CASS client money and custody rules, the IFPR prudential regime with its remuneration code, and — for venues — MTF and OTF authorisation or recognised investment exchange status and transaction reporting.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which financial intermediary rules apply to your business

This guidance is for the firms around the risk carriers and lenders — insurance distributors and loss adjusters, financial advisers and mortgage or credit intermediaries, investment firms and trading venues, fund managers, and pension administrators. Almost all are FCA-authorised and share a core of conduct duties. Each then has its own permission and rulebook. Work out which you are and follow the right guides.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Get 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

COLP and COFA: Roles, Responsibilities, and Reporting

Understand what the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) do, who can be appointed, what records they must keep, how to report to the SRA annually, and how to manage non-compliance within your firm.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Client account reconciliation: quick reference

Quick reference for client account reconciliation obligations under the SRA Accounts Rules 2019. Covers five-weekly reconciliation requirements, central record keeping, SRA reporting triggers, accountant's report deadlines, and COFA responsibilities.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply with SRA Standards and Regulations

Implement the SRA Standards and Regulations in your law firm. Covers the SRA Principles, Codes of Conduct for solicitors and firms, appointing compliance officers, conflict checks, confidentiality systems, supervision, and file management.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Manage client money under SRA Accounts Rules

Set up and manage a client account to comply with the SRA Accounts Rules 2019. Covers what counts as client money, when to pay money in and out, reconciliation procedures, residual balances, record keeping, and the accountant's report requirement. Applies to all SRA-authorised firms in England and Wales.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Professional indemnity insurance for law firms

Understand your professional indemnity insurance obligations as an SRA-authorised law firm. Covers how to obtain qualifying PII, the annual renewal cycle, what the SRA Minimum Terms require, run-off cover on closure, and the SRA Compensation Fund levy.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Respond to an SRA investigation of your law firm

What to do when the SRA investigates your firm. Covers types of investigation, your cooperation obligations under the Code of Conduct, obtaining specialist regulatory defence representation, and how to respond to conditions, fines, referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and intervention. Includes appeal rights and escalation scenarios.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Running 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Run a technical testing or analysis laboratory

Testing, calibration, inspection and analysis is a distinct business from design. Running a laboratory is not itself licensed, but your work usually depends on UKAS accreditation, and some testing — notably asbestos sampling and clearance — is anchored to a statutory regime with its own competence and accreditation requirements.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Which management consultancy regulations apply to your business

Head offices, management consultancies and business advisory firms carry the same workplace-safety and employment duties as any office employer. On top of that, if you market your services by email, text or automated calls, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) apply.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Apply 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply with SRA Price Transparency Rules

Publish pricing information for specified legal services as required by the SRA Transparency Rules. Covers which services are in scope, what must be disclosed, format and website requirements, and how to monitor and update your published information.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Handle client complaints at your law firm

Set up and run a complaints procedure at your SRA-regulated law firm. Covers the mandatory written procedure, the 8-week resolution window, informing clients about the Legal Ombudsman, and using complaints data to improve your service.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

PII renewal checklist for law firms

Annual checklist to verify your firm's PII renewal is on track. Covers claims history, risk management review, insurer notification, SRA confirmation, cover verification, and run-off planning.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

FCA 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Start 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.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.

Comply with credit advertising rules

How to advertise consumer credit products compliantly under FCA rules. Covers representative APR requirements, triggered information, social media advertising, risk warnings for high-cost credit, and the FCA financial promotions approval process.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Comply with debt collection rules

How to collect consumer debts compliantly under FCA rules. Covers CONC 7 requirements for arrears and default handling, forbearance obligations for customers in financial difficulty, default notice requirements, communication standards, vulnerable customer identification, and enforcement restrictions for improperly executed agreements.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

FCA 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Buy 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.

Relevant across several parts of this sector.

Construction payment rights and adjudication

Your statutory rights to payment and rapid dispute resolution under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. Covers payment notices, pay-less notices, stage payments, suspension rights, retention, and the 28-day adjudication process including 'smash and grab' claims.

Relevant to a specific activity in this sector.