Here are some excellent resources for your business

Start up business ideas

For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Set up a business

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Skills and wellbeing

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Business planning

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 funding

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Tax and National Insurance

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Business law

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Sales and marketing

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Business premises

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Employees

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

Business IT

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Grow your business

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

Setting up your payroll - checklist

If you take on employees, you will need to set up a payroll system to make sure you're fulfilling your legal obligations for collecting tax and National Insurance Contributions. Here's where to start.

Check whether you need to operate PAYE. Even if your employees earn less that the lower earnings limit (meaning there are no tax and NI deductions), you will still need to keep payroll records.
Ensure that you are registered as an employer with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and register for PAYE Online.
Decide who will be responsible for managing PAYE; consider whether you will operate PAYE yourself, use the services of a payroll agency or your accountant.
Invest in appropriate payroll software: check it is compatible with HMRC's 'Real Time Information' reporting requirements and how it could be linked into your accounting system.
Set up a payroll timetable: include the dates for making payments to employees, HM Revenue & Customs, and handling year-end PAYE filings and employee documents.
Clarify the legal rules, and your contractual agreements, covering statutory pay including sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption pay, pension contributions and any deductions from pay.
Check employees' data is accurate and complete; gather any missing information ready for submission to HMRC.
Establish a system for dealing with new employees, employees leaving, sickness, maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
Implement a system for calculating additional pay (eg bonuses and commission) and any taxable perks (eg company cars).
Decide how expenses will be handled.
Put in place security measures to protect the confidentiality of payroll information and guard against fraud.
Make contingency plans (eg if your computer system fails) to allow you to handle payroll and filings on time.
Use your payroll system to generate useful management information (eg employee costs, individual employee's records).
Keep up to date with payroll rules by reading HMRC mailings; if necessary, contact the employers' helpline or your professional adviser.