Starting a business tips and advice | Start Up Donut
Start Up Donut provides practical information to help your business succeed. Launched in 2009, the Donut websites have grown to be the UK’s largest resource for small businesses.
How to start a business - Start Up Donut
Decide on a business name. A good business name should be original, distinctive, easy to remember and it should encapsulate what you offer. Start by brainstorming a long list of contenders, then test each one against these criteria: Is the name already listed at Companies House?; Is the online domain name available?
How to set up as a sole trader - Start Up Donut
Last reviewed by Fiona Prior. Setting up a sole trader business is incredibly popular. There are more than 4.1 million sole traders in the UK. They account for more than 74% of all private businesses in the UK. Between them, the UK's sole traders generated turnover of more than £330 million in 2023 ...
Starting an online business overview - Start Up Donut
Consumer habits have changed dramatically. The share of online retail sales in the UK has risen from just 12% on 2011 to 26.5% in 2022.. Many businesses have long used their websites to generate additional revenue, yet in recent years there has also been significant growth in businesses that start up exclusively online, which can involve less risk, cost and effort.
Essential guide to writing a business plan - Start Up Donut
Your business plan outlines what your business does or will do and what you are trying to achieve. It explains what the market opportunity is, what makes your business special and how you will make it a success. Business plans are not just for limited companies. They can be valuable tools for self ...
Write a business plan - Start Up Donut
A well-researched and written business plan is an essential tool. Discover how to structure and write a business plan and what information to include. Are you starting a business? Learn how to write an effective business plan with our essential guide. Create a solid foundation for your success today ...
Set up a business - Start Up Donut
Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules when you start up. Learn how to set up a business. Registering as a sole trader means you are self-employed. It is quick, easy and cheap to set …
Start up business plan: Top 10 tips
The starting point for any business plan is audience. Who is going to read it? What is the purpose of the plan - is it to secure funding? Maybe you need to attract a business partner. Although key facts and figures will remain the same, tailor different versions of your plan to specific audiences ...
Business planning - Start Up Donut
Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets. Start up costs can quickly escalate unless you keep them under control. Learn which costs you may incur and how to …
Set up a business overview - Start Up Donut
If you think you've got what it takes to start your own business - and your market research and business plan supports your belief it can work - forming a business is the next exciting leg on the journey. So what are your formation options when starting your own business? Start a new business or buy one? You might not want or need to come up with your own business idea.