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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 tax super-deduction is working and must stay, says IoD

13 July 2022

The temporary capital investment tax super-deduction has had a "positive and measurable" impact on business investment and should be made permanent, according to research by the Institute of Directors.

The super-deduction was introduced in the 2021 spring Budget to increase levels of business investment as the economy recovered from the pandemic. The two-year 130% tax super-deduction capital allowance for investment in qualifying plant and machinery is due to end in March 2023.

A poll of members by the Institute of Directors (IoD) has found that of those firms whose business depends in some way on fixed capital, 13% reported that the super-deduction had had a direct impact on the level of investment made in 2021-23 - and for half of these it was entirely new investment as a direct result of the super-deduction.

Now, the IoD is calling for the 130% super-deduction to be made permanent. Kitty Ussher, IoD chief economist, said: "The chancellor has already said he is considering using the tax system to incentivise greater business investment. Our data shows the positive impact the super-deduction has already had in doing just that. We are therefore calling for the chancellor to make it a permanent feature of doing business in Britain."

In June 2022, Office of National Statistics data reported a 0.6% fall in business investment in the first quarter of 2022. However, Ussher said: "It is wrong to look at declining overall levels of business investment in recent months and conclude that the super-deduction has not worked. Instead, our data shows that even less investment would have taken place if the super-deduction did not exist. When business confidence in the macroeconomy is low, as it is at the moment, the case for government incentives to raise investment becomes even stronger."

A poll of 500 senior decision-makers in UK SMEs conducted by Nucleus Commercial Finance (NCF) has found that 13% have increased investments as a result of the super-deduction - in line with the IoD findings. However, the results also show that 16% have decreased investments.

According to NCF, UK companies invest just 10% of GDP each year, compared to 14% in EU countries. When asked for their insight into the primary causes of this investment gap, after economic uncertainty (58%), SME leaders cited a high tax burden (34%), uncertainty in where to invest (32%) and a lack of government incentives (30%).

Chirag Shah, founder and ceo of Nucleus Commercial Finance, said: "There are a host of ways that government can really get behind business and stimulate innovation by thinking creatively. Change in Number 10 offers a chance for a reset, a rethink, and a redoubling of efforts.

"UK SMEs are ambitious and hungry to grow, but it’s incredibly frustrating for them that too often the odds are seemingly stacked against them. It is imperative that the shake-up in Downing Street results in a more impactful business strategy from the government."

Written by Rachel Miller.

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