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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.

Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.

What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.

While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.

You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.

The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.

Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.

While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.

Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.

Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.

Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.

As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.

Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.

With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.

The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.

As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.

Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.

Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.

Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.

From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.

The main benefits of due diligence

Millions of commercial transactions are made worldwide every day, but did you know that many people also lose a lot of money or are conned daily? This can occur when you are conducting business with a business you are not sufficiently informed about.

If you want to conduct risk-free commercial agreements, you need to carry out due diligence checks. Due diligence is used to review and assess every document before finalising a transaction. Due diligence aims to ascertain the level of risk associated with the company's activity.

Why is due diligence necessary?

Due diligence is carried out so that parties to any business transaction have a thorough grasp of a company's financial position. It enables investors to make informed decisions about whether or not to participate in the business. The acquiring company verifies whether the terms and conditions of the other company are favourable. A due diligence checklist ensures the due diligence process is thorough and will provide you with detailed background information about the other business before you sign the contract.

Benefits of due diligence

Here are the main advantages of the due diligence procedure and how they may alter how you conduct business.

  • Helps you negotiate a better agreement

You can bargain for a better deal through the due diligence process by looking at the target company's financial situation. You can negotiate a better deal if you are informed about the other company's performance and financial position.

  • Boost the likelihood of success

You need to verify all the relevant information, including financials and legal documents, of the other company before any deal can proceed. Consequently, there is a greater likelihood of success for deals that go through the due diligence process. You can benefit from a thorough due diligence procedure since it provides you with comprehensive coverage and an enhanced comprehension of the business.

  • Ensures transparency

Many businesses attempt to conceal information that could be damaging to their reputation, operations or bottom line. Due diligence facilitates transparency between both parties, enabling both sides to make an agreement without the risk of any unexpected nasty surprises.

  • Identify shortcomings

You can only build a profitable enterprise when you know the areas where a firm is failing and succeeding. The process of due diligence helps you identify the target company's shortcomings and strengths. You must have this information before signing an agreement so that you can make smart business decisions. You must have this information before buying a business or entering into a contract with one.

  • Address unexpected issues

Doing business is challenging; there are new obstacles to overcome every day. To grow your company in today's cut throat market, you must be ready to handle any unforeseen issues. Businesses frequently take a long time to address issues, so they either lose money or they stagnate. It is necessary to carry out due diligence to examine the present and anticipated future issues. Before signing an agreement, proper due diligence looks for unforeseen issues that can be fixed.

  • Reduce risks

Business deals are often very broad in scope, and one bad contract can cost you dearly. A shrewd businessman will carefully research the company they are doing business with. As a result, they often employ experts to investigate the business they plan to do business with thoroughly.

The buyer may be exposed to more risk in a merger or acquisition if the due diligence procedure is skipped. Due diligence will provide you with all the company information – good and bad - significantly lowering the risk of entering into a business transaction.

Conclusion

Using a due diligence checklist facilitates the purchase of a business for both the seller and the buyer. In particular, it facilitates the investor's ability to confidently close a deal without any nasty surprises.

Copyright 2023. Featured article made possible by SV Online.

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