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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.

Small firms question the value of social media

9 October 2015

Small firms question the value of social mediaA new survey of small businesses has found that less than half are convinced about the effectiveness of social media as a sales tool.

The poll of 1,000 UK small businesses by media consultancy firm Deal With the Media found that that almost two-thirds of SMEs have no evidence that their social media strategy has had a positive effect.

It asked small business owners: "Accounting for the time you spend on it, do you feel that social media marketing has been effective for your business?". The results showed that:

  • 62% said they were "uncertain, disagreed or strongly disagreed" that social media marketing had been effective for their business;
  • 30% agreed that it had been effective;
  • 8% strongly agreed that it had been effective;
  • 13% disagreed that it had been effective;
  • 5% said that they strongly disagreed that it had been effective.

According to a 2015 report by the Social Media Examiner, the majority of the UK's five million SMEs spend between six and ten hours a week marketing their businesses via social media.

However, feedback from those polled by Deal With the Media reveals that while many business owners are using social media consistently, they are finding that it doesn't deliver tangible results.

Tessa Killingbeck, from Norwich greetings card company KillingB, said: "I have used social media for almost two years, and have found that the use of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram results in next to zero sales."

John Fretwell, from Dorset-based online deli Deliamo, said: "After a year of pushing our brand via Facebook and Twitter amongst others (as well as engaging a social media marketing company) we have seen little tangible ROI from the time and money spent. Our customer base has grown pretty well over this period, but our analytics and customer feedback tells us hardly any new business came via social channels."

Pete Walter, Deal With The Media founder, said: "At the moment social media isn't working for the majority of small businesses. Most of the UK's five million small businesses spend between six and ten hours a week marketing themselves via social media, making their businesses feel modern, digital and connected to their customers. The unfortunate reality is most of are wasting time and money in doing so."

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